Semi-Charmed Life

Infobox Single
Name = Semi-Charmed Life


Artist = Third Eye Blind
from Album = Third Eye Blind
Released = June 17, 1997
Format = CD single
[Recorded =]
Genre = Alternative rock
Length = 4:29/3:39 (edit)/4:00 (video version)
Label = Elektra
Writer = Stephan Jenkins
Producer = Eric Valentine
Last single = -
This single = "Semi-Charmed Life" (1997)
Next single = "Graduate" (1997)

"Semi-Charmed Life" is Third Eye Blind's first single off their self-titled debut album, released in 1997. It was a major hit of the 1990s, reaching number four in the U.S., [Whitburn, Joel. "The Billboard Book of Top 40 Hits", 6th ed, Billboard Publications, Inc. 1996. ISBN 0-8230-7632-6] , number one on the Modern Rock Tracks and the Top 40 in the UK. Furthermore, it has had a pervasive cultural impact, being featured in numerous movie soundtracks.

Beneath a catchy, upbeat melody, the song contains dark lyrics about a drug user's descent into crystal meth addiction and his sexual activities. However, the single still became a major hit. The words "crystal myth" are frequently censored on radio stations, or "blurred" out of recognition. The words are a play on the phrase "crystal meth".

According to lead singer Stephan Jenkins, the song was meant as a response to Lou Reed's "Walk on the Wild Side", but from a San Francisco perspective. [Citation
last = Elfman
first = Doug
title = Musical Diversity – Third Eye Blind's influences range from Lou Reed to Queen
newspaper = Las Vegas Review-Journal
year = 2002
date = February 15
url = http://www.reviewjournal.com/lvrj_home/2002/Feb-15-Fri-2002/weekly/18032754.html] The style of the song reflects changes that were occurring in the San Francisco music scene, particularly a growing interest in hip-hop.

Extra verse

The CD and cassette version of the song contains a verse that was never played on the single or the music video, possibly due to sexual content. However, early radio play was of the CD version. The single also had the words "crystal meth" censored through backmasking.

The lyrics to the extra verse are:

And when the plane came in, she said she was crashing The velvet it rips in the city, we tripped on the urge to feel alive Now I'm struggling to survive, those days you were wearing that velvet dress You're the priestess, I must confess Those little red panties they pass the test Slide up around the belly, face down on the mattress

In other popular culture

* "Weird Al" Yankovic included the song's chorus in the song "Polka Power" on his album "Running with Scissors".
* "Semi-Charmed Life" was featured in the 1998 film "Dirty Work" starring Norm Macdonald and Artie Lang.
* The song was also featured in the 1999 teen comedy "American Pie".
* The song was used in select previews for "The Tigger Movie."
* The TV series Bill Nye the Science Guy did a parody of the song called "Atoms in My Life".
* The song was on an episode of Sabrina, the Teenage Witch
* The song was included in Bob Ricci's 'Five for One' song

Chart performances

Charts

References