Soma (song)

Last updated • 1 min readFrom Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia
"Soma"
Song by the Smashing Pumpkins
from the album Siamese Dream
ReleasedJuly 27, 1993
Recorded1992 - 1993
Genre
Length6:39
Label Virgin
Songwriter(s) Billy Corgan · James Iha
Producer(s) Butch Vig · Billy Corgan

"Soma", originally called "Coma", [3] is a song by alternative rock band the Smashing Pumpkins. An extended power ballad with facets of psychedelic rock, the track serves as the centerpiece of the band's second album Siamese Dream.

Contents

Overview

The song-writing credits list James Iha and Billy Corgan as co-authors, but Corgan claims that Iha only wrote the chord structure for the beginning of the song, and that Corgan himself wrote the rest. [4] The song is said to have included up to 40 overdubbed guitar tracks. [5] Corgan says the song "is based on the idea that a love relationship is almost the same as opium: it slowly puts you to sleep, it soothes you, and gives you the illusion of sureness and security." [6] It was also acknowledged that song was inspired by Corgan's break-up with his ex-wife, Chris Fabian. [7] [8] The song also contains references to a hallucinogenic drug which was featured in Aldous Huxley's novel Brave New World [9] and features a prominent piano figure by Mike Mills of R.E.M. [10] [11]

Reception

The song received rave reviews. Ned Raggett of AllMusic especially praised the song's guitar solo, while spotting elements from gothic rock and psychedelic rock. [10] The song was also likened to Prince's "The Beautiful Ones". [10] [12] The critically acclaimed guitar solo was rated as the 24th in Rolling Stone 's "The 25 Coolest Guitar Solos" list. [13] The guitar solo was placed as 41st in NME's "50 Greatest Guitar Solos" list. [14]

Tribute album cover

American band Poison the Well covered the song for Reignition Records' 2005 tribute compilation The Killer in You: A Tribute to Smashing Pumpkins . In his review of the album, their rendition was said to be "probably the best of the bunch" by AllMusic's Greg Prato. [10]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Smashing Pumpkins</span> American alternative rock band

The Smashing Pumpkins are an American alternative rock band from Chicago, Illinois. Formed in 1988 by frontman and guitarist Billy Corgan, bassist D'arcy Wretzky, guitarist James Iha, and drummer Jimmy Chamberlin, the band has undergone several line-up changes since their reunion in 2006, with Corgan being the sole constant member since its inception. The current lineup features Corgan, Chamberlin, and Iha.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Billy Corgan</span> American musician (born 1967)

William Patrick Corgan Jr. is an American musician, songwriter, and wrestling promoter. He is best known as the lead singer, primary songwriter, guitarist, and only constant member of the rock band the Smashing Pumpkins. He is currently the owner and promoter of the National Wrestling Alliance (NWA).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">James Iha</span> American rock musician

James Yoshinobu Iha is an American rock musician. He is best known as a guitarist and co-founder of the alternative rock band the Smashing Pumpkins. He was a member until the initial breakup in 2000, and performed on the band's first six albums until rejoining the Smashing Pumpkins in 2018, and performing on the band's three most recent albums since then. Among his musical projects of recent years, Iha has been a permanent fixture of A Perfect Circle. He was most recently a member of Tinted Windows, a 1960s/1970s inspired group with members of Cheap Trick, Fountains of Wayne, and Hanson.

<i>Gish</i> 1991 studio album by the Smashing Pumpkins

Gish is the debut studio album by American alternative rock band the Smashing Pumpkins, released on May 28, 1991 through Caroline Records. The album was produced by Butch Vig and frontman Billy Corgan, the latter who has variously described Gish as a "very spiritual album" and "an album about spiritual ascension".

<i>Pisces Iscariot</i> 1994 compilation album by the Smashing Pumpkins

Pisces Iscariot is a compilation album by American alternative rock band the Smashing Pumpkins, released in 1994 through Virgin Records, consisting of B-sides and outtakes. Reaching number 4 in the US upon its 1994 release, Pisces Iscariot was certified platinum by the RIAA on November 23, 1994. The album was initially to be called Neptulius.

<i>Siamese Dream</i> 1993 studio album by the Smashing Pumpkins

Siamese Dream is the second studio album by American alternative rock band the Smashing Pumpkins, released on July 27, 1993, on Virgin Records. The album was produced by Butch Vig and frontman Billy Corgan. Despite its recording sessions being fraught with difficulties and tensions, Siamese Dream debuted at number ten on the Billboard 200, and was eventually certified 4× Platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), with the album selling over six million copies worldwide, catapulting the Smashing Pumpkins to mainstream success and cementing them as a significant group in alternative music.

