Released 1996 Recorded 1996 Label Nothing/Interscope | Format Cassette Length 4:51 Writer(s) Billy Corgan | |
"Eye" is a song by American alternative rock band The Smashing Pumpkins, released in 1996 on the soundtrack to the David Lynch film Lost Highway. Along with the song "The End Is the Beginning Is the End" from Batman & Robin and "Christmastime" from A Very Special Christmas 3, "Eye" represented a period of work on compilations done by the Pumpkins in between the release of the two albums Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness and Adore. It also appeared on their greatest hits collection Rotten Apples.
Contents
Song history
In the aftermath of the quadruple-platinum Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness, Billy Corgan's music publisher suggested he collaborate with basketball superstar and rapper Shaquille O'Neal, who had begun work on You Can't Stop the Reign. Corgan began work on a programmed backing track loosely inspired by Dr. Dre, but the collaboration fell through. Meanwhile, film director David Lynch and Nine Inch Nails mastermind Trent Reznor were assembling the soundtrack to Lynch's new film Lost Highway. Lynch, who later would call Corgan a "magical musician", rejected Corgan's submission, "Tear", which would eventually be included on Adore. Corgan quickly finished off "Eye" and Lynch loved it, using it in a nightclub scene in the film.
An acoustic version of the song was performed in 1997 at the Bridge School Benefit concert. The performance featured Twiggy Ramirez and Marilyn Manson.
So far, "Eye" has been performed live by the band on their 1997, 2008, 2010, 2013, and 2016 tours, opting for a guitar-driven sound with live drums (by Matt Walker, Jimmy Chamberlin, and Mike Byrne, respectively) in lieu of a drum machine.
Reception
The song became a hit, reaching number eight on the US Modern Rock Tracks in 1997. Corgan later said the surprise success of "Eye" as a single inspired the band to continue with the new electronica-tinged direction as they began work on Adore.