1979 (song)

1996 single by the Smashing Pumpkins the Good Charlotte song Cardiology (album) 1979 (disambiguation) August 2018 1979 SmashingPumpkins-1979.jpg single the Smashing Pumpkins Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness "Ugly" "The Boy" "Cherry" "Believe" "Set the Ray to Jerry" 1996 01 23 Alternative rockhttps://consequence.net/2017/07/ranking-every-alternative-rock-hit-from-worst-to-best/ Ranking: Every Alternative Rock No. 1 Hit from Worst to Best Conseqeunce.net Philip Cosores July 5, 2017 January 30, 2024 art rockhttps://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-lists/50-greatest-grunge-albums-798851/smashing-pumpkins-mellon-collie-and-the-infinite-sadness-1995-798842/ 50 Greatest Grunge Albums April 1, 2019 Rolling Stone May 19, 2019 synth-popKot Greg https://www.rollingstone.com/music/albumreviews/adore-19980518 Adore Rolling Stone May 18, 1998 * 4 24 (album, single, video version) 4 16 (radio edit) * Virgin Hut Billy Corgan * Flood Alan Moulder Billy Corgan Bullet with Butterfly Wings 1995 Zero 1996 single 1979 (Smashing Pumpkins song - audio sample).ogg 4aeETEoNfOg "1979" "1979" is a song by American alternative rock band the Smashing Pumpkins. It was released on January 23, 1996, as the second single from their third studio album, Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness (1995). "1979" was written by frontman Billy Corgan, and features loops and samples uncharacteristic of previous Smashing Pumpkins songs.Kot Greg A Long Strange Trip to 1979 Chicago Tribune http://www.starla.org/articles/mtc1.htm October 5, 2011 The song foreshadows the synth-pop sound the band would embrace more openly on Adore and its singles "Ava Adore" and "Perfect".http://www.wonderingsound.com/smashing-pumpkins-share-adore-bonus-tracks/ https://web.archive.org/web/20141117214528/http://www.wonderingsound.com/smashing-pumpkins-share-adore-bonus-tracks/ dead November 17, 2014 Smashing Pumpkins Share 'Adore' Bonus Tracks, Including a Banjo Take and Diddy Remix Wondering Sound November 26, 2015 Parks, Andrew The song was written as a nostalgic coming-of-age story by Corgan, reflecting on what he considered his transition into adolescence in 1979, when he turned twelve years old.https://consequenceofsound.net/2018/09/top-21-songs-about-nostalgia/ Top 21 Songs About Nostalgia September 3, 2018 Consequence of Sound May 19, 2019 "1979" reached number two in Canada and Iceland, number six in Ireland, number nine in New Zealand, and number 12 in the United States. It charted within the top 20 in several other countries, including Australia and the United Kingdom. The song was nominated for the Record of the Year and Best Rock Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal at the 39th Annual Grammy Awards, and won an MTV Video Music Award for Best Alternative Video. In 2012, it was voted the second-best Smashing Pumpkins song by Rolling Stone readers.June 13, 2012 Readers' Poll: The Best Smashing Pumpkins Songs https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-lists/readers-poll-the-best-smashing-pumpkins-songs-13645/ Rolling Stone January 21, 2023 Recording According to statements in interviews, Corgan worked nonstop after the Siamese Dream tour, and wrote about 56 songs for Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness,Corgan Billy Billy Corgan Iha James James Iha Wretzky D'arcy D'arcy Wretzky Hora Prima MTV Latin America December 19, 1996 the last of which was "1979".http://www.songfacts.com/detail.php?id=1924 1979 by Smashing Pumpkins - Songfacts www.songfacts.com November 2, 2019 The song that