- Vow (Garbage song)
Infobox Single
Name = Vow
Artist = Garbage
from Album = Garbage
B-side = "Subhuman"
"#1 Crush"
"Vow (Torn Apart)" (UK & US)
Released =March 20 ,1995 (UK)June 20 ,1995 (Worldwide)
Format =7" ,CD maxi ,cassette single
Recorded = March - November, 1994Smart Studios ,
Madison,Wisconsin
Genre =Alternative rock
Length = 4:30
Label = Discordant (UK)Almo Sounds (North America)
Mushroom (Worldwide)
Writer = Garbage
Producer = Garbage
Reviews =
Last single =
This single = "Vow"
(1995)
Next single = "Subhuman"
(1996)
Misc = Extra album cover 2
Upper caption = Alternate cover
Type =Single
Lower caption =South African cover"Vow" is a song by Garbage, released as their debut single in 1995. It first appeared on a "Volume" magazine compilation in December, 1994, and picked up by
BBC Radio 1 DJ sSteve Lamacq andJohn Peel . "Vow" generated significantbuzz andword-of-mouth that it was eventually chosen as Garbage's first single release. ["Vow" press release, Discordant, March 1995 (Retrieved2008 -02-05 )]Released worldwide after a low-key
independent record label pressing in theUnited Kingdom , "Vow" went on to top the alternative charts inAustralia and reach theU.S. Billboard Hot 100 . Garbage hadn't initially planned it's release as a single, or it's inclusion on their debut album, 1995's "Garbage"."Musician" magazine, January 1996 issue (Retrieved2008 -02-05 )]In 2007, "Vow" was remastered and included on Garbage's
greatest hits album "Absolute Garbage ".cite web|url=http://www.garbage.com/news/news.php?uid=336| title="New Best Of Album"|publisher="Garbage.com"|accessdate=2008-02-05]ong profile
"Vow" began in rough demo form in January, 1994, during sessions between band members
Butch Vig ,Duke Erikson andSteve Marker located in wither Marker's basementrecording studio or at their ownSmart Studios business inWisconsin university town Madison. ["Q" (issue 09/01/1996)" (Retrieved -2008 -02-05 )] AfterMarker sawShirley Manson 's group Angelfish on "120 Minutes ", the band invited Manson to Smart Studios to sing on a couple of tracks. After a dreadful firstaudition , she returned to Angelfish."Garbage:Behind The Music ",VH1 , airedMarch 31 ,2002 "(Retrieved -2008 -02-05 )] Manson eventually returned to Smart for a successful second time, where she began to work on the then-skeletal "Queer" and "Vow" (ad-lib bing thelyric "likeJoan of Arc coming back for more"). [""Modern Life Is Rubbish", "Melody Maker " magazine,March 18 ,1995 issue (Retrieved2008 -02-05 )]The genesis of "Vow" came from a
newspaper article Vig had read about asado-masochistic couple who couldn't keep away from each other, [""Modern Life Is Rubbish", "Melody Maker ", issue datedMarch 18 ,1996 " (Retrieved -2008 -02-05 ] an intense relationship showing thatviolence can come frompsychological stand point. Garbage had even joked tojournalists the song was aboutJohn and Lorena Bobbitt . [cite web|url=http://garbage.net/garbage/articles/@dock.htm| title="Butch Vig: In The Dock"|publisher="RAW magazine" (reproduced @ Garbage.net)|accessdate=2008-02-05] Lyrically, Manson claimed "'Vow' is about having feelings [ofvengeance ] . You have to face your feelings of revenge and work out why you feel that way. It's about that conundrum when you're really angry but in reality your in a pitiful state. Angry, twisted, but deep down, vulnerable" [""Vig's Atomic Dustbin", "Melody Maker ", issue datedAugust 12 ,1996 " (Retrieved -2008 -02-05 ]Halfway through the recording sessions for "Garbage", Mushroom's Rob Jefferson secured the band a "Volume" compilation inclusion.""Vig and "Vow" pile up the Garbage", (James Delingpole) "
