Samantha (Hole song)

Last updated
"Samantha"
Samantha (Hole) artwork.jpg
Digital release artwork
Song by Hole
from the album Nobody's Daughter
ReleasedApril 23, 2010 (2010-04-23)
Recorded2010
Studio Henson, Hollywood
Genre Alternative rock
Length4:16
Label Mercury
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)

"Samantha" is a song by the American alternative rock band Hole. It is the fifth track on the band's fourth studio album, Nobody's Daughter , released on Mercury Records on April 23, 2010. Written by vocalist Courtney Love, The Smashing Pumpkins frontman Billy Corgan and music producer Linda Perry, "Samantha" was originally planned as the album's lead single. [1] "Skinny Little Bitch" was later released as the album's lead single on March 12, 2010, and "Samantha" did not receive a single release reputedly due to the controversy over its composition.

Contents

Despite not receiving a single release, a music video for "Samantha" was released in September 2011. Directed by Pablo Ganguli and Alphan Eseli, it was Hole's first music video since "Be a Man" in 2000 and is set in a post-apocalyptic world with Love wearing a wedding dress with the word "cunt" embroidered on it, burning dollar bills. A high-definition version of the video leaked on social media web site Vimeo prior to its official release.

Origins and recording

"Samantha" is one of twenty-six original songs that Courtney Love wrote following her six-month lockdown in rehab in September 2005 after violating drug probation. With additional musical input from Billy Corgan and Linda Perry, the song was composed and recorded in 2006 during the embryonic sessions for Love's expected second solo studio album, How Dirty Girls Get Clean, at Perry's recording studios, the Kung Fu Gardens, in North Hollywood. [2] An in-studio rehearsal recording of "Samantha" from these sessions was featured in an episode of All Things Considered and broadcast online by NPR in May 2007. [3] A rough studio recording of the song from these sessions has circulated online in MP3 format. Three months prior to the NPR interview, Love announced that "Samantha" and other songs, including "I See Red", "Too Much Dope" and the eventually-included song "Honey", were possible inclusions on the album, now retitled Nobody's Daughter. The album was reported to have been completed in June 2007.

Due to further delays in production and a reported scrap of the album, [4] [5] "Samantha" was reworked throughout the 2008-2009 recording sessions for Nobody's Daughter. It was during these sessions that the song was described as what "[led] to the resurrection of Hole" and in June 2009, Love and guitarist Micko Larkin announced the band's reunion. In a video interview accompanying the announcement, recorded by English music magazine NME , a reworked version of "Samantha" was previewed alongside a rough version of "Nobody's Daughter." [1] This version, recorded at Henson Recording Studios in Los Angeles, California, was changed lyrically one last time before the final album version of the song premiered on March 30, 2010, on Stereogum [6] and was later released on Nobody's Daughter in April 2010.

Composition and lyrics

As on Hole's "Celebrity Skin", Billy Corgan composed the main guitar riff to "Samantha" whilst rehearsing with Love at The Village Recorder in Los Angeles. Corgan's lead guitar recording, originally featured on a studio version of the song, was omitted from the final mix by Love and replaced with a cello. [7] Composed in standard tuning, the song's opening chords (A-Am) are featured on numerous occasions throughout the song, usually on the first lines of a verse. The following progression (C-F-C) is incorporated into the opening riff to form the basic verse structure. The pre-chorus consists of two parts (Dm-C-A-Asus2)/(G-F-D9) and the main chorus follows a standard three-chord progression (A-F5-C5), two of which are power chords. The album version of the song, featuring the "through villages of ether" refrain, also has a pre-bridge verse that does not follow the formula of the previous verses (A9-C-G-D7). The bridge follows a four-chord progression (F-Dm-A-C) repeated twice and ending partway through a third repeat on the same chord as the pre-chorus ending.(F-D9) The final two verses are complex, with the lines "people like you / fuck people like me /" rehashing the same four chords as "Nobody's Daughter" (Em-G5-C5-A/A9) and the pre-bridge being repeated.

Gnome-mime-sound-openclipart.svg
"Samantha"
The intro riff to "Samantha" was composed by Billy Corgan.
Problems playing this file? See media help.

