| "The Dope Show" | ||||
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| Single by Marilyn Manson | ||||
| from the album Mechanical Animals | ||||
| Released | September 15, 1998 | |||
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| Length | 3:47 | |||
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| Marilyn Manson singles chronology | ||||
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| Music video | ||||
| "The Dope Show" on YouTube | ||||
"The Dope Show" is a song by American rock band Marilyn Manson. It was released in September 1998 as the lead single from their third studio album Mechanical Animals . The lyrics were written by Marilyn Manson and the music composed by Twiggy Ramirez.
After the release of Antichrist Superstar (1996), an album which sparked controversy among Christian fundamentalists, Marilyn Manson did not want to resume playing the role of a bogeyman. He feared that this would cause him to be "consigned to the one-note rock theatricality" of Kiss and Alice Cooper. [4] He desired to convince casual rock and pop fans who had previously dismissed him that he was "more than a cartoon". For his next album, Mechanical Animals (1998), he took inspiration from the glam rock music that David Bowie made in the 1970s, and adopted a wardrobe and hairstyle similar to Bowie's. [5]
The album contained numerous references to drugs, which Manson said were inspired by the work of writers like William S. Burroughs and Philip K. Dick. Manson explained: "I advocate the use of drugs, but have always looked down on the abuse of drugs. The people who misuse them give the rest of us a bad name, and I'm not only talking about street drugs. There are a lot of references in the album to the prescripted lifestyle that a lot people have followed and numbed out their emotions and become mechanical." "The Dope Show" was envisioned by Manson as "'We Are the World' for drug addicts." [5] However, Manson's guitarist, Twiggy Ramirez, described the track as a rip-off of the Iggy Pop song "Nightclubbing" (1977) that takes influence from the music of T. Rex and Oasis. [6]
Three weeks prior to their official release, "The Dope Show" and the title track of Hole's Celebrity Skin were played on stations in New York City and Los Angeles. Shortly afterward, "The Dope Show" was leaked to the internet by a fan, with MTV News describing the leak as "near CD-quality". [7]
"The Dope Show"'s single release was accompanied by a surrealistic music video directed by Paul Hunter, which premiered on August 20, 1998. [8] In scenes reminiscent of The Man Who Fell to Earth , Manson appears — red-haired, with his entire body, including prosthetic rubber breasts, covered in white latex paint — as an androgynous extraterrestrial wandering around the Hollywood Hills. He is captured, studied in a laboratory, and eventually transported by limousine to a stage where he and the other members of the band — the fictional band Omega and the Mechanical Animals — perform the song in concert before hysterical fans who end up rioting and crossing the security barriers. Actor Billy Zane makes a cameo appearance in the limo sequence, as a recording industry executive. This same sequence features parodies of Spin magazine (as "Spun" in the video) and The National Enquirer .
The video's imagery employs several direct homages to The Holy Mountain , most specifically a sequence involving the destruction of plaster casts of the main character's body in a crucifixion pose. In addition, sculptural pieces by German artist Rebecca Horn are re-created such as "Overflowing Blood Machine" in which Manson is bound by long, red, blood-flowing tubes. In the limo sequence, "Cornucopia" a construction which seems to join the mouth and breasts with a self-nursing effect.
The video won a MTV Video Music Award for "Best Cinematography", as well as the "Maximum Vision" award. It was filmed on standard cinema-grade Kodak 35 mm film stock; the contrast, saturation, and color tinting were all altered dramatically to obtain its vintage look. The video was filmed over two weeks — extreme in comparison to the industry standard of two days. Interscope Records funded the video, while HSI Productions produced and filmed it. Manson co-directed.[ citation needed ]
The "Hollywood Hills" scene with Manson walking outside was actually filmed in the city of Simi Valley in southern California. The building in the background is the House of the Book building at the Brandeis-Bardin Institute.