The Sunday Telegraph " issue 10/01/95" (Retrieved -2008 -02-05 )] The only song the band had finished in any shape or form was "Vow".cite web | url=http://web.archive.org/web/19991014042851/www.cafemomo.com/inprint/9411volume.shtml | title="Volume" Issue 11/01/94 | publisher=Cafemomo.com | accessdate=2008-02-05] When the "Volume" compilation was released in December, 1994, "Vow" began to receiveradio airplay onXFM and from Radio 1 DJs Steve Lamacq, John Peel and Johnnie Walker. Word-of-mouth on "Vow" took the track back to the U.S. By May, 1995, alternative radio in the U.S. had picked up on the track, and it began to receive heavy rotation nationwide.ingle release
The terms of the
licensing deal regarding "Vow"'s inclusion on "Volume" meant that the single could only be released on a limited basis. Mushroom wanted to issue "Vow" commercially to gauge reaction to the Band's music.""Butch Vig Goes Commercial", (Leo Finlay) "Music Week " issue 30/09/95" (Retrieved -2008 -02-05 )] Concerned that their label was only known in the U.K. for the "Neighbours " theme,"Record Collector " #209" (Retrieved -2008 -02-05 )] to move away from the association, Mushroom founded theDiscordant label for the sole purpose launching Garbage.""Only Happy When It Rains " sell-in sheet, Mushroom, September 1995)" (Retrieved -2008 -02-05 )]Prior to commercial release "Vow" had already topped "
NME "'s playlist chart for 5 weeks"Garbage" press release, Mushroom, September 1996" (Retrieved -2008 -02-05 )] and received "Single of the Week" status in seven publications,"Garbage" advanceAlmo Sounds promo disc sleeve notes" (Retrieved -2008 -02-05 )] including "NME" and "Melody Maker ". OnMarch 20 , "Vow" was released in a7" vinyl format, backed with aremix of the title track and packaged in analuminium sleeve. 1,000 copies were pressed, of which only 934 were made available to buy, barely enough to reach the U.K. Top 100. "Vow" sold out in one day."Vow" debuted on Hot Modern Rock Tracks at #39, where it climbed over the following weeks peaking at #26 twice.cite web | url=http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/esearch/chart_display.jsp?cfi=377&cfgn=Singles&cfn=Hot+Modern+Rock+Tracks&ci=3020448&cdi=6951242&cid=06%2F17%2F1995 | title=Garbage "Vow" - Billboard Hot Modern Rock Tracks Listing For The Week Of
June 17 ,1995 | publisher=Billboard.com | accessdate=2008-02-04] "Vow" was released commercially in the U.S. onJune 20 onCD maxi and cassette formats. "Vow" bubbled under for two weekscite web | url=http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/esearch/chart_display.jsp?cfi=344&cfgn=Singles&cfn=Bubbling+Under+Hot+100+Singles&ci=3020690&cdi=6960183&cid=07%2F15%2F1995 | title=Garbage "Vow" - Billboard Bubbling Under Hot 100 Listing For The Week OfJuly 15 ,1995 | publisher=Billboard.com | accessdate=2008-02-04] before it spent two weeks on the Billboard Hot 100 staying at #97 both weeks.cite web | url=http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/esearch/chart_display.jsp?cfi=379&cfgn=Singles&cfn=The+Billboard+Hot+100&ci=3020793&cdi=6964189&cid=07%2F29%2F1995 | title=Garbage "Vow" - Billboard Hot 100 Listing For The Week OfJuly 29 ,1995 | publisher=Billboard.com | accessdate=2008-02-04]Mushroom and Discordant licensed "Vow" for distribution internationally, releasing the single on
