What Makes This Song Great? "1979" Smashing Pumpkins

In this episode of "What Makes This Song Great?" we explore the music of the Smashing Pumpkins.
💫 The Beato Ultimate Bundle - $99 FOR ALL OF My Courses: ⇢ rickbeato.com/
📘- The Beato Book Interactive - $99.00 value
🎸 - Beato Beginner Guitar - $159.00 value
👂- The Beato Ear Training Program - $99.00 value
🎸- The Quick Lessons Pro Guitar Course - $79.00 value
… all for just $99.00
Get it here: rickbeato.com/
My Beato Club supporters:
Justin Scott
Terence Mark
Farren Mahjoor
Jason Murray
Lucienne Kilpatrick
Alexander Young
Jason Wagner
Todd Ladner
Rob Kline
Nicholas Long
Tim Benson
Leonardo Martins da Costa Rodrigues
Eddie Perez
David Solomon
MICHAEL JOYCE
Stephen Stubbs
colin stead
Jonathan Wentworth-Linton
Patrick Payne
MATTHEW KARIS
Matthew Barouch
Shaun Samuels
Danny Kurywchak
Gregory Reedy
Sean Coleman
Alexander Verbitskiy
CL Turner
Jason Pappafotis
John Fulford
Margaret Carno
Robert C
David M Combs
Eric Flatt
Reto Spoerli
Herr Moritz Adam
Monte St. Johns
Jon Beezley
Peter DeVault
Eric Nabstedt
Eric Beggs
Rich Germano
Brian Bloom
Peter Pillitteri

[@preludedude94]

Don’t ever stop this series, please.

[@joshuasnow4440]

Dylan Stewart agreed

[@thewhopper11]

Dylan Stewart seriously it's probably my favorite on KZbin

[@preludedude94]

I would seriously watch a 'What Makes This Album Great'

[@jskullheisenberg5227]

Agreed

[@crd311]

I am hoping to see episode 1000 someday

[@jeffwilson3363]

This song is hypnotic, eerie, nostalgic, and captivating all at the same time....EXTREMELY hard/impossible to do...Billy Corgan is a genius.

[@suryadas6987]

I concur!!!

[@TakeFlight]

Hard working man that Billy

[@snapdragon9568]

I never noticed all these little sounds that make this song so hypnotic and dreamy and after watching it makes me appreciate this song way more. Makes ya wonder how many more songs have all these little bits that get lost when you just casually listen to it.

[@FacheChanteDeux]

One of my all time favorites. On a side note just today I used the line 'The World is a Vampire' while discussing politics with a friend.

[@tonymanfredi6844]

@@FacheChanteDeux you got that right.

[@ddbauer]

I love it because only the vocal drives the drama. The guitars never get loud and distorted, the drums never start crashing, it's steady and sweet

[@positivegradient]

That's a great way to put it. It's so mindblowing when you delve deeper into how artists put together their art.

[@nesfan8]

Corgan wasnt the best singer, but he really knew how to use his voice to draw out different emotions in a song

[@tommulhall3865]

Great description really! Steady and Sweet!

[@DimitriMoreira]

Well, Chamberlain was a jazz drummer for a reason. It's what he loved. Even so, the drums can get pretty strong in some songs. He was voted by musicians in the 90's one of the best Rock drummers of the decade. Just a couple of people in front and one of them was Dave Ghroul. So... This says a lot. Listening to Adore, you can see the outstanding drummer that James was. And classy.

[@freddyhung]

@@nesfan8 That's the difference between having a good voice and knowing how to sing. They are absolutely two different things!.

[@KodeLiMe]

"The band is The Smashing Pumpkins, and the song is... all of them."

[@ajrob77]

Jason Smith yesssss🙌🏼

[@oc0dyc]

This is correct

[@richardavery2894]

Lol... Yes but not really. Made me laugh though.

[@chasethebishop]

everlasting gaze? drown? mellon collie and the infinite sadness? stumbeline? porcelina of the vast oceans?

[@JamesWilson01]

Yes and it's time for part 2 now please Rick. Something heavy from Siamese Dream 🤘

[@bryanlettow4389]

This song gives a real bittersweet feeling I can't shake everytime I hear it.

[@MrSimondaniel3]

like that aching nostalgia of the past + the years going by so fast.

[@avedic]

It's that major 7th note in the weird vocal sample. At least I think so....major 7ths always help give a bittersweet melancholic romantic vibe...

[@deadstar44]

You can't shake those zipper blues.

[@neopythagorean]

The entire album has a bittersweet nostalgic feeling and theme. Billy Corgan is second to none when it comes to creating a self-contained universe of emotion all wrapped up in an album. What an artist!

