The Everlasting Gaze
Encyclopedia
"The Everlasting Gaze" is a song written by Billy Corgan
and recorded by The Smashing Pumpkins
. It is the opening track from the band's 2000 album Machina/The Machines of God
. The song was only released as a promotional single but a video was released due to its heavy rotation on radio.
practice amp
. Corgan has said that this song "has a lot to do with spirituality and trying to find my place in the universe and sort of humbly accepting limitations and the things I've been graced with. It's more of a humanistic world view. I'm not writing anymore for the tortured teen—both me and whoever was listening. I'm writing with the idea that everybody's experiencing these things all the time, and even if they're not experiencing them personally, they're affected by them. You can live in the street and write about the garbage, or you can try to get up a little higher and look down and try to see the bigger picture."
During the recording of Machina/The Machines of God, an early version of this song with very different lyrics had the working title of "Disco King". The final version of the song retains Chamberlin's consistent use of offbeat hi-hat
beats, a disco
technique. The final chorus was cut from the final version, though an a cappella
section was added.
"The Everlasting Gaze" is one of three Smashing Pumpkins songs available as a downloadable track in the video game Guitar Hero: World Tour.
The music video was directed by Jonas Åkerlund
and is a performance-based music video
, the first to feature Melissa Auf der Maur
, playing bass
with the band after the departure of D'Arcy Wretzky
. Originally, the band had considered Jonathan Dayton and Valerie Faris
to direct the video.
" in the US as a promotional CD.
Billy Corgan
William Patrick "Billy" Corgan, Jr. is an American singer, songwriter, guitarist and occasional poet best known as the frontman and sole permanent member of The Smashing Pumpkins. Formed by Corgan and guitarist James Iha in Chicago, Illinois in 1987, the band quickly gained steam with the...
and recorded by The Smashing Pumpkins
The Smashing Pumpkins
The Smashing Pumpkins are an American alternative rock band that formed in Chicago, Illinois in 1988. Formed by Billy Corgan frontman and James Iha , the band has included Jimmy Chamberlin , D'arcy Wretzky , and currently includes Jeff Schroeder Mike Byrne , and Nicole Fiorentino The Smashing...
. It is the opening track from the band's 2000 album Machina/The Machines of God
MACHINA/The Machines of God
Machina/The Machines of God is the fifth album by American alternative rock band The Smashing Pumpkins, released on February 29, 2000 by Virgin Records. A concept album, it marked the return of drummer Jimmy Chamberlin and was intended to be the band's final official LP release prior to their first...
. The song was only released as a promotional single but a video was released due to its heavy rotation on radio.
Song information
The unique guitar sound in the song was achieved by using a small CrateCrate Amplifiers
Crate Amplification is a company that produces electric guitar amplifiers.- Early Crate Amps :In the late 1970s, Crate made amplifiers that actually looked like wooden crates...
practice amp
Guitar amplifier
A guitar amplifier is an electronic amplifier designed to make the signal of an electric or acoustic guitar louder so that it will produce sound through a loudspeaker...
. Corgan has said that this song "has a lot to do with spirituality and trying to find my place in the universe and sort of humbly accepting limitations and the things I've been graced with. It's more of a humanistic world view. I'm not writing anymore for the tortured teen—both me and whoever was listening. I'm writing with the idea that everybody's experiencing these things all the time, and even if they're not experiencing them personally, they're affected by them. You can live in the street and write about the garbage, or you can try to get up a little higher and look down and try to see the bigger picture."
During the recording of Machina/The Machines of God, an early version of this song with very different lyrics had the working title of "Disco King". The final version of the song retains Chamberlin's consistent use of offbeat hi-hat
Hi-hat
A hi-hat, or hihat, is a type of cymbal and stand used as a typical part of a drum kit by percussionists in R&B, hip-hop, disco, jazz, rock and roll, house, reggae and other forms of contemporary popular music.- Operation :...
beats, a disco
Disco
Disco is a genre of dance music. Disco acts charted high during the mid-1970s, and the genre's popularity peaked during the late 1970s. It had its roots in clubs that catered to African American, gay, psychedelic, and other communities in New York City and Philadelphia during the late 1960s and...
technique. The final chorus was cut from the final version, though an a cappella
A cappella
A cappella music is specifically solo or group singing without instrumental sound, or a piece intended to be performed in this way. It is the opposite of cantata, which is accompanied singing. A cappella was originally intended to differentiate between Renaissance polyphony and Baroque concertato...
section was added.
"The Everlasting Gaze" is one of three Smashing Pumpkins songs available as a downloadable track in the video game Guitar Hero: World Tour.
Music video
Jonas Åkerlund
Jonas Åkerlund is a Swedish film and music video director, and drummer. He is best known for directing music videos, which are often mock forms of movie trailers and short films...
and is a performance-based music video
Music 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...
, the first to feature Melissa Auf der Maur
Melissa Auf der Maur
Melissa Auf der Maur is a Canadian rock musician from Montreal, Quebec, Canada. Her career has included 5 years as bassist with the band Hole and she later toured with The Smashing Pumpkins for their 2000 tour. Her second solo album, Out of Our Minds, was released on March 30, 2010. She is also a...
, playing bass
Bass guitar
The bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
with the band after the departure of D'Arcy Wretzky
D'arcy Wretzky
D'arcy Elizabeth Wretzky is an American musician. She is best known for her work as the original bass player of the alternative rock band The Smashing Pumpkins...
. Originally, the band had considered Jonathan Dayton and Valerie Faris
Jonathan Dayton and Valerie Faris
Jonathan Dayton and Valerie Faris are a team of American music video directors, also husband and wife, that received critical acclaim for their feature film directorial debut, Little Miss Sunshine....
to direct the video.
Sample
Track listing
"The Everlasting Gaze" was released with "Stand Inside Your LoveStand Inside Your Love
"Stand Inside Your Love" is a song by American alternative rock band The Smashing Pumpkins. It was the second single released from their fifth album, Machina/The Machines of God . The song was written by Billy Corgan...
" in the US as a promotional CD.
Chart performance
| Chart | Peak position |
|---|---|
| U. S. Rock Songs Rock Songs Rock Songs is a chart published weekly by Billboard magazine which ranks the airplay of songs on alternative, mainstream rock and triple A radio stations. The first chart was published in the issue dated June 20, 2009. "Know Your Enemy" by Green Day was the first number-one song. The Rock Songs... |
14 |
| 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... |
4 |