Lyrically, the song's character and meaning are both ambiguous. According to the All Things Considered episode aired in May 2007, the song was intended to be "about a working girl named Samantha" which "will join the canon of great rock songs about women, such as Sting's "Roxanne" or Fleetwood Mac's "Rhiannon." [3] However, in an April 2010 interview with Amazon.com, Love implied that the song was semi-autobiographical, stating that "it's probably me" and that the character was "coming from [her] own space." [8]

Billy Corgan co-writing controversy

Co-writer Billy Corgan has claimed that the song, along with others such as "Pacific Coast Highway", cannot be released without his approval, saying that he "has not signed off on any of those songs" and "so it would be a real big problem." [9] Hole's music attorney, Peter Paterno, has since called Corgan's block as "an unlitigated issue" and "suspects the law would favour Love." Love herself has expressed concern and hopes "that The Smashing Pumpkins frontman will one day reconcile." [10] In light of Paterno's statement, "Pacific Coast Highway" was released as a single, indicating that Corgan's issue may have been resolved.

Promotion

The song premiered live on July 9, 2007, at Love's surprise birthday show at Bush Hall in London. [11] It was also performed during all shows on Love's short-lived 2007 tour, including shows in Paris and New York. The reworked version of the song was premiered on Hole's debut television appearance after their reunion, on Friday Night with Jonathan Ross on February 12, 2010 [12] and also performed during Hole's three-date European reunion tour in London, Amsterdam and Milan. The band also performed "Samantha" at the NME Awards on February 24, 2010, alongside Nobody's Daughter's lead single, "Skinny Little Bitch" prior to the album's release.[ citation needed ]

Critical reception

"Samantha" received mixed reception both upon its digital premiere on Stereogum and its inclusion on Nobody's Daughter. Amanda Petrusich of Pitchfork Media described the song, as well as others on the album, by stating that "the guitars are so dated, raunchy, and overstated that every track starts to feel like cartoon-rock-- more a Sunset Strip-rehash than grunge nostalgia" [13] whereas Allan Raible of ABC's On the Record referred to it as "a classic Hole track, until it devolves into a repetition of the lines, “People like you f___ people like me, in order to avoid agony. / People like you f___ people like me in order to avoid suffering.” Despite the polished production, this indicates that Love is still willing to get a little rough around the edges." [14]

Reported single release

Since its initial mention in February 2007, "Samantha" was expected to be the lead single from Nobody's Daughter, however instead the Hole song "Skinny Little Bitch" was released in March 2010 [15] as the album's lead single. Following the release of "Skinny Little Bitch", the song was then expected to be the second single from the album, however, the similarly penned "Pacific Coast Highway" was announced for release in April 2010 [16] and "Letter to God", the album's final single, was released less than a month later. [17] Artwork for the unreleased single of "Samantha" has been circulated online.

Music video

In 2009, while the song was still intended for release under Courtney Love, Love revealed that David LaChapelle would direct the promotional music videos for singles from her then-forthcoming album and mentioned "i miss videos so happy Lachapelle is doing mine!" in a status update on social networking site Twitter. However, there is no confirmation, as of 2011, that LaChapelle has directed any promotional videos for Hole. A censored live version of the song, performed during Hole's reunion show at London's O2 Shepherd's Bush Empire on February 17, 2010, was released on HoleVEVO, Hole's channel as part of VEVO, by Island Def Jam on YouTube on May 4, 2010. [18]

On May 30, 2011, Love announced on Twitter that a music video for "Samantha" was being recorded. [19] Alongside the announcement, Love also posted a number of pictures from the video shoot on her fashion blog, What Courtney Wore Today. [20]

An unfinished version of the video was leaked on Vimeo on August 27, 2011, but its privacy settings were updated within less than an hour, adding password-protection. The video re-emerged on the website courtney-love.org on September 23, 2011, with Love's blessing, though she has stated it is still unfinished.

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">Hole (band)</span> American grunge band

Hole was an American alternative rock band formed in Los Angeles, California, in 1989. It was founded by singer Courtney Love and guitarist Eric Erlandson. It had several different bassists and drummers, the most prolific being drummer Patty Schemel, and bassists Kristen Pfaff and Melissa Auf der Maur. Hole released a total of four studio albums between two incarnations spanning the 1990s and early-2010s and became one of the most commercially successful rock bands in history fronted by a woman.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Melissa Auf der Maur</span> Canadian rock musician

Melissa Gaboriau Auf der Maur is a Canadian musician.

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

William Patrick Corgan Jr. is an American musician, singer, songwriter, and professional wrestling promoter. He is best known as the co-founder, lead singer, primary songwriter, guitarist, and only constant member of the rock band the Smashing Pumpkins. He has also been the owner and promoter of the National Wrestling Alliance since 2017. A cultural icon of Generation X, Corgan is credited with helping popularize alternative rock music as a member of the Smashing Pumpkins.