<i>Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness</i> 1995 studio album by The Smashing Pumpkins

Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness is the third studio album by American alternative rock band the Smashing Pumpkins, released on October 23, 1995, in the United Kingdom and on October 24 in the United States on Virgin Records. Produced by frontman Billy Corgan with Flood and Alan Moulder, the 28-track album was released as a two-disc CD and triple LP. It features a wide array of musical styles, including art rock, grunge, alternative pop, and heavy metal.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">D'arcy Wretzky</span> American bassist (born 1968)

D'arcy Elizabeth Wretzky-Brown is an American musician. She was the original bassist of the alternative rock band the Smashing Pumpkins and is credited on their first six studio albums. She left the band in 1999. She has also been a member of Catherine and performed with Filter.

<i>The Aeroplane Flies High</i> 1996 box set by The Smashing Pumpkins

The Aeroplane Flies High is a five-disc box set released by American alternative rock band The Smashing Pumpkins in 1996. It contains expanded versions of the five singles from their album Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness and also included a 44-page booklet with pictures and writings by the band's lead singer Billy Corgan, as well as lyrics. A limited edition release, the box reached number 42 on the Billboard charts. Originally intended to be limited to 200,000 copies, Virgin Records produced more after the original run sold out due to overwhelming and unexpected demand. The album was remastered in 2013 under the supervision of frontman Billy Corgan and reissued on vinyl and as a CD/DVD box set.

<i>Adore</i> (album) 1998 studio album by The Smashing Pumpkins

Adore is the fourth studio album by American alternative rock band the Smashing Pumpkins, released on June 2, 1998, by Virgin Records. After the multi-platinum success of Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness and a subsequent yearlong world tour, follow-up Adore was considered "one of the most anticipated albums of 1998" by MTV. Recording the album proved to be a challenge as the band members struggled with lingering interpersonal problems, musical uncertainty in the wake of three increasingly successful rock albums, and the departure of drummer Jimmy Chamberlin. Frontman Billy Corgan would later characterize Adore as made by "a band falling apart". Corgan was also going through a divorce and the death of his mother while recording the album.

<i>Machina II/The Friends & Enemies of Modern Music</i> 2000 studio album by The Smashing Pumpkins

Machina II/The Friends & Enemies of Modern Music is the sixth studio album by the American alternative rock band The Smashing Pumpkins. It was released for free on the Internet on September 5, 2000. Plans for a standard physical release, bundled with the first part Machina/The Machines of God, were revealed to happen sometime in 2013, but was postponed due to legal setbacks. In an Instagram Q&A in 2018, the band's frontman, Billy Corgan, revealed that all legal issues had been resolved. The two albums are planned to be remastered and released as a deluxe reissue; however, no release date has been announced.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Today (The Smashing Pumpkins song)</span> 1993 single by the Smashing Pumpkins

"Today" is a song by American alternative rock band the Smashing Pumpkins, written by lead vocalist and guitarist Billy Corgan. The song, though seemingly upbeat, contains dark lyrics; Corgan wrote the song about a day in which he was having suicidal thoughts. The contrast between the grim subject matter of the song and the soft instrumental part during the verses, coupled with use of irony in the lyrics, left many listeners unaware of the song's tale of depression and desperation. The song alternates between quiet, dreamy verses and loud choruses with layered, distorted guitars.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">I Am One</span> 1990 song by the Smashing Pumpkins

"I Am One" is the debut single by American alternative rock band the Smashing Pumpkins. It was the band's first ever release and remains the only single issued by the band with co-writing credits to both Billy Corgan and James Iha. It charted on the UK Singles Chart at a peak position of number 73.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cherub Rock</span> 1993 single by the Smashing Pumpkins

"Cherub Rock" is a song by American alternative rock band the Smashing Pumpkins. It is the first single from their second album, Siamese Dream (1993) and is the opening track. It was written by lead vocalist and guitarist Billy Corgan. It was nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Hard Rock Performance.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tonight, Tonight (The Smashing Pumpkins song)</span> 1996 single by the Smashing Pumpkins

"Tonight, Tonight" is a song by American alternative rock band the Smashing Pumpkins, written by the band's frontman, Billy Corgan. It was the fourth single and second track on the their third album, Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness, and was released in May 1996 in Europe. "Tonight, Tonight" was critically acclaimed and commercially well-received upon its release, reaching number one in Iceland, number two in New Zealand, number seven in the United Kingdom and number 36 on the US Billboard Hot 100. The music video accompanying the song was also successful and won several awards.