[@nvision26]

Daniel Simon that's exactly what it is.

[@wurstgitarre]

Mellon Collie is such an iconic album. 28 songs, not a single weak one.

[@campbellholt1220]

I love that album one of my favourite of all time but tales of scorched earth is sub par

[@cygnustsp]

Dont forget the B sides too

[@EvanLucasButton]

@@campbellholt1220 Tales of A Scorched Earth is amazing mate.

[@robin5on]

And it could have been better if they'd add the songs didn't make the album

[@EvanLucasButton]

@@robin5on I agree. A lot of the B-sides are spectacular.

[@danielstittums967]

Never really realized how layered 1979 was. Makes me enjoy it even more.

[@daveg4236]

Daniel Stittums all their stuff is layered AF

[@AltCTRLF8]

once he pointed out the bell part, i can’t ignore it.

[@joycastle.]

This is probably the explanation why the album that you record with your amateur or semi-professional doesn't quite sound quite as good as the stuff that you hear on the radio. My bandmates make fun of me if I want to add yet another track of backing vocals and another guitar track ("oh, are we doing another Queen record?"), but I now realise that we're not even at half the stuff that professionals throw at you, and I'm not even talking about the quality of mixing and mastering. Then again, our albums probably cost 1% of theirs to produce. And sell 0.0001% of theirs, with good reason.

[@jonathanbolger6173]

That's not even that many layers though. Some projects these days have 80 plus layers and it's just overkill. The layers in this are so tasteful though, which is in my opinion the crux of the song. That echo vocal along with the melody/lyrics really give that nostalgia vibe.

[@Jamesbond0169]

This is a poor song compare for example just like heaven. This music band is not a goog one

[@SilentMott]

These songs are even more beautiful when they're broken down and you hear all the little intricacies. Brilliant song.

[@wri7913]

Just goes to show how much thought and process goes into the building of the song from the artist and sound engineer.

[@gemfyre855]

Wow, I would never have guessed that that iconic 1979 "sound" is actually a vocal!!

[@scottradio9663]

I always thought it was a vocal, I just couldn't understand what it was exactly. It sounded to me like "ooh, take it". 🤷‍♂️

[@BrandonWalowitz]

So crazy how those simple vocal echoes make the song something else entirely.

[@theprolificnetwork4670]

Billy being a Pisces knows how to manifest that iNtangible.

[@NibblesTheNibbler]

I've always wondered what that sound effect was. Now I know!!

[@vladjack44]

i still amazed

[@mrflipperinvader7922]

Atmosphere, space, and nostalgia

[@ismagine]

Simple but genius. I always wondered how to make that effect on a guitar. Never happened. I hate playing this song with my band because we couldn’t make it sound perfect.

[@Orjuela123]

I could listen to Rick dissecting music all day.

[@Henry-uv9xu]

Rick dissecting rock.

[@jeffreybrege4576]

I have..

[@georgetzimas1541]

I have just recently started indulging into his anatomising of songs. Fascinating experience.

[@NickHarman]

Except I do wish he'd stop saying 'check it out' every ten seconds

[@graehamhenderson3270]

This is essentially my 2nd therapy session each week 🤘

[@WillCarter1976]

Jesus...Billy looked so young in that thumbnail. Hard to believe he's in his 50's now and I'm in my 40's. Where has time gone?

[@MegaMkmiller]

Into dust I guess.

[@luiskern8910]

And where has the hair gone?

[@danihans5199]

This is the end... My only friend the end XD I think that is where the time is gonna go.

[@gameofadages6847]

It just disappears so quickly I think because we spend so much time dwelling within the past and projecting into the future. It's all actually happening in the now and we're barely ever there to notice

[@noelzhu1986]

Time is never time at all.

[@comehomeastronaut]

Oh my god, you've finally allowed me to solve the puzzle of that extra shimmery part over the choruses. For the last 23 years, I've sworn that it was some kind of crazy phasered-and-vibrato'd steel drum kind of sound, and now I know that what I've been hearing this whole time is just some magical combination of harmonics from the bells and those guitars. THAT SOUND HAS BEEN DRIVING ME INSANE FOR OVER TWO DECADES TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHAT IT IS. THANK YOU!!!

[@periloushomous]

Me too! Never thought there ever was a bell part to begin with.

[@periloushomous]

Me, too! Never thought there ever was a bell part to begin with.

[@timt9625]

Yeah i thought it was just a synth pad at first, so cool

[@ismagine]

Same here, I played it with several bands and never make that sound out of it. Clean effects, perfect harmonies.

