Disarm

"Disarm" is a song by American alternative rock band the Smashing Pumpkins. It was the third single from their second album, Siamese Dream (1993), and became a top-twenty hit in Australia, Canada, and the United Kingdom despite being banned in the latter country due to the song's lyrical content.

For other uses, see Disarm (disambiguation).

"Disarm"
"Heart" cover
Single by the Smashing Pumpkins
from the album Siamese Dream
ReleasedMarch 22, 1994 (1994-03-22)
Recorded1992 (1992)
Genre
Length3:17
LabelVirgin
Songwriter(s)Billy Corgan
Producer(s)
The Smashing Pumpkins singles chronology
"Today"
(1993)		 "Disarm"
(1994)		 "Rocket"
(1994)
Alternative Version Cover
"Smile" cover
Audio sample
A 19-second clip from "Disarm"
  • file
  • help

Lyrics

The BBC banned "Disarm" from Top of the Pops because of the lyric "cut that little child", and it received little radio airplay in the United Kingdom.[2] That lyric along with lyrics like "what I choose is my choice" and "the killer in me is the killer in you" has also led to some controversy, as some read it as a reference to abortion. The band's front man Billy Corgan has stated that the song reflects the shaky relationship he had with his parents while growing up.[3] Corgan revealed at a performance in 2019 that the song was written on the same day as "Today", which he called his "Suicidal Anthem".[4]

Release

The song peaked at number eleven on the UK Singles Chart. In the U.S., the song failed to reach the Billboard Hot 100 but it peaked number forty-eight on the Hot 100 Airplay chart, it also peaked at number five on the Mainstream Rock Tracks chart and number eight on the Modern Rock Tracks chart.

Two versions of the single were produced. Each version (Heart and Smile) featured different artwork and different B-sides.

The B-sides to the Heart version were both covers of classic rock songs from the 1970s. "Landslide" was later included on the compilation album Pisces Iscariot, after which it received significant airplay on U.S. Modern Rock stations, peaking at number 3 on that chart. "Dancing in the Moonlight" performed well in Australia, where it charted at number 90 on the Triple J Hottest 100 in 1994, while "Disarm" did not chart.

The UK 7-inch purple vinyl single features an exclusive B-side "Siamese Dream". In 2005, the track was released as a download as part of the Rarities and B-sides compilation.[5]

Live arrangement

While the Pumpkins often produced softer, acoustic versions of many of their louder, more aggressive songs, the band performed a heavy, electric version of "Disarm" on a British television appearance, as featured on Vieuphoria, and also on live U.S. TV at the 1994 MTV Video Music Awards. The electric version changes the tone of the song from that of a ballad to a more angst-driven rock song.

Music video

The music video, directed by Jake Scott, is mainly in black and white and shows the members of the band floating over images of a house, an old man walking through an underpass while home movie-esque; color footage shows a young boy (Sean Adams, now known as Amber Adams) playing outside. Billy Corgan has said that he didn't want the old man in the video, but Scott insisted. The video premiered on MTV in early 1994 and was immediately placed into heavy rotation and spent a month as an MTV Exclusive video. Later that year it was nominated for Best Alternative Video and Best Editing in a Video (Editor: Pat Sheffield) at the MTV Video Music Awards, the Pumpkins' first MTV Video Music Awards nominations.

Track listing

All songs were written by Billy Corgan, except where noted.

UK 7-inch vinyl single (7243 8 92309 7 0, HUT 43)

  1. "Disarm" – 3:17
  2. "Siamese Dream" – 2:38

UK CD single 1 ("Smile" cover)

  1. "Disarm" – 3:17
  2. "Soothe" (Demo) – 2:35
  3. "Blew Away" (James Iha) – 3:31

UK CD single 2 ("Heart" cover)

  1. "Disarm" – 3:17
  2. "Landslide" (Stevie Nicks) – 3:10
  3. "Dancing in the Moonlight" (Phil Lynott) – 4:21

Charts

References
  1. "Smashing Pumpkins, "Disarm" SPIN". Retrieved November 2, 2019.
  2. Virgin Carlsberg Rock Yearbook 94/95 By Tony Horkins
  3. "Interview with Billy and Jimmy – 1993". Retrieved April 28, 2007.
  4. Leñador Films TV (June 19, 2019), BILLY CORGAN [4K] 19.06.2019 "DISARM" (With PIANO And Explanation!) By #ElLeñador (@LenadorFilms TV), retrieved July 5, 2019
  5. "spfc.org : songlist : Siamese Dream". www.spfc.org. Retrieved November 2, 2019.
  6. "Australian-charts.com – The Smashing Pumpkins – Disarm". ARIA Top 50 Singles. Retrieved November 23, 2016.
  7. "Top RPM Singles: Issue 2484." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved November 23, 2016.
  8. "Eurochart Hot 100 Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 11 no. 11. March 12, 1994. p. 14. Retrieved August 20, 2020.
  9. "Charts.nz – The Smashing Pumpkins – Disarm". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved November 23, 2016.
  10. "Notowanie nr642" (in Polish). LP3. June 3, 1994. Retrieved April 25, 2019.
  11. "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved November 23, 2016.
  12. "Smashing Pumpkins Chart History (Radio Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved November 23, 2016.
  13. "Smashing Pumpkins Chart History (Alternative Airplay)". Billboard. Retrieved November 23, 2016.
  14. "Smashing Pumpkins Chart History (Mainstream Rock)". Billboard. Retrieved November 23, 2016.
  15. Ryan, Gavin (2011). Australia's Music Charts 1988–2010. Mt. Martha, VIC, Australia: Moonlight Publishing.
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