Judith (song)
Encyclopedia
"Judith" is a song by American rock
band A Perfect Circle
. It was released as the first single from their debut album Mer de Noms
. The single was released as a 1-track Compact Disc
single in North America
, and a 4-track single on both disc and vinyl
format in Australia
.
Billy Howerdel
noted that "Judith" was "a truly unique song, in that it was done - from start to finish - in just one sitting". According to Howerdel, he had parts of Judith already completed prior to meeting vocalist Maynard James Keenan
. After Keenan joined, the song became heavier, and the song is also one of the heaviest songs on the album.
explains on the Amotion
DVD how the song is about his mother Judith Marie Keenan, who suffered a stroke and was restricted to a wheelchair for the rest of her life.
Since the conception of A Perfect Circle, the band had been associated closely with Keenan's main band, Tool
. "Judith" brought with it distinct connections between the two bands, both attracting Tool fans and listeners of alternative rock. Subsequent songs returned their unique sound.
, director of Fight Club
, Se7en
, and The Social Network
. The video consists of the band performing in a large, empty studio with many of Fincher's signature cinematic tricks employed (dark smoky lighting, obscuring of faces, extensive film scratching and frame manipulation). All original members are depicted in the video (along with bassist Paz
seen putting her hair in a pony tail between the end of the first chorus and beginning of the second verse in which the bass drops out for a drum and lead guitar-only section. However, she could not do it fast enough in real time during the filming and consequently the section was slightly sped up for the filmed action to fit the space within the song). In an interview with Sook-Yin Lee
, a former MuchMusic
VJ, Billy Howerdel
revealed that the band originally intended for a video that consisted of a storyline but, due to time restraints, were unable to do so.
The music video for Judith can be found on the Amotion DVD, along with individual commentary from both Maynard James Keenan and Billy Howerdel.
for the soundtrack to the movie Underworld. The remix, entitled "Judith (Renholder Remix)" is a darker, more industrial
-based version which features the use of drum machines and synthesizers.
Rock music
Rock music is a genre of popular music that developed during and after the 1960s, particularly in the United Kingdom and the United States. It has its roots in 1940s and 1950s rock and roll, itself heavily influenced by rhythm and blues and country music...
band A Perfect Circle
A Perfect Circle
A Perfect Circle is an American rock supergroup formed in 1999 by guitarist Billy Howerdel and Tool vocalist Maynard James Keenan. The original incarnation of the band also included Paz Lenchantin on bass, Troy Van Leeuwen on guitar, and Tim Alexander on drums...
. It was released as the first single from their debut album Mer de Noms
Mer de Noms
- Symbols :Inside the insert the track names appear to be randomly spelled out in symbols. One way to decipher the symbols is to match the song titles using the normal alphabet with the song titles inside the insert....
. The single was released as a 1-track Compact Disc
Compact Disc
The Compact Disc is an optical disc used to store digital data. It was originally developed to store and playback sound recordings exclusively, but later expanded to encompass data storage , write-once audio and data storage , rewritable media , Video Compact Discs , Super Video Compact Discs ,...
single in North America
North America
North America is a continent wholly within the Northern Hemisphere and almost wholly within the Western Hemisphere. It is also considered a northern subcontinent of the Americas...
, and a 4-track single on both disc and vinyl
Gramophone record
A gramophone record, commonly known as a phonograph record , vinyl record , or colloquially, a record, is an analog sound storage medium consisting of a flat disc with an inscribed, modulated spiral groove...
format in Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
.
Structure
During an interview on A Perfect Circle's officially released Interview Disc, guitaristGuitarist
A guitarist is a musician who plays the guitar. Guitarists may play a variety of instruments such as classical guitars, acoustic guitars, electric guitars, and bass guitars. Some guitarists accompany themselves on the guitar while singing.- Versatility :The guitarist controls an extremely...
Billy Howerdel
Billy Howerdel
Billy Howerdel is the founding member, guitarist, songwriter, and producer for the bands A Perfect Circle and Ashes Divide. He has recorded three acclaimed studio albums with the former, and in 2008, Ashes Divide released their debut album, Keep Telling Myself It's Alright.-Early life:Howerdel was...
noted that "Judith" was "a truly unique song, in that it was done - from start to finish - in just one sitting". According to Howerdel, he had parts of Judith already completed prior to meeting vocalist Maynard James Keenan
Maynard James Keenan
Maynard James Keenan is an American rock singer, songwriter, musician, record producer, winemaker, and actor. Originally from Ohio, Keenan spent his high school and college years in Michigan. After serving in the Army in the early 1980s, he attended Kendall College of Art and Design in Grand Rapids...
. After Keenan joined, the song became heavier, and the song is also one of the heaviest songs on the album.