June 20 , with two brand newb-sides , "Subhuman" and "#1 Crush". ForAustralia andNew Zealand , White, in addition to CD and cassette, issued alimited edition CD format packaged in arubber wallet. In Australia, after four weeks "Vow" peaked at #32,cite web | url=http://australian-charts.com/showitem.asp?interpret=Garbage&titel=Vow&cat=s | title=Garbage - Vow (Song) | publisher=Australian-charts.com | accessdate=2007-11-07] topping their alternative charts, while in New Zealand, "Vow" reached #41.cite web | url=http://charts.org.nz/showitem.asp?interpret=Garbage&titel=Vow&cat=s | title=Garbage - Vow | publisher=Charts.org.nz | accessdate=2007-11-07] "Vow" was also released byBMG inEurope andSouth Africa .Track listings
*UK 7" vinyl Discordant CORD001
*US CD-maxi Almo Sounds AMSDS-88000
*US cassette Almo Sounds AMSCS-89000# "Vow" - 4:30
# "Vow (Torn Apart)" - 5:09*European CDS Mushroom/BMG 74321 29596 2
*South African CDS Mushroom/BMG CDBMGS(WS)901
*Australian CDS White D1138
*Australian cassette White C1138# "Vow" - 4:30
# "Subhuman" - 4:36
# "#1 Crush" - 4:52B-sides
For it's U.K. and North American release, "Vow" was backed with "Vow (Torn Apart)", a remix produced by Garbage themselves. [""Vow" sleeve credits] For the international release of the single "Vow" was backed with "Subhuman" and "#1 Crush". "Subhuman" had only ever been intended as a b-side for the "Vow" single, but on
August 7 , 1995, it was released as "Vow"'s follow-up single in the U.K., as Mushroom considered it a strong song. In October, 1996, a remix of "#1 Crush" byNellee Hooper was released on thesoundtrack toBaz Luhrman movie "William Shakespeare's Romeo + Juliet ".Airplay of the track resulted in it, onJanuary 4 ,1997 , reaching #1 on the Modern Rock Tracks chart, staying for four weeks. It also reached #29 on theHot 100 Airplay chart.cite web | url=http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/retrieve_chart_history.do?model.vnuArtistId=138644&model.vnuAlbumId=670290 | title=Single Chart History: Garbage | publisher=Billboard.com | accessdate=2008-02-05]Both "Vow" and "#1 Crush" were released on the b-side to "Subhuman".
pecial edition packaging
The U.K. release of "Vow" was in a 7" vinyl format packaged in an aluminum metal case, the first of six specially packaged singles Mushroom Records released between 1995 and 1996. Each single cost the label, making a 70p per unit
loss on each single, but the investment paid off as each subsequent single became bigger hits. Second single "Subhuman" followed in arubber sleeve, "Only Happy When It Rains " in ahologram -sticker ed rain-effect card sleeve, "Queer" in aperspex case, "Stupid Girl" in both red and bluecloth bags and finally "Milk" in a rippled card sleeve with a 16-frame 3-D image mounted on front. Each release became instant collectors items: by the time second single "Subhuman", was released, copies of "Vow" were selling for £100. ["Subhuman" press release, Mushroom Records, August 1995 (Retrieved2008 -02-05 )]The idea behind the packaging reconciled with the eighteen-month
marketing strategy behind the launch of the band. The packaging was tailored around the artwork designs for the six singles and the label's plan tobrand the "G"logo . After each single, the sleeve artwork would go up a stage; the "Vow" and "Subhuman" artwork was two-colour, "Only Happy When It Rains" and "Queer" were three colour with gold embossing on "Queer" and "Stupid Girl" had four colour artwork. After the release of "Milk", CIN banned sales of specially packaged singles from counting towards the U.K. Singles Chart, which meant "Milk" was the last in the run of special edition Garbage 7" singles. [""Garbage" Class of '96", "Record Collector " #208" (Retrieved -2008 -02-06 )]Music video
.