would become "1979" evolved out of a demo called "Strolling".Smashing Pumpkins: The Secret History, by Alan Cross Harper Collins 9781927002209 2007 As the Mellon Collie sessions came to a conclusion, this song was just a couple of chord changes and a snippet of a melody without words. When the time came to choose the songs that were to appear on the album, producer Flood said that the song was "not good enough" and wanted to drop it from the record. Inspired, Corgan took this as a challenge, and he wrote "1979" that night in about four hours. The next day, Flood heard the song once and decided immediately to put it on the album. Corgan considers "1979" the most personally important song on Mellon Collie.Billy Corgan Billy Corgan interview Karl Daher May 29, 1998 The song features a sample of Corgan's voice repeated throughout. During recording, Corgan was singing "today" as the melody line, so he and Flood decided to record him singing to a tape. The pair electronically manipulated several samples and looped them against a drumbeat.King B's Guitar World January 1997 "1979" is partly influenced by "Pleasure",Hall Carl June 15, 2008 The Frogs Live Pleasure https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VYRto3kmtQo YouTube an unreleased song by the Frogs, whom Corgan had liked after seeing them perform in Madison, WI, in 1993. Corgan later performed during the band's encore at Lollapalooza in the summer of 1994, and Dennis Flemion of the Frogs would replace recently deceased keyboard player Jonathan Melvoin during the Infinite Sadness tour.https://spfreaks.wordpress.com/2013/02/05/smashing-pumpkins-and-the-frogs-a-brief-history/ Smashing Pumpkins and The Frogs: A Brief History The SPfreaks Team February 5, 2013 Reception "1979" is the Smashing Pumpkins' highest-charting single, reaching number 12 on the Billboard Hot 100 and number one on the Mainstream Rock Tracks and on the Modern Rock Tracks charts.http://www.allmusic.com/artist/smashing-pumpkins-mn0000036521/awards Charts & Awards: Smashing Pumpkins AllMusic August 26, 2013 Virgin credited the inclusion of the single's bonus tracks for driving sales.Rosen Craig CD Single Sales Spurred by Addition of Nonalbum Cuts Billboard March 30, 1996 The song was nominated for the Record of the Year and Best Rock Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal at the 1997 Grammy Awards. Pitchfork included the song at number 21 on their "Top 200 Tracks of the 90s" and said "'1979' was Billy Corgan asking, 'You know this feeling?' and the second you heard that guitar line the immediate answer was, 'I do—tell me more.'"https://pitchfork.com/features/lists-and-guides/7852-the-top-200-tracks-of-the-1990s-50-21/ The Top 200 Tracks of the 1990s: 50-21 September 2, 2010 Pitchfork October 5, 2011 March 8, 2025 https://web.archive.org/web/20250308042917/https://pitchfork.com/features/lists-and-guides/7852-the-top-200-tracks-of-the-1990s-50-21/ live In a 1996 Spin interview, Corgan indicated that "1979" was probably the only indication he had for what the next Pumpkins album would sound like, "something that combines technology, and a rock sensibility, and pop, and whatever, and hopefully clicks. Between 'Bullet with Butterfly Wings' and '1979' you have the bookends of Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness. You've literally [heard] the end of the rock thing, and the beginning of the new thing".Marks Craig Zero Worship Spin June 1996 In Australia, the song was voted number 13 on Triple J Hottest 100 in 1996.Triple J Hottest 100 1996 http://www.abc.net.au/triplej/hottest100_08/history/1996.htm