Cumbersome
Encyclopedia
"Cumbersome" is a song by Seven Mary Three
and the lead single
from their breakthrough album, American Standard
. It was originally included on their independently
released debut, Churn
, in 1994. The single was released in 1996 and became the band's most popular and well known song. "Cumbersome" reached #1 on Billboard
's Mainstream Rock Tracks, #7 on the Modern Rock Tracks
, #39 on the Billboard Hot 100
, and on their list of Top Mainstream Rock Songs of the Decade, the song ranked in at #5 for 1996. An acoustic
version of the song is included on the "Cumbersome" and "Water's Edge
" CD singles. A live version appears on Live in the X Lounge IV, released in 2001.
radio station and generating great response, the song propelled Seven Mary Three to a record deal with Mammoth Records
. The band then re-recorded "Cumbersome" for their Mammoth label debut album, American Standard, and the song catapulted the album to platinum status
.
. It also arguably highlights the group's songwriting abilities with unique lines such as "She calls me Goliath and I wear the David
mask." Aiding the song's catchy melody, its chorus features a rapid succession of rhymes including "Too heavy too light, too black or too white, too wrong or too right, today or tonight/Cumbersome." The song opens with guitar chords which are strummed conventionally and then strummed muted
between every chord transition. This pattern carries on throughout the song. "Cumbersome"'s prominent bassline
is highlighted during the bridge
and also provides a sense of liveliness to the song.
s of the 1990s. In a 2005 interview, drummer Giti Khalsa called the song "a blessing and a curse." He added, "It definitely was the beginning of our success. We were able to sell a lot of records because of that song and a couple others on that first record. But, at the same time, with each record that we've made - it's like the 'monkey on the back.'" This was reinforced in 2003 when the band opened for 3 Doors Down
on tour. The latter group, having surpassed Seven Mary Three in popularity, claimed to have covered
"Cumbersome" among other Seven Mary Three songs during their early days. Khalsa also expressed disappointment in a 2003 interview where he stated that a considerable amount of people leave their shows after "Cumbersome" is performed.
As of 2008, "Cumbersome" allegedly receives over 500 plays a week on popular radio.
was produced by MMG and directed by Julie Hermelin. A stripped down performance video with little-to-no story concept or special effect
s, it revolves entirely around the band playing the song in a bar
during the day.
Seven Mary Three
Seven Mary Three, occasionally abbreviated to 7 Mary 3 or 7M3, is an American hard rock band. They have released seven studio albums and one live album, and are best known for their hit singles "Cumbersome", "Water's Edge", "Lucky", and "Wait"....
and the lead single
Lead single
A lead single is usually the first single released by a musician or a band before the release of its home album.During the era of the grammophone record, all music arrived in the marketplace as what is now termed a single, one potential hit song backed by an additional song of generally less...
from their breakthrough album, American Standard
American Standard (album)
American Standard is the second studio album by American post-grunge band Seven Mary Three. It was released on September 5, 1995 on Mammoth Records. The album would be Seven Mary Three's breakthrough success, rising to #24 on the Billboard 200 and going platinum...
. It was originally included on their independently
Independent record label
An independent record label is a record label operating without the funding of or outside the organizations of the major record labels. A great number of bands and musical acts begin on independent labels.-Overview:...
released debut, Churn
Churn (Seven Mary Three album)
Churn is the debut studio album by American post-grunge band Seven Mary Three. It was independently released and preceded the band's mainstream breakthrough, American Standard. Churn also included two songs that would go on to be among Seven Mary Three's biggest singles. The album was re-released...
, in 1994. The single was released in 1996 and became the band's most popular and well known song. "Cumbersome" reached #1 on Billboard
Billboard (magazine)
Billboard is a weekly American magazine devoted to the music industry, and is one of the oldest trade magazines in the world. It maintains several internationally recognized music charts that track the most popular songs and albums in various categories on a weekly basis...
's Mainstream Rock Tracks, #7 on the Modern Rock Tracks
Modern Rock Tracks
Alternative Songs is a music chart in the United States that has appeared in Billboard magazine since September 10, 1988. It lists the 40 most-played songs on modern rock radio stations, most of which are alternative rock songs...
, #39 on the Billboard Hot 100
Billboard Hot 100
The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday...
, and on their list of Top Mainstream Rock Songs of the Decade, the song ranked in at #5 for 1996. An acoustic
Acoustic guitar
An acoustic guitar is a guitar that uses only an acoustic sound board. The air in this cavity resonates with the vibrational modes of the string and at low frequencies, which depend on the size of the box, the chamber acts like a Helmholtz resonator, increasing or decreasing the volume of the sound...
version of the song is included on the "Cumbersome" and "Water's Edge
Water's Edge
Waters Edge is the eighth studio album by rock band Sweet, released in 1980.-Track listing:# "Sixties Man" - 4:11...
" CD singles. A live version appears on Live in the X Lounge IV, released in 2001.
Background
The original six minute version of "Cumbersome" served as the opening track to Churn. After airing on a FloridaFlorida
Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
radio station and generating great response, the song propelled Seven Mary Three to a record deal with Mammoth Records
Mammoth Records
Founded by Jay Faires in 1989 in Carrboro, North Carolina, Mammoth Records was one of the premiere independent record labels of the 1990s. Its roster featured such diverse talent as Antenna, Blake Babies, Chainsaw Kittens, Dash Rip Rock, Dillon Fence, Far Too Jones, Frente!, Fun-Da-Mental, Fu...
