Semi-Charmed Life

"Semi-Charmed Life" is Third Eye Blind's first single off their self-titled debut album, released in 1997. It was a major hit of the 1990s, reaching number four in the U.S.,^[1], number one on the Modern Rock Tracks and the Top 40 in the UK. Furthermore, it has had a pervasive cultural impact, being featured in numerous movie soundtracks.

Beneath a catchy, upbeat melody, the song contains dark lyrics about a drug user's descent into crystal meth addiction and his sexual activities. However, the single still became a major hit. The words "crystal meth" are frequently censored on radio stations, or "blurred" out of recognition.

According to lead singer Stephan Jenkins, the song was meant as a response to Lou Reed's "Walk on the Wild Side", but from a San Francisco perspective.^[2] The style of the song reflects changes that were occurring in the San Francisco music scene, particularly a growing interest in hip-hop.

1 Extra verse
2 In other popular culture
3 Chart performances
- 3.1 Charts
4 References

[edit] Extra verse

The CD and cassette version of the song contains a verse that was never played on the single or the music video, possibly due to sexual content. However, early radio play was of the CD version. The single also had the words "crystal meth" censored through backmasking.

The lyrics to the extra verse are:
And when the plane came in she said she was crashin'
The velvet, it rips on the city, we tripped on the urge to feel alive
Now I'm strugglin' to survive those days you were wearing that velvet dress
You're the priestess, I must confess
Those little red panties, they pass the test
Slide up around the belly, face down on the mattress
One
And you hold me
And we are broken
Still, it's all that I want to do, just a little now
Feel myself, head made of the ground
I'm scared, but I'm not coming down
No, no
And I won't run for my life
She's got her jaws now locked down in a smile, but nothing is all right
All right

[edit] In other popular culture

"Weird Al" Yankovic included the song's chorus in the song "Polka Power" on his album Running With Scissors.
"Semi-Charmed Life" was featured in the 1998 film Dirty Work starring Norm Macdonald and Artie Lang.
The song was also featured in the 1999 teen comedy American Pie.
The song was used in select previews for The Tigger Movie.
The movie, A Lot Like Love, featured the song.
The TV series Bill Nye the Science Guy did a parody of the song called Atoms In My Life.
Vengeance 77 frequently covers this song.

The song was on an episode of Sabrina, The Teenage Witch

[edit] Chart performances

[edit] Charts

Chart	Peak position
U.S. Billboard Hot 100	4
U.S. Mainstream Rock	26
U.S. Modern Rock	1
UK Singles Chart	34

Preceded by "The Freshmen" by The Verve Pipe	Billboard Modern Rock Tracks number one single May 24, 1997 – June 21, 1997	Succeeded by "The Impression That I Get" by The Mighty Mighty Bosstones
Preceded by "The Impression That I Get" by The Mighty Mighty Bosstones	Billboard Modern Rock Tracks number one single July 5, 1997 – July 19, 1997	Succeeded by "Push" by Matchbox Twenty