What Makes This Song Great? "1979" Smashing Pumpkins 

I concur!!!

Hard working man that Billy

I never noticed all these little sounds that make this song so hypnotic and dreamy and after watching it makes me appreciate this song way more. Makes ya wonder how many more songs have all these little bits that get lost when you just casually listen to it.

One of my all time favorites. On a side note just today I used the line 'The World is a Vampire' while discussing politics with a friend.

@@FacheChanteDeux you got that right.

Dylan Stewart agreed

Dylan Stewart seriously it's probably my favorite on RU-vid

I would seriously watch a 'What Makes This Album Great'

Agreed

I am hoping to see episode 1000 someday

Jason Smith yesssss🙌🏼

This is correct

Lol... Yes but not really. Made me laugh though.

everlasting gaze? drown? mellon collie and the infinite sadness? stumbeline? porcelina of the vast oceans?

Yes and it's time for part 2 now please Rick. Something heavy from Siamese Dream 🤘

That's a great way to put it. It's so mindblowing when you delve deeper into how artists put together their art.

Corgan wasnt the best singer, but he really knew how to use his voice to draw out different emotions in a song

Great description really! Steady and Sweet!

Well, Chamberlain was a jazz drummer for a reason. It's what he loved. Even so, the drums can get pretty strong in some songs. He was voted by musicians in the 90's one of the best Rock drummers of the decade. Just a couple of people in front and one of them was Dave Ghroul. So... This says a lot. Listening to Adore, you can see the outstanding drummer that James was. And classy.

@@nesfan8 That's the difference between having a good voice and knowing how to sing. They are absolutely two different things!.

like that aching nostalgia of the past + the years going by so fast.

It's that major 7th note in the weird vocal sample. At least I think so....major 7ths always help give a bittersweet melancholic romantic vibe...

You can't shake those zipper blues.

The entire album has a bittersweet nostalgic feeling and theme. Billy Corgan is second to none when it comes to creating a self-contained universe of emotion all wrapped up in an album. What an artist!

Daniel Simon that's exactly what it is.

I love that album one of my favourite of all time but tales of scorched earth is sub par

Dont forget the B sides too

@@campbellholt1220 Tales of A Scorched Earth is amazing mate.

And it could have been better if they'd add the songs didn't make the album

@@robin5on I agree. A lot of the B-sides are spectacular.

Daniel Stittums all their stuff is layered AF

once he pointed out the bell part, i can’t ignore it.

This is probably the explanation why the album that you record with your amateur or semi-professional doesn't quite sound quite as good as the stuff that you hear on the radio. My bandmates make fun of me if I want to add yet another track of backing vocals and another guitar track ("oh, are we doing another Queen record?"), but I now realise that we're not even at half the stuff that professionals throw at you, and I'm not even talking about the quality of mixing and mastering. Then again, our albums probably cost 1% of theirs to produce. And sell 0.0001% of theirs, with good reason.

That's not even that many layers though. Some projects these days have 80 plus layers and it's just overkill. The layers in this are so tasteful though, which is in my opinion the crux of the song. That echo vocal along with the melody/lyrics really give that nostalgia vibe.

This is a poor song compare for example just like heaven. This music band is not a goog one

Theres a word for that

Second-hand nostalgia

especially with the mv

It's anemoia

@@binariez yeah that

Me too! Never thought there ever was a bell part to begin with.

Me, too! Never thought there ever was a bell part to begin with.

Yeah i thought it was just a synth pad at first, so cool

Same here, I played it with several bands and never make that sound out of it. Clean effects, perfect harmonies.

Right there with you my man, I'm looking to simulate that sound with a simple shimmer reverb effect/pedal. Because I cant play the bells ;)

I always thought it was a vocal, I just couldn't understand what it was exactly. It sounded to me like "ooh, take it". 🤷‍♂️

Just goes to show how much thought and process goes into the building of the song from the artist and sound engineer.

Into dust I guess.

And where has the hair gone?

This is the end... My only friend the end XD I think that is where the time is gonna go.

It just disappears so quickly I think because we spend so much time dwelling within the past and projecting into the future. It's all actually happening in the now and we're barely ever there to notice

Time is never time at all.

Billy being a Pisces knows how to manifest that iNtangible.

I've always wondered what that sound effect was. Now I know!!

i still amazed

Atmosphere, space, and nostalgia

Simple but genius. I always wondered how to make that effect on a guitar. Never happened. I hate playing this song with my band because we couldn’t make it sound perfect.

Rick dissecting rock.

I have..

I have just recently started indulging into his anatomising of songs. Fascinating experience.

Except I do wish he'd stop saying 'check it out' every ten seconds

This is essentially my 2nd therapy session each week 🤘

That explains why someone earlier quoted Billy describing the drum machine used, while Rick was saying it was Jimmy's drumming looped. I found the drum tracks and it does seem like the early part is a drum machine and then more live sounding drums come in later, but still on a loop.

I came here looking for this. And what about the limited drums after the bridge?

