Glycerine (song)

Single by Bush

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|

"Glycerine"

Single by Bush
from the album  Sixteen Stone
B-side|

* "Solomon's Bones"
* "Alien" (LP version)

Released| November 1995[1]
Recorded| January 1994
Studio| Westside Studios, London[2]
Genre|

* Alternative rock[3]
* hard rock[4]
* post-grunge[5]

Length| 4:26
Label|

* Trauma
* Interscope
* Atlantic

Songwriter(s)| Gavin Rossdale
Producer(s)|

* Clive Langer
* Alan Winstanley
* Bush

Bush singles chronology
| "Comedown"
(1995)  | "Glycerine"
(1995)  | "Machinehead"
(1996)

|
|

Music video
"Glycerine" on YouTube

"Glycerine" is a song by English rock band Bush. It was released in November 1995 as the fourth single from their debut album, Sixteen Stone.

## Composition

[edit]

Gavin Rossdale wrote the song in 1993, about his then-girlfriend, Suze DeMarchi as stated in an interview with Howard Stern.[6] He wrote it in his London flat, feeling that there was an ancient, mystical element to the song as it was coming together. He told Entertainment Weekly in 2017 that "I was like a conduit. Something about it was bigger than anything we were doing."[7] Rossdale found that the song was more sophisticated than his previous work, and he needed to check with his bandmates to make sure he hadn't inadvertently played an existing song.[8][9][10]

The song is in the key of F major. The chord progression is F maj – C maj – D min – B♭ maj throughout the verse with various ornamental embellishments diatonic to the key of F major, including the bridge which cycles between the I (F major), V (C major), IV (B♭ major), and V chord in F Major. The refrain towards the end hangs on the vi (D minor) – IV (B♭ major) before returning to the recurring progression for the last verse.

The single includes a previously unreleased B-side, "Solomon's Bones", which was recorded on 7 November 1995 at River Studios, London and engineered by Joel Monger.[11]

## Music video

[edit]

The music video for "Glycerine" was shot in a very short time period when the band was on tour in the United States. The video was shot so quickly because the band's visas had expired. Though simple and unadorned, the video was highly acclaimed and won several awards, including the MTV Video Music Award - Viewer's Choice as well nominated for Best Alternative Video at the 1996 MTV Video Music Awards. The music video was directed by Kevin Kerslake and shot in Atlanta, Georgia on 2 October 1995. Portions were also shot in Worcester, Massachusetts on 19 August 1995.[12]

## Track listing

[edit]

1. "Glycerine"
2. "Solomon's Bones"
3. "Alien" [LP Version]

## Commercial performance

[edit]

Following the album's third single, "Comedown", "Glycerine" shared equal success. Like "Comedown", it reached number one on the Modern Rock Tracks chart for two weeks, in December 1995. It is also the band's biggest pop hit to date, peaking at number 28 on the Billboard Hot 100 on 24 February 1996.[13] The song won the Viewer's Choice Award at the 1996 MTV Music Video Awards. The song was voted number 5 on the Australian annual music poll Triple J Hottest 100 in 1996.

## Charts

[edit]

### Weekly charts

[edit]

| Chart (1995–96)  | Peak
Position

|

Australia (ARIA)[14] | 5
Benelux Airplay (Music & Media)[15] | 5
Canada Top Singles (RPM)[16] | 38
Canada Rock/Alternative (RPM)[17] | 3
European Alternative Rock (Music & Media)[18] | 18
Iceland (Íslenski Listinn Topp 40)[19] | 21
Netherlands (Single Top 100)[20] | 41
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40 Tipparade)[21] | 17
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[22] | 31
Peru (UNIMPRO)[23] | 41
Quebec (ADISQ)[24] | 2
US Billboard Hot 100[25] | 28
US Alternative Airplay (Billboard)[26] | 1
US Mainstream Rock (Billboard)[27] | 4
US Pop Airplay (Billboard)[28] | 28