[@mattlisa69]

Right there with you my man, I'm looking to simulate that sound with a simple shimmer reverb effect/pedal. Because I cant play the bells ;)

[@vox1962]

You overlooked that on the second verse that when the bass begins, there is a also distinct transition from looped drums to live drums which have a completely different sound and adds greatly to the fatness of the sound

[@dumahim]

That explains why someone earlier quoted Billy describing the drum machine used, while Rick was saying it was Jimmy's drumming looped. I found the drum tracks and it does seem like the early part is a drum machine and then more live sounding drums come in later, but still on a loop.

[@conleydylan]

I came here looking for this. And what about the limited drums after the bridge?

[@matturner6890]

@@conleydylan There's like 7 diff effects on the drums thoughout the song aha it's kinda nuts. There's compression, gating, distortion, ring modulation, doubling drum machines with live drums, some kinda extra weird bitcrushing/gating at the very beginning... What a unique song.

[@cotecatalan3109]

This song makes me nostalgic for things I haven't experienced

[@vsus42]

Theres a word for that

[@BlantonJeffrey]

Second-hand nostalgia

[@muhammadalbar6968]

especially with the mv

[@binariez]

It's anemoia

[@vsus42]

@@binariez yeah that

[@23ofSeptember]

I was born in 1979 and graduated high school in 1997, so naturally this was my grad song. Brilliant song by a brilliant band. All time top 10 song on my list.

[@flangmasterj]

1979 always reminds me of summer back when I first started high school. It's one of those tracks that makes me feel at ease and brings back memories of simpler times.

[@AltCTRLF8]

the music video was perfect for this song.

[@andyinoregon]

Billy Corgan and the producers made so many incredibly fine choices with this recording. One of those rare songs that was perfectly written, produced and performed ... and I could listen to you play that Danelectro all day long.

[@DynamiteProd]

I think billy is one of the most underrated musicians of our time. It gets overshadowed by his craziness and ego.

[@samirkshirsagar4654]

Billy has actually shown how to be a famous musician while staying true to your art. Also at the same time, it doesn't become too experimental and exits the the genre.

[@niallmccaffrey791]

Never liked the hihats

[@exprotestant8736]

I never realized that this song was so complex.

[@daphnetruman]

Its amazing in its interplay of complexity and simplicity. People can say want they want about Corgan, he is a songwriting genius.

[@nickgoode8579]

Most of his stuff is extremely layered and complex

[@IOxyrinchus]

The immense feelings of euphoria and childhood nostalgia that this song provides me with is unlike anything I’ve felt before while listening to a song. It’s so beautiful, you can tell that it’s straight from Billy Corgan’s heart. The lyrics are very relatable for most people because nostalgia is universal, and this song conveys it and all the feelings associated with it so well that it almost pushes me to tears. There’s no other song like it.

[@threeminuteshate]

Music is the closest we’ll ever get to time travel.

[@OEMPlus]

Corgan is a genius.

[@P5GL5G1996]

Amazing musician, but a complete egomaniac.

[@june8898]

Gunnar Thiessen do you know him personally?

[@bgilley8199]

@@P5GL5G1996 he had the songwriting chops to back up that ego though. He's said publicly that he regrets not treating his bandmates better.

[@ad00m5]

Funny how there has always been the people completely against him- Because he’s different or they are different and unapologetically open, everyone jumps on this bandwagon of scrutiny- I’ve been in bands all my life- When bandmates are unhealthy , absent, on drugs, or toxic- you gotta dream- In order to keep the band alive- Melodically, sonically, in the area of diversity and in the scope of bearing ones soul Corgan is a very gifted artists. Evolving WITH the music. At this point anyone who doesn’t appreciate the band is gonna jump on the band wagon and say negative naive bullshit- Let em. It just fuels the fire. We know the truth;) Even the ego things a fucking joke- Every band with passion loves what they do- and the pumpkins are one of the best- You can call it “ego“ but do you even listen to how the guy talks? No you don’t know a god damn thing so ya point out the rumor? He’s Not Glenn Danzig- I’ve met him a few times and despite the overwhelming attention he gets he always managed to sincerely listen and he was incredibly humble. Just sayin

[@chocomanger6873]

@@P5GL5G1996 Compared to whom? Billy Corgan is so down-to-Earth. Just listen to the countless interviews out there. He's thoughtful and humble. You're simply regurgitating something from around 1995, based on God knows what.

[@JM-ik9kw]

Billy Corgan is a master of melancholy.

[@billycorgan6740]

Thx

[@heavnnnsent]

Melancholy and so much more

[@mr2_mike]

Smashing Young Man

[@Aggrofool]

And infinite sadness

[@countryofplanetearth7120]

Coming back to this after watching your Billy Corgan interview. Great job on both of those videos Rick!

