Negasonic Teenage Warhead (song)
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| “Negasonic Teenage Warhead” | ||||||||||||||
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| Single by Monster Magnet from the album Dopes to Infinity |
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| Released | 1995 | |||||||||||||
| Format | CD single, Vinyl | |||||||||||||
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| Genre | Stoner rock | |||||||||||||
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| Label | A&M | |||||||||||||
| Writer(s) | Dave Wyndorf | |||||||||||||
| Producer | Dave Wyndorf, Steve Rosenthal | |||||||||||||
| Monster Magnet singles chronology | ||||||||||||||
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"Negasonic Teenage Warhead" is the second track on Monster Magnet's 1995 album, Dopes to Infinity. It became the band's first successful single.
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[edit] History
"Negasonic Teenage Warhead" was the first song recorded by Monster Magnet after the release of their previous album Superjudge because a five minute version of it had to appear in the 1994 movie S.F.W..[1][2] The version of the song which appeared at the album was recorded at the The Magic Shop, in New York City.[3] It was released in its album, Dopes to Infinity, and as a single, the first one of the album,[4] (with a version of 4:23 minutes) in 1995.[5] The song would become the band's first hit single,[1] garnering moderate play[6] on modern rock radio and MTV.[1] The 1999 Japanese reissue of Dopes to Infinity includes a live version of the song.[4]
[edit] Albums where it has been featured
The track was later included on the two Monster Magnet's greatest hits albums: Greatest Hits[7] and 20th Century Masters - The Millennium Collection: The Best of Monster Magnet. It was also featured in a CD which includes a interview to Dave Wyndorf by Sean Yseult.[4] S.F.W.'s soundtrack album also has the song. A 4:29 version of it appeared on the compilation album Unstoppable 90's: Alternative.[5]
[edit] Title and meaning of the lyrics
According to Dave Wyndorf, the writer,[8] he chose such a curious title for the song because it deals with those rock stars who, from his point of view, always seem to be negative (hence the word "negasonic" in the title) and apparently hate being what they are; more specifically, grunge musicians. He wanted to show with the song that he doesn't like artists whose lyrics always deal with depression, unhappiness, and such things. However, he doesn't see the song as a manifesto.[9]
[edit] Music
Apparently, the song features more processed guitar backing the singer, Dave Wyndorf,[3] on the verses than what is usual on songs released as singles. It has a catchy chorus[10] which helps make it sound properly, though. The song shows that the vocalist can find the balance between his extreme and less-so sides when desired.[8]
[edit] Video
The video of the song, which was directed by Gore Verbinski,[11] shows all members of Monster Magnet doing ordinary activities on asteroids while they are being watched by an enormous woman. As the clip goes on, the members of the band begin destroying the things on their asteroids, whose stability begins to wane. Then, Dave Wyndorf is shown moving his hands around the Earth. At the end all members are seen riding a car through space.
It was featured on MTV's Beavis & Butt-head and was included on the first volume of the three-DVD sets called Beavis and Butt-Head: The Mike Judge Collection.[12] The single for "I Talk to Planets" features it as well.[4]
[edit] Single
The song had several releases as a single. A live version of the song was also released as a B-side for "Dead Christmas".[4]
| Label | Year | Format | B-sides | Notes | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A&M Records | 1994 | CD single | — | S.F.W. version | [4] |
| A&M Records | 1995 | CD single | "Eclipse This" "Third Alternative" "Look to Your Orb for the Warning" |
The song "Eclipse This" hadn't been available previously. | [4] |
| A&M Records | 1995 | 7" vinyl picture disc | "Eclipse This" | — | [4] |
| A&M Records | 1995 | CD single | "Murder" (live BBC) "Superjudge" (live BBC) "Blow 'em Off" (spaghetti western mix) "Eclipse This" "Third Alternative" (edit) "Look to Your Orb for the Warning" |
Double CD single; the song is featured in both discs. | [4] |
[edit] Chart performace
Released during the era of grunge, when Monster Magnet's retro-rock style was highly unfashionable,[1] the song didn't attract enough attention of radio stations so it was only a moderate hit. It charted in the United States.
| Year | Chart | Position |
|---|---|---|
| 1995 | Mainstream Rock Tracks | 19[13] |
| 1995 | Modern Rock Tracks | 26[13] |
[edit] References in pop culture
The X-Men character who shares a name with this song was most likely named after this song because it was created on 2001 and its creator, Grant Morrison, has admitted being indebted to Monster Magnet.[14]
[edit] References
- ^ a b c d Rivadavia, Ed. Monster Magnet. Allmusic. Retrieved on 2008-06-10.
- ^ Media section. www.monstermagnet.net. Retrieved on 2008-06-10.
- ^ a b Monster Magnet. Dopes to Infinity. A&M Records. Album credits.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i Dopes to Infinity. www.monstermagnet.net. Retrieved on 2008-06-10.
- ^ a b Monster Magnet - "Negasonic Teenage Warhead". Allmusic. Retrieved on 2008-03-30.
- ^ Gerard J. Senick. Monster Magnet's bio. Musician Biographies. Retrieved on 2008-03-29.
- ^ Prato, Greg. Monster Magnet - Greatest Hits. Allmusic. Retrieved on 2008-03-29.
- ^ a b Raggett, Ned. Monster Magnet - Dopes to Infinity. Allmusic. Retrieved on 2008-03-29.
- ^ Audio interview with Monster Magnet (Part 1). Toazted. Retrieved on 2008-06-10.
- ^ Taylor, Kim. Monster Magnet - Dopes to Infinity. SF Weekly. Retrieved on 2008-03-30.
- ^ "Negasonic Teenage Warhead" video. Clipland. Retrieved on 2008-03-29.
- ^ Klaner, Tom. Review: Beavis and Butthead - The Mike Judge Collection - Volume 1 (DVD). Bright Eyes Germany. Retrieved on 2008-03-29.
- ^ a b Monster Magnet - Billboard Singles. Allmusic. Retrieved on 2008-03-29.
- ^ Ness, Alex. A Chat about Craft with Grant Morrison. Pop Thought. Retrieved on 2008-03-29.
[edit] External links
- Video on YouTube posted by Universal Music Group's channel
- Media section of Monster Magnet's website, where the S.F.W. version of the song can be downloaded for free.
| Monster Magnet |
| Dave Wyndorf | Ed Mundell | Jim Baglino | Bob Pantella |
| Former members: Tim Cronin | Joe Calandra | Jon Kleiman | John McBain | Michael Wildwood | Phil Caivano |
| Discography |
|---|
| Studio Albums: Spine of God (1991) | Superjudge (1993) | Dopes to Infinity (1995) | Powertrip (1998) | God Says No (2000) | Monolithic Baby! (2004) | 4-Way Diablo (2007) |
| EPs: Monster Magnet (1990) | Tab (1991) |
| Singles: "Medicine" | "Twin Earth" | "Face Down" | "Dopes To Infinity" | "Negasonic Teenage Warhead" | "Dead Christmas" | "Space Lord" | "Powertrip" | "Temple Of Your Dreams" | "See You In Hell" | "Silver Future" | "Heads Explode" | "Unbroken (Hotel Baby)" | "The Right Stuff" | "Monolithic" |
| Compliation Albums: Greatest Hits (2003) | 20th Century Masters - The Millennium Collection: The Best of Monster Magnet (2007) |