<i>Celebrity Skin</i> 1998 studio album by Hole

Celebrity Skin is the third studio album by American alternative rock band Hole, released on September 8, 1998, in the United States on DGC Records and internationally on Geffen Records. It was the last album released by the band before their dissolution in 2002. Hole intended for the record to diverge significantly from their previous noise and grunge-influenced sound as featured on Pretty on the Inside (1991) and Live Through This (1994). The band hired producer Michael Beinhorn to record Celebrity Skin over a nine-month period that included sessions in Los Angeles, New York City, and London. It was the band's only studio release to feature bassist Melissa Auf der Maur. Drummer Patty Schemel played the demos for the album, but was replaced by session drummer Deen Castronovo at the suggestion of producer Beinhorn. This issue created a rift between Schemel and the band, resulting in her dropping out of the tour and parting ways with the group, though she received the drumming credit on the album.

<i>Machina/The Machines of God</i> 2000 studio album by The Smashing Pumpkins

Machina/The Machines of God is the fifth studio album by the American alternative rock band the Smashing Pumpkins, released on February 29, 2000, by Virgin Records. A concept album, it marked the return of drummer Jimmy Chamberlin and was intended to be the band's final official LP release prior to their initial break-up in 2000. A sequel album—Machina II/The Friends & Enemies of Modern Music—was later released independently via the Internet, and in highly limited quantities for the physical version.

<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">Be a Man (song)</span> 2000 single by Hole

"Be a Man" is the thirteenth and last single by alternative rock band Hole before their breakup in 2002.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Celebrity Skin (song)</span> 1998 single by Hole

"Celebrity Skin" is a single by American alternative rock band Hole, released by Geffen Records on August 31, 1998. It is the first single released from their third studio album of the same name and is their most commercially successful single, being the only one to reach the top place on the US Modern Rock Tracks chart. In October 2011, NME ranked it the 126th best track of the past 15 years.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Malibu (Hole song)</span> 1998 single by Hole

"Malibu" is a song by American alternative rock band Hole. It is the fourth track and second single from the band's third studio album, Celebrity Skin, and was released on December 29, 1998, on DGC Records. The song was written by vocalist and rhythm guitarist Courtney Love, lead guitarist Eric Erlandson and Billy Corgan of the Smashing Pumpkins, who contributed to four other songs on Celebrity Skin.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Violet (Hole song)</span> 1995 single by Hole

"Violet" is a song by American alternative rock band Hole, written by vocalist and guitarist Courtney Love and guitarist Eric Erlandson. The song was written in mid-1991, and was performed live between 1991 and 1992 during Hole's earlier tours, eventually appearing as the opening track on the band's second studio album Live Through This (1994). The song was released as the group's seventh single and the third from that album in early 1995.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Micko Larkin</span> English musician

Michael "Micko" Joseph Larkin is an English musician, most notable as the lead guitarist of the indie rock band Larrikin Love and reformed Hole.

<i>Nobodys Daughter</i> 2010 studio album by Hole

Nobody's Daughter is the fourth and final studio album by the American alternative rock band Hole, released on April 23, 2010, by Mercury Records. The album was initially conceived as a solo project and follow-up to the Hole frontwoman Courtney Love's first solo record, America's Sweetheart (2004). At the urging of her friend and former producer Linda Perry, Love began writing material while in a lockdown rehabilitation center in 2005 following a protracted cocaine addiction and numerous related legal troubles. In 2006, Love, along with Perry and Billy Corgan, began recording the album, which at that time was tentatively titled How Dirty Girls Get Clean.

"Turpentine" is a song by the American alternative rock band Hole. It was written by vocalist and rhythm guitarist Courtney Love and lead guitarist Eric Erlandson. The song was one of the band's first compositions and remained unreleased for seven years before being released on the band's second EP, The First Session on August 26, 1997. Although not as well known as Hole's later songs, "Turpentine" is a notable song for the band as it is often cited as "the first Hole song."

"Garbadge Man" is a song by the American alternative rock band Hole, written collectively by the band's original line-up. It is the third track on the band's first studio album, Pretty on the Inside, released on September 17, 1991, by Caroline Records. Dealing with religious and personal issues, "Garbadge Man" was Hole's first song to have a music video, which was broadcast on 120 Minutes on MTV several times in the early 1990s.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Stu Fisher</span> English musician

Stuart Fisher is an English musician, notable for being drummer of alternative rock band Hole between 2009 and 2011. Prior to becoming a member of Hole, Fisher was also the drummer of English psychedelic rock band Ozric Tentacles and also Fingermonster. He was raised on the Isle of Wight, later relocating to Somerset while in Ozric Tentacles, London and later Los Angeles while playing with Courtney Love and is now based in the Isle of Wight. Love revealed he had once worked for Hello! magazine in 1999.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Skinny Little Bitch</span> Single by Hole

