Solara (song)

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"Solara"
Single by Smashing Pumpkins
from the album Shiny and Oh So Bright, Vol. 1 / LP: No Past. No Future. No Sun.
ReleasedJune 8, 2018 (2018-06-08)
Recorded2018
StudioShangri Las[1]
GenreRock[2][3]
Length4:22
Songwriter(s)Billy Corgan
Producer(s)Rick Rubin
Smashing Pumpkins singles chronology
"Run2me"
(2015) 		"Solara"
(2018) 		"Silvery Sometimes (Ghosts)"
(2018)

"Solara" is a song by American rock band Smashing Pumpkins. It was the band's first song to be released after reforming three fourths of the band's original lineup in 2018,[4] featuring Billy Corgan, James Iha, and Jimmy Chamberlin performing on a track together for the first time since 2000's Machina/The Machines of God album[5] and subsequent non-album single "Untitled"[6] prior to their original breakup. It was released as a single on June 8, 2018, as the first song from a set of two upcoming EPs that were set for release in 2018 before a full-length album titled Shiny and Oh So Bright, Vol. 1 / LP: No Past. No Future. No Sun. was announced in September.[7] The song peaked at number 47 on the US Hot Rock Songs chart.[8]

Background[edit]

The song was first released on June 8, 2018, making it the first song to be released by original members Billy Corgan, James Iha, and Jimmy Chamberlin in 18 years.[9][10] The song does not feature original bassist D'Arcy Wretzky,[11] but does feature long-time guitarist Jeff Schroeder, who has been with the band since 2007.[12] The song was produced by record producer Rick Rubin, who the band had previously worked with on the Adore track "Let Me Give the World to You".[13][14]

The song made its live debut on national television on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon on Monday, June 11, 2018.[6]

Writing and composition[edit]

The song was originally written and demoed for band's ninth studio album, Monuments to an Elegy (2014), with Corgan noting: "Jeff [Schroeder] and I were the only people in the band at that time and we just couldn’t find the magic. We always thought the song was strong [...] so when we came in, in this situation, the minute we put it in Jimmy Chamberlin's hands, it’s like, 'Oh, there’s the magic.' It got a lot easier after that."[15] Guitarist Jeff Schroeder elaborated: "We didn’t over-intellectualize it and try to write a song that would reintroduce the band. I think that we just played, and I think certain characteristics that are strong points of the band came into play, and so I think that what you hear is very classic Pumpkins, because that’s kind of everybody doing their job and doing it well and it just works."[15]

Music video[edit]

A music video directed by Nick Koenig[4] was released on June 28, 2018, containing "classic horror imagery".[16] Rolling Stone described the video as "utterly bizarre", in which lead singer Corgan is "being held captive in an otherworldly asylum."[17] The music video was not released in conjunction of the song's release, despite Corgan teasing a still frame from the video as early as May 2018.[18][19]

Reception[edit]

Consequence of Sound had a mixed response to the song, praising Chamberlin's drumming, but ultimately feeling that "'Tarantula' was a far more memorable reunion jam".[14] Billboard described the song's sound as a "chest-out rock song, loaded with grinding guitars, a pounding rhythm section and big fills.[2] The song was described as have "chugging" and "stuttering" sound in the verses building into a soaring and multi-layered chorus, with Corgan singing "Tear down the sun/Bring down the sun/I'm not everyone/I'm not everyone/I'm not everyone."[1][20] Revolver noted that the song sounded more like the band attempting to tap into their established sound and "write a track that's fun" than push the boundaries of their sound artistically.[20]

Personnel[edit]

Band

Production

Charts[edit]

Chart (2018) Peak
position
Canada Rock (Billboard)[21] 30
US Hot Rock & Alternative Songs (Billboard)[22] 47
US Rock Airplay (Billboard)[23] 46

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b "Smashing Pumpkins Debut New Song 'Solara'". Loudwire.
  2. ^ a b Brandle, Lars (June 8, 2018). "The Smashing Pumpkins Return With 'Solara': Listen". Billboard. Retrieved January 5, 2019.
  3. ^ "The 30 Best Hard Rock Albums of 2018". Loudwire. November 26, 2018. Retrieved January 5, 2019.
  4. ^ a b "The Smashing Pumpkins - "Solara" Video". Stereogum. June 8, 2018.
  5. ^ "Listen to The Smashing Pumpkins' First Reunion Song, "Solara"". Noisey. June 8, 2018.
  6. ^ a b "Listen: The Smashing Pumpkins Streaming First New Single Since Reunion - 'Solara'". Ultimate-Guitar.
  7. ^ Sodomsky, Sam; Kim, Michelle (September 14, 2018). "Smashing Pumpkins Announce New Album, Share Song: Listen". Pitchfork. Retrieved September 14, 2018.
  8. ^ "The Smashing Pumpkins Chart History". Billboard. Retrieved November 2, 2019.
  9. ^ "Hear Smashing Pumpkins' Churning New Song 'Solara'". Rolling Stone.
  10. ^ "Smashing Pumpkins Return With New Song "Solara": Listen – Pitchfork". pitchfork.com.
  11. ^ "The Smashing Pumpkins – "Solara"". Spin. June 8, 2018.
  12. ^ "Listen To SMASHING PUMPKINS' New Song 'Solara'". Blabbermouth.net. June 8, 2018.
  13. ^ "Smashing Pumpkins release new single 'Solara': LISTEN HERE". Chicago Sun-Times.
  14. ^ a b "Smashing Pumpkins unleash reunion single "Solara": Stream". Consequence of Sound. June 8, 2018.
  15. ^ a b "Smashing Pumpkins' Billy Corgan on Playing the 'Heel'". loudwire.com. Retrieved July 11, 2018.
  16. ^ Rincón, Alessandra. "The Smashing Pumpkins Bring the Horror in New 'Solara' Video: Watch". Billboard.com. Retrieved July 20, 2018.
  17. ^ Blistein, Jon. "Watch Smashing Pumpkins Confront Surreal Horrors in 'Solara' Video". RollingStone.com. Retrieved July 20, 2018.
  18. ^ "The Smashing Pumpkins Release New Song "Solara"". exclaim.ca.
  19. ^ "Smashing Pumpkins release comeback single 'Solara'". NME. June 8, 2018.
  20. ^ a b "Hear Reunited Smashing Pumpkins' Stuttering, Soaring New Song "Solara"". Revolver. June 8, 2018.
  21. ^ "The Smashing Pumpkins Chart History (Canada Rock)". Billboard. Retrieved December 9, 2018.
  22. ^ "The Smashing Pumpkins Chart History (Hot Rock & Alternative Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved June 27, 2018.
  23. ^ "Smashing Pumpkins Chart History (Rock Airplay)". Billboard. Retrieved July 11, 2018.
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