Pretty Noose

Infobox Single
Name = Pretty Noose


Caption =
Artist = Soundgarden
from Album = Down on the Upside
A-side =
B-side = "Jerry Garcia's Finger"
Released = March 1996
Format = CD single, Vinyl
Recorded = November 1995 – February 1996
Genre = Grunge
Length = 4:12
Label = A&M
Writer = Chris Cornell
Producer = Soundgarden
Certification =
Last single = "Fell on Black Days" (1994)
This single = "Pretty Noose" (1996)
Next single = "Burden in My Hand" (1996)
Misc = Extra tracklisting
Album = Down on the Upside
Type = studio
prev_track =
prev_no =
this_track = "Pretty Noose"
track_no = Track 1
next_track = "Rhinosaur"
next_no = Track 2"Pretty Noose" is a song by the American rock band Soundgarden, released in March 1996 as the first single from the band's fifth studio album, "Down on the Upside" (1996). It reached number two on the "Billboard" Modern Rock Tracks chart. It would later appear on the band's greatest hits album "A-Sides".

Origin and recording

The song was written by frontman Chris Cornell. Drummer Matt Cameron on the song:

That song for me was kind of interesting, because we were at the phase where we were just going to demo tunes. So I learned the tune and recorded it, and we ended up using that take. When we recorded that, I had walked to the studio (in Seattle) and my legs were really tired. But to make a long story short, I was trying to get a walking feel on the drum part. So it probably has a little weird shuffle to it probably from that walk that I took to the studio that day. [ [http://web.stargate.net/soundgarden/articles/buzzword_8-96.shtml "Down on the Upside"] . "The Buzz Word". August 1996.]

Composition

"Pretty Noose" has a distinctive opening wah-wah guitar riff. The song was written in C-G-C-G-G-E tuning. [Leonard, Michael. [http://web.stargate.net/soundgarden/articles/theguitar_12-96.shtml "Unknown Pleasures"] . "The Guitar Magazine". December 1996.]

Lyrics

According to Cornell, "Pretty Noose" is about "an attractively packaged bad idea...something that seems great at first and then comes back to bite you." [ [http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1427523/19960412/cornell_chris.jhtml "Soundgarden Returns"] . MTV.com. April 12, 1996.] Frank Kozik, the director of the song's music video, interpreted the song as "your average bad-girlfriend experience," an interpretation which Cornell agreed with. [http://web.stargate.net/soundgarden/articles/torontosun_5-10-96.shtml "Soundgarden's New Video Causes Controversy"] . "Toronto Sun". May 10, 1996.]

Release and reception

It appeared on "Billboard" magazine's Hot 100 Airplay chart, reaching the top 40. The song peaked at number four on the "Billboard" Mainstream Rock Tracks chart and number two on the "Billboard" Modern Rock Tracks chart. "Pretty Noose" was nominated for the Grammy Award for Best Hard Rock Performance in 1997. [cite web| url=http://www.rockonthenet.com/archive/1997/grammys.htm |title=39th Grammy Awards - 1997
publisher=Rockonthenet.com |accessdate=2008-02-20] Stephen Thomas Erlewine of Allmusic called the song "updated, muscular prog rock." [Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. [http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:kc6jtr5qkl7x "Down on the Upside > Review"] . Allmusic. Retrieved on May 19, 2008.]

Outside of the United States, the single was released in the United Kingdom. In Canada, the song reached the top 50 on the Canadian Singles Chart. "Pretty Noose" reached the UK Top 20 and was the last single from the album which charted in the UK Top 20. "Pretty Noose" peaked at number 14 in Australia. It reached the top 20 in New Zealand and was a top ten success in Finland.

Music video

Official video

. Kozik had previously been known for his work on posters and album art. [Zogbi, Marina. [http://web.stargate.net/soundgarden/articles/metaledge_8-96.shtml "Upshot on "The Upside" from Kim Thayil"] . "Metal Edge". August 1996.] The video was released in May 1996.Cite web|url=http://www.mvdbase.com/artist.php?last=Soundgarden&first=&sortord=1=|title=Soundgarden music videos|accessdate=2008-02-22|publisher=Music Video Database]

Cornell on the music video:

It's unlike anything else we've ever done...In fact, I think it's unlike anything else anyone has ever done. Working with someone like Frank was really interesting because his approach was so fresh - he didn't know the rules that he's supposed to play under. He made the video what it is. It's really interesting and colorful. It's the kind of video that's still fun to look at after you've seen it a few times. That was very important to us. At this point in our lives, part of the challenge is to try new things, not to fall into the pattern of playing it safe. We did that on the video, and we did that on the album too. [Waters, Rodney. [http://web.stargate.net/soundgarden/articles/hp_10-96.shtml "Getting Down with Soundgarden"] . "Hit Parader". October 1996.]

Controversy

MTV refused to air the full video, as it ends with an apparent murder. MuchMusic was given a revised version to air on its channel. Kozik said that the video was censored because it was "too heavy" for the "dipshits at MTV." He added, "They got a dead girl in that lame Stabbing Westward video so I don't understand their problem."

International version

's brother).

Live performances

The song was performed on "Saturday Night Live" in May 1996 in support of "Down on the Upside".

Track listing

;US Promo CD
#"Pretty Noose" (Chris Cornell) – 4:12

;European CD #1 and 7"
#"Pretty Noose" (Cornell) – 4:12
#"Jerry Garcia's Finger" (Matt Cameron, Cornell, Ben Shepherd, Kim Thayil) – 4:00

;European CD #2
#"Pretty Noose" (Cornell) – 4:12
#"Applebite" (Cameron, Cornell) – 5:10
#"An Unkind" (Shepherd) – 2:08
#Interview with Eleven's Alain and Natasha;UK Club Promo CD
#"Pretty Noose" (Cornell) – 4:12

*The Club Promo is a limited edition of 300 (making it the rarest of any Soundgarden release), and comes packaged in a clear, soft plastic sleeve sealed with a large red sticker that doubles as the "liner notes."

Chart positions

References

External links

*YouTube | id = 8fZ86Fh0XPk | title = Music video for "Pretty Noose" (International version)