Disavowing the punk rock roots of many of their alt-rock contemporaries, they have a diverse, densely layered, and guitar-heavy sound, containing elements of gothic rock, heavy metal, dream pop, psychedelic rock, progressive rock, shoegazing, and, in later recordings, electronica. Corgan is the group's primary songwriter; his musical ambitions and cathartic lyrics have shaped the band's albums and songs, which have been described as "anguished, bruised reports from Billy Corgan's nightmare-land".
The Smashing Pumpkins broke into the musical mainstream with their second album, 1993's Siamese Dream. The group built its audience with extensive touring and their 1995 follow-up, the double album Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness, debuted at number one on the Billboard 200 album chart. 1998's Adore would just barely miss out, peaking at number two. With 30 million albums sold worldwide, the Smashing Pumpkins were one of the most commercially successful and critically acclaimed bands of the 1990s. However, internal fighting, drug use, and diminishing record sales led to a 2000 break-up.
In 2006, Corgan and Chamberlin reconvened to record a new Smashing Pumpkins album, Zeitgeist. After touring throughout 2007 and 2008 with a lineup including new guitarist Jeff Schroeder, Chamberlin left the band in early 2009. Later that year, Corgan began a new recording series with a rotating lineup of musicians entitled Teargarden by Kaleidyscope, which encompassed the release of stand-alone singles, compilation EP releases, and two full albums that also fell under the project's scope—Oceania in 2012 and Monuments to an Elegy in 2014. Chamberlin and Iha officially rejoined the band in February 2018. The reunited lineup has released three albums so far—Shiny and Oh So Bright, Vol. 1 / LP: No Past. No Future. No Sun. in November 2018, Cyr in November 2020, and ATUM in 2023.
Tonite Reprise
The Smashing Pumpkins Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
The place where I was born
As the wind-up toys wind down
Muffling the sound of a life hidden underground
Believe, believe in me
Believe
That you can change, that you're not stuck in vain
We're not the same, we're different tonight
We'll make things right, we'll feel it all tonight
The impossible is possible tonight
Believe in me like I believe in you tonight
The lyrics in "Tonite Reprise" reflect on the idea of hope and the belief that change is possible. The song's opening lines present a sense of longing for the past, as Billy Corgan sings about the embers that never fade in his city by the lake, the place where he was born. The lyrics suggest a deep connection to and nostalgia for his hometown, however, the following lines express a sense of disillusionment with the present, as he describes the winding down of wind-up toys that muffles the sound of a life hidden underground.
The chorus of the song serves as a call to action, as Billy Corgan encourages the listener to believe in themselves, that they have the power to change and are not stuck in vain. He then goes on to say that "We're not the same, we're different tonight," hinting towards a new beginning and a chance for things to be different. The song's ending lines emphasize the importance of mutual trust and support, as Corgan sings, "Believe in me like I believe in you tonight."
Overall, "Tonite Reprise" is a song about hope and the power of believing in oneself and others. It acknowledges the challenges and struggles that life brings but encourages the listener to stay positive and be open to change.
Line by Line Meaning
And the embers never fade in my city by the lake
The memories of my hometown, with its eternal glow, never disappear.
The place where I was born
This is where I have my roots.
As the wind-up toys wind down
As the gears of life come to a halt.
Muffling the sound of a life hidden underground
The noise of a life suppressed by society.
Believe, believe in me
Have faith in me.
Believe
Believe in something.
That you can change, that you're not stuck in vain
You have the potential to change and shouldn't feel stuck.
We're not the same, we're different tonight
We are all unique and special tonight.
We'll the crucify the insincere tonight
We will call out and punish those who fake their beliefs tonight.
We'll make things right, we'll feel it all tonight
We will set things straight and experience everything tonight.
The impossible is possible tonight
Miracles can happen tonight.
Believe in me like I believe in you tonight
Trust me tonight, just as I trust you.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: WILLIAM PATRICK CORGAN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind