Less influenced by punk than many of their contemporaries, the Pumpkins had a densely layered, guitar-heavy sound, with powerful loud-to-soft-to-loud transitions, while still picking up grunge, heavy metal, power pop, psychedelic rock, shoegazer-style production.
In later recordings, namely Adore, the fourth album, an electronica flair filtered in after Jimmy Chamberlin temporarily left the band for drug rehab. Though Chamberlin returned for their fifth album, Machina/The Machines of God, electronica undertones remained. The emotional tone of bandleader Billy Corgan's songs ranged from angry (X.Y.U.) to dour (Disarm) to jubilant (Cherub Rock).
Selling more than 18.3 million albums in the United States alone (as of 2006), The Smashing Pumpkins were one of the most commercially successful and critically acclaimed bands of the 1990s. However, internal fighting, diminishing sales, drug problems, cultural vitality, and what is speculated to be improper treatment from their record company, hampered the band in their later years, leading to the 2000 break-up.
Prior to the complete dissolution of the original line-up, their final tour (dubbed "Sacred and Profane"), featured former Hole bassist Melissa Auf Der Maur to fill in the gap left by D'arcy Wretzky, who left in September of 1999. Besides touring with the band she also appeared in the videos accompanying "Machina/The Machines of God".
The band's final album, "MACHINA II / The Friends And Enemies of Modern Music" was unofficially released on vinyl in 2000, prior to their break-up, with the record company refusing to back the band with a pressing. Only 25 vinyl copies were made, each signed by the band. The album was then released across various fan sites by those who received the album and transferred it digitally, as a final tribute to the band's supporters.
Problems have been seen since then with Billy Corgan, James Iha (who later joined A Perfect Circle), and D'arcy Wretzky, both of whom started their own record company Scratchie Records.
Billy Corgan would continue from there first forming the band Zwan with members Matt Sweeney, Paz Lenchantin, David Pajo, and Jimmy Chamberlin. After a bad breakup shortly after their debut album Mary Star Of The Sea Billy turned solo and released the album TheFutureEmbrace. Jimmy Chamberlin formed the Jimmy Chamberlin Complex, and Corgan recorded vocals for them on the track entitled Loki Cat.
In mid-April 2006, The Smashing Pumpkins "reunited" with original members Billy Corgan and Jimmy Chamberlin. They performed live as The Smashing Pumpkins for the first time in 6 and a half years on May 22, 2007 in Paris, France. There, the band unveiled new members Jeff Schroeder, Ginger Reyes and Lisa Harriton who took over rhythm guitarist, bassist and keyboard duties respectively.
The band's latest studio album, titled "Zeitgeist", was released on July 10, 2007 to mixed reviews. It debuted at #2 on the Billboard 200, #1 on the United World Chart, and in the top ten for several other countries.
On Jan 2, 2008 the Pumpkins released the American Gothic EP exclusively on iTunes as part of an expanded version of Zeitgeist. The four tracks: "The Rose March", "Again Again Again (The Crux)", "Pox", and "Sunkissed" demonstrate a more acoustic sound when compared to the rest of Zeitgeist.
In March, 2008 the group contributed the song "Superchrist" to a compilation CD released by Guitar Center. Though Corgan and Chamberlin have continued to record as a duo, Jeff Schroeder indicated that he might be contributing to future recordings. No longer signed to a record label, Corgan and Chamberlin purchased a recording studio in Chicago and began recording in May, again, as a pair. The band released the single G.L.O.W. on October 1st of 2008.
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Fuck You
Smashing Pumpkins Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I'm never giving in
I'll never be the shine in your spit
I disconnect the act
I disconnect the dots
I disconnect the me in me
And you're mistaken, it's you that's faking
Living and breathing and dying too
This message is for anyone who dares to hear a fool
You can't bring me back, you can't bring me back
'Cause I gave it all back to you
Through sacred alleys, the living wrecks
Wreak their havoc upon this world
The disenchanted, the romantics
The body and face and soul of you is gone down that deep black hole
Destroy the mind, destroy the body
But you cannot destroy the heart
Destroy the mind, destroy the body
But you cannot destroy the heart
And you, you make me so I need to disconnect
And you make it so real
I don't need your love to disconnect
To runaround kids in get-go cars
With Vaseline afterbirths and neon coughs
Galaxies full of nobodies
Giving us the farewell runarounds
I took a virgin Mary axe to his sweet baby Jane
Lost my innocence to a no good girl
Scratch my face with anvil hands
And coil my tongue around a bumblebee mouth
And I give it all back to you
I give it all back to you, yeah
I give it all back to you
For you
No way, I don't need it, I don't need your love to disconnect
And you make it, so real, I don't need your love to disconnect
No way, no way, no way to disconnect
And you make it so real
I don't need your love to disconnect
No way, no way to disconnect, yeah
The Smashing Pumpkins song "Fuck You" is a defiant declaration of independence and empowerment in the face of toxic relationships and societal pressures. The lyrics begin by stating that the singer will never return or submit to the expectations of others. The lines "I'll never be the shine in your spit" and "I disconnect the me in me" suggest a rejection of the roles and identities that have been imposed upon them by others. The chorus reiterates this defiant attitude, asserting that no one can force the singer to return to a place where they feel uncomfortable or disrespected.
