36 Degrees
Encyclopedia
"36 Degrees" is a song by British
alternative rock
band Placebo
, released as the third single from their eponymous debut album
. It reached number eighty in the UK Singles Chart
.
. There are various suggestions, such as it relates to sexual preferences or it is to do with dying. Some state 36 Degrees refers to the average
human body temperature being generally accepted as 37 °C (98.6 °F), and that the narrator is dying, or losing the will to live
after being dumped by a partner. Singer Brian Molko is stated to have said before a performance "The average body temperature is 37 degrees. This is a song called 36 Degrees", further adding to the speculations. However, the term 36 Degrees also means two people who are not getting on in urban slang
; therefore the idea of the song being written for a break-up could well be true. The other numbers mentioned have been said to just be random, "they just seemed to fit" according to the band.
, was shot primarily in a scuba diving pool and shows band members performing the song underwater. Some scenes were shot in a swamp
-like area and show Brian Molko singing the lyrics with just his head above the surface of the water. Later band members revealed that this video was extremely hard to shoot and they would never make one underwater again. Chris Cunningham also claimed in an interview that he made Molko cry, having him in the frigid water for hours.
tour. A reworked version, performed at a much slower tempo, was debuted at the band's 10th anniversary show at Wembley Arena
in 2004. This version was played during the band's 2005 South American tour and the early legs of the Meds
tour. It was also released as a B-side to the "Because I Want You
" and "Song to Say Goodbye
" singles under the title "36 Degrees 2005".
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
alternative rock
Alternative rock
Alternative rock is a genre of rock music and a term used to describe a diverse musical movement that emerged from the independent music underground of the 1980s and became widely popular by the 1990s...
band Placebo
Placebo (band)
Placebo are a British rock band from London, England, formed in 1994 by singer and guitarist Brian Molko and bass guitarist Stefan Olsdal. The band was joined by drummer Robert Schultzberg, who was later replaced by Steve Hewitt after conflicts with Molko. Hewitt left the band in October 2007 and...
, released as the third single from their eponymous debut album
Placebo (album)
Placebo is the self-titled debut studio album by British alternative rock band Placebo, released on the Hut Records label on 16 July 1996.-Reception:In 1998, Q magazine readers voted it the 87th greatest album of all time...
. It reached number eighty in the UK Singles Chart
UK Singles Chart
The UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ...
.
Song meaning
The song meaning has been a topic much debated amongst fansFan (person)
A Fan, sometimes also called aficionado or supporter, is a person with a liking and enthusiasm for something, such as a band or a sports team. Fans of a particular thing or person constitute its fanbase or fandom...
. There are various suggestions, such as it relates to sexual preferences or it is to do with dying. Some state 36 Degrees refers to the average
Average
In mathematics, an average, or central tendency of a data set is a measure of the "middle" value of the data set. Average is one form of central tendency. Not all central tendencies should be considered definitions of average....
human body temperature being generally accepted as 37 °C (98.6 °F), and that the narrator is dying, or losing the will to live
Will to live
The will to live is a psychological force to fight for survival, particularly when one's life is threatened by an injury or disease such as cancer. Some physicians believe that it plays an important role in one's chances of survival. There are significant correlations between the will to live and...
after being dumped by a partner. Singer Brian Molko is stated to have said before a performance "The average body temperature is 37 degrees. This is a song called 36 Degrees", further adding to the speculations. However, the term 36 Degrees also means two people who are not getting on in urban slang
Slang
Slang is the use of informal words and expressions that are not considered standard in the speaker's language or dialect but are considered more acceptable when used socially. Slang is often to be found in areas of the lexicon that refer to things considered taboo...
; therefore the idea of the song being written for a break-up could well be true. The other numbers mentioned have been said to just be random, "they just seemed to fit" according to the band.
Music video
The music video, directed by Chris CunninghamChris Cunningham
Chris Cunningham is an English music video film director and video artist. He was born in Reading, Berkshire in 1970 and grew up in Lakenheath, Suffolk....
, was shot primarily in a scuba diving pool and shows band members performing the song underwater. Some scenes were shot in a swamp
Swamp
A swamp is a wetland with some flooding of large areas of land by shallow bodies of water. A swamp generally has a large number of hammocks, or dry-land protrusions, covered by aquatic vegetation, or vegetation that tolerates periodical inundation. The two main types of swamp are "true" or swamp...
-like area and show Brian Molko singing the lyrics with just his head above the surface of the water. Later band members revealed that this video was extremely hard to shoot and they would never make one underwater again. Chris Cunningham also claimed in an interview that he made Molko cry, having him in the frigid water for hours.
Live performance history
The song was part of the band's repertoire prior to the release of their album and it was a regular until the Sleeping with GhostsSleeping with Ghosts
Sleeping with Ghosts is the fourth studio album by English alternative rock band Placebo, released in 2003 through Astralwerks and Hut Records...
tour. A reworked version, performed at a much slower tempo, was debuted at the band's 10th anniversary show at Wembley Arena
Wembley Arena
Wembley Arena is an indoor arena, at Wembley, in the London Borough of Brent. The building is opposite Wembley Stadium.-History:...
in 2004. This version was played during the band's 2005 South American tour and the early legs of the Meds
Meds
Meds is the fifth studio album by British alternative rock band Placebo, released in 2006 on Virgin Records. It was released in most countries on 13 March 2006, although it was released three days earlier in Australia and New Zealand...
tour. It was also released as a B-side to the "Because I Want You
Because I Want You
"Because I Want You" is the first single from Placebo's fifth album Meds, released only in the United Kingdom.-Enhanced CD:#"Because I Want You"#"36 Degrees" #"Because I Want You"...
" and "Song to Say Goodbye
Song to Say Goodbye
"Song to Say Goodbye" is the second single from Placebo's fifth studio album Meds. It was produced by Dimitri Tikovoi. As "Because I Want You" was only released in the United Kingdom, elsewhere "Song to Say Goodbye" is considered the first single from Meds...
" singles under the title "36 Degrees 2005".