Garbage, who had at first had no plans to tour, changed their mind while filming the video. Filming the "Vow" video was the first time they had played together in the one room. "We set up
amps and playedguitar s. Butch was pounding away and Shirley had a live mike. After the first run-through, we all looked at each other and said, 'This feels really good.'" Erikson later recalled.The "Vow" video was first commercially released on
VHS andVideo-CD on 1996's "Garbage Video ". [""The Screens Are Full of Garbage", "Melody Maker ", issue datedDecember 7 ,1996 " (Retrieved -2008 -02-05 ] A remastered version was later included on Garbage's 2007 greatest hitsDVD "Absolute Garbage".Critical reception
Upon it's release, "Vow" received an overwhelmingly positive response from music critics. James Delingpole of "
Sunday Telegraph " wrote "'Vow' displays a maturity, inventiveness and originality way beyond the powers of your average pop newcomer", "The Times " described it as "the missing link betweenCourtney Love andPJ Harvey " ["The Times ", September 19, 1995 issue (Retrieved2008 -02-05 )] while Paul Yates of "Q" magazine said "Garbage's signature lies in songs like 'Vow', good pop tunes dealt a rough treatment and brazen vocals". ["Q" magazine, issue 11/01/1995 (Retrieved -2008 -02-05 )] "NME"'s Emma Morgan wrote "it's the simplicity of the lyrics that strikes the winning goal", ["NME ", Emma Morgan, "Garbage" review, September 23, 1995 (Retrieved2002 -02-05 ] while earlier in the year "NME" had made "Vow" it's Single of the Week, writing " ["Vow" is] a shape-shifting squalling epic. It shimmers like Siouxsie's 'Christine'. It's a credit to the band's producing skills that such an ambitious thing is lashed together at all" ["NME ", "Vow" Single of the week review, March 25, 1995 (Retrieved2002 -02-05 ] "Melody Maker" stated "this has classic written all over it"; ["Melody Maker ", December 9, 1995 issue (retrieved2008 -02-05 ] they too had named "Vow" their Single of the Week, writing the song "is surreal pop heaven mixed with industrial nightmares". ["Melody Maker " "Vow" Single of the Week review, March 11, 1995 issue (retrieved2008 -02-05 ] "Kerrang! " magazine's Paul Rees described "Vow" as "edgy dislocated pop with a sparkling chorus" ["Kerrang! ", "Subhuman" review, August 5, 1995 issue (Retrieved2008 -02-05 ] and "the most brilliant pop song of 1995". ["Kerrang! ", "Garbage" review, September 29, 1995 issue (Retrieved2008 -02-05 ] Select's Ian Harrison liked the song, but felt that it "pilfers fromThe Smiths "How Soon Is Now? "". ["Garbage" review, "Select, October 1995 issue (retrieved2008 -02-05 )]"Vow" also appeared in a number of year-end lists: #45 in John Peel's
Festive Fifty , [cite web|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio1/johnpeel/festive50s/1990s/1995/|title="Keeping It peel: Festive 50's "1995""|publisher=BBC.co.uk|accessdate=2008-02-05] #15 inTriple J 's "Hottest 100 of 1995", [cite web|url=http://www.rocklists.com/jjj-1995.html|title=Triple J "Hottest 100 of 1995"|publisher= [http://www.rocklists.com/ Rocklists.com] |accessdate=2008-02-05] and #66 inKROQ 's "Top 106.7 of 1995". [cite web|url=http://www.rocklists.com/kroq-1995.html|title=KROQ 's "Top 106.7 of 1995"|publisher= [http://www.rocklists.com/ Rocklists.com] |accessdate=2008-02-05]Credits and Personnel
Garbage
*Shirley Manson – vocals,guitar
*Steve Marker – guitars, bass, samples and loops
*Duke Erikson – guitars, keyboards, six-string and fuzz bass
*Butch Vig – drums, loops, noise and efxPublishing
*Written by Garbage
*Copyright 1995 Vibecrusher Music / Irving Music, Inc (BMI) / Deadarm Music (ASCAP)Production
*Recorded & produced by Garbage
*Recorded at Smart Studios in Madison, Wisconsin, USA
*Second engineer: Mike Zirkel
*Mastered:Howie Weinberg (Masterdisk )
*Editing & post production: Scott Hull (Masterdisk)"Vow (Torn Apart)"
*Remix by GarbageComprehensive charts
References
External links
* [http://www.garbage.com/ Garbage official website]
* [http://www.garbage.com/exclusives/video.php/ "Vow" promo video]
* [http://www.garbage.com/discog/?v=so&a=1&id=11/ "Vow" lyrics]
* [http://www.garbage-discography.co.uk/vow_discography.php/ "Vow" release discography]
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