100% (Sonic Youth song)

March 2015 1992 single by Sonic Youth 100% Sonic Youth 100 percent.jpg yes single Sonic Youth Dirty * "Crème Brûlée" "Genetic" "Hendrix Necro" 1992 06 29 Early 1992 Magic Shop, New York City * Noise rock experimental rock art punk 2 28 DGC Sonic Youth * Butch Vig Sonic Youth Sonic Youth Dirty Boots 1991 Youth Against Fascism 1992 N3gN9Up6hmc "100%" "100%" is a song by the American rock band Sonic Youth from their seventh studio album, Dirty (1992). It was released as the lead single from the album on June 29, 1992, by DGC Records. Written by Sonic Youth, the song discusses the murder of Joe Cole, a friend of the band who was killed in an armed robbery on December 19, 1991. Recording The song was recorded and produced in early 1992 at Magic Shop in New York City by Butch Vig and Sonic Youth.Chick Stevie Psychic confusion: the Sonic Youth story 2007 Omnibus 978-1-84449-931-1 London Vig also engineered the song, with assistance from Edward Douglas. Critical reception Greg Kot of the Chicago Tribune praised the song's "garage-rock power chords", in addition to designating it as "a great single".https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-xpm-1992-07-23-9203060466-story.html Sonic Boom July 23, 1992 The Chicago Tribune June 13, 2021 Dele Fadele of NME said the song "sets the tone perfectly for Dirtys loving seedy, political and romantic take on classic rock n roll - an Exile On Main Street for the '90s".http://www.nme.com/reviews/reviews/19980101000001reviews.html Sonic Youth – Dirty NME July 18, 1992 January 27, 2015 Fadele Dele Dele Fadele https://web.archive.org/web/20000817174637/http://www.nme.com/reviews/reviews/19980101000001reviews.html August 17, 2000 Scott Hreha of Pitchfork spoke positively of the confrontational lyrical content of "100%", describing the song, alongside "JC", as "elegiac tributes to murdered friends".http://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/7345-dirty-deluxe-edition/ Sonic Youth: Dirty: Deluxe Edition Pitchfork May 14, 2003 April 17, 2013 Hreha Scott Uncut praised the radio-friendly nature of the song, referring to it as "contagious grunge-pop".https://www.uncut.co.uk/reviews/sonic-youth-dirty-25496/ Sonic Youth – Dirty Uncut 72 May 2003 January 27, 2015 114 Chart performance In the United States, "100%” debuted at number 22 on the Alternative Airplay chart for the issue dated July 18, 1992. Within five weeks, the song reached its peak position of number four, becoming Sonic Youth's highest charting song on the chart. The song spent a total of 13 weeks on the chart. Music video The music video for "100%" was directed by Tamra Davis and Spike Jonze, and shot in Los Angeles. Much of the video footage was shot by Jonze while riding on a skateboard, following others in the streets (including then-skateboarder, now-actor Jason Lee). The video also alluded to the shooting death of Cole, but is not specifically about him, and more about friendship between two skateboarders. Sonic Youth is shown playing a house party throughout the film. Kim Gordon plays a yellow Fender bass guitar, which she borrowed from actor Keanu Reeves.206 bio Keanu ReevesArchived at Ghostarchive and the Wayback Machine: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N3gN9Up6hmc Sonic Youth - 100% YouTube The video received its world premiere on MTV's alternative rock program 120 Minutes on July 12, 1992.MTV 120 Minutes July 12, 1992 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IikcyMY6QwQ&ab_channel=AltNation_Chris YouTube April 26, 2025 July 12, 1992 Ban In the music video, Kim Gordon dons a counterfeit The Rolling Stones T-shirt with the phrase “Eat me” written across the front. https://www.npr.org/2015/02/22/387207690/sonic-youths-kim-gordon-on-marriage-music-and-moving-on Sonic Youth's Kim Gordon On Marriage, Music And Moving On February 22, 2015 NPR June 13, 2021 This phrase was deemed as too obscene for MTV, resulting in the video being banned from the network. Gordon responded to the banning: “It's a bootleg Rolling Stones shirt — the big mouth — and it said 'Eat me' on it. At the time, I just took it, like, ‘Well, that's confusing’, because they've obviously got, like, mostly naked women in their videos”. Live performances On September 4, 1992, Sonic Youth performed the song on Late Night with David Letterman.https://www.newsweek.com/ten-unforgettable-david-letterman-guest-moments-244497 Ten Unforgettable David Letterman Guest Moments April 7, 2014 Newsweek June 13, 2021 Cover versions “100%” was covered by Mantar on their fourth studio album, Grungetown Hooligans II (2020). https://www.metalsucks.net/2020/06/09/mantar-debut-sonic-youth-cover/ Mantar Debut Sonic Youth Cover Rosenberg Axl June 9, 2020 MetalSucks June 14, 2021 Matthis Van Der Meulen directed an accompanying music video, which acts as an homage to the original music video released by Sonic Youth. Track listings and formats 12" and 10" vinyl, cassette, and CD single100% Sonic Youth 1992 United Kingdom 12" vinyl liner notes DGC DGCT 11100% Sonic Youth 1992 United Kingdom 10" vinyl liner notes DGC DGCV 11100% Sonic Youth 1992 Australian cassette liner notes DGC DGCCS19077100% Sonic Youth 1992 United States CD single liner notes DGC DGCDM-21735 "100%" (LP version) – 2:28 "Crème Brûlée" (LP version) – 2:33 "Genetic"  – 3:34 "Hendrix Necro"  – 2:49 7" vinyl'100% Sonic Youth 1992 United Kingdom 7" vinyl liner notes DGC GES 19077 "100%" (LP Version) – 2:28 "Crème Brûlée" (LP version) – 2:33 Charts +Chart performance for "100%"Chart (1992)PeakpositionAustralia (ARIA)26067Australia Alternative (ARIA)July 19, 1992 ARIA Top 20 Alternative Singles — Week Ending: 19th July 1992 The ARIA Report 11 1292New Zealand 30 Sonic Youth 100% true "nz"UKsinglesbyname 28 Sonic Youth 26459 true June 13, 2021 "uksingles"Billboardalternativesongs 4 Sonic Youth true June 13, 2021 "air" Release history +Release dates and formats for "100%"RegionDateFormat(s)Label(s)Ref. ReferenceAustraliaJune 29, 1992CD cassetteDGCJune 28, 1992 New Release Summary – Product Available from : 29/06/92: Singles The ARIA Report 20 126United Kingdom12-inch vinyl CD cassetteJune 27, 1992 New Releases: Singles https://www.worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-Week/1992/MW-1992-06-27.pdf September 19, 2026 Music Week 21 worldradiohistory.com References Category:Sonic Youth songs Category:1992 singles Category:Music videos directed by Spike Jonze Category:Music videos directed by Tamra Davis Category:Song recordings produced by Butch Vig Category:1992 songs Category:Songs inspired by deaths