The Everlasting Gaze
| "The Everlasting Gaze" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
Cover of the promo CD | ||||
| Single by the Smashing Pumpkins | ||||
| from the album Machina/The Machines of God | ||||
| Released | December 14, 1999[1] | |||
| Genre | ||||
| Length | 4:01 | |||
| Label | Virgin | |||
| Songwriter | Billy Corgan | |||
| Producers |
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| The Smashing Pumpkins singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
| Alternative cover | ||||
VHS single cover | ||||
"The Everlasting Gaze" is a song written by Billy Corgan and recorded by the Smashing Pumpkins. It is the opening track from the band's fifth studio album, Machina/The Machines of God (2000). The song was released as the lead North American single on December 14, 1999. It was also originally going to be released internationally in January 2000, but despite the heavy rotation of the Jonas Åkerlund-directed music video, it was rejected in favor of "Stand Inside Your Love".
Song information
The unique guitar sound in the song was achieved by using a small Crate practice amp.[3] Corgan has said that this song "has a lot to do with spirituality and trying to find my place in the universe and sort of humbly accepting limitations and the things I've been graced with. It's more of a humanistic world view. I'm not writing anymore for the tortured teen—both me and whoever was listening. I'm writing with the idea that everybody's experiencing these things all the time, and even if they're not experiencing them personally, they're affected by them. You can live in the street and write about the garbage, or you can try to get up a little higher and look down and try to see the bigger picture."[4]
During the recording of Machina/The Machines of God, an early version of this song with very different lyrics had the working title of "Disco King". The final version of the song retains Chamberlin's consistent use of offbeat hi-hat beats. The final chorus was cut from the final version, though an a cappella section was added.
Music video
The music video was directed by Jonas Åkerlund and is a performance-based music video, the first to feature Melissa Auf der Maur, playing bass with the band after the departure of D'arcy Wretzky. Originally, the band had considered Jonathan Dayton and Valerie Faris to direct the video.
Charts
Weekly charts
| Chart (2000) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Canada Rock/Alternative (RPM)[5] | 11 |
| US Mainstream Rock (Billboard)[6] | 14 |
| US Alternative Airplay (Billboard)[7] | 4 |
Year-end charts
| Chart (2000) | Position |
|---|---|
| US Mainstream Rock Tracks (Billboard)[8] | 69 |
| US Modern Rock Tracks (Billboard)[9] | 59 |
References
- ^ "Going for Adds". Radio & Records. No. 1329. December 10, 1999. pp. 116, 120.
- ^ Alexander, Jim (September 12, 2005). "Smashing Pumpkins : Rotten Apples". NME. Retrieved February 19, 2023.
- ^ Thomas, Richard. "Signal to Noise: The Sonic Diary of the Smashing Pumpkins". EQ Magazine. October 2008.
- ^ DeRogatis, Jim. "Corgan speaks truth: He's grown up". Chicago Sun-Times: April 11, 2000.
- ^ "Top RPM Rock/Alternative Tracks: Image 9709". RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved November 24, 2016.
- ^ "Smashing Pumpkins Chart History (Mainstream Rock)". Billboard. Retrieved November 24, 2016.
- ^ "Smashing Pumpkins Chart History (Alternative Airplay)". Billboard. Retrieved November 24, 2016.
- ^ "Most Played Mainstream Rock Songs of 2000". Airplay Monitor. Vol. 8, no. 51. December 22, 2000. p. 33.
- ^ "Most Played Modern Rock Songs of 2000". Airplay Monitor. Vol. 8, no. 51. December 22, 2000. p. 38.