@@conleydylan There's like 7 diff effects on the drums thoughout the song aha it's kinda nuts. There's compression, gating, distortion, ring modulation, doubling drum machines with live drums, some kinda extra weird bitcrushing/gating at the very beginning... What a unique song.

Amazing musician, but a complete egomaniac.

Gunnar Thiessen do you know him personally?

@@P5GL5G1996 he had the songwriting chops to back up that ego though. He's said publicly that he regrets not treating his bandmates better.

Funny how there has always been the people completely against him- Because he’s different or they are different and unapologetically open, everyone jumps on this bandwagon of scrutiny- I’ve been in bands all my life- When bandmates are unhealthy , absent, on drugs, or toxic- you gotta dream- In order to keep the band alive- Melodically, sonically, in the area of diversity and in the scope of bearing ones soul Corgan is a very gifted artists. Evolving WITH the music. At this point anyone who doesn’t appreciate the band is gonna jump on the band wagon and say negative naive bullshit- Let em. It just fuels the fire. We know the truth;) Even the ego things a fucking joke- Every band with passion loves what they do- and the pumpkins are one of the best- You can call it “ego“ but do you even listen to how the guy talks? No you don’t know a god damn thing so ya point out the rumor? He’s Not Glenn Danzig- I’ve met him a few times and despite the overwhelming attention he gets he always managed to sincerely listen and he was incredibly humble. Just sayin

@@P5GL5G1996 Compared to whom? Billy Corgan is so down-to-Earth. Just listen to the countless interviews out there. He's thoughtful and humble. You're simply regurgitating something from around 1995, based on God knows what.

Agree 🥳

Yeah, that was a big get for an interview...like Sting or Frampton.

Both are great

Music is the closest we’ll ever get to time travel.

the music video was perfect for this song.

I think billy is one of the most underrated musicians of our time. It gets overshadowed by his craziness and ego.

Billy has actually shown how to be a famous musician while staying true to your art. Also at the same time, it doesn't become too experimental and exits the the genre.

Never liked the hihats

Thx

Melancholy and so much more

Smashing Young Man

And infinite sadness

Hahaha funny stuff

Inspite of his rage. He's still just an on a train. That Disneyland meme even made Billy laugh.

Really man. Right in the feels

Robert Castrejon dude feel the exact way it’s literally the most melodic sound in the world

That bellpad always makes me tear...

I would kill to know what tuning that guitar is in during that part.

Its magic

Its amazing in its interplay of complexity and simplicity. People can say want they want about Corgan, he is a songwriting genius.

Most of his stuff is extremely layered and complex

I wouldn't call Chamberlain underrated. People in drumming circles revere him

@@hunchemlnarik1668 *have a cult around him

I think it really is a drum loop. I heard this was basically a Billy solo song because the deadline for the record was a day away. He went home and finished the song and they came in and rushed through it super quick. It's a lot of just Billy because they had like one day to do it and he just grinded through it and got it done.

He’s considered one of if not the best drummers in rock for the 90’s. Billie Corgan always put up with Jimmie’s drug use because everyone knew he lucked out having Jimmie in his band. Jimmie was an elite jazz drummer

André Bernardo It really gives me the same vibe songs like OK Pal and Midnight City give somehow. I haven’t been able to place the feeling but it’s extremely present in the game Gone Home, I adore it.

Raw Key I’m 15 and I listened to this song first three years ago, why do I feel the same way? I also feel the same melancholic nostalgic feeling with Smashing Pumpkins other songs and the band M83 like I mentioned above.

Raw Key I was too, and those awesome times went way too fast. Every time I hear music from the early to mid-90s, a part of me grows sad.

Now if you listen to “To Sheila” on a rainy summer night at about 1:00 A.M., you get the best feeling. Very rarely can a song do that for me

Rhinoceros is like a cold almost rainy autumn day

Agreed!!!! Billy's a freaking genius!

@infoslingeri was about to say the same thing hahaha

yep, it's way better than Mellon Collie.

@@3cs3hs The first half of Melon Collie is beyond perfect until it fades into dreary boring rock.

my favourite album of all time

Fun Fact: "Eye" was originally written as a rap beat for Shaquille O'Neal but the collaboration never happened. He instead used the song for the Lost Highway soundtrack (thank god lol).

First of all your not a good fighter Yes, yes, yes. Mayonnaise is my favorite SP song, and Digital Bath is one of the sexiest, darkest, most beautiful songs from Deftones. Both great choices.

First of all your not a good fighter if anything, it’ll be Diamond Eyes or My Own Summer, those are interesting (music theory wise)

magicD_drummaguy yeah but it seems like he doesn't pick the songs you would think he would. Closer to the heart, 1979, Enter Sandman, Them Bones, Vasoline...etc. All great songs, but everyone would agree that most of those are among the most elementary of that particular artists' catalog.

I will say that there have been a few tunes that I went in rolling my eyes...most notably Hitch a Ride from Boston, and left pleasantly surprised at the subdued complexity

Mayonaise always creates this ambiance like no other for me.

Dead eyes..dead eyes. One of my favs as well brother.

