SONG #21: The Smashing Pumpkins - Tonight, Tonight

Inducted on May 8, 2014

Another High School/College song, this first came out in 1996, similarly to "A Long December". I've got to confess, the first thing that hooked me in was the music video. The mid-90's was truly a glory-period for MTV, and the video for this song is one of the best of that era. Every good video reflects the spirit and themes of the song, and they pulled off with this one.

As for the song itself, the music is like something from the movies, with its beautiful opening arrangement. Then it transitions with the simple guitar and drum clicks, only to build back up again later. Although some may say Corgan's voice is grating, I think this song shows his versatility. He knows when to amp up the angst and when to lay back. Combine this with the "beautiful" arrangement (more on that in a minute), and you've got a unique blend of sounds.

This was another song that I listened to a lot in college. Just like a particular scent will take you back to a specific moment in time, this song takes me back to an infamous weekend during my freshman (?) year at college. A few friends were going to Toronto for the weekend and a space had opened up so they invited me to come along. You have to understand that awkward people are always playing "catch-up" with everybody else. I didn't have any experience taking a trip like this, and so my social anxiety was flaring up to a hot 450 degrees. I WANTED to go, of course, but I was so concerned about what they thought of me, and how I would act, etc. etc. So, in the end, I ignored the "you only live once" advice I got from other people when I started college and I faked an illness. I realize how that only continued the process of being socially stunted, but the anxiety was overwhelming at the moment.

Anyway, the entire weekend I sulked in my room, and I remember this song being in heavy rotation. Talk about fueling the drama.. I'm not sure if a song can be any more dramatic.

Take away the personal connection I have to the song - from just a musical prespective, it is one of the most "beautiful" rock songs I've heard. I'm not sure if they would take it as a compliment, but I certainly mean it as such.