"The Dope Show"'s performance sequence was filmed in front of the Los Angeles Municipal Traffic Court Building.[ citation needed ] The Brutalist architecture did not permit a reasonable angle or height from which to film; instead, the band was placed on top of the trailer of an 18-wheeler transport truck. Cameras situated on mechanical arms, and at a distance across the street, were used to film the dramatic concert shots. These scenes are interspersed with cuts of underground transgender performer Goddess Bunny (aka Sandie Crisp) dancing in a yellow, sequined dress, similar to that worn by Twiggy Ramirez in the same video. [9] [10] The costumes for the video, including the dresses and Marilyn Manson's red, diamond-patterned boots (which featured a 6-inch sole and heel) were designed jointly by Manson and Terri King.[ citation needed ] The Goddess Bunny's custom couture sequin gown (worn for the video and the live MTV awards performance), was designed and hand sewn by Kris Hendrickson Testanier of San Francisco.[ citation needed ]
The video reached number 16 on MuchMusic's "50 Most Controversial Videos", for Manson's shocking appearance. The video is available on a DVD included with some editions of Lest We Forget , as well as on the VHS compilation God Is in the TV , which also included "uncensored" outtake footage, such as Twiggy Ramirez, Madonna Wayne Gacy and the Goddess Bunny undressing in the back of a limousine.
An alternate version of the video just featuring Manson and various close ups was released on the old Marilyn Manson website Marilyn Manson.net prior to the official release. Parts of this first video can be seen in the finished video.
Barry Walters of The Village Voice commented "The Dope Show is the first Manson single as memorable as its video. Over a skipping Gary Glitter beat, the pied piper of gloom celebrates the Clinton-era narcotics of oral stimulation and headrushing authority. Its sing-along chorus lends the social study a levity the Reznor period denied, and the bite-sized lyrics—bon mots like "Cops and queers make good-looking models"—help the medicine go down. Despite the guitars pumping the hook in the proven grunge tradition, this bouncy sugar pill is radical for Manson not only because it's pop, but also because it's something few '90s rockers have attempted: it's sexy." He went on to conclude, "This born sophist once merely dared to deconstruct sexiness. By now embodying it, Satan's ambitious little helper has relocated Manson theory out of its logical head and into a freshly liberated and femme-y cyborg that sets it in motion. Its slinky gloss going against the rough Reznor grain, Manson's alien mannequeen declares independence from the industrial factory." [11] Spin described the song as a "Warholian discourse on [...] celebrity narcissism set to a creeping, pounding synthetic beat." They described the lyrics as simultaneously "pedantic" and "mildly alarming" but complimented "Manson’s campfire-ghost-story vocals and industrial rhythms" as the perfect complement to "druggy reveries and stomping choruses straight out of T. Rex’s Electric Warrior ." [12]
"The Dope Show" was nominated for Best Hard Rock Performance at the 41st Grammy Awards (1999). [13] Spin ranked "The Dope Show" the 3rd Best Single in their 1998 End Of Year List and 17th in their 2018 retrospective The 88 Best Alternative Rock Songs of 1998. [12] [14] The music video for the single would later win the Best Cinematography in a Video category at the 1999 MTV Video Music Awards. [15] The video also won two Billboard Music Awards. [16]
"The Dope Show" and "The Beautiful People" written by Marilyn Manson and Twiggy Ramirez; "Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This)" written by Annie Lennox and David A. Stewart; "Apple of Sodom" written by Manson.
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Credits adapted from the liner notes of Mechanical Animals and "The Dope Show". [17] [18]
| Chart (1998) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Australia (ARIA) [19] | 20 |
| Belgium (Ultratip Bubbling Under Flanders) [20] | 17 |
| Canada Top Singles ( RPM ) [21] | 14 |
| Canada Rock/Alternative ( RPM ) [22] | 3 |
| Netherlands (Dutch Top 40 Tipparade) [23] | 4 |
| Netherlands (Single Top 100) [24] | 63 |
| New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ) [25] | 28 |
| Scotland (OCC) [26] | 16 |
| Spanish Airplay (AFYVE) [27] | 36 |
| Sweden (Sverigetopplistan) [28] | 53 |
| UK Singles (OCC) [29] | 12 |
| US Alternative Airplay ( Billboard ) [30] | 15 |
| US Mainstream Rock ( Billboard ) [31] | 12 |
| Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
|---|---|---|
| Sweden (GLF) [32] | Gold | 15,000^ |
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone. | ||
Marilyn Manson is an American rock band formed by namesake lead singer Marilyn Manson and guitarist Daisy Berkowitz in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, in 1989. Originally named Marilyn Manson & the Spooky Kids, they gained a local cult following in South Florida in the early 1990s with their theatrical live performances. In 1993, they were the first act signed to Trent Reznor's Nothing Records label. Until 1996, the name of each member was created by combining the first name of a female sex symbol and the last name of a serial killer—for example, Marilyn Monroe and Charles Manson. Their lineup has changed between many of their album releases; the eponymous lead singer is the only remaining original member.
