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Today
Smashing Pumpkins
Siamese Dream
Siamese Dream
RaitingSR
Supervision Recommended
Information
Released 1993
Genre Alternative
Language English
Source Rock Band 2
also in Unplugged
also on iPhone OS
Available September 14, 2008
Playable in
Rock Band 2
Rock Band 3
Rock Band Blitz
Rock Band iPhone
Difficulty
Band 1FcircleUFCirlceUFCirlceUFCirlceUFCirlce
Basic Pro
Guitar 0UFCirlceUFCirlceUFCirlceUFCirlceUFCirlce 0UFCirlceUFCirlceUFCirlceUFCirlceUFCirlce
Bass 3FcircleFcircleFcircleUFCirlceUFCirlce 3FcircleFcircleFcircleUFCirlceUFCirlce
Drums 3FcircleFcircleFcircleUFCirlceUFCirlce 3FcircleFcircleFcircleUFCirlceUFCirlce
Keys NoNo Part NoNo Part
Vocals 1FcircleUFCirlceUFCirlceUFCirlceUFCirlce 1FcircleUFCirlceUFCirlceUFCirlceUFCirlce
Difficulty (on iPhone OS)
Band 1FcircleUFCirlceUFCirlceUFCirlceUFCirlce
Guitar 0UFCirlceUFCirlceUFCirlceUFCirlceUFCirlce
Bass 3FcircleFcircleFcircleUFCirlceUFCirlce
Drums 3FcircleFcircleFcircleUFCirlceUFCirlce
Vocals 1FcircleUFCirlceUFCirlceUFCirlceUFCirlce
Details
Male singer
Guitar Solo
3-part Harmonies



"Today" is a song by The Smashing Pumpkins which reflects the mood of lead singer Billy Corgan, who was very depressed when he wrote it. Corgan was in therapy, suffering from writer's block, and struggling with expectations that The Smashing Pumpkins would be the next Nirvana.

Corgan: "I was really suicidal. I just thought it was funny to write a song that said today is the greatest day of your life because it can't get any worse."

Corgan played almost all the instruments on this, partly because he was a control freak and partly because drummer Jimmy Chamberlain was unreliable due to drug problems.

The record company put a lot of pressure on the band to complete this album, which put Corgan in a tough spot because he was having trouble writing songs. This came to him pretty quickly and his demo appeased the record company because they thought it would be a hit.

Corgan never thought much of this song. He thought of it as a light pop song, even though many listeners thought it was quite meaningful.

This was played a lot on radio stations and MTV. It helped draw lots of new fans to The Smashing Pumpkins.

The production cost for the video was $150,000. In the video, Billy Corgan is dressed up as an Ice Cream truck driver. On his uniform, his name is spelled "Billie." (Thanks, Alex - My city by the lake, MN)

Corgan says he remembers a time when he was younger and the local ice cream man decided that today would be the day that he quit, so he drove round the neighborhood giving free ice cream to all the kids. At the start of the video this is echoed when Billy's character gives smiling children free treats, then drives off on his wild ride. (Thanks, Matthew - Santa Barbara, CA)

The album was produced by Butch Vig, who worked with Nirvana and was one of the first to use Pro Tools software to record and mix directly into a computer. He is also the drummer for Garbage.

This was the first single released off the album in the US. Corgan wanted "Cherub Rock" released instead, but the record label insisted on this. They did release "Cherub Rock" first in the UK.

The Smashing Pumpkins performed this on Saturday Night Live on October 30, 1993. (Thanks, John - Colorado Springs, CO)

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