https://web.archive.org/web/20130116194716/http://www.abc.net.au/triplej/hottest100_08/history/1996.htm 2013-01-16 January 25, 2021 Australian Broadcasting Company It was later voted number 71 on the Hottest 100 of All Time in 1998,https://www.abc.net.au/triplej/hottest100_08/history/1998.htm#h100-all-time Hottest 100 of All Time Australian Broadcasting Company January 25, 2021 number 35 on the Triple J Hottest 100 of All Time in 2009,Triple J Hottest 100 of All Time https://www.abc.net.au/triplej/hottest100_alltime/countdown/cd_list.htm https://web.archive.org/web/20130118023209/https://www.abc.net.au/triplej/hottest100_08/history/1998.htm#h100-all-time 2013-01-18 January 25, 2021 Australian Broadcasting Company and number 21 on the Hottest 100 of the Past 20 Years in 2013.https://www.abc.net.au/triplej/hottest100/alltime/20years/countdown/ Triple J's Hottest 100 20 Years – The Countdown April 18, 2013 Australian Broadcasting Company January 25, 2021 Music video The music video for "1979" was directed by the team of Jonathan Dayton and Valerie Faris, who had previously directed the music video for "Rocket". Originally, the band approached another director (possibly Spike Jonze) to film the video for "1979". The original idea was that all the band members were residents in an alien hotel and they were all going to have specially made alien-elephant masks. This concept would have cost over US$1 million to film, and was not produced. The video follows a day in the life of disaffected suburban teenagers driving around in a 1972 Dodge Charger. It is based on a concept Corgan created, featuring an idealized version of teenage life, while also trying to capture the feeling of being bored in the Chicago suburbs, where Corgan grew up. In the video the Dodge Charger has Illinois license plates, although in the driving scenes the mountains of California are visible in the background shots. Originally, Corgan wanted a scene of violence, in which the convenience store was trashed by the teens at the end of the video, but Dayton and Faris convinced him to go for something tamer. Corgan appears throughout the video in the backseat of a car, and the other band members have small parts in the video; James Iha appears as a convenience store clerk, D'arcy Wretzky as an irate neighbor, Jimmy Chamberlin as a policeman, and the band also appears in the party scene. Band manager "Gooch" plays Jimmy's partner.The Smashing Pumpkins – Greatest Hits Video Collection (1991–2000) 2001 DVD Virgin Records Upon finishing the video shoot, the band flew to New York to perform. However, all tapes of the footage were accidentally left sitting on top of a car, and were lost as the driver departed. The group later flew back to re-shoot the party scene. The "1979" video was highly acclaimed. It won the MTV Video Music Award for Best Alternative Video in 1996. It was one of Canadian cable television music channel MuchMusic's Countdown number-one videos of 1996. Billy Corgan considers it the Pumpkins' best video, calling it "the closest we've ever come to realizing everything we wanted." The video for the 1998 song "Perfect" is a sequel to the video for "1979", and involves the same characters who are now older. The incident with the loss of the original footage is parodied in one of the later video's final scenes, in which a cassette tape is left on top of a car and falls off as a character drives out of a parking lot at high speed, and is subsequently destroyed by a police vehicle.May 2026 Track listings UK and US CD single, UK 12-inch vinylhttps://eil.com/shop/moreinfo.asp?catalogid=61852 