"Mono" is the debut single released by Courtney Love

Courtney Love

Courtney Michelle Love is an American rock musician. Love is the lead vocalist, lyricist, and rhythm guitarist for alternative rock band Hole, which she formed in 1989, and is an actress who has moved from bit parts in Alex Cox films to significant and acclaimed roles in The People vs...

, as a solo artist. Released the week after its parent album, America's Sweetheart, the single was overshadowed by issues Love was undergoing in her personal life - namely her drug addiction and legal problems - and was a subsequent commercial failure. A promotional music video for the song was also created.

Background and production

"Mono" was one of the first songs recorded during the sessions for America's Sweetheart, and was written by Love, Linda Perry

Linda Perry

Linda Perry is an American rock musician, songwriter, and record producer. Once best known as the lead singer and primary songwriter of 4 Non Blondes, Perry has founded two record labels and has become a major songwriter and producer...

, former Hole

Hole (band)

Hole is an American alternative rock band that originally formed in Los Angeles in 1989. The band is fronted by vocalist/songwriter and rhythm guitarist Courtney Love, who co-founded Hole with former songwriter/lead guitarist Eric Erlandson...

 bandmate, Patty Schemel

Patty Schemel

Patricia Theresa Schemel is an American drummer, most notably known as the drummer of the alternative rock band Hole from 1992 until 1998.-Early music career:Schemel learned to play drums after her father bought her a drum kit at age 11...

 and her brother, Larry Schemel. The song was recorded at Studio Miraval, a chateau in the south of France, in 2003.

The alternate version of "Mono" - featured on the maxi single release - contains a sample of dialogue

Dialogue

Dialogue is a literary and theatrical form consisting of a written or spoken conversational exchange between two or more people....

 from the 1963 movie Cleopatra

Cleopatra (1963 film)

Cleopatra is a 1963 British-American-Swiss epic drama film directed by Joseph L. Mankiewicz. The screenplay was adapted by Sidney Buchman, Ben Hecht, Ranald MacDougall, and Mankiewicz from a book by Carlo Maria Franzero. The film starred Elizabeth Taylor, Richard Burton, Rex Harrison, Roddy...

as spoken by actors Elizabeth Taylor

Elizabeth Taylor

Dame Elizabeth Rosemond "Liz" Taylor, DBE was a British-American actress. From her early years as a child star with MGM, she became one of the great screen actresses of Hollywood's Golden Age...

 and Richard Burton

Richard Burton

Richard Burton, CBE was a Welsh actor. He was nominated seven times for an Academy Award, six of which were for Best Actor in a Leading Role , and was a recipient of BAFTA, Golden Globe and Tony Awards for Best Actor. Although never trained as an actor, Burton was, at one time, the highest-paid...

.

Track listing

• CD single

1. "Mono" - 3:39
2. "Fly" - 2:56 (Love, Jerry Best
   Jerry Best
   Jeremiah 'Jerry' Best was an English football player who began his career in England before moving to the American Soccer League. He led the league in scoring in 1930. In 1931, he returned to England where he finished his career. He was born in Mickley, England.Best began his professional career...
   
   , Perry, P.Schemel)

• Maxi single

1. "Mono" - 3:39
2. "Fly" - 2:56
3. "Mono" (alternate version) - 3:41

• 7" limited edition vinyl

1. "Mono" - 3:39
2. "Fly" - 2:56

• Promo CD

1. "Mono" (clean version) - 3:42
2. "Mono" (explicit version) - 3:40

Music video

Directed by Chris Milk

Chris Milk

Chris Milk is an American music video director and photographer. He has directed videos for Kanye West, U2, Green Day, Courtney Love, Audioslave, Modest Mouse, Gnarls Barkley and Arcade Fire. He also has numerous television commercials to his credit...

, the promotional music video for "Mono" received some airplay on channels such as Fuse

Fuse TV

Fuse is an American national television network dedicated exclusively to music. It features original series and specials, exclusive interviews, live concerts and video blocks....

, VH1

VH1

VH1 or Vh1 is an American cable television network based in New York City. Launched on January 1, 1985 in the old space of Turner Broadcasting's short-lived Cable Music Channel, the original purpose of the channel was to build on the success of MTV by playing music videos, but targeting a slightly...

, Kerrang!

Kerrang!

Kerrang! is a UK-based magazine devoted to rock music published by Bauer Media Group. It was first published on June 6, 1981 as a one-off supplement in the Sounds newspaper...

 and MTV2

MTV2

MTV2 is a cable network that is widely available in the United States on digital cable and satellite television, and is progressively being added to analogue cable lineups across the nation...

, however, did not reach the level of popularity achieved by her previous releases with Hole

Hole (band)

Hole is an American alternative rock band that originally formed in Los Angeles in 1989. The band is fronted by vocalist/songwriter and rhythm guitarist Courtney Love, who co-founded Hole with former songwriter/lead guitarist Eric Erlandson...

. The music video featured a "sleeping beauty" theme.

Chart positions

Year	Chart	Peak position
2004	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...	#18
2004	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 ...	#41