### Year-end charts

[edit]

| Chart (1996)  | Position

|

Australia (ARIA)[29] | 56
US Hot 100 Singles Airplay (Billboard)[30] | 59
US Mainstream Rock Tracks (Billboard)[31] | 15
US Modern Rock Tracks (Billboard)[32] | 16

## Certifications

[edit]

Region  | Certification | Certified units/sales

|
|

Australia (ARIA)[33] | Gold  | 35,000^

^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

## Live version

[edit]

"Glycerine (Live)"

Single by Bush featuring Gwen Stefani
Released| 13 December 2012 (2012-12-13)
Recorded| 8 December 2012
Genre| Post-grunge[34]
Length| 4:38
Label| Zuma Rock
Songwriter(s)| Gavin Rossdale
Bush singles chronology
| "Baby Come Home"
(2012)  | "Glycerine (Live)"
(2012)  | "The Only Way Out"
(2014)

|
|

Gwen Stefani singles chronology
| "Early Winter"
(2008)  | "Glycerine"
(2012)  | "Baby Don't Lie"
(2014)

|
|

Audio video
"Glycerine" on YouTube

Bush performed a new version of "Glycerine" at KROQ Almost Acoustic Christmas on 8 December 2012, which featured a surprise appearance from American singer and songwriter, and Gavin Rossdale's then-wife Gwen Stefani.[35] The single was never released on an album, as both Stefani and Bush were not working on any new material.

"Glycerine" live single sales and broadcast chart positions  Chart (2013)  | Peak position

|

US Alternative Digital Singles (Billboard)[36] | 16
US Hot Rock & Alternative Songs (Billboard)[37] | 38
US Rock Digital Songs (Billboard)[38] | 22

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "Billboard". 18 November 1995.
2. ^ Flans, Robyn (26 January 2024). "Classic Tracks: Bush's "Glycerine"". Retrieved 26 March 2024.
3. ^ The Ultimate Nineties Alt-Rock Playlist
The Atlantic. Retrieved 2016-02-22
4. ^ Piccoli, Sean (22 March 1997). "Bush: America's Band". Sun Sentiel. Sun Senitel. Retrieved 23 January 2020.[permanent dead link‍]
5. ^ "Bush, "Glycerine" SPIN". www.spin.com.
6. ^ "Bush's Gavin Rossdale "Glycerine" on the Howard Stern Show (1995)". YouTube. 27 July 2019.
7. ^ "Glycerine by Bush". Songfacts. Retrieved 5 January 2019.
8. ^ Moayeri, Lily (10 November 2023). "Bush's Gavin Rossdale Revisits 1995's Hit Single "Glycerine"". Spin. Retrieved 23 September 2024.
9. ^ Flans, Robyn (26 January 2024). "Classic Tracks: Bush's "Glycerine"". Mixonline. Retrieved 24 September 2024.
10. ^ Yates, Rod (14 July 2020). "Bush: The Story Behind The Songs". jaxsta.com. Retrieved 24 September 2024.
11. ^ "Bush – Glycerine". Discogs. 1996.
12. ^ "Music Video History at OneSecondBush.com - A Comprehensive Fan Site for the Band Bush". Archived from the original on 20 February 2012. Retrieved 2012-03-04.
13. ^ "Bush – Chart history – Billboard". Billboard. Retrieved 18 December 2016.
14. ^ "Bush – Glycerine". ARIA Top 50 Singles.
15. ^ "Major Market Airplay" (PDF). Music & Media. 10 August 1996. p. 25. Retrieved 4 August 2022.
16. ^ "Top RPM Singles: Issue 9194." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 9 April 2021.
17. ^ "Top RPM Rock/Alternative Tracks: Issue 2890." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 10 April 2021.
18. ^ "Alternative Rock Top 25" (PDF). Music & Media. 10 August 1996. p. 25. Retrieved 4 August 2022.
19. ^ "Íslenski Listinn Topp 40 (02.03.1996)". Dagblaðið Vísir (in Icelandic). 2 March 1996. p. 16. Retrieved 1 October 2019.
20. ^ "Bush – Glycerine" (in Dutch). Single Top 100.
21. ^ "Tipparade- Bush" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved 19 March 2023.
22. ^ "Bush – Glycerine". Top 40 Singles.
23. ^ "PERU – Radio Miraflores Super Hit de 1996" (in Polish). Charts Around the World. 31 December 1996. Retrieved 27 December 2022.
24. ^ "Palmarès de la chanson anglophone et allophone au Québec" (in French). BAnQ. Retrieved 17 March 2019.
25. ^ "Bush Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved 9 April 2015.
26. ^ "Bush Chart History (Alternative Airplay)". Billboard. Retrieved 9 April 2015.
27. ^ "Bush Chart History (Mainstream Rock)". Billboard. Retrieved 3 April 2015.
28. ^ "Bush Chart History (Pop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved 3 April 2015.
29. ^ "Australian Top 100 Singles 1996". The ARIA Report. Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved 12 April 2022 - via Imgur.
30. ^ "The Year In Music 1996 – Hot 100 Singles Airplay". Billboard. Vol. 108, no. 52\. 28 December 1996. p. YE-36. ISSN 0006-2510. Retrieved 12 April 2022.
31. ^ "The Year In Music 1996 – Hot Mainstream Rock Tracks". Billboard. Vol. 108, no. 52\. 28 December 1996. p. YE-76. ISSN 0006-2510. Retrieved 12 April 2022.
32. ^ "The Year In Music 1996 – Hot Modern Rock Tracks". Billboard. Vol. 108, no. 52\. 28 December 1996. p. YE-78. ISSN 0006-2510. Retrieved 12 April 2022.
33. ^ "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 1996 Singles" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved 25 November 2021.
34. ^ Unterberger, Andrew. "Top Ten Mediocre Post-Grunge / Alternative Bands". Stylus Magazine. Archived from the original on 15 August 2015. Retrieved 30 July 2015.
35. ^ Nicole Powell (20 December 2012). "Gwen Stefani's 'Glycerine' Duet with Husband Gavin Rossdale Released on iTunes". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 23 September 2016.
36. ^ "Chart Search". Billboard Rock Digital Songs for Gwen Stefani. Retrieved 27 December 2015.
37. ^ "Bush Chart History (Hot Rock & Alternative Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved 26 December 2015.
38. ^ "Chart Search". Billboard Rock Digital Songs for Gwen Stefani. Retrieved 26 December 2015.

