Nothingness (song)
| "Nothingness" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Single by Living Colour | ||||
| from the album Stain | ||||
| Released | 1993 | |||
| Recorded | 1993 | |||
| Genre | Symphonic rock, avant-garde metal | |||
| Length | 3:30 | |||
| Label | Epic | |||
| Songwriter(s) | Will Calhoun | |||
| Producer(s) | Ron Saint Germain Living Colour | |||
| Living Colour singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
"Nothingness" is a song by Living Colour and the third single off their third studio album, Stain. The ballad reached #17 on the Billboard Modern Rock Tracks chart in 1993. It was later included on two greatest hits compilations, Pride (1995) and Everything Is Possible: The Very Best of Living Colour (2006). An acoustic version, allegedly intended for Dutch radio, was also included on 1994's Japan-exclusive Dread compilation.[1]
This particularly moody track serves as a break from the more upbeat songs on the album. It opens with crickets chirping and a synthesizer-like guitar progression. A prominent bass rhythm carries the song and provides flashy funk-style fills. Lyrically, "Nothingness" delves into bleak themes of isolation and loneliness. Corey Glover's powerful voice is demonstrated toward the song's end as he wails its final chorus. The double-track effect of Glover's vocals were accomplished by having Glover sing directly into an outdoor satellite dish (with the microphone placed in the feedhorn location of the dish), hence the satellite-themed artwork of the single. The song, written by the group's drummer Will Calhoun, was in tribute to his father's passing.
Music video
The "Nothingness" video relies on brief clips of musical performance and atmosphere with no obvious story concept. It hosts dark, ambient background visuals such as clouds flowing across a piercing sun. Shots are brief and frequently fade to black with the band members seen in heavily shadowed or silhouetted form. As depicted on the CD single cover, satellite dishes are also seen in various settings.
Charts
| Chart (1993) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Australia (ARIA)[2] | 85 |
| New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[3] | 28 |
| US Modern Rock Tracks (Billboard)[4] | 17 |
References
- ^ Living Colour WARR.org. Retrieved on 1-07-09.
- ^ Ryan, Gavin (2011). Australia's Music Charts 1988–2010 (PDF ed.). Mt Martha, Victoria, Australia: Moonlight Publishing. p. 168.
- ^ "Living Colour – Nothingness". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved August 21, 2022.
- ^ Living Colour – Chart History – Alternative Songs, Billboard.