[@michaelguimond5282]

Agree 🥳

[@Trapper50cal]

Yeah, that was a big get for an interview...like Sting or Frampton.

[@dankowalski6925]

Both are great

[@jpollackauthor]

For everyone asking how Rick got the isolated tracks for this song, the original multitracks were uploaded to KZbin in 2012 by a channel called Leavemealoneabout Usingmyname. They're still up. Search "Smashing Pumpkins Isolated 1979" and they will come up. Cheers!

[@seandalton6244]

Hearing these tracks broken down and reassembled is really giving me/us clarity on songwriting techniques and arrangement. Keep these coming Rick, you're a legend!

[@EverGreen1888]

Billy Corgan loves his octaves. That's not a criticism...a master of his art

[@jordananderson3537]

Billy Corgan on a rollercoaster..... WEEEeeeee!!!

[@thebetbetunderground9548]

Hahaha funny stuff

[@I_like_turtles_67]

Inspite of his rage. He's still just an on a train. That Disneyland meme even made Billy laugh.

[@DissAeon]

The bellpad changed my life. This song is an absolute masterpiece, always makes me tear up...

[@cookiesrawesomee]

7:03 the way the synth and guitar mesh ugh cannot express in words how beautiful this sounds, especially when you hear the third shimmer through it all

[@prakeerngupta6380]

Really man. Right in the feels

[@xboys_archive]

Robert Castrejon dude feel the exact way it’s literally the most melodic sound in the world

[@DissAeon]

That bellpad always makes me tear...

[@jpollackauthor]

I would kill to know what tuning that guitar is in during that part.

[@Hugo-Funky]

Its magic

[@c.brogansavage3385]

I loved how Jimmy Chamberlain has the confidence to play a loop. Mark of a great solid drummer. He, along with Brian Downey, are two immensely talented yet underrated rock drummers.

[@hunchemlnarik1668]

I wouldn't call Chamberlain underrated. People in drumming circles revere him

[@suna7511]

@@hunchemlnarik1668 *have a cult around him

[@user-dc7um4pr3f]

I think it really is a drum loop. I heard this was basically a Billy solo song because the deadline for the record was a day away. He went home and finished the song and they came in and rushed through it super quick. It's a lot of just Billy because they had like one day to do it and he just grinded through it and got it done.

[@nonyobussiness3440]

He’s considered one of if not the best drummers in rock for the 90’s. Billie Corgan always put up with Jimmie’s drug use because everyone knew he lucked out having Jimmie in his band. Jimmie was an elite jazz drummer

[@toddubow2599]

Billy is a huge Beatle fan. So he likes clean distinctive lines with lots of guitar and vocal layers to add meaning.

[@imranrefai4045]

I always absolutely loved how they ended midway through the verse .. it’s quite a genius song , and the nostalgia element is unparalleled

[@dvt1393]

Fastest click of my life! Over the last couple of days, I've binged nearly all of your content. As a musician and music lover, who has hopes of songwriting and production, your channel is a huge inspiration and very educational. This series is my favorite, for sure. You are putting out next level content on a very consistent basis. Thank you, Rick. :)

[@andrefjbernardo]

The sound of this song is like a memory of a foggy saturday morning, spring season about to start, playing outside with friends, riding bycicles, etc. Another great choice! Thank you, Rick. Lots of people have a special place in their hearts for this chanel.

[@MnemonicHeadTrip]

André Bernardo It really gives me the same vibe songs like OK Pal and Midnight City give somehow. I haven’t been able to place the feeling but it’s extremely present in the game Gone Home, I adore it.

[@MnemonicHeadTrip]

Raw Key I’m 15 and I listened to this song first three years ago, why do I feel the same way? I also feel the same melancholic nostalgic feeling with Smashing Pumpkins other songs and the band M83 like I mentioned above.

[@michaelandcolinspop]

Raw Key I was too, and those awesome times went way too fast. Every time I hear music from the early to mid-90s, a part of me grows sad.

[@walterfowler4785]

Now if you listen to “To Sheila” on a rainy summer night at about 1:00 A.M., you get the best feeling. Very rarely can a song do that for me

[@alexalexyooos3493]

Rhinoceros is like a cold almost rainy autumn day

[@TrinidadJamesWoods]

Siamese Dream is one of the best rock albums ever made.

[@suryadas6987]

Agreed!!!! Billy's a freaking genius!

[@derekten6834]

@infoslingeri was about to say the same thing hahaha

[@3cs3hs]

yep, it's way better than Mellon Collie.

[@user-xg6zz8qs3q]

@@3cs3hs The first half of Melon Collie is beyond perfect until it fades into dreary boring rock.

