Sour Girl

Infobox Single
Name = Sour Girl


Artist = Stone Temple Pilots
from Album = No. 4
B-side = "Sex & Violence (live)"
"Sour Girl (live)"
Released = 2000
Format = CD single
Recorded = 1999
Genre = Alternative rock
Length = 4:16
Label = Atlantic
Producer = Brendan O'Brien
Writer = Music: Dean DeLeo
Lyrics: Scott Weiland
Chart position =
* # 4 U.S. Mainstream Rock Tracks
* # 3 U.S. Modern Rock Tracks
* # 39 U.S. Top 40 Mainstream
* # 37 U.S. Adult Top 40
* # 78 U.S. The Billboard Hot 100
* # 4 UK Singles Chart
Last single = "Down"
(1999)
This single = "Sour Girl"
(2000)
Next single = "Days of the Week"
(2001)Extra tracklisting
Album = No. 4
Type = studio
prev_track = "Church on Tuesday"
prev_no = Track 4
this_track = "Sour Girl"
track_no = Track 5
next_track = "No Way Out"
next_no = Track 6|

"Sour Girl" is a song by Stone Temple Pilots. The song was written by singer Scott Weiland and guitarist Dean DeLeo for their band's fourth album, aptly titled "No. 4". It is the only STP song to enter the Billboard Hot 100 chart, peaking at number 78. "Sour Girl" was one of STP's biggest hits since the "Core" and "Purple" eras.

Composition and inspiration

Weiland wrote the song in reference to his first marriage with Janina Castaneda, in which his then-wife was unhappy with him but upbeat and happy-go-lucky without him. Weiland claimed that he "held her emotionally hostage in the marriage". Fact|date=March 2007 Weiland and Castaneda ended up divorcing in 2000, the same year "Sour Girl" was released and Scott began his second marriage with Mary Forsberg. On STP's appearance on "VH1 Storytellers", Weiland stated that he thinks "Sour Girl" is one of the best songs the band has ever written.

Music video

While writing the majority of "No. 4", Weiland was in jail for various drug charges. During that time, he became a fan of the television show "Buffy the Vampire Slayer". He also became enamored with the show's star, Sarah Michelle Gellar. When it became time to make the video for "Sour Girl", Weiland requested that she be in the video as well. Fact|date=March 2007

The video for "Sour Girl" is characterized by its small background setting, camera work, and cinematography. Weiland sings the lyrics while rhythmically moving his arms and body. Gellar appears initially in a gothic outfit, acting as a guardian angel to Weiland; later, she returns to her regular appearance, acting as Weiland's love interest. Weiland's current wife at the time, Mary Forsberg, acted as the go-between with Weiland and Gellar. Other band members appear in the video as well, interacting with bunny-suited characters the size of Teletubbies. Two of the bunny characters are especially prominent in the choreography: one of them has happy features; while the other has an eerie, almost evil expression. The video was directed by David Slade (who later would direct "Hard Candy" and "30 Days of Night").

Reception

The video was nominated for a MTV Video Music Award for Best Cinematography in 2000, but lost to Macy Gray's "Do Something". It was also nominated for a Billboard Music Video Award for Best Modern Rock Track, but lost to 3 Doors Down's "Kryptonite". The video also appeared on the MTV show "Making the Video".

External link

*youtube|4G1kJzg355w|"Sour Girl" music video