Flower (Soundgarden song)

Infobox Single
Name = Flower


Caption =
Artist = Soundgarden
from Album = Ultramega OK
A-side =
B-side = "Head Injury" / "Toy Box"
Released = May 1989
Format = CD single, Cassette, Vinyl
Recorded = Spring 1988
Genre = Grunge
Length = 3:25
Label = SST
Writer = Chris Cornell, Kim Thayil
Producer = Drew Canulette, Soundgarden
Certification =
Chart position =
Last single = "Hunted Down" (1987)
This single = "Flower" (1989)
Next single = "Loud Love" (1989)
Misc = Extra tracklisting
Album = Ultramega OK
Type = studio
prev_track =
prev_no =
this_track = "Flower"
track_no = Track 1
next_track = "All Your Lies"
next_no = Track 2Audiosample
Upper caption = Audio sample
Audio file = Flower.OGG

"Flower" is a song by the American rock band Soundgarden, released in May 1989 as the only single from the band's debut album "Ultramega OK" (1988). It would later appear on the band's greatest hits album "A-Sides".

Origin and recording

The song features lyrics written by frontman Chris Cornell and music written by guitarist Kim Thayil. Thayil on the song:

This song marks the first time I ever blew on a guitar. I put the guitar down on the ground near the amp to get a humming feedback, as opposed to a squealy one, and blew across the strings in rhythm with the drums. There's probably some obscure Mississippi blues guitarist like 'Blind Lemon Pledge' who's done that before, but 'Flower' is the first time any rock band had recorded the sound of someone blowing across the strings. It sounds like a sitar.Gilbert, Jeff. [http://web.stargate.net/soundgarden/articles/gschool_5-94.shtml "Primecuts: Kim Thayil"] . "Guitar School". May 1994.]

Lyrics

Regarding the song, Cornell said "it's about a girl...who becomes a woman and basically invests everything in vanity and then burns out quick. [ [http://web.stargate.net/soundgarden/articles/sounds_5-13-89.shtml "Kashmir"] . "Sounds". May 13, 1989.]

Release and reception

"Flower" was the only single released from "Ultramega OK". The B-side "Head Injury" can also be found on the "Ultramega OK" album while "Toy Box" (which was recorded during the sessions for Soundgarden's first EP "Screaming Life") can only be found on this single. The cover photo of the single was taken by Charles Peterson, a noted photographer of the early Seattle music scene. [ [http://web.stargate.net/soundgarden/releases/flower.shtml "Flower"] . Unofficial SG Homepage. May 29, 1997.]

Music video

scene gain attention and garner exposure to a somewhat mainstream audience.

Track listing

;12", CD5, CD3, Cassette, Red 10", and Yellow 10"
#"Flower" (Chris Cornell, Kim Thayil) – 3:25
#"Head Injury" (Cornell) – 2:22
#"Toy Box" – 5:39

Accolades

References