[@kunalsamant]

my favourite album of all time

[@shruggzdastr8-facedclown]

My all-time favorite Pumpkins' song is "Eye". I just love the minimalism of its composition and the hint of menace to the lyrics and tone of the music. Another major highlight for me is the cover of Fleetwood Mac's "Landslide" as heard on the "Pisces Iscariot" album.

[@SupermanNew52]

Fun Fact: "Eye" was originally written as a rap beat for Shaquille O'Neal but the collaboration never happened. He instead used the song for the Lost Highway soundtrack (thank god lol).

[@hhhebry]

The vocal part with heavy phaser, I always thought it was a guitar part woah

[@JB-bi4lf]

My favorite tune from them is Mayonnaise. Hopefully you explore Deftones on this! I would love to hear you break down Digital Bath

[@chewybang]

First of all your not a good fighter Yes, yes, yes. Mayonnaise is my favorite SP song, and Digital Bath is one of the sexiest, darkest, most beautiful songs from Deftones. Both great choices.

[@magicD53]

First of all your not a good fighter if anything, it’ll be Diamond Eyes or My Own Summer, those are interesting (music theory wise)

[@JB-bi4lf]

magicD_drummaguy yeah but it seems like he doesn't pick the songs you would think he would. Closer to the heart, 1979, Enter Sandman, Them Bones, Vasoline...etc. All great songs, but everyone would agree that most of those are among the most elementary of that particular artists' catalog.

[@JB-bi4lf]

I will say that there have been a few tunes that I went in rolling my eyes...most notably Hitch a Ride from Boston, and left pleasantly surprised at the subdued complexity

[@MrTrueMineCrafter]

Mayonaise always creates this ambiance like no other for me.

[@punkemogeekrock]

I want this song played at my funeral. I love the lyrics, melody, feel, mix, imperfections, everything.

[@derekpine5686]

Does anyone remember one of the last songs on that album called by starlight. That is one of my favorite love songs ever. It was a work of art.

[@brandonkoch3852]

Dead eyes..dead eyes. One of my favs as well brother.

[@seangarvin971]

I liked the way it faded in and the song did sound like you were out at dtarlight.cant quite explain it

[@jessejameskaine]

her eyes were as vacant as the seas

[@trentbrackhurst4389]

@@seangarvin971 Well explained

[@siddhant717]

Fucking love that song. Those strings are so lavishly layered, and that guitar lead makes me think of a bright star just shooting across an infinitely empty space until it fades away. That make sense?

[@OpusDPenguin]

just stumbled upon this series and I love it! Request: SOMA! SOMA! SOMA!

[@Alekzbizkit]

One on Geek USA would be awesome, that drumming is so tight, chamberlain is great

[@Timecapsule96]

That drumming I got goosebumps the first time I heard it

[@mastermindmartialarts]

drumming is still jaw dropping to listen to, even now.

[@philyates7670]

It's my all time favourite drumming track. Everytime I hear the song my brain focuses on Jimmy playing more than anything else.

[@matthewgreer893]

What's so interesting is how this song predicted so many indie rock songs of today - driving downstrokes, sample-like drum production and single note pad/synth melodies - reminds me a lot of the strokes and even "are you bored yet" by wallows

[@claraharmonson2181]

This song is a BIG part of the soundtrack of my life. Puts me back in college a very simple and fun time!

[@nickschoggen301]

Rick, your work in this series is my music nerd narcotic of choice. I just shared this one with my better half (a long time Pumpkinhead), and she said, "if this guy ever managed to do 'Hit Liquor' by Shudder to Think I'd DIE." Ball's in your court, Nerdslayer.

[@danegonzales5651]

Whenever that intro riff starts playing I just sigh very deeply, breathing in as much as I can from this very soothing song.

[@theparttimepunk]

Rick. Real talk. We NEED another SP what makes this song great.

[@tritonhill9684]

2:38 I’ve always wanted to know what that iconic vocal is saying but now that I hear it by itself I still don’t know. I think I like it better that way

[@andrewdenson]

I was dying to see you do the Pumpkins. Great.

[@patrickallan481]

This song is just.... the soundtrack of the late 90s for me. It's that rare occasion where doing kind of weird stuff creates a sonic miracle. Many times, being weird and experimenting is just... well, weird, and a bit contrived, even when talented groups do it. This is an example where it's just sublime.

[@rumerstain12]

The bell patch melts my heart I absolutely love that part. Best section of the song then maybe the guitar riff in the verse

[@jimzeleny7213]

How could you not mention that wonderful doubled bass part in the bridge. Makes it the most powerful ever.

