Sour Girl
Encyclopedia
"Sour Girl" is a song by Stone Temple Pilots
. The song was written by singer Scott Weiland
and guitarist Dean DeLeo
for their band's fourth album, aptly titled No. 4
. "Sour Girl" also appears on the compilation albums Thank You
and Buy This. It is the only STP song to enter the Billboard Hot 100 chart, peaking at number 78. "Sour Girl" was one of STP's biggest hits since the Core
and Purple
era. Billboard ranked "Sour Girl" at #88 on its list of the 100 Best Rock Songs of the 2000s.
show Buffy the Vampire Slayer. He also became enamored with the show's star, Sarah Michelle Gellar
. When it came time to make the video for "Sour Girl", Weiland requested that she be in the video.
The video for "Sour Girl" is characterized by its small background setting, camera work and cinematography
. Weiland sings the lyrics while rhythmically moving his arms and body. Gellar initially appears in a gothic
outfit, acting as a guardian angel
to Weiland. Later, she returns to her regular appearance, acting as Weiland's love interest. Weiland's current wife at the time, Mary Forsberg, acted as the go-between for Weiland and Gellar. Other band members appear in the video as well, interacting with bunny-suited characters the size of Teletubbies
. Two of the bunny characters are especially prominent in the choreography: one of them has happy features, while the other has an eerie, almost evil expression.
The video was directed by David Slade
, who later would direct Hard Candy
and 30 Days of Night
. It has been noted, particularly on the Fuse TV
program IMX
, that the "Sour Girl" video bears stylistic similarities to Slade's later video for AFI
's "Girl's Not Grey
." Released within three years of one another, both videos feature a strange environment with human-sized rabbit characters, and their songs both revolve around a female character.
The video was nominated for a MTV Video Music Award for Best Cinematography in 2000, but lost to Macy Gray
's "Do Something". It was also nominated for a Billboard Music Video Award for Best Modern Rock Track, but lost to 3 Doors Down
's "Kryptonite
". The video was also featured on an episode of the MTV
show Making the Video
.
Stone Temple Pilots
Stone Temple Pilots is an American rock band from San Diego, California that consists of Scott Weiland , brothers Robert DeLeo and Dean DeLeo , and Eric Kretz ....
. The song was written by singer Scott Weiland
Scott Weiland
Scott Weiland is an American musician, lyricist, and vocalist, most notable for his work with Grammy Award-winning rock band Stone Temple Pilots. Weiland is also known for his five-year career with supergroup Velvet Revolver as well as his own solo career...
and guitarist Dean DeLeo
Dean DeLeo
Dean DeLeo is an American guitarist for the rock band Stone Temple Pilots.He is also known for his role in the short-lived bands Talk Show and Army of Anyone, which featured his younger brother Robert DeLeo, Filter frontman Richard Patrick, and session drummer Ray Luzier...
for their band's fourth album, aptly titled No. 4
No. 4 (album)
-Credits:Stone Temple Pilots* Scott Weiland - vocals, organ* Robert DeLeo - bass, percussion, guitars, fuzz bass, zither* Dean DeLeo - electric & acoustic guitars, lapsteel, 6-string bass* Eric Kretz - drums, percussionAdditional Personnel...
. "Sour Girl" also appears on the compilation albums Thank You
Thank You (Stone Temple Pilots album)
-Charts:Album - Billboard Singles - Billboard -References:...
and Buy This. It is the only STP song to enter the Billboard Hot 100 chart, peaking at number 78. "Sour Girl" was one of STP's biggest hits since the Core
Core (Stone Temple Pilots album)
The album was released on September 29, 1992 on Atlantic, the same day Alice in Chains released Dirt, another important album of the grunge era. Despite high sales, the album received mixed to negative reviews. Critics blasted the band as "rip-offs" of grunge bands such as Pearl Jam and Alice in...
and Purple
Purple (album)
-Notes:The opening of track 3, "Lounge Fly", was used as the theme for MTV News's short MTV News Break segments for several years in the mid-1990s....
era. Billboard ranked "Sour Girl" at #88 on its list of the 100 Best Rock Songs of the 2000s.
Music video
While writing the majority of No. 4, Weiland was in jail for various drug charges. During that time, he became a fan of the televisionTelevision
Television is a telecommunication medium for transmitting and receiving moving images that can be monochrome or colored, with accompanying sound...
show Buffy the Vampire Slayer. He also became enamored with the show's star, Sarah Michelle Gellar
Sarah Michelle Gellar
Sarah Michelle Prinze , known professionally by her birth name of Sarah Michelle Gellar , is an American actress, singer and executive producer...