<i>Vieuphoria</i> 1994 video by The Smashing Pumpkins

Vieuphoria is a long form music video by American alternative rock band The Smashing Pumpkins, originally released on VHS on October 4, 1994, and DVD on November 26, 2002. It was certified gold by the RIAA in late 1996.

"Mayonaise" is a song by American alternative rock band the Smashing Pumpkins. It was first made available in 1993 on the bands second studio album Siamese Dream as the ninth track. It is subsequently set to be released as the albums fifth single on November 20, 2023 through Capitol Records as part of the Siamese Dream 30th Anniversary celebrations and shows. The song was produced by Butch Vig and Billy Corgan.

<i>Ogilala</i> 2017 studio album by William Patrick Corgan

Ogilala is the second solo album by American musician Billy Corgan, frontman of alternative rock band The Smashing Pumpkins. The album was released on October 13, 2017, in the United States. It marks Corgan's first solo album since his 2005 debut, TheFutureEmbrace. The album was co-produced by Corgan with Rick Rubin, and does not feature Corgan's longtime collaborator Bjorn Thorsrud. "Aeronaut" preceded the record as its lead single, with a US tour beginning the day after the record's release.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Solara (song)</span> 2018 single by Smashing Pumpkins

"Solara" is a song by American rock band Smashing Pumpkins. It was the band's first song to be released after reforming three fourths of the band's original lineup in 2018, featuring Billy Corgan, James Iha, and Jimmy Chamberlin performing on a track together for the first time since 2000's Machina/The Machines of God album and subsequent non-album single "Untitled" prior to their original breakup. It was released as a single on June 8, 2018, as the first song from a set of two upcoming EPs that were set for release in 2018 before a full-length album titled Shiny and Oh So Bright, Vol. 1 / LP: No Past. No Future. No Sun. was announced in September. The song peaked at number 47 on the US Hot Rock Songs chart.

<i>Shiny and Oh So Bright, Vol. 1 / LP: No Past. No Future. No Sun.</i> 2018 studio album by The Smashing Pumpkins

Shiny and Oh So Bright Vol. 1 / LP: No Past. No Future. No Sun. is the tenth studio album by the American alternative rock band The Smashing Pumpkins, released on November 16, 2018 through Napalm Records. Produced by Rick Rubin, it is the band's first album to feature founding members James Iha and Jimmy Chamberlin since Machina II/The Friends and Enemies of Modern Music (2000) and Zeitgeist (2007), respectively.

References

  1. Peacock, Tim (July 27, 2022). "Why Smashing Pumpkins' 'Siamese Dream' Was A Wake-Up Call For Rock". uDiscover Music. Retrieved September 25, 2022.
  2. Terich, Jeff (January 10, 2012). "Smashing Pumpkins : Siamese Dream (Deluxe Edition)". Treblezine. Retrieved November 2, 2019.
  3. Hunter, James. "The Pumpkins Won't Be Smashed", Musician Magazine. July 1994.
  4. If All Goes Wrong. Dir. Jack Guliek. Perf. Smashing Pumpkins. DVD. Coming Home Media, 2008.
  5. "Smashing Pumpkins - Siamese Dream (1993)". Punknews.org. March 25, 2011. Retrieved January 2, 2013.
  6. van den Berg, Erik. "Smashing Pumpkins." Oor. June 10, 1993
  7. Hanson (2004), p.88
  8. Dimery, Robert and Michael Lydon (2010), p.706
  9. Lett, Jr. (2008), p.131
  10. 1 2 3 4 Raggett, Ned. "Smashing Pumpkins - Soma". AllMusic. Retrieved January 2, 2013.
  11. Reisfeld (1996), p.140
  12. Raggett, Ned (November 28, 2011). "The Smashing Pumpkins Siamese Dream [Deluxe Edition]". Pitchfork . Retrieved January 2, 2013.
  13. "The 25 Coolest Guitar Solos". Rolling Stone. August 6, 2007. Archived from the original on May 10, 2012. Retrieved August 12, 2006.
  14. Coombs-Roberts, Kris. "50 Greatest Guitar Solos - 41 - Smashing Pumpkins - 'Soma'". NME . Retrieved January 2, 2013.

Sources