[@bloodbornesurvivor6399]

This my favorite band of all time thank you so much

[@matthewsommerville88]

The bell part in this chorus was nuts. Pretty much been listening to this song for the 30 years I’ve been alive and never noticed that. Awesome.

[@SpaRtanl33tz]

This song , Thirty Three and Tonight Tonight are my all time favorite songs and summon some bitter sweet nostalgia as a teen.

[@rabblerouser6744]

What always impressed me about tge Pumpkins is the fact their B-Sides albums were so damn good & had so much content. Picese Iscariot and The Areoplane Flies High box set could have been stand alone releases.

[@joshuadooley181]

Pisces Iscariot was a release. Just totally underrated.

[@rabblerouser6744]

@@joshuadooley181 I'm sure you know I meant a full release.. promotion, videos, singles, etc. Not a bsides release

[@quinosonic82]

P.I. is a great record. Frail and bedazzled is one of my favourite songs by them.

[@michaelshannon9169]

Finally an acknowledgement for Jelly Belly, one of the heaviest and most powerful songs I've ever heard.

[@cdreyes81]

Hell yeah!

[@jonwhitfield6505]

One of my favorite songs by Smashing Pumpkins. Sad it never gets much recognition.

[@freakshopusa]

I always dug X.Y.U. myself....

[@freakshopusa]

@@bushisahomo anytime I play that for a friend or on a jukebox, people still are surprised to find out who's playing

[@melancholy-6352]

I loveee Jellybelly.

[@rmp5s]

God I love this song.

[@derricklasaga7375]

rmp5s their best tune

[@tinabina8371]

I just subscribed after a day sick in bed watching a binge session of the “What makes this song great” playlist. You are so talented and really explain everything effortlessly. I hear these songs and most of them are my favorites and now I know exactly why they are so great.

[@vidpie]

I recall going to a Borders or some other branded music store where they had listening stations where you could put on headphones and listen to new releases (switching between CDs). That's where I first heard the Smashing Pumpkins. They stood out.

[@chippchipp1]

"Pyramid Song" by Radiohead

[@braveandnew7817]

SP are like a 25 layer cake and all the layers are good. I am ROOT!

[@NeilHolmes72]

I've always thought Billy Corgan's voice was at its best in songs like this when he was emoting rather than trying to growl.

[@shawarmageddonit]

Growl??

[@AltCTRLF8]

@@shawarmageddonit check out “Tales of a Scorched Earth”

[@shawarmageddonit]

@@AltCTRLF8 I'm well aware of that song. And he's not _growling_ in it; rather simply screaming. Pretty big difference. And as far as I recall, he doesn't do anything similar in any other songs; not to that extent anyway.

[@Amp1771]

What about the more psychedelic songs like mayonnaise, soma and hummer

[@baTonkaTruck]

Hummer has to be my fav Pumpkins song, but I love every song you just listed. Siamese Dream is my all-time favorite record. I remember watching Today on Mtv and never, ever getting tired of it. I remember waiting by the radio with my blank tape in there, tight as a bowstring ready to hit REC + Play. It was the first album I ever bought as a kid, I was beside myself excited on the drive home to pop it in my diskman. I dropped onto our ugly 80's floral couch and listened to it 3 times all the way through, my arms exhausted from pushing the small, shitty round headphones harder onto my ears so I could hear the bass better. I just couldn't fucking believe how every song was just as good. One song would end, I'd get bummed out, then I'd be like "OH WAIT, THIS ONE IS AMAZING TOO!" Probably literally the best memory of my entire life.

[@Timecapsule96]

AND RHINOCEROS

[@AbdulWahid-es9iu]

Rocket? Lol

[@joshuadooley181]

@@baTonkaTruck Drown off of the Singles soundtrack got me a lot of angry bar goers when I’d pop it on playing pool. Love that song, even the 3 minutes of melodic guitar-whale sounds at the end. Man, what a great time for music.

[@elliotmorley9075]

good taste man

[@barkingsheep5224]

This brought a huge smile to my face. Thank you for this! They were my favorite band as a teen and I listened to them 24-7 for years. (I'm autistic and when I like something...I really like it. Lol) I had (still do) all their CDs and would switch between them depending on what mood I was in. I was really curious what song you were going to examine, and this is a great one! I'm thankful it wasnt Bullet With Butterfly Wings. :) Thank you!

[@glanemann]

Billy Corgan does an acoustic version of this on the Howard Stern Show. Search that video. Sounds fantastic.

[@jackhaugh]

glanemann I heard that this past year. Much like Billy, I’ve actually seen a genuine shape shifter as well.

[@tylerhoose3750]

Thanks for the recommendation! It was indeed fantastic.