I liked the way it faded in and the song did sound like you were out at dtarlight.cant quite explain it

her eyes were as vacant as the seas

@@seangarvin971 Well explained

Fucking love that song. Those strings are so lavishly layered, and that guitar lead makes me think of a bright star just shooting across an infinitely empty space until it fades away. That make sense?

That drumming I got goosebumps the first time I heard it

drumming is still jaw dropping to listen to, even now.

It's my all time favourite drumming track. Everytime I hear the song my brain focuses on Jimmy playing more than anything else.

Pisces Iscariot was a release. Just totally underrated.

@@joshuadooley181 I'm sure you know I meant a full release.. promotion, videos, singles, etc. Not a bsides release

P.I. is a great record. Frail and bedazzled is one of my favourite songs by them.

Hell yeah!

One of my favorite songs by Smashing Pumpkins. Sad it never gets much recognition.

I always dug X.Y.U. myself....

@@bushisahomo anytime I play that for a friend or on a jukebox, people still are surprised to find out who's playing

I loveee Jellybelly.

glanemann I heard that this past year. Much like Billy, I’ve actually seen a genuine shape shifter as well.

Thanks for the recommendation! It was indeed fantastic.

@ glanemann Just made the backwards turn actually - came from the "HSS" performance to Rick's video here ;) Anyhow - timeless and huge song, true 'classic' 👌🏻🎸

@@jackhaugh Look up "deep fake" on youtube. . you can see all the shapeshifting you want.

Daniel Tynan yeah this was real life back in the late 80s out in the woods at night.

Growl??

@@shawarmageddonit check out “Tales of a Scorched Earth”

@@AltCTRLF8 I'm well aware of that song. And he's not _growling_ in it; rather simply screaming. Pretty big difference. And as far as I recall, he doesn't do anything similar in any other songs; not to that extent anyway.

Wow thanks for sharing! I would never have guessed.

Its "too tired" thats what he say

It's not "too tired" 😴😂 it's "to die young". OP is right.

It's only "today"

I hear "today, yeah"

Hummer has to be my fav Pumpkins song, but I love every song you just listed. Siamese Dream is my all-time favorite record. I remember watching Today on Mtv and never, ever getting tired of it. I remember waiting by the radio with my blank tape in there, tight as a bowstring ready to hit REC + Play. It was the first album I ever bought as a kid, I was beside myself excited on the drive home to pop it in my diskman. I dropped onto our ugly 80's floral couch and listened to it 3 times all the way through, my arms exhausted from pushing the small, shitty round headphones harder onto my ears so I could hear the bass better. I just couldn't fucking believe how every song was just as good. One song would end, I'd get bummed out, then I'd be like "OH WAIT, THIS ONE IS AMAZING TOO!" Probably literally the best memory of my entire life.

AND RHINOCEROS

Rocket? Lol

@@baTonkaTruck Drown off of the Singles soundtrack got me a lot of angry bar goers when I’d pop it on playing pool. Love that song, even the 3 minutes of melodic guitar-whale sounds at the end. Man, what a great time for music.

good taste man

Pedalpoint riffs are a SP hallmark. New wave for sure. Also look at Pete Townshend's use of pedalpoint.

It's wild how songs like e.g. "Cherub Rock", "Zero", and "1979" can all be built around shifting octaves on top of an open E string and all sound so different.

Actually, 1979 is played a half step down.

would add my bloody valentine to the list:)

Roland Marckwort nah, it’s all my bloody valentine

You didn't hear the parts "lol"??

Sounds like it kinda says “to day is”

And now I hear it’s a loop 😕

Me too

Kevin VanHimbergen Flood confirmed for me a few years ago it's Jimmy playing and chopped up in loops like Rick said. Live he played over the top of his own loops to add more heft to the arrangement. Watch the AMA performance right after the album dropped.

+Kevin VanHimbergen only some of it is loops. Not 2 b lame but, its quite easy to hear some of these are loops, such as at the lyric "justine never knew the rules". doesnt sound like a drum kit.

It is played live at least lol

Jerry Cantrell.

My favorite song by Chris Cornell is fell on Black Days

Melodies? That would be Cobain, Noel Gallagher, Goo Goo Dolls guitarist, cranberries, Billy, hootie,

Yeah Billy did it best for sure.

Yeah Billy did it best for sure.

rmp5s their best tune

Thanks for this comment! It is very insightful and I agree with you - this verse chord is what makes the song - this is the first time I'm reading terms such as dissonance/consonance - it's very enlightening, thank you again!

SP uses maj7 in a lot of songs (I forget the names) as well as octave over a bass note eg (cherub rock)

@@goldenhelmet403 hummer I think too

Hilarious!!!😂😂😂😂🤣

😆 And we shouldn't have to ask. Don't you have eyeballs to see?

Chris Isaac Hour was awesome! No one ever remembers it when I reminisce about it.

His “Sitcom”, with his band was pretty good too. I loved the episode where they cut an album, Chris spent the week looking for it, they re-cut, and Chris finds the original in the end in the freezer!