Tarantula

Album: Zeitgeist (2007)
Charted: 59 54
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • Like many Smashing Pumpkins songs, the title doesn't appear in the lyric. The song is modeled after "Dark Lady," a 1975 track by the German band the Scorpions. "The intro and the vibe is very reminiscent of a song we have, called 'Tarantula,'" Billy Corgan said in the book German Metal Machine: Scorpions in the '70s. "We named it 'Tarantula' in ode to the Scorpions."
  • This was the first single Smashing Pumpkins released since their breakup in 2000. The re-formed band contained just two original members, Corgan and drummer Jimmy Chamberlin, which rankled some fans.
  • Jimmy Chamberlin explained in a track-by-track commentary to accompany the Zeitgeist album: "Billy bought this guitar from this guy from Paris (James Trussart) who makes steel guitars and he brought a couple examples of his work to our rehearsal space. Billy grabbed one and plugged in into his amp and immediately started playing the riff from 'Tarantula' and the song was written pretty much on the spot."
  • The video was directed by P.R. Brown, who also did the My Chemical Romance clip for "SING" and Carrie Underwood's "Two Black Cadillacs." Brown created a collage effect by compositing layers of footage of the band along with various visual effects.

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

When Rock Belonged To Michelob

When Rock Belonged To MichelobSong Writing

Michelob commercials generated hits for Eric Clapton, Genesis and Steve Winwood in the '80s, even as some of these rockers were fighting alcoholism.

Oliver Leiber

Oliver LeiberSongwriter Interviews

Oliver Leiber talks about writing and producing hits for Paula Abdul, and explains his complicated relationship with his father, the songwriter Jerry Leiber.

Matt Sorum

Matt SorumSongwriter Interviews

When he joined Guns N' Roses in 1990, Matt helped them craft an orchestral sound; his mezzo fortes and pianissimos are all over "November Rain."

Mark Arm of Mudhoney

Mark Arm of MudhoneySongwriter Interviews

When he was asked to write a song for the Singles soundtrack, Mark thought the Seattle grunge scene was already overblown, so that's what he wrote about.

Cheerleaders In Music Videos

Cheerleaders In Music VideosSong Writing

It started with a bouncy MTV classic. Nirvana and MCR made them scary, then Gwen, Avril and Madonna put on the pom poms.

James Bond Theme Songs

James Bond Theme SongsMusic Quiz

How well do you know the 007 theme songs?