[@nwest8274]

@ glanemann Just made the backwards turn actually - came from the "HSS" performance to Rick's video here ;) Anyhow - timeless and huge song, true 'classic' 👌🏻🎸

[@MrTynanDraper]

@@jackhaugh Look up "deep fake" on youtube. . you can see all the shapeshifting you want.

[@jackhaugh]

Daniel Tynan yeah this was real life back in the late 80s out in the woods at night.

[@justgotschwifty4222]

This was a sound track song to my high school years and one of my favorite bands of all time and I've never heard it broken down like this. Parts in there that I never heard lol

[@shawarmageddonit]

You didn't hear the parts "lol"??

[@manro8]

Absolute masterpiece this song still listen to it most days, amazing how subtle textures just add that little extra on the hooks keeps such a simple song captivating

[@periloushomous]

Exactly what i was looking for! Thanks, Rick! Never thought that ever was that bell part at 7:10 Thank you!

[@stigbeve]

44 years old here and I’ve always liked this song. Just recently looked up the lyrics and I love them. Never knew what he was saying all these years.

[@dcfan1107]

Around 2004, I would play their greatest hits cd at work. One kid was studying music at the local college and when he would hear 1979, he would freeze and just melt from the chord progressions in the bridge. He loved it and said it was one of the greatest bridges he ever heard. Soon, after he become a huge Pumpkins fan.

[@LeanderNadeltanz]

I will NEVER EVER unhear those bells at 6:59! So thank you very much, Rick!

[@willy9t]

Love "Bury Me" too, Rick. Great vid! Listening to Gish the first time was the turning point in my music life.

[@davidchidester5463]

6:56 when your mom asks you to take the garbage out.

[@suryadas6987]

Hilarious!!!😂😂😂😂🤣

[@magiccitymama1620]

😆 And we shouldn't have to ask. Don't you have eyeballs to see?

[@ODGreenZa]

I must have been 17 or 18 when this came out. First few chords of the song takes me straight back. What a band

[@hairbrushmicrophone9130]

“To die young”. That’s what you hear over the riff 2:46 or I should say that’s confirmed what billy is singing

[@MrTynanDraper]

Wow thanks for sharing! I would never have guessed.

[@abhikdas8464]

Its "too tired" thats what he say

[@solongsuicide9]

It's not "too tired" 😴😂 it's "to die young". OP is right.

[@robingaming8941]

It's only "today"

[@TheDeadRebellion]

I hear "today, yeah"

[@rolandmarckwort]

Main riff was totally Cure and New Order inspired

[@jcoriha]

Pedalpoint riffs are a SP hallmark. New wave for sure. Also look at Pete Townshend's use of pedalpoint.

[@digitaljanus]

It's wild how songs like e.g. "Cherub Rock", "Zero", and "1979" can all be built around shifting octaves on top of an open E string and all sound so different.

[@Mentalhealthadvocate]

Actually, 1979 is played a half step down.

[@badboy46528]

would add my bloody valentine to the list:)

[@kieranl5249]

Roland Marckwort nah, it’s all my bloody valentine

[@12qwertyuiop90]

This is absolutely fantastic! Thanks Rick. Billy Corgan is one of the most inspirational songwriter of my generation!

[@dos9167]

holy hell, Beato deserves a Grammy for how he breaks down songs (the digital age and PC/MAC soft tech deserves a mention)

[@jeffreytam7684]

This song is genius. The melodies and music and atmosphere are great. It's so loaded with emotions, so many feelings. Just a lovely song. Brings back so many memories for me.

[@epicrampage3041]

Always loved the drum feel in this song

[@epicrampage3041]

And now I hear it’s a loop 😕

[@toshalazarus]

Me too

[@jcoriha]

Kevin VanHimbergen Flood confirmed for me a few years ago it's Jimmy playing and chopped up in loops like Rick said. Live he played over the top of his own loops to add more heft to the arrangement. Watch the AMA performance right after the album dropped.

[@MrSimondaniel3]

+Kevin VanHimbergen only some of it is loops. Not 2 b lame but, its quite easy to hear some of these are loops, such as at the lyric "justine never knew the rules". doesnt sound like a drum kit.

[@lordythegreat88]

It is played live at least lol

[@dvt1393]

Awesome breakdown of a classic song. I always thought that Smashing Pumpkins had two of the best sounding albums of the 90's alternative era. Siamese Dream and Mellon Collie are both amazingly well arranged, produced, and mixed, and still hold up today. After your video on Max Martin, it looked like you were open to a vast array of genres and styles. If you are looking for more recent songs (at least post-2000) I would say that LCD Soundsystem's "Sound of Silver" and Daft Punk's "R.A.M." are two of the best produced electronic albums of the last 20 years, and (love him or hate him) Kanye West's "My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy" album is a marvel of production and arrangement. Also, some more modern rock and alternative songs such "Obstacle 1" by Interpol, "Sowing Season" by Brand New, and "3rd Planet" by Modest Mouse are beautiful songs that could make very fascinating breakdowns. Again, thank you so much for your videos and teachings.