## External links

[edit]

* "Glycerine" Official music video on YouTube

* v
* t
* e

Bush

* Gavin Rossdale
* Chris Traynor
* Corey Britz
* Nik Hughes

* Nigel Pulsford
* Dave Parsons
* Robin Goodridge

Studio albums|

* Sixteen Stone
* Razorblade Suitcase
* The Science of Things
* Golden State
* The Sea of Memories
* Man on the Run
* Black and White Rainbows
* The Kingdom
* The Art of Survival

Live albums|

* Zen X Four

Compilation albums|

* Deconstructed
* The Best of '94–'99
* Loaded: The Greatest Hits 1994–2023

EPs|

* Loads of Remixes

Home videos|

* Live!

Singles|

* "Everything Zen"
* "Little Things"
* "Comedown"
* "Glycerine"
* "Machinehead"
* "Swallowed"
* "Greedy Fly"
* "Bonedriven"
* "Cold Contagious"
* "Mouth (The Stingray Mix)"
* "The Chemicals Between Us"
* "Warm Machine"
* "Letting the Cables Sleep"
* "The People That We Love"
* "Headful of Ghosts"
* "Inflatable"
* "Afterlife"
* "The Sound of Winter"
* "Baby Come Home"
* "The Only Way Out"
* "Mad Love"
* "The Beat of Your Heart"
* "This Is War"
* "Bullet Holes"
* "Flowers on a Grave"
* "More Than Machines"
* "Heavy Is the Ocean"
* "All Things Must Change"
* "Nowhere To Go But Everywhere"

Related articles|

* Discography
* The Partisans
* Transvision Vamp
* Helmet
* Institute
* Spear of Destiny
* Stone Gods