Portrait of an American Family is the debut studio album by American rock band Marilyn Manson. It was released on July 19, 1994, by Nothing and Interscope Records. The group was formed in 1989 by vocalist Marilyn Manson and guitarist Daisy Berkowitz, whose names were created by combining the given name of a pop culture icon with the surname of a serial killer: a naming convention which all other band members would conform to for the next seven years. The most prominent lineup of musicians during their formative years included keyboardist Madonna Wayne Gacy, bassist Gidget Gein and drummer Sara Lee Lucas.
Antichrist Superstar is the second studio album by American rock band Marilyn Manson. It was released on October 8, 1996, by Nothing and Interscope Records. It was recorded at Nothing Studios in New Orleans and produced by the band's eponymous vocalist along with Sean Beavan, former Skinny Puppy producer Dave Ogilvie and Trent Reznor of Nine Inch Nails. The recording of the album was marred by excessive drug use, which provoked a high level of antagonism between band members. Consequently, it was their last release to feature contributions from founding guitarist Daisy Berkowitz, who was acrimoniously fired partway through recording.
Mechanical Animals is the third studio album by American rock band Marilyn Manson. It was released on September 15, 1998, by Interscope Records. The album marked a major shift from the industrial metal and alternative metal styles of the band's earlier efforts, into an experimentation with 1970s glam rock with industrial rock and electronic rock styles. As their first release following the success of their breakthrough album, 1996's Antichrist Superstar, Mechanical Animals' themes primarily deals with the trappings of fame and drug abuse.
Smells Like Children is the first EP by American rock band Marilyn Manson. It was released on October 24, 1995, by Nothing and Interscope Records. Produced by Trent Reznor of Nine Inch Nails, it represents an era of the band full of drugs, abuses, tours, sound experiments, and references to the Child Catcher, a villain from the 1968 musical film Chitty Chitty Bang Bang.
Jeordie Osbourne White, better known Twiggy Ramirez or simply Twiggy, is an American musician, mostly known as the former bassist and guitarist of the rock band Marilyn Manson. Previously, he was the bassist for A Perfect Circle and a touring member of Nine Inch Nails, and is currently the vocalist for Goon Moon. He left Marilyn Manson in 2002, later rejoined the band in 2008, and was dismissed in 2017. He has been a principal songwriter for the band and has also contributed to some of the Desert Sessions recordings. He also hosted the Hour of Goon podcast with fellow musician Fred Sablan, on the Starburns Audio network.
The Last Tour on Earth is a live album comprising recordings from Marilyn Manson's Mechanical Animals Tour, Beautiful Monsters Tour and Rock is Dead Tour, released on November 12, 1999. On the studio version of "The Dope Show", Manson says that drugs "are made in California", but in the live version, he says that "drugs, they say, are made right here in Cleveland", to a roar of crowd approval, suggesting that the song was recorded in Cleveland, Ohio. "Lunchbox" was recorded in Grand Rapids, Michigan, and "I Don't Like the Drugs " was recorded in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. "The Last Day on Earth" was recorded in Las Vegas on the Mechanical Animals Tour, and "Get Your Gunn" was recorded some time during the Rock is Dead Tour.
"Disposable Teens" is a song by American rock band Marilyn Manson. It was released on November 7, 2000 as the lead single from their fourth full-length studio album, Holy Wood (2000).
American rock band Marilyn Manson has released eleven studio albums, one live album, one compilation album, two extended plays, 33 singles, nine promotional singles, six video albums, and 44 music videos.
"The Beautiful People" is a song by American rock band Marilyn Manson. It was released as the lead single from the band's second studio album, Antichrist Superstar, in September 1996. Classified as alternative metal, the song was written by frontman Marilyn Manson and Twiggy Ramirez, and was produced by Trent Reznor, Dave Ogilvie and Manson.
