Tonight, Tonight by Smashing Pumpkins

Album: Mellon Collie And The Infinite Sadness (1995)

Charted: 7 36

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One of the most enduring Smashing Pumpkins songs, "Tonight, Tonight" is also one of their most mysterious. Written by lead singer Billy Corgan, the song alludes to change and uncertainty, ending on a very hopeful note that sounds like a mantra from a self-help book: "The impossible is possible tonight."

Corgan often throws us off the scent when it comes to explaining his songs (at a 1998 show in London, he dedicated the song to "our friends in Northern Ireland," but he seemed sincere when he talked about it on The Howard Stern Show in 2012. He explained that the song is about himself, and how he was able to get out of his hometown of Chicago to pursue his dreams.
The highly acclaimed video was directed by the married couple Jonathan Dayton and Valerie Faris, who went on to direct the movies Little Miss Sunshine (2006) and Battle Of The Sexes (2017). The "Tonight, Tonight" video shows the band floating on clouds in the night sky; it's based on the groundbreaking 1902 film Trip to the Moon by the French director Georges Melies. His name is the name of the ship at the end of the music video: the S.S. Meiles.
This won six MTV Video Music Awards: Video of the Year, Breakthrough Video, Best Direction Best Special Effects, Best Art Direction, and Best Cinematography. It was also nominated for Viewer's Choice Award and Best Editing.
The band recorded this with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, using a 30-piece string-section.
This was written in the key of C instead of G, but Corgan couldn't sing it in C. >>
Suggestion credit:
Cam - St. Catharines, Canada, for above 2
The line, "And the embers never fade in your city by the lake, The place where you were born" in a reference to Corgan's home city of Chicago. The song has an acoustic reprise on the single where Billy sings the line. >>
Suggestion credit:
BONES - New Plymouth, New Zealand
Pumpkins bass player D'arcy Wretzky liked the sets from the video so much, she put them in a barn on her farm. >>
Suggestion credit:
Cam - St. Catharines, Canada

Comments: 35

Cole from Suwanee, GaSuch a beautiful song

(thanks, Billy, Chicago)
Heather from Newark, OhThat's Tom Kenny (voice of Spongebob Squarepants) and his wife Jill as the bride and groom.
Karl from Ingatestone, United KingdomGood song for a Chicagoan rock act. i remind myself not to put the song in my dreams next time i bloody well listen to that
Matt from Houston, Txtop 5 sp songs 1.this song
2.hummer
3.geek usa
4.bullet with butterfly wings
5.cherub rock

honorable mention:bury me,siva,i am one,muzzle,1979[It was released the day I was born]
Matt from Houston, TxListen to the live version at the '96 mtv music awards.Blew my mind away.It also won 6 awards that very night for the music video alone.
Austin from Smallsville,new England, --They performed this at the 96 VMA's.
Curtis from Concord Nh, NhI would have loved to have been there to see Billy working with that 30 piece orchestra. What a disgustingly beautiful song Tonight, Tonight is. "...it's possible, it's possible tonight, tonight." Makes me cry everytime. I don't know why.
Shaun from Nunya, NcThe first verse seems to be talking about love changing them.

The second verse seems to be talking about if he is not sure if they are in love.

The third verse seems to be talking about how he wants to know and feel in love.

It sounds like a song to me about losing your virginity really.
Javan from Winnipeg, CanadaThis song probably has one of the best string arrangements, if not the best, i've ever heard in rock music. Just beautiful
Chris from New York, NyThis song is magical. some of the best violins in rock history. i dont care about you guys, but i love violins in rock music when they're used right and corgan couldnt have used them any better. This music and the amazing lyrics make it one of the most magical experiences that will ever grace your ears.
Jonathan from Nowhere, MsI love this song. I remember I had a long drive from Knoxville,TN back home and I had this on my MP3 player and listened to it at least hundred times. It was a major time of reflection b/c I had so much time to think and this just helped so much. I find the Pumpkins songs very helpful in my life.

