Flower (Soundgarden song)

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“Flower”
“Flower” cover
Single by Soundgarden
from the album Ultramega OK
B-side "Head Injury" / "Toy Box"
Released May 1989
Format CD single, Cassette, Vinyl
Recorded Spring 1988
Genre Alternative metal, grunge
Length 3:25
Label SST Records
Writer(s) Chris Cornell, Kim Thayil
Producer Drew Canulette, Soundgarden
Soundgarden singles chronology
"Hunted Down"
(1987)		 "Flower"
(1989)		 "Loud Love"
(1989)
Ultramega OK track listing
"Flower"
(Track 1)		 "All Your Lies"
(Track 2)
Audio sample
Info (help·info)

Flower is a song by the Seattle grunge band Soundgarden. It appears as the opening track on the band's debut album Ultramega OK (1988). In addition it was released as a single in May 1989 through SST Records. It would later appear on the band's greatest hits album A-Sides.

Contents

[edit] Origin and recording

The song features lyrics written by frontman Chris Cornell and music written by guitarist Kim Thayil. Kim 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.[1] ”

[edit] 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.[2]

[edit] Lyrical meaning

About the song, Chris Cornell said "it's about a girl...who becomes a woman and basically invests everything in vanity and then burns out quick.[3]

[edit] Music video

"Flower" was Soundgarden's first music video. The video was released in late 1988. Directed by Mark Miremont, it aired several times on MTV's underground music show 120 Minutes, and helped the Seattle grunge scene gain attention.

[edit] Accolades

Publication Country Accolade Year Rank
Spex Germany "Singles of the Year"[4] 1989 31

[edit] Formats and track listing

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

[edit] References

  1. ^ Gilbert, Jeff. "Primecuts: Kim Thayil". Guitar School. May 1994.
  2. ^ "Flower". Unofficial SG Homepage. May 29, 1997.
  3. ^ "Kashmir". Sounds. May 13, 1989.
  4. ^ Best - Singles of the Year. AcclaimedMusic.net. Retrieved on 2008-04-16.
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