"Coma White" is a song by American rock band Marilyn Manson and the last track from the album Mechanical Animals. It is a hard rock ballad written by Manson, Twiggy Ramirez, Madonna Wayne Gacy, Zim Zum and produced by Manson and Michael Beinhorn. It was inspired by Manson's relationship with Rose McGowan and the numbness that his drug use caused him to feel. The track features a snare drum, cymbals, guitar, piano and keyboard bass in its instrumentation. Critics offered varied interpretations of its meaning, ranging from a song about a drug-addicted woman to a critique of celebrity culture. The song garnered a mostly positive response from music critics, with some critics deeming it one of the greatest songs of the band's career.
God Is in the T.V. is the second live video album by American rock band Marilyn Manson, released on November 2, 1999, on VHS, documenting the Mechanical Animals Tour, Beautiful Monsters Tour and Rock Is Dead Tour. It features all 13 music videos the band spawned between July 1994 and November 1999 in reverse chronology, including uncensored bonus footage from the production of "The Dope Show" music video, as well as footage culled from various concerts around the world alongside backstage and behind-the-scenes clips.
"I Don't Like the Drugs (But the Drugs Like Me)" is a song by American rock band Marilyn Manson. It was released as the second single from their third studio album, Mechanical Animals (1998). It was written by the band's eponymous frontman, along with bassist Twiggy Ramirez and then-guitarist Zim Zum, and was produced by Manson and Michael Beinhorn. A glam rock song inspired by drugs, television, and religion, the track features a gospel choir and a guitar solo by Dave Navarro of Jane's Addiction.
"The Fight Song" is a song by American rock band Marilyn Manson. It was released in 2001 as the second single from their fourth full-length studio album, Holy Wood .
"Rock Is Dead" is a song by American rock band Marilyn Manson. It was released as the third single from their third studio album, Mechanical Animals (1998). It was written by the band's eponymous frontman, along with bassist Twiggy Ramirez and keyboardist Madonna Wayne Gacy, and was produced by Manson, Michael Beinhorn and Sean Beavan. A glam rock and heavy metal track with elements of electronic music and grunge, the song features electric and bass guitars, keyboards, and live drums in its instrumentation. The song was featured on the soundtrack of the Wachowskis' film The Matrix (1999).
"Long Hard Road Out of Hell" is a song by American rock band Marilyn Manson and British trip hop band Sneaker Pimps. It was released as a single from the soundtrack to the 1997 motion picture Spawn. An arena rock and gothic rock song, "Long Hard Road Out of Hell" was written by Marilyn Manson and Twiggy Ramirez and produced by Manson and Sean Beavan. Its lyrics are about self-loathing and its title is derived from John Milton's Paradise Lost (1667). After the track was written, the Sneaker Pimps' Kelli Ali was recruited to perform background vocals on it, as the Spawn soundtrack featured collaborations between hard rock artists and electronic music artists. The Sneaker Pimps were dissatisfied with the final track and wanted a remix of it to be released as a single instead; conversely, Manson deemed it a personal favorite.
The High End of Low is the seventh studio album by American rock band Marilyn Manson. It was released on May 20, 2009 by Interscope Records. Multiple editions of the record were released by the label, each containing unique bonus tracks. The album's lyrics were largely inspired by the personal troubles experienced by the band's eponymous vocalist relating to his divorce from burlesque performer Dita Von Teese, as well as his later relationship with actress Evan Rachel Wood.
"Arma-goddamn-motherfuckin-geddon" is a song by American rock band Marilyn Manson. It was released as the second single from their seventh studio album The High End of Low. It has been remixed by the Teddybears. The song was released for download on May 5, 2009, along with the pre-order of The High End of Low. The song was included in the game Saints Row: The Third on one of the in-vehicle radio stations.
"Running to the Edge of the World" is a song by American rock band Marilyn Manson. The track is from their seventh studio album The High End of Low (2009). The song is a soft rock power ballad with elements of blues, electronic music and 1980s heavy metal music that was written and produced by the band's eponymous frontman, Twiggy Ramirez and Chris Vrenna and co-produced by Sean Beavan. The track is about sex, death and destruction and features guitar and strings in its instrumentation and falsetto vocals from Manson. Music critics deemed the song a musical departure from the band's previous work and compared it to the music of other rock acts, particularly David Bowie.
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