Pepper (song)

"Pepper" is a song by American alternative rock band Butthole Surfers. It appeared on their seventh studio album, Electriclarryland, and reached number one on the US Billboard Modern Rock Tracks chart and number 29 on the Billboard Hot 100 Airplay chart, becoming the top-ranked song of 1996 on the former chart. In Australia the song peaked at number 15 on the ARIA Singles Chart and number four on Triple J's Hottest 100 of 1996.[3] It also reached number two on the Canadian RPM Alternative 30 and number 32 in New Zealand.

"Pepper"
Single by Butthole Surfers
from the album Electriclarryland
ReleasedMay 18, 1996 (1996-05-18)
Genre
Length4:57
LabelCapitol
Songwriter(s)Gibby Haynes, Paul Leary, King Coffey
Producer(s)Steve Thompson
Butthole Surfers singles chronology
"Good King Wencenslaus/The Lord Is a Monkey"
(1994)		 "Pepper"
(1996)		 "Jingle of a Dog's Collar"
(1996)
Audio sample
"Pepper"
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Composition and lyrics

"Pepper" opens with the chorus guitar riff, slowed down to half speed. The song shifts from spoken word verses to sung choruses. The lyrics of the verses list ten characters and describes how some either die or escape a brush with death.

The song also contains the bridge played in reverse. The reversed words are the first and last lines of the chorus: "I don't mind the sun sometimes; the images it shows; you never know just how you look through other people's eyes." The song is in the key of G major.

Music video

The video for "Pepper", directed by Gavin Bowden, features 1960s style news clip-like footage of a group of people being arrested in a Texas hotel for kidnapping while newscasters and cameramen crowd around. The kidnapping victim, rescued by the police, is portrayed by Erik Estrada. Singer Gibby Haynes is portrayed as the ringleader, and is shown being interviewed by reporters as police gather evidence. The newsreel segment is filmed in 16mm black and white, and is broken up by 1960s-style color footage, showing the band performing on a show much like American Bandstand. This performance footage is interspersed with 1960s style enactments of cooking and variety shows. The police and Estrada are repeatedly shown eating corn from a can, which, according to the director, is "a reference to the way videos are made; how directors have to have this shot and that shot – how they're spoon-feeding images to the audience."

Formats and track listing

Compact Disc Single (US) / US Cassette Single

  1. "Pepper" (Edit) – 4:36
  2. "Pepper" (Album Version) – 4:56
  3. "Let's Talk About Cars" – 4:34

Remix Maxi Single (US)(Sometimes referred to as the "Jingle of a Dog's Collar Single")

  1. "Pepper (Comin' Down the Mountain Mix – Edit)" – 4:09
  2. "Pepper (Short Shot Mix)" – 2:56
  3. "Pepper (Hallucinations' Funky Salt-Lick Mix)" – 6:46
  4. "Jingle of a Dog's Collar" – 3:09

Compact Disc Single (Holland)

  1. "Pepper" – 4:56
  2. "Hybrid" – 6:39
  3. "Pepper" (Butcha' Bros. Remix) – 4:44
  4. "The Lord Is a Monkey" (Demo) – 4:44

7" Vinyl Single (UK)

  1. "Pepper" (Single Edit) – 4:36
  2. "Pepper" (Butcha' Bros. Remix) – 4:44

7" Vinyl Single (UK)

  1. "Pepper" – 4:57
  2. "Birds" – 3:10

Charts

Cover version

On September 2, 2010, Hesta Prynn and Shawn Crahan of Slipknot released a cover of "Pepper" as a 7" vinyl single.[16] The B-side of the single is the previously unreleased track "Seven Sisters".

References
  1. Anderson, Kyle. "What is the best '90s alt-rock one-hit wonder?". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved October 24, 2015.
  2. Earles, Andrew (January 4, 2013). "Blame Nirvana: The 40 Weirdest Post-'Nevermind' Major-Label Albums". Spin. Retrieved October 24, 2015.
  3. "Triple J Hottest 100 1996". Australian Broadcasting Company. Retrieved January 13, 2019.
  4. "Australian-charts.com – Butthole Surfers – Pepper". ARIA Top 50 Singles. Retrieved January 13, 2019.
  5. "Top RPM Rock/Alternative Tracks: Issue 3009." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved January 13, 2019.
  6. "Charts.nz – Butthole Surfers – Pepper". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved January 13, 2019.
  7. "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved January 13, 2019.
  8. "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved January 13, 2019.
  9. "Butthole Surfers Chart History (Radio Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved January 13, 2019.
  10. "Butthole Surfers Chart History (Alternative Airplay)". Billboard. Retrieved January 13, 2019.
  11. "Butthole Surfers Chart History (Mainstream Rock)". Billboard. Retrieved January 13, 2019.
  12. "Butthole Surfers Chart History (Pop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved January 13, 2019.
  13. "The ARIA Australian Top 100 Singles 1996". Imgur.com (original document published by ARIA). Archived from the original on November 2, 2015. Retrieved January 13, 2019.
  14. "RPM Year End Alternative 30". RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved January 13, 2019.
  15. Campbell, Chuck (January 2, 1997). "Musically, 1996 Was Lackluster". The Cincinnati Post. E. W. Scripps Company. Archived from the original on June 11, 2014. Retrieved January 13, 2019.
  16. "Hesta Prynn interview with Spinner n the Pepper single". Spinner.com. September 2, 2010. Retrieved September 17, 2012.
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