The song then takes a turn, with the lyrics addressing broader issues of disillusionment and meaninglessness. The lines "This message is for anyone who dares to hear a fool" and "Galaxies full of nobodies" suggest a feeling of disconnection and isolation from others. However, the song ends on a note of strength and resilience, with the lyrics asserting that while the mind and body may be damaged, the heart remains intact and unbreakable. Overall, "Fuck You" is a powerful depiction of a person's struggle to assert their individuality and find meaning in a world that can often feel overwhelming and oppressive.
Line by Line Meaning
I'm never coming back
I have decided to leave and I am not returning.
I'm never giving in
I will not submit or surrender to your demands.
I'll never be the shine in your spit
I refuse to be belittled or reduced to a subservient position.
I disconnect the act
I am abandoning the facade I have been putting on for you.
I disconnect the dots
I am no longer following the pattern or path you have set out for me.
I disconnect the me in me
I am breaking free from the version of myself that has been shaped and defined by you.
And you're mistaken, it's you that's faking
You are the one who is pretending to be something you're not.
Living and breathing and dying too
We are all mortal and will eventually perish.
This message is for anyone who dares to hear a fool
This warning is intended for anyone who might be susceptible to your deception.
You can't bring me back, you can't bring me back
Your attempts to lure me back are futile.
'Cause I gave it all back to you
I have returned everything you ever gave me, including your affection.
Through sacred alleys, the living wrecks
Amid holy places where the ruined and forgotten wander,
Wreak their havoc upon this world
They cause destruction and chaos wherever they go.
The disenchanted, the romantics
Those who have lost faith and those who still hold onto impossible dreams.
The body and face and soul of you is gone down that deep black hole
Every aspect of your being has vanished into nothingness.
Destroy the mind, destroy the body
You can ravage my intellect and physical form,
But you cannot destroy the heart
But my spirit and emotions will endure.
And you, you make me so I need to disconnect
You are the reason I have to cut myself off from you.
And you make it so real
Your impact on my life is palpable and significant.
I don't need your love to disconnect
I do not require your affection or validation to break away from you.
To runaround kids in get-go cars
Inexperienced youths recklessly driving vehicles,
With Vaseline afterbirths and neon coughs
With greasy slime remnants and brightly colored illnesses,
Galaxies full of nobodies
Countless multitudes of insignificant individuals,
Giving us the farewell runarounds
Avoiding us and bidding us farewell.
I took a virgin Mary axe to his sweet baby Jane
I violently attacked someone who was innocent and undeserving.
Lost my innocence to a no good girl
I was corrupted and defiled by a heartless woman.
Scratch my face with anvil hands
Treat me with physical brutality.
And coil my tongue around a bumblebee mouth
Speak in a manner that is harsh and hurtful.
I give it all back to you
I am returning every aspect of myself to you.
For you
This is my way of showing that I no longer belong to you.
No way, I don't need it, I don't need your love to disconnect
I do not require your affection to break away from you.
No way, no way, no way to disconnect
It is impossible to separate ourselves completely.
And you make it so real
Your influence on me is profound and concrete.
I don't need your love to disconnect
I do not need your validation or approval to leave you behind.
No way, no way to disconnect, yeah
It is impossible to untangle ourselves from each other completely.
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd., Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: WILLIAM PATRICK CORGAN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@amberfashing1136
Felt this in 95/96 as a 13 year old girl.. im 38 now, and I still feel this even more so now .
Great motivation song to stand up for your self
@sebastiandemeijertom1396
Ye'. I listened to this album when i was 23 for 17 hours nonstop, and cried out all my sorrows for the whole 17 hours
@hyperboreanpunk
This song is about pain
@StinkyGreenBud
40 here, I hear ya woman! 90's music is having an even more meaning to me now than it was when I was a teen.
@jodycollier6607
40 & I'll never forget this was my first cd
@normoloid
My kind of girl
@XxMissNoNamexX
"Destroy the mind, destroy the body, but you cannot destroy the heart" That shit literally keeps me going.
@literallyunderrated
Literally
@user-xx6ud8iq7g
12 years on, me reminiscing about almost 20 years ago. I agree. I’m 39. Such a strong song.
@jakeenan
Man, that Jimmy Chamberlin is a groove-monster. He is SAVAGE on this track.