Smashing Pumpkins 1979 - Nineteen Seventy Nine UK CD single (CD5 / 5") (61852) eil.com November 2, 2019https://eil.com/shop/moreinfo.asp?catalogid=65234 Smashing Pumpkins 1979 US CD single (CD5 / 5") (65234) eil.com November 2, 2019https://eil.com/shop/moreinfo.asp?catalogid=85444 Smashing Pumpkins 1979 - Nineteen Seventy Nine UK 12" vinyl single (12 inch record / Maxi-single) (85444) eil.com November 2, 2019 1979 Billy Corgan 4:24 Ugly Billy Corgan 2:28 Believe James Iha 3:15 Cherry Billy Corgan 4:02 1996 maxi-CD re-issuehttp://eil.com/shop/moreinfo.asp?catalogid=76593 Smashing Pumpkins the Aeroplane Flies High USA BOX SET (76593) September 27, 2012 dead https://web.archive.org/web/20100530130243/http://eil.com/shop/moreinfo.asp?catalogid=76593 May 30, 2010 1979 Billy Corgan 4:24 Ugly Billy Corgan 2:28 The Boy James Iha 3:04 Cherry Billy Corgan 4:02 Believe James Iha 3:15 Set the Ray to Jerry Billy Corgan 4:10 US 7-inch double A-side singlehttp://eil.com/shop/moreinfo.asp?catalogid=224570 Smashing Pumpkins 1978/Bullet with Butterfly Wings US 7" vinyl single (7 inch record) (224570) dead https://web.archive.org/web/20150204183120/http://eil.com/shop/moreinfo.asp?catalogid=224570 February 4, 2015 September 27, 2012 1979 Billy Corgan 4:24 Bullet with Butterfly Wings Billy Corgan 4:16 1979 Mixeshttps://eil.com/shop/moreinfo.asp?catalogid=217070 Smashing Pumpkins 1979 Nineteen Seventy Nine Mixes UK CD single (CD5 / 5") (217070) eil.com November 2, 2019 1979 (Vocal Mix) Billy Corgan 5:08 1979 (Instrumental Mix) Billy Corgan 5:17 1979 (Moby Mix) Billy Corgan 6:39 1979 (Cement Mix) Billy Corgan 4:40 Tracks 1, 2, and 4 are remixed by Roli Mosimann. Track 3 is remixed by Moby.http://www.mtv.com/news/gallery/s/smashing970528.html Moby Tries To Collect Debt From Pumpkins Corgan MTV May 28, 1997 https://web.archive.org/web/19970614024458/http://www.mtv.com/news/gallery/s/smashing970528.html June 14, 1997 October 5, 2011 Charts Weekly charts Chart (1996)PeakpositionAustralia 16 The Smashing Pumpkins 1979 true November 24, 2016Flanders 37 The Smashing Pumpkins 1979 true November 24, 2016Wallonia 21 The Smashing Pumpkins 1979 true November 24, 2016Canada RPM 2 1902 November 24, 2016 trueCanada RPM Dance 7 10025 August 13, 2019 trueCanada RPM Rock 3 6872 November 24, 2016 trueCanada Retail Singles (The Record)Lwin Nanda Nanda Lwin 2000 Top 40 Hits: The Essential Chart Guide Mississauga, Ontario, Canada Music Data Canada 9781896594132 2568Canada Hit Parade (The Record)5Canada Contemporary Hit Radio (The Record)2Estonia (Eesti Top 20)https://dea.digar.ee/?a=d&d=eestipaevaleht19960227.2.20.6&srpos=4&e=-------en-25--1--txt-txIN%7ctxTI%7ctxAU%7ctxTA-smashing+pumpkins+1979------------ Muusikaedetabelid: Eesti Top 20 Sõnumileht August 24, 1996 12 December 23, 2024 et6Europe (Eurochart Hot 100)https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-and-Media/90s/1996/MM-1996-02-24.pdf Eurochart Hot 100 Singles Music & Media 13 8 16 February 24, 1996 May 24, 202044European Alternative Rock (Music & Media)https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-and-Media/90s/1996/MM-1996-03-23.pdf European Alternative Rock Radio Music & Media 25 23 March 1996 4 August 20224European Hit Radio Top 40 (Music & Media)https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-and-Media/90s/1996/MM-1996-03-30.pdf EHR Top 40 Singles Music & Media 13 24 12 March 30, 1996 October 11, 201926Finland 11 The Smashing Pumpkins 1979 true November 24, 2016France 38 The Smashing Pumpkins 1979 true November 24, 2016France Airplay (Music & Media)https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-and-Media/90s/1996/MM-1996-04-13.pdf Major Market Airplay Music & Media 15 19 25 April 13, 1996 August 4, 202210Iceland (Íslenski Listinn Topp 40)https://timarit.is/page/2937455#page/n33/mode/2up Íslenski Listinn Topp 40 (24.2. '96 – 1.3. '96) Dagblaðið Vísir is 42 February 24, 1996 October 2, 2019 https://web.archive.org/web/20200724124247/https://timarit.is/page/2937455#page/n33/mode/2up July 24, 20202Ireland2 6 The Smashing Pumpkins true November 24, 2016Latvia (Latvijas Top 40)http://www.lanet.lv/news/kiegelis/int94.html Latvian Airplay Top 217 of 1996 Lanet.lv lv December 1, 202218Dutch40 38 1996 10 true July 16, 2018Dutch100 29 The Smashing Pumpkins 1979 true November 24, 2016New Zealand 9 The Smashing Pumpkins 1979 true November 24, 2016Poland Airplay (Music & Media)https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-and-Media/90s/1996/MM-1996-02-24.pdf Major Market Airplay Music & Media 15 19 25 February 24, 1996 August 4, 20229Quebec Airplay (ADISQ)https://web.archive.org/web/20151129063315/http://bibnum2.banq.qc.ca/bna/palmares/2010-Anglo-Allophone/Anglo-Compilation_succes_ordre_alpha_interpretes.pdf http://bibnum2.banq.qc.ca/bna/palmares/2010-Anglo-Allophone/Anglo-Compilation_succes_ordre_alpha_interpretes.pdf Palmarès de la chanson anglophone et allophone au Québec BAnQ fr September 11, 2019 November 29, 2015 dead3Scotland 17 19960210 true July 16, 2018Spain Airplay (Music & Media)https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-and-Media/90s/1996/MM-1996-02-24.pdf Major Market Airplay Music & Media 15 19 25 February 24, 1996 August 4, 202212UK 16 19960210 true November 24, 2016Billboardhot100 12 The Smashing Pumpkins true November 24, 2016Billboardadultalternativesongs 3 The Smashing Pumpkins true November 24, 2016Billboardadultpopsongs 30 The Smashing Pumpkins true November 24, 2016Billboardalternativesongs 1 The Smashing Pumpkins true November 24, 2016Billboarddanceclubplay 17 The Smashing Pumpkins true November 24, 2016Billboarddancesales 47 The Smashing Pumpkins true July 10,2 021Billboardmainstreamrock 1 The Smashing Pumpkins true November 24, 2016Billboardpopsongs 10 The Smashing Pumpkins true November 24, 2016US Cash Box Top 100https://www.popmusichistory.co.uk/_files/ugd/b4848d_4f9128176360450ba51be67a0468e9fa.pdf U.S. Cash Box Charts popmusichistory March 3, 202311 Year-end charts Chart (1996)PositionAustralia (ARIA)http://i.imgur.com/t1PYbhG.jpg The ARIA Australian Top 100 Singles 1996 ARIA Imgur May 29, 2016 dead https://web.archive.org/web/20151102010347/http://i.imgur.com/t1PYbhG.jpg November 2, 201594Belgium (Ultratop 50 Wallonia)https://www.ultratop.be/fr/annual.asp?year=1996 Rapports Annuels 1996 Ultratop fr March 6, 202077Canada Top Singles (RPM)https://recherche-collection-search.bac-lac.gc.ca/eng/home/record?IdNumber=5396&app=rpm RPM Year End Top 100 Hit Tracks RPM Library and Archives Canada July 16, 201815Canada Dance/Urban (RPM)https://recherche-collection-search.bac-lac.gc.ca/eng/home/record?IdNumber=5442&app=rpm RPM Year End Dance Top 50 RPM Library and Archives Canada July 16, 201835Canada Rock/Alternative (RPM)https://recherche-collection-search.bac-lac.gc.ca/eng/home/record?IdNumber=5441&app=rpm RPM Year End Alternative Top 50 RPM Library and Archives Canada July 16, 20183Iceland (Íslenski Listinn Topp 40)https://timarit.is/page/2949469#page/n15/mode/2up Árslistinn 1996 Dagblaðið Vísir is 25 January 2, 1997 May 30, 2020 https://web.archive.org/web/20200705115555/https://timarit.is/page/2949469#page/n15/mode/2up July 5, 202034US Billboard Hot 