* v
* t
* e

Gwen Stefani

* Awards
* Discography
* Songs
* Tribute albums

Studio albums|

* Love. Angel. Music. Baby.
* The Sweet Escape
* This Is What the Truth Feels Like
* You Make It Feel Like Christmas
* Bouquet

Video albums|

* Harajuku Lovers Live

Singles|

* "What You Waiting For?"
* "Rich Girl"
* "Hollaback Girl"
* "Cool"
* "Luxurious"
* "Crash"
* "Wind It Up"
* "The Sweet Escape"
* "4 in the Morning"
* "Now That You Got It"
* "Early Winter"
* "Baby Don't Lie"
* "Spark the Fire"
* "Used to Love You"
* "Make Me Like You"
* "Misery"
* "You Make It Feel Like Christmas"
* "Santa Baby"
* "Secret Santa"
* "Nobody but You"
* "Here This Christmas"
* "Let Me Reintroduce Myself"
* "Slow Clap"
* "True Babe"
* "Purple Irises"
* "Somebody Else's"
* "Swallow My Tears"

Featured singles|

* "South Side"
* "Let Me Blow Ya Mind"
* "What's Going On"
* "Can I Have It Like That"
* "Glycerine"
* "Kings Never Die"
* "Hands"
* "Happy Anywhere"
* "Light My Fire"

Promotional singles|

* "The Real Thing"
* "Yummy"
* "Shine"
* "Go Ahead and Break My Heart"
* "Sleigh Ride"
* "Love Is Alive"

Other songs|

* "Almost Blue"
* "Serious"
* "Long Way to Go"
* "Start a War"
* "Leather and Lace"
* "Asking 4 It"
* "Rare"
* "Can't Stop the Feeling!"
* "What U Workin' With?"
* "My Gift Is You"
* "Under the Christmas Lights"
* "White Christmas"
* "Christmas Eve"
* "Physical (Remix)"
* "Boa"

Concerts and tours|

* Harajuku Lovers Tour
* The Sweet Escape Tour
* MasterCard Priceless Surprises Presents Gwen Stefani
* This Is What the Truth Feels Like Tour
* Just a Girl

Television|

* Kuu Kuu Harajuku
* Gwen Stefani's You Make It Feel Like Christmas

Related articles|

* No Doubt
* No Doubt discography
* Harajuku Girls
* L.A.M.B.
* Eric Stefani
* Gavin Rossdale
* Blake Shelton
* Tony Kanal

* Category

* v
* t
* e

MTV Video Music Award – Viewer's Choice

1980s|

* Michael Jackson – "Thriller" (1984)
* USA for Africa – "We Are the World" (1985)
* A-ha – "Take On Me" (1986)
* U2 – "With or Without You" (1987)
* INXS – "Need You Tonight/Mediate" (1988)
* Madonna – "Like a Prayer" (1989)

1990s|

* Aerosmith – "Janie's Got a Gun" (1990)
* Queensrÿche – "Silent Lucidity" (1991)
* Red Hot Chili Peppers – "Under the Bridge" (1992)
* Aerosmith – "Livin' on the Edge" (1993)
* Aerosmith – "Cryin'" (1994)
* TLC – "Waterfalls" (1995)
* Bush – "Glycerine" (1996)
* The Prodigy – "Breathe" (1997)
* Puff Daddy and the Family (featuring The Lox, Lil' Kim, The Notorious B.I.G., and Fuzzbubble) – "It's All about the Benjamins" (1998)
* Backstreet Boys – "I Want It That Way" (1999)

2000s|

* NSYNC – "Bye Bye Bye" (2000)
* NSYNC – "Pop" (2001)
* Michelle Branch – "Everywhere" (2002)
* Good Charlotte – "Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous" (2003)
* Linkin Park – "Breaking the Habit" (2004)
* Green Day – "American Idiot" (2005)
* Fall Out Boy – "Dance, Dance" (2006)

Authority control databases |

* MusicBrainz work
* MusicBrainz release group

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