[@sudhindrakopalle7071]

This guy is a veritable encyclopedia of music, instruments, music theory, music history and unparalleled critical ability. Super!

[@georged7627]

It’s 2024 and ive been playing this song a lot before i even found this video 🤘🏾there’s something about this song that my ears love…im 48 now and i am appreciating songs a lot more than i did when i was younger

[@Sutterjack]

I'm not a musician but music fascinates me - I'm a boomer and Smashing Pumpkins reminds me of 60's garage band rock. Very hypnotic song -

[@Hevvvyyy]

Its here ..m god bless rick beato. The greatest music series on yt. Found some songs from this series that were not my favorites until after i saw u make a vid over them.

[@danrivas4645]

found your series about a month ago i loving it. I amazed at how simple this song is as it uses alot fo the same rifts but when you hear the songs everything blends so well together 75 more to go to catch up!

[@HexNottingham]

You never cease to amazing me with your song/band choices. I've always felt that S.M.'s "Perfect" was a great sequel tune to "1979".

[@michaelschwartz4306]

I will never hear this song the same. What a great new appreciation. Thank you.

[@tc3348]

Dude thanks. I've never appreciated "1979" as much as I will now after watching this!!

[@MatthijsKoningstein]

Billy Corgan really wrote the best melodies of the 90's. Maybe along with Jeff Buckley and Chris Cornell. But definitely top 3!

[@folksurvival]

Jerry Cantrell.

[@heavnnnsent]

My favorite song by Chris Cornell is fell on Black Days

[@nonyobussiness3440]

Melodies? That would be Cobain, Noel Gallagher, Goo Goo Dolls guitarist, cranberries, Billy, hootie,

[@jakehixon4073]

Yeah Billy did it best for sure.

[@jakehixon4073]

Yeah Billy did it best for sure.

[@shaykitoffe6411]

Everything about it gives me the chills

[@tadpolesoup]

Remember the first time I heard this song and being enthralled with that melancholic feel.

[@lisasmith4823]

This has a totally different meaning to the kids born in 1979 because it was our life at that moment it was we released. We were 16-17, born in 79, c/o ‘97. Such a special time to be that age. Truly the last generation without cell phones and the internet. We grew up on The Goonies and Karate Kid. Saw hair metal turn to grunge. Plus the 70’s had made a comeback at that time because of movies like Dazed and Confused so the clothes they were wearing were actually what we were wearing back then.

[@thatmechanicguy8773]

I heard Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness when I was around 10-11 for the first time. I listened to it from start to finish, and I was so blown away. I still listen to it from start to finish because every song on it is superb.

[@lenin17301560]

2:47 Ok, 25 years later I’ve come to realize thanks to Rick that’s actually a distorted voice. I always it was some sort of warped horn or something like that.

[@Riffmaster227]

Sounds like it kinda says “to day is”

[@Dad-Gad]

Only someone who loves music as much as us viewers obviously do could even think of producing such exquisite videos , Rick you are a legend 👍

[@dahawk8574]

1:22 - "It starts out with this octave on the Major 7th. It's got the Low E in." I was expecting far more explanation on this one chord. This is what MAKES the song. The three notes have an intense tension. And the beauty of the composition is how Billy resolves it quickly into the three note two octave consonance before dropping to the full resolution. 1:33 - "And then it has this single note thing." Except that it is _not_ a single note. Your finger might only be fretting a single note. But the open A played with it makes this too another example of intense dissonance, which he bends up into a beautiful consonance. The genius musicality of 1979 is all about this harsh tension that resolves into the most satisfying of consonances. 1:42 - "He's using a lot of Major 7th chords." Yes. clearly. But the magic is in how he _resolves_ these. And THAT's what makes this song great.

[@derekfernandez7701]

Thanks for this comment! It is very insightful and I agree with you - this verse chord is what makes the song - this is the first time I'm reading terms such as dissonance/consonance - it's very enlightening, thank you again!

[@goldenhelmet403]

SP uses maj7 in a lot of songs (I forget the names) as well as octave over a bass note eg (cherub rock)

[@mattwaine296]

@@goldenhelmet403 hummer I think too

[@thosedays512]

I love how you break down my favorite songs and give the answers to all the things I’ve been wondering about!!! THANK YOU!!!

[@jasonbonifacio2473]

The part at 7:04 always gets me; could listen on repeat for weeks.