. The band then re-recorded "Cumbersome" for their Mammoth label debut album, American Standard, and the song catapulted the album to platinum status
Music recording sales certification
Music recording sales certification is a system of certifying that a music recording has shipped or sold a certain number of copies, where the threshold quantity varies by type and by nation or territory .Almost all countries follow variations of the RIAA certification categories,...
.
Music and lyrics
"Cumbersome" boasts aggressive, universal lyrics which describe regret over a couple's separation, particularly a woman's disinterest in her significant otherSignificant other
Significant other is colloquially used as a gender-blind term for a person's partner in an intimate relationship without disclosing or presuming anything about marital status, relationship status, or sexual orientation, as it is vague enough to avoid offense by using a term that an individual...
. It also arguably highlights the group's songwriting abilities with unique lines such as "She calls me Goliath and I wear the David
David
David was the second king of the united Kingdom of Israel according to the Hebrew Bible and, according to the Gospels of Matthew and Luke, an ancestor of Jesus Christ through both Saint Joseph and Mary...
mask." Aiding the song's catchy melody, its chorus features a rapid succession of rhymes including "Too heavy too light, too black or too white, too wrong or too right, today or tonight/Cumbersome." The song opens with guitar chords which are strummed conventionally and then strummed muted
Left-hand muting
Left-hand muting is a performance technique for stringed instruments, where the vibration of a string is damped by the left hand. -First variant:...
between every chord transition. This pattern carries on throughout the song. "Cumbersome"'s prominent bassline
Bassline
A bassline is the term used in many styles of popular music, such as jazz, blues, funk, dub and electronic music for the low-pitched instrumental part or line played by a rhythm section instrument such as the electric bass, double bass, tuba or keyboard...
is highlighted during the bridge
Bridge (music)
In music, especially western popular music, a bridge is a contrasting section which also prepares for the return of the original material section...
and also provides a sense of liveliness to the song.
Legacy and curse
Despite proving commercial successful, as the band's debut single and most popular song, "Cumbersome" has, according to some observers, pigeon-holed Seven Mary Three among the one-hit wonderOne-hit wonder
A one-hit wonder is a person or act known mainly for only a single success. The term is most often used to describe music performers with only one hit single.-Characteristics:...
s of the 1990s. In a 2005 interview, drummer Giti Khalsa called the song "a blessing and a curse." He added, "It definitely was the beginning of our success. We were able to sell a lot of records because of that song and a couple others on that first record. But, at the same time, with each record that we've made - it's like the 'monkey on the back.'" This was reinforced in 2003 when the band opened for 3 Doors Down
3 Doors Down
3 Doors Down is an American rock band from Escatawpa formed in 1996. The band consists of Brad Arnold , Matt Roberts , Todd Harrell , Chris Henderson , and Greg Upchurch ....
on tour. The latter group, having surpassed Seven Mary Three in popularity, claimed to have covered
Cover version
In popular music, a cover version or cover song, or simply cover, is a new performance or recording of a contemporary or previously recorded, commercially released song or popular song...
"Cumbersome" among other Seven Mary Three songs during their early days. Khalsa also expressed disappointment in a 2003 interview where he stated that a considerable amount of people leave their shows after "Cumbersome" is performed.
As of 2008, "Cumbersome" allegedly receives over 500 plays a week on popular radio.
Music video
The "Cumbersome" videoMusic video
A music video or song video is a short film integrating a song and imagery, produced for promotional or artistic purposes. Modern music videos are primarily made and used as a marketing device intended to promote the sale of music recordings...
was produced by MMG and directed by Julie Hermelin. A stripped down performance video with little-to-no story concept or special effect
Special effect
The illusions used in the film, television, theatre, or entertainment industries to simulate the imagined events in a story are traditionally called special effects ....
s, it revolves entirely around the band playing the song in a bar
Bar (establishment)
A bar is a business establishment that serves alcoholic drinks — beer, wine, liquor, and cocktails — for consumption on the premises.Bars provide stools or chairs that are placed at tables or counters for their patrons. Some bars have entertainment on a stage, such as a live band, comedians, go-go...
during the day.
Chart positions
| Chart | Peak position |
Year |
|---|---|---|
| Canadian RPM Alternative 30 RPM (magazine) RPM was a Canadian music industry publication that featured song and album charts for Canada. The publication was founded by Walt Grealis in February 1964, supported through its existence by record label owner Stan Klees. RPM ceased publication in November 2000.RPM stood for "Records, Promotion,... |
8 | 1995 |
| U.S. Billboard Modern Rock Tracks Modern Rock Tracks Alternative Songs is a music chart in the United States that has appeared in Billboard magazine since September 10, 1988. It lists the 40 most-played songs on modern rock radio stations, most of which are alternative rock songs... |
7 | 1996 |
| U.S. Billboard Mainstream Rock Tracks Mainstream Rock Tracks Hot Mainstream Rock Tracks is a ranking in Billboard magazine of the most-played songs on mainstream rock radio stations, a category that includes stations that play primarily rock music. Modern rock tracks are counted in the Alternative Songs chart.This chart began with the March 21, 1981, issue... |
1 | |
| U.S. Billboard Hot 100 | 39 | |