Vasoline
Encyclopedia
"Vasoline" is a song by American rock band Stone Temple Pilots
from their second album, Purple
. The song was the second single of the album (and also the second most successful, only behind "Interstate Love Song
"), reaching #1 on the Billboard Mainstream Rock Tracks chart for two weeks. The song's odd sounding intro was created by Robert DeLeo
, who ran his bass through a Wah-wah pedal
to get the said effect. The song's lyrics were written by vocalist Scott Weiland
. "Vasoline" also appears on the greatest hits compilation album Thank You
.
, Weiland says that the song is about "feeling like an insect under a magnifying glass."
Perhaps one of the strangest things about this song is the use of syncopation in the riff that the guitar and bass play. By itself, the riff sounds something like swung eighth notes alternating between the musical notes F natural and G natural. However, in reality the riff is an alternating sixteenth and eighth note pattern as part of a 3-beat rhythmic figure played over a drum beat in 4/4 time, creating a rhythmic tension and release that is characteristic of such figures.
The over-the-counter balm after which the song appears to be named is actually spelled "Vaseline
."
s (directed by Kevin Kerslake
) were in heavy rotation on MTV when the single was released in 1994. There are at least three different versions of the video, labeled "X Version", "Y Version", and "Z Version". All versions are similar, using parts of the same footage with some minor differences and shown in different orders. The single album art is taken directly from the music 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 ....
from their second album, 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....
. The song was the second single of the album (and also the second most successful, only behind "Interstate Love Song
Interstate Love Song
"Interstate Love Song" is a song by the American rock band Stone Temple Pilots, from their second studio album, Purple, released in 1994. The song, considered to be one of the band's biggest hits, hit number one on the Mainstream Rock Tracks chart on September 17, 1994. The song it replaced at...
"), reaching #1 on the Billboard Mainstream Rock Tracks chart for two weeks. The song's odd sounding intro was created by Robert DeLeo
Robert DeLeo
Robert Emile DeLeo is an American bass player, songwriter, and harmony vocalist for the rock band Stone Temple Pilots. He has also played in Talk Show and Army of Anyone...
, who ran his bass through a Wah-wah pedal
Wah-wah pedal
A wah-wah pedal is a type of guitar effects pedal that alters the tone of the signal to create a distinctive effect, mimicking the human voice...
to get the said effect. The song's lyrics were written by vocalist 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...
. "Vasoline" also appears on the greatest hits compilation album Thank You
Thank You (Stone Temple Pilots album)
-Charts:Album - Billboard Singles - Billboard -References:...
.
Composition and meaning
As with most other Stone Temple Pilots songs, the lyrics can be vague and hard to interpret, and many interpretations have been suggested by fans. During STP's performance of "Vasoline" on VH1 StorytellersVH1 Storytellers
Storytellers is a television music series produced by the VH1 network.In each episode artists perform in front of a live audience, and tell stories about their music, writing experiences and memories, somewhat similar to MTV Unplugged...
, Weiland says that the song is about "feeling like an insect under a magnifying glass."
Perhaps one of the strangest things about this song is the use of syncopation in the riff that the guitar and bass play. By itself, the riff sounds something like swung eighth notes alternating between the musical notes F natural and G natural. However, in reality the riff is an alternating sixteenth and eighth note pattern as part of a 3-beat rhythmic figure played over a drum beat in 4/4 time, creating a rhythmic tension and release that is characteristic of such figures.
The over-the-counter balm after which the song appears to be named is actually spelled "Vaseline
Vaseline
Vaseline is a brand of petroleum jelly based products owned by Anglo-Dutch company Unilever. Products include plain petroleum jelly and a selection of skin creams, soaps, lotions, cleansers, deodorants and personal lubricants....
."
Track listing
- "Vasoline" - 2:56
- "Meat Plow" - 3:05
- "Andy WarholAndy Warhol (song)"Andy Warhol" is a song written by David Bowie in 1971 for the album Hunky Dory. This is an acoustic song about one of Bowie's greatest inspirations, the American pop artist Andy Warhol. The song starts with some studio chat where Bowie explains to producer Ken Scott, who has just been heard to...
" (David BowieDavid BowieDavid Bowie is an English musician, actor, record producer and arranger. A major figure for over four decades in the world of popular music, Bowie is widely regarded as an innovator, particularly for his work in the 1970s...
) [Live] - 3:05 - "Crackerman" [Live] - 4:03
Music videos
The music 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...
s (directed by Kevin Kerslake
Kevin Kerslake
Kevin Kerslake is an American music video director. He has directed videos for Stone Temple Pilots, Filter, R.E.M., 311, Faith No More, Green Day, The Used, 10 Years, Depeche Mode, The Smashing Pumpkins, Papa Roach, Nirvana, Sonic Youth, Rise Against, Insane Clown Posse, The Offspring, and Blue...
) were in heavy rotation on MTV when the single was released in 1994. There are at least three different versions of the video, labeled "X Version", "Y Version", and "Z Version". All versions are similar, using parts of the same footage with some minor differences and shown in different orders. The single album art is taken directly from the music video.
Differentiation
- X Version - begins with a shot of flypaperFlypaperFlypaper is a fly-killing device made of paper coated with a sweetly fragrant, but extremely sticky or poisonous substance that traps flies and other flying insects when they land upon it.- Effectiveness :...
and then a laughing clown - Y Version - begins with a butterfly-catching girl running up to the camera
- Z Version - begins with a man using a sharpening stoneSharpening stoneSharpening stones, water stones or whetstones are used to grind and hone the edges of steel tools and implements. Examples of items that may be sharpened with a sharpening stone include scissors, scythes, knives, razors and tools such as chisels, hand scrapers and plane blades...
wheel
Notable Appearances
- "Vasoline" appeared in the video games Rock Band and SingStar Amped.
- "Vasoline" is played at some NFL stadiums during kickoffs.