. When it came time to make the video for "Sour Girl", Weiland requested that she be in the video.
The video for "Sour Girl" is characterized by its small background setting, camera work and cinematography
Cinematography
Cinematography is the making of lighting and camera choices when recording photographic images for cinema. It is closely related to the art of still photography...
. Weiland sings the lyrics while rhythmically moving his arms and body. Gellar initially appears in a gothic
Gothic fashion
Gothic fashion is a clothing style worn by members of the Goth subculture; a dark, sometimes morbid, eroticized fashion and style of dress. Typical Gothic fashion includes dyed black hair, black lips and black clothes. Both male and female goths wear dark eyeliner and dark fingernails. Styles are...
outfit, acting as a guardian angel
Guardian angel (spirit)
A guardian angel is an angel assigned to protect and guide a particular person or group. Belief in guardian angels can be traced throughout all antiquity...
to Weiland. Later, she returns to her regular appearance, acting as Weiland's love interest. Weiland's current wife at the time, Mary Forsberg, acted as the go-between for Weiland and Gellar. Other band members appear in the video as well, interacting with bunny-suited characters the size of Teletubbies
Teletubbies
Teletubbies is a BBC children's television series targeted at pre-school viewers and produced from 1997 to 2001 by Ragdoll Productions. It was created by Ragdoll's creative director Anne Wood CBE and Andrew Davenport, who wrote each of the show's 365 episodes. The programme's original narrator was...
. Two of the bunny characters are especially prominent in the choreography: one of them has happy features, while the other has an eerie, almost evil expression.
The video was directed by David Slade
David Slade
David Aldrin Slade is a British film director who began his career making music videos. His work includes videos for artists such as Aphex Twin, Rob Dougan, System of a Down, Stone Temple Pilots, Tori Amos, and Muse.-Life and career:...
, who later would direct Hard Candy
Hard Candy (film)
Hard Candy is a 2005 psychological thriller film focusing on the confrontation between an assumed sexual predator and a not-so-innocent 14-year-old girl....
and 30 Days of Night
30 Days of Night (film)
30 Days of Night is a 2007 American horror film based on the comic book miniseries of the same name. The film is directed by David Slade and stars Josh Hartnett, Melissa George, and Danny Huston...
. It has been noted, particularly on the Fuse TV
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....
program IMX
IMX
IMX was an American music television program which aired daily on MMUSA in the early 2000s. Described as a "fully converged music industry simulation game" and "part TV show, part Internet game," the program allowed viewers to register at the network's website and buy "stock" in popular artists,...
, that the "Sour Girl" video bears stylistic similarities to Slade's later video for AFI
AFI (band)
AFI is an American alternative rock band from Ukiah, California that formed in 1991. They have consisted of the same lineup since 1998: lead vocalist Davey Havok, drummer and backup vocalist Adam Carson, with bassist Hunter Burgan and guitarist Jade Puget, who both play keyboard and contribute...
's "Girl's Not Grey
Girl's Not Grey
"Girl's Not Grey" is a song by American rock band AFI. It was released as the debut single from their sixth studio album Sing the Sorrow in 2003. It is the band's third most successful single, peaking at #7 on the Alternative Songs Chart and #14 on the Bubbling Under Hot 100 Chart...
." Released within three years of one another, both videos feature a strange environment with human-sized rabbit characters, and their songs both revolve around a female character.
The video was nominated for a MTV Video Music Award for Best Cinematography in 2000, but lost to Macy Gray
Macy Gray
Macy Gray is a Grammy Award-winning American R&B and soul singer-songwriter, record producer, and actress, famed for her distinctive raspy voice, and a singing style heavily influenced by Billie Holiday and Betty Davis.Gray has released five studio albums, with her fifth studio album, The Sellout,...
's "Do Something". It was also nominated for a Billboard Music Video Award for Best Modern Rock Track, but lost to 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 ....
's "Kryptonite
Kryptonite (song)
"Kryptonite" is a song by the American rock band 3 Doors Down. It was originally released as a demo for local play by 97.9 WCPR-FM in Biloxi, Mississippi...
". The video was also featured on an episode of the MTV
MTV
MTV, formerly an initialism of Music Television, is an American network based in New York City that launched on August 1, 1981. The original purpose of the channel was to play music videos guided by on-air hosts known as VJs....
show Making the Video
Making the Video
Making the Video is an MTV show, consisting of half-hour episodes, which chronicles the process of filming various music videos. Usually the director outlines the concept of the video and the show often includes light-hearted and humorous moments. It always concludes with a premiere of the...
.