100http://longboredsurfer.com/charts.php?year=1996 Billboard Top 100 - 1996 longboredsurfer.com October 5, 2011 dead https://web.archive.org/web/20090301121523/http://longboredsurfer.com/charts.php?year=1996 March 1, 2009 44US Mainstream Rock (Billboard)Billboard The Year in Music 1996 – Hot Mainstream Rock Tracks December 28, 1996 108 52 sQkEAAAAMBAJ RA1-PA42-IA9 yes YE-76 0006-2510 December 25, 2023 Google Books10US Top 40/Mainstream (Billboard)https://www.worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Billboard-Airplay/Billboard-Airplay/1996/BBAM-1996-12-27.pdf Best of '96: Top 40/Mainstream Top Titles Billboard Airplay Monitor 4 53 30 December 27, 1996 December 25, 202330 Certifications Italy Gold single 1996 2018 February 26, 2018 The Smashing Pumpkins 1979 5312 New Zealand Platinum 4 single 1996 2026 February 11, 2026 Smashing Pumpkins 1979 radioscope Spain single Gold 2024 The Smashing Pumpkins 1979 February 21, 2024 United Kingdom Platinum single 2005 2025 April 4, 2025 Smashing Pumpkins 1979 15463-1082-1 United States Gold single 1996 1996 November 25, 2016 Smashing Pumpkins 1979 true true Personnel Billy Corgan - vocals, guitars, drum machine, synthesizers James Iha - guitar, backing vocals D'arcy Wretzky - bass guitar, backing vocals Jimmy Chamberlin - drums Release history RegionDateFormat(s)Label(s)Ref. ReferenceUnited StatesJanuary 23, 1996CDVirginhttps://www.amazon.com/1979-Believe-Cherry-Smashing-Pumpkins/dp/B000008QHE 1979 / Ugly / Believe / Cherry Amazon July 10, 2021United KingdomJanuary 29, 199612-inch vinyl CD cassetteVirgin Huthttps://worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-Week/1996/Music-Week-1996-01-27.pdf New Releases: Singles Music Week 37 January 27, 1996 July 10, 2021March 11, 199612-inch vinyl CD (Mixes)New Releases: Singles Music Week 31 March 9, 1996 Licensed uses The song appears in the film Clerks II (2006) and during the credits of the video game Gran Turismo 5 (2010). It was also released as part of a Smashing Pumpkins-themed DLC pack for the rhythm game Guitar Hero World Tour.Snow Jean September 3, 2008 Smashing Pumpkins Debut Single on Guitar Hero: World Tour https://www.wired.com/2008/09/smashing-pumpki-2/ October 21, 2023 Wired It was also part of the soundtrack of Grand Theft Auto IV, playing on the fictional Liberty Rock Radio station until it was removed in an April 2018 update when Rockstar Games' ten-year license to the song expired.Roemer Dan Here's a list of songs removed in GTA IV's latest update https://www.destructoid.com/here-s-a-list-of-songs-removed-in-gta-iv-s-latest-update-500493.phtml Destructoid April 28, 2018 April 26, 2018 The song's guitar riff was also interpolated by American boy band Why Don't We in their song "Slow Down". Covers Both Barns Courtney and Nita Strauss covered the song for 2026's Sending Hearts To All My Dearies: A Tribute To The Smashing Pumpkins. See also Number one modern rock hits of 1996 List of number-one mainstream rock hits (United States) List of RPM Rock/Alternative number-one singles (Canada) References Category:1995 songs Category:1996 singles Category:The Smashing Pumpkins songs Category:Art rock songs Category:Alternative pop songs Category:Pop ballads Category:Hut Records singles Category:Music videos directed by Jonathan Dayton and Valerie Faris Category:Song recordings produced by Alan Moulder Category:Song recordings produced by Billy Corgan Category:Song recordings produced by Flood (producer) Category:Songs about nostalgia Category:Songs written by Billy Corgan Category:Virgin Records singles Category:Music videos shot in the United States