| "Kool Thing" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Single by Sonic Youth | ||||
| from the album Goo | ||||
| B-side | "That's All I Know (Right Now)", "Dirty Boots (Rock and Roll Heaven version)", "Kool Thing (8-track demo version)" | |||
| Released | June 1990 | |||
| Format | 7", 12", CD single | |||
| Genre | Noise rock, experimental rock | |||
| Label | DGC | |||
| Writer(s) | Sonic Youth | |||
| Sonic Youth singles chronology | ||||
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"Kool Thing" was the first major label single from Sonic Youth's 1990 album Goo. It was released in June 1990 on DGC. The song was inspired by an interview bassist/singer Kim Gordon conducted with LL Cool J for Spin in which the two artists clashed.[1] Although he is never mentioned by name, the song's lyrics contain several references to LL Cool J. Gordon's lyrics make reference to several of the rapper's works, including the single "I Can't Live Without My Radio" and the album Walking With a Panther. She also repeats the line "I don't think so", which appears in LL Cool J's "Going Back to Cali". Chuck D also contributes some vocals in the song.
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"That's All I Know (Right Now)" is a cover of a song by The Neon Boys, an early Tom Verlaine and Richard Hell project.
The music video for "Kool Thing" was the band's first for a major label. The video was directed by Tamra Davis. The video deals with Kim Gordon's fascination with 1960s radicalism (particularly Patty Hearst and the Black Panthers), and features the band wearing glam style clothing. The video was stylized after LL Cool J's "Going Back to Cali" video, down to the black and white camera, and Go-Go style dancers One of the Go-Go dancers is Amma Walcott.
The video was released June 4, 1990
| Year | Single | Chart | Peak |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1990 | "Kool Thing" | Modern Rock Tracks | No. 7 |
| 1990 | "Kool Thing" | UK Singles Chart | No. 81 |