The Chemicals Between Us

Lyrics and style

Gavin Rossdale commented on what the song was about:

"It’s all about the differences and distances between people"

The song is unique among most other singles by the band due to its numerous electronic elements as well as an almost dancey percussion. However, it also bears a prominent rock guitar riff throughout, making it akin to the electronica genre of music.

Music video

The song's music video (directed by Stéphane Sednaoui), which was filmed in late August 1999 in Los Angeles, was played predominantly on the music channels, MTV, MTV2, and VH1.

Gavin Rossdale on the video:

"Thinking about it, the most extravagant thing was my last video ('The Chemicals Between Us')- that was fucking extravagant. I think the next video I do I'm just going to get a pile of money and burn it, KLF style. I might as well just cut to the chase."

The music video begins with Bush performing in an alley with a white monolith beside them, then Rossdale comes inside the monolith in a white background surrounded by a Japanese-inspired island. Later, the scene becomes interspersed with Rossdale doing karate blindfolded and Pursons doing martial arts as well. The video ends with the band entering the monolith.

Commercial performance

It spent five non-consecutive weeks at number one on the U.S. Alternative Songs chart and peaked on the Billboard Hot 100 at number 67 on 4 December 1999. The song would eventually become Bush's last major worldwide hit before their 2002 breakup. Songs like "Warm Machine," "Letting the Cables Sleep," "The People That We Love" and "Inflatable" would become minor hits, but after "The Chemicals Between Us," Bush would not score another number one hit until 12 years later with "The Sound of Winter" (2011).

Track listing

UK Enhanced CD Single 4972222

1. "The Chemicals Between Us" (Radio Edit) – 3:10
2. "The Chemicals Between Us" (Super Collider Vapour Version) – 10:02
3. "The Chemicals Between Us" (CD-ROM Video) – 3:38

UK CD Single 4972232

1. "The Chemicals Between Us" – 3:37
2. "Homebody" – 4:22
3. "Letting the Cables Sleep (Original Demo)" – 4:36

AUS CD Single 4972132

1. "The Chemicals Between Us" – 3:37
2. "Homebody" – 4:22
3. "The Chemicals Between Us" [Super Collider Vapour Version] – 10:02
4. "The Chemicals Between Us" [CD-Rom Video] – 3:37

AUS Promo CD Single 4971442 (Custom Made Printed Plastic Sleeve)

1. "The Chemicals Between Us [Radio Edit]" – 3:06