- Geek U.S.A.
Song infobox
Name = Geek U.S.A.
Artist =The Smashing Pumpkins
Album =Siamese Dream
Released =27 July 1993
track_no = 8
Recorded = 1992 - 1993
Genre =Alternative rock
Length = 5:13
Writer =Billy Corgan
Label =Virgin Records
Producer =Butch Vig ,Billy Corgan
Chart position =
Misc =Extra tracklisting
Album =Siamese Dream
Type = studio
prev_track = "Soma"
prev_no = 7
this_track = "Geek U.S.A."
track_no = 8
next_track = "Mayonaise"
next_no = 9"Geek U.S.A." is a song from
The Smashing Pumpkins second and breakthrough album, "Siamese Dream ". "Geek U.S.A." was written byBilly Corgan . It was included inGuitar World 's list of the 100 greatest guitar solos of all time, voted in at number 54. Ironically, in the album version and following live performances of the song, the solo was much shortened compared to the original demo, and even was considered to be dropped, as Corgan felt it didn't add that much to the already roller coaster-style dynamics of the song. These dynamics lead Corgan to call "Geek U.S.A." "Gish " all in one song" [Unsell, Kevin. "Smashing Pumpkins: Living the Dream", "Illinois Entertainer". August, 1993.] , whileButch Vig , the producer of "Siamese Dream", called it "one of the most amazing drum performances [he] had ever heard" [Azzerrad, Michael. "Smashing Pumpkins' Sudden Impact ", "Rolling Stone".October 1 ,1993 ]Although it was never released as a single, it was featured on the
Triple J compilation album "Eleven". "Geek U.S.A." was reworked from an earlier song by the band entitled "Suicide Kiss". A live version of "Geek U.S.A." appears on the albumEarphoria and companion videoVieuphoria .A live performance of the song also appears on the band's official
Greatest Hits Video Collection . This concert footage, filmed for aSeattle television special, was the band's first experience with directorsJonathan Dayton and Valerie Faris , who shot several more videos for the band in subsequent years. The concert was notable for the presence of 50 professional clowns on-stage with the Pumpkins, after the band was told they would be presented however they wished on tour. [Commentary for "Geek U.S.A." live video. "The Smashing Pumpkins 1991–2000: Greatest Hits Video Collection" (Virgin Records, 2001).] DrummerJimmy Chamberlin and director Jonathan Dayton (who was also dressed as a clown to be able to film close-ups of the band) agreed that the performance turned very dangerous when the clowns began performingstage dive s."Geek U.S.A." was performed by the band from 1992 to 1996, with a brief re-appearance in the repertoire in 1999.
Footnotes
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