"Skinny Little Bitch" is a song by the American alternative rock band Hole. It is the second track and lead single from the band's fourth studio album, Nobody's Daughter, and was released on March 12, 2010 on Mercury Records. Written by vocalist Courtney Love and lead guitarist Micko Larkin, "Skinny Little Bitch" was Hole's first single in a decade and first release not to feature founding member Eric Erlandson.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pacific Coast Highway (song)</span> 2010 single by Hole

"Pacific Coast Highway" is the fifteenth single by the alternative rock group Hole. It is the second single from the band's fourth studio album Nobody's Daughter. It was released as a digital download on April 6, 2010, and was added to modern rock radio in the United States on May 5, 2010.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Letter to God (song)</span> 2010 single by Hole

"Letter to God" is a song by alternative rock band Hole, written solely by music producer Linda Perry. The song was released as the band's sixteenth single, and third and final single from their fourth studio album Nobody's Daughter, on April 20, 2010, as a digital download. The song was featured in the short animated film, Dark Night Of The Soul, directed by Michael Mouris. It is the last single released by the band.

<i>The Return of Courtney Love</i> 2006 British film

The Return of Courtney Love is a 2006 documentary film by Will Yapp documenting the progression of musician Courtney Love's second studio album, How Dirty Girls Get Clean, as well as her recovery from drug addiction. The documentary was first broadcast on More4 in the United Kingdom and Ireland on 26 September 2006.

References

  1. 1 2 Martin, Dan (June 18, 2009). "The Return Of Hole – Part Two – The New Album Track-By-Track – In The NME Office". NME . Retrieved March 6, 2010.
  2. ↑ "Love Wants Her Throne Back On New Album". Billboard . October 20, 2006. Retrieved February 9, 2011.
  3. 1 2 Neda Ulaby (May 15, 2007). "Rebuilding Courtney Love, One Song at a Time : NPR". NPR . Retrieved 17 August 2016.
  4. ↑ "Courtney Love scraps new album | News | NME.COM". NME. May 16, 2008. Retrieved February 8, 2011.
  5. ↑ Alex Fletcher (May 14, 2008). "Music - News - Courtney Love scraps Perry album - Digital Spy". Digital Spy . Retrieved February 8, 2011.
  6. ↑ "Hole - "Samantha" (Stereogum Premiere)". Stereogum. March 30, 2010. Retrieved April 1, 2010.
  7. ↑ "Samantha by Hole Songfacts". Songfacts. Retrieved February 9, 2011.
  8. ↑ Welcome Back Courtney (Love), by Camille Dodero, in the Village Voice ; published April 27, 2010; retrieved June 26, 2016
  9. ↑ Corgan, Billy (2010). Rolling Stone. No. February 2010.{{cite magazine}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  10. ↑ Paterno, Peter; Love, Courtney (2010). Rolling Stone. No. April 2010. p. 16.{{cite magazine}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  11. ↑ Price, Simon (July 15, 2007). "Courtney Love, Bush Hall, London - Shiny Toy Guns, Dingwalls, London - Reviews, Music - The Independent". The Independent . Retrieved February 9, 2011.[ dead link ]
  12. ↑ "Hole - "Samantha" (Live On Jonathan Ross) - Stereogum". Stereogum. February 15, 2010. Retrieved February 9, 2011.
  13. ↑ Amanda Petrusich (April 27, 2010). "Pitchfork: Album Reviews: Hole: Nobody's Daughter". Pitchfork Media . Retrieved February 9, 2011.
  14. ↑ Allan Raible (April 30, 2010). "Review: Hole's "Nobody's Daughter" - On the Record". ABC . Retrieved February 9, 2011.
  15. ↑ Emily Tan (March 4, 2010). "Hole Release New Single, 'Skinny Little Bitch' - Spinner". Spinner . Retrieved February 9, 2011.
  16. ↑ "Pacific Coast Highway | Discography | Hole | Artists | Mercury | Island Def Jam". Island Def Jam. Archived from the original on 2011-07-21.
  17. ↑ "Amazon.com: Letter To God (Amazon MP3 Exclusive): Hole: MP3 Downloads". Amazon. 2010. Retrieved February 8, 2010.
  18. ↑ "YouTube - Hole - Samantha". HoleVEVO. May 4, 2010.
  19. ↑ Courtney Love (May 30, 2011). "Twitter / @courtney m loved: today is samantha video shoot da..." Twitter . Retrieved June 1, 2011.
  20. ↑ Courtney Love (May 30, 2011). "What Courtney Wore Today". Tumblr . Retrieved June 1, 2011.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.