BTW Doug...the song is played in G but if you tune your guitar down 1/2 step to Eb then it sounds in F#. So I'm sure you'll find it IS actually tuned DOWN, not up.
Shannon from Bakersfield , CaMy sister listened and watched the video all the time when I was little and it first came out.
It's about growing up into a different person and actually realizing who you are and what love is.I didn't really understand it until I got older.Which is now.The lyrics are beautiful.The music is sweet sounding.And the whole song itself is just amazing.
Greg from Chicago, Il"...the city by the lake" is a reference to Chicago, where Billy was born, raised, and still spends significant time. I think this song is about a moment when he realized that he had become successful and his life was going to change dramatically. His dreams and ambitions were being realized and he knew he would have to be away from home. He knows he's changed in some ways, but he remains the same person in many more ways.
Gary from Somewhere, Mnabout half of the smashing pumpkins song were in eb and about the other half were drop d like, when boys fear to tread which is a great song, as is this one
Doug from Balintore, ScotlandJoseph from London, i think you'll find that f# is not tuning down a semitone and if u put a guitar in f# you would have to actually tune your guitar up
Nick from Blah, Njmost pumpkins songs were written with the guitars tuned to Eb, this one falls into that category
Stephen from None, IrelandI remeber I leant this album to a friend who told me he thought the begining to tonight was like a western theme, you to one of those classic werstern movies of the 70's. I guess I could see where he was comong from and when I listen to the track I always remeber Marty's comments. I love this track and ADORE the album!
Joseph from London, EnglandThe song is actually in F#, I believe. Almost all of Mellon Collie has guitars tuned a semitone down
Roo from Aberdeen, ScotlandFor me its about its about realising that no matter how bad your life may seem at the moment, things can turn so quickly, "Believe that life can change, that your not stuck in vain" "the impossible is possible tonight".
Jeremy from Seymour, Ctwell anton,thats lovely but this isnt a "first time" sharing cirlce

this song is awesome
Farrel from Cape Town, South AfricaThis is a brilliant song and it reminds me of my last year of school. The video is brilliant and I thought that they made the song in honour of Jules Verne.
This time in my life was special because the time of transition into adulthood.Everytime I think about this song I think of that happy time.
Anton from Someplace, MiThis song is so beautiful....It reminds me of my relationship with my girlfriend...Everytime I hear it I think of the weekend I spent with her at her grandma's house a couple months ago...It was so nice....It reminds me of making out on her front porch....and being so worked up that we were both involuntarily shaking...Then the next day we lost our virginity to each other...I will always associate this song with her. It gives me the chills to see them do this live...I love it
Orangebeaker from Edinburgh, ScotlandThe snare rolls in the song sound soooo good.
Adam from Chicago, Il"The city by the lake" is referring to Chicago. They are a Chicago band, after all.
Jeff from Cleveland, OhThis song reminds me of prom. I had been dating my girlfriend for a few months, we went to her prom, I never went to any of mine. We had a great time, they played this song there. We had sex for the first time afterwards, ever since, this song has had a totally different meaning to me. That was the best night of my life.
Melissa from Melville, Nyseriously one of my all time favorite songs...the lyrcis are awesome, and the music itself to the song is beutiful.
Alex from OxfordIt's powerful yet beautiful, representing a change for the better, through taking risks. If you watch the video, they're entire journey begins by jumping off the ship.
Mike from Melbourne, AustraliaThis Song reminds me of having the best night of your life...it reminds me of this special night i spent with my old g.f at a party...and then we watched the sun-rise
Susan from Airdrie, CanadaThis song is so great. It makes me think of running or driving really fast towards a cliff and then just taking off flying, sort of like the Pink Floyd video "Learning to Fly". Wonderful. I agree with Renee that the song is about change - maybe taking a leap of faith; leaving the familiar things behind.
Renee from South Lyon, Mii love this song.. it is beautiful.. its about changing i think ... the crossroads of your life. especially that time after you graduate from high school and you step into living on your own..you change but " the embers never fade in the city by the lake the place where you were born" or you never forget the memories of your childhood and where you came from. and your boudn to make mistakes but your not stuck in vain. and tonight you don't have to worry just live the best you can and no matter what; believe
Danton from Saskatoon, CanadaOne of the best lines:

"Believe in me as I believe in you, tonight..."
Emily from Pembroke, Cothis song is sooo awesome. it seriously makes me think and just sit there and look around at everything and take it all in. i live for smashing pumpkins music.
Kaylene from Moore, Or'You can never ever leave with out leaving a piece of youth, And our lives are forever changed, We will never be the same'
I think its about haveing sex for the first time with someone else thats never had sex b4 b/c its using a lot of 'WE' and 'OUR'
We're not the same, we're different tonight, tonight
Meredith from Toronto, CanadaWhat is up with I'ha's guitar in the video? It is sick.
Susan from Scarsdale, NyThat song is insanely gorgeous, very mellow, yet recognizably fast and beautiful.

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