Concept
Maynard James KeenanMaynard James Keenan
Maynard James Keenan is an American rock singer, songwriter, musician, record producer, winemaker, and actor. Originally from Ohio, Keenan spent his high school and college years in Michigan. After serving in the Army in the early 1980s, he attended Kendall College of Art and Design in Grand Rapids...
explains on the Amotion
AMOTION
-Personnel:* Christopher Abbas – Director* Josh Abrahams – Remixing* Tim Alexander – Group member* Ken Andrews – Mixing* Wes Borland – Remixing* Brothers Strause – Director* Jerry Casale – Director...
DVD how the song is about his mother Judith Marie Keenan, who suffered a stroke and was restricted to a wheelchair for the rest of her life.
Since the conception of A Perfect Circle, the band had been associated closely with Keenan's main band, Tool
Tool (band)
Tool is an American rock band from Los Angeles, California. Formed in 1990, the group's line-up has included drummer Danny Carey, guitarist Adam Jones, and vocalist Maynard James Keenan. Since 1995, Justin Chancellor has been the band's bassist, replacing their original bassist Paul D'Amour...
. "Judith" brought with it distinct connections between the two bands, both attracting Tool fans and listeners of alternative rock. Subsequent songs returned their unique sound.
Video
The music video for Judith was directed by David FincherDavid Fincher
David Andrew Leo Fincher is an American film and music video director. Known for his dark and stylish thrillers, such as Seven , The Game , Fight Club , Panic Room , and Zodiac , Fincher received Academy Award nominations for Best Director for his 2008 film The Curious Case of Benjamin Button and...
, director of Fight Club
Fight Club (film)
Fight Club is a 1999 American film based on the 1996 novel of the same name by Chuck Palahniuk. The film was directed by David Fincher and stars Edward Norton, Brad Pitt and Helena Bonham Carter. Norton plays the unnamed protagonist, an "everyman" who is discontented with his white-collar job...
, Se7en
Se7en
Seven is a 1995 American thriller film, which also contains horror and neo-noir elements, directed by David Fincher and written by Andrew Kevin Walker. It was distributed by New Line Cinema and stars Brad Pitt, Morgan Freeman, Gwyneth Paltrow, R...
, and The Social Network
The Social Network
The Social Network is a 2010 American drama film directed by David Fincher and written by Aaron Sorkin. Adapted from Ben Mezrich's 2009 book The Accidental Billionaires, the film portrays the founding of social networking website Facebook and the resulting lawsuits...
. The video consists of the band performing in a large, empty studio with many of Fincher's signature cinematic tricks employed (dark smoky lighting, obscuring of faces, extensive film scratching and frame manipulation). All original members are depicted in the video (along with bassist Paz
Paz Lenchantin
Paz Lenchantin is an American musician of French ancestry. She came to Los Angeles, California with her family at the age of four....
seen putting her hair in a pony tail between the end of the first chorus and beginning of the second verse in which the bass drops out for a drum and lead guitar-only section. However, she could not do it fast enough in real time during the filming and consequently the section was slightly sped up for the filmed action to fit the space within the song). In an interview with Sook-Yin Lee
Sook-Yin Lee
Sook-Yin Lee is a Canadian musician, filmmaker, actress and media personality.-Background:Lee grew up in a Vancouver suburb, the second-oldest daughter of immigrants. She was raised as a devout Roman Catholic. Her father was a post-World War II orphan from Hong Kong, her mother an escapee from...
, a former MuchMusic
MuchMusic
MuchMusic is a Canadian English language Category A specialty channel owned by Bell Media. MuchMusic is dedicated to music-related programs, pop and youth culture.-History:...
VJ, Billy Howerdel
Billy Howerdel
Billy Howerdel is the founding member, guitarist, songwriter, and producer for the bands A Perfect Circle and Ashes Divide. He has recorded three acclaimed studio albums with the former, and in 2008, Ashes Divide released their debut album, Keep Telling Myself It's Alright.-Early life:Howerdel was...
revealed that the band originally intended for a video that consisted of a storyline but, due to time restraints, were unable to do so.
The music video for Judith can be found on the Amotion DVD, along with individual commentary from both Maynard James Keenan and Billy Howerdel.
Remix
"Judith" was one of several songs created/remixed by Danny LohnerDanny Lohner
Daniel Patrick "Danny" Lohner , frequently known as Renholdër, is an American rock musician who plays bass guitar, electric guitar, and keyboards. He worked with Trent Reznor on numerous occasions, both with Nine Inch Nails and on the now defunct Tapeworm project...
for the soundtrack to the movie Underworld. The remix, entitled "Judith (Renholder Remix)" is a darker, more industrial
Industrial music
Industrial music is a style of experimental music that draws on transgressive and provocative themes. The term was coined in the mid-1970s with the founding of Industrial Records by the band Throbbing Gristle, and the creation of the slogan "industrial music for industrial people". In general, the...
-based version which features the use of drum machines and synthesizers.
Track listing
- "Judith" - 4:03
- "Magdalena" (Live) - 4:15
- "Breña" (Live) - 4:04
- "Orestes" (Demo) - 3:24
Charts
| Chart (2000) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Billboard Hot Mainstream Rock Tracks | 4 |
| Billboard Hot Modern Rock Tracks | 5 |