Cannonball (The Breeders song)
Encyclopedia
"Cannonball" is a song by The Breeders
from their 1993 album Last Splash
. It was released as a single on August 9, 1993 on 4AD
/Elektra Records
, reaching #44 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100, and #40 in the UK Singles Chart. It was released in France in November 1993, where it remained charted for 30 weeks, peaking at #8.
for "Cannonball" was directed by Kim Gordon
and Spike Jonze
. It features the band in a garage, and the Deal sisters in what seems to be a dressing room trashed with clothes, sitting in a chair together. There are also shots of a cannonball rolling down suburban streets, as well as a shot of Kim Deal
singing underwater.
magazine placed "Cannonball" at number 22 in its list of the 50 Greatest Indie Anthems Ever. It ranked #83 on VH1
's "100 Greatest Songs of the 90s". Cannonball was featured in a preview for South Park: Bigger, Longer and Uncut, in the film Moonlight and Valentino
and also appeared in the introduction of the motion picture A Walk to Remember (2002) as well as in the heist scene of the 2001 film Sugar & Spice
plus it was the original score to the infamous pants skit on MTV
's sketch comedy show The State
(due to music licensing issues, The State were forced to record a sound-alike song for the DVD of their complete series) and was also on the third season in episode 3 in "Misfits
".
In September 2010 Pitchfork Media
included the song at number 22 on their Top 200 Tracks of the 90s.
"Cro-Aloha" is a demo version of "No Aloha" from Last Splash.
The Breeders
The Breeders are an American alternative rock band formed in 1988 by Kim Deal of the Pixies and Tanya Donelly of Throwing Muses. The band has experienced a number of line-up changes; the current line-up consists of Kim Deal , her twin sister Kelley Deal , Jose Medeles , Mando Lopez Todd the Fox...
from their 1993 album Last Splash
Last Splash
Last Splash is the second album by indie rock band The Breeders, released August 1993. Originally formed as a side project for Pixies bassist Kim Deal, The Breeders quickly became her primary recording outlet....
. It was released as a single on August 9, 1993 on 4AD
4AD
4AD is a British independent record label that was started in 1979 by Ivo Watts-Russell and Peter Kent, funded by Beggars Banquet Records, and is still active today...
/Elektra Records
Elektra Records
Elektra Records is an American record label owned by Warner Music Group. In 2004, it was consolidated into WMG's Atlantic Records Group. After five years of dormancy, the label was revived by Atlantic in 2009....
, reaching #44 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100, and #40 in the UK Singles Chart. It was released in France in November 1993, where it remained charted for 30 weeks, peaking at #8.
Music video
The music videoMusic video
A music video or song video is a short film integrating a song and imagery, produced for promotional or artistic purposes. Modern music videos are primarily made and used as a marketing device intended to promote the sale of music recordings...
for "Cannonball" was directed by Kim Gordon
Kim Gordon
Kim Althea Gordon is an American musician, vocalist, artist, record producer, video director and actress. She has sung and played bass and guitar in the alternative rock band Sonic Youth, and in Free Kitten with Julia Cafritz...
and Spike Jonze
Spike Jonze
Spike Jonze is an American director, producer and actor, whose work includes music videos, commercials, film and television...
. It features the band in a garage, and the Deal sisters in what seems to be a dressing room trashed with clothes, sitting in a chair together. There are also shots of a cannonball rolling down suburban streets, as well as a shot of Kim Deal
Kim Deal
Kimberley Ann Deal is an American singer, songwriter and musician, best known as the bassist of the alternative rock band the Pixies and the lead vocalist and rhythm guitarist for The Breeders. Deal first joined the Pixies in January 1986 as the band's bassist, adopting the stage name Mrs...
singing underwater.
Critical reception
In May 2007, NMENME
The New Musical Express is a popular music publication in the United Kingdom, published weekly since March 1952. It started as a music newspaper, and gradually moved toward a magazine format during the 1980s, changing from newsprint in 1998. It was the first British paper to include a singles...
magazine placed "Cannonball" at number 22 in its list of the 50 Greatest Indie Anthems Ever. It ranked #83 on VH1
VH1
VH1 or Vh1 is an American cable television network based in New York City. Launched on January 1, 1985 in the old space of Turner Broadcasting's short-lived Cable Music Channel, the original purpose of the channel was to build on the success of MTV by playing music videos, but targeting a slightly...
's "100 Greatest Songs of the 90s". Cannonball was featured in a preview for South Park: Bigger, Longer and Uncut, in the film Moonlight and Valentino
Moonlight and Valentino
Moonlight and Valentino is a 1995 American dramedy film directed by David Anspaugh. The screenplay by Ellen Simon is based on her semi-autobiographical play of the same title staged at Duke University six years earlier.-Plot:...
and also appeared in the introduction of the motion picture A Walk to Remember (2002) as well as in the heist scene of the 2001 film Sugar & Spice
Sugar & Spice
Sugar & Spice is a 2001 American teen crime comedy film directed by Francine McDougall. It was filmed entirely in the state of Minnesota.-Plot:...
plus it was the original score to the infamous pants skit on MTV
MTV
MTV, formerly an initialism of Music Television, is an American network based in New York City that launched on August 1, 1981. The original purpose of the channel was to play music videos guided by on-air hosts known as VJs....
's sketch comedy show The State
The State (TV series)
The State is a half-hour sketch-comedy television show, originally broadcast on MTV between December 17, 1993 and July 1, 1995. The show combined bizarre characters and scenarios to present sketches that won the favor of its target teenaged audience...
(due to music licensing issues, The State were forced to record a sound-alike song for the DVD of their complete series) and was also on the third season in episode 3 in "Misfits
Misfits (TV series)
Misfits is a British science fiction comedy-drama television series about a group of young offenders forced to work in a community service programme, where they obtain supernatural powers after a strange electrical storm. The first series started broadcasting on 12 November 2009 on E4, and was...
".
In September 2010 Pitchfork Media
Pitchfork Media
Pitchfork Media, usually known simply as Pitchfork or P4k, is a Chicago-based daily Internet publication established in 1995 that is devoted to music criticism and commentary, music news, and artist interviews. Its focus is on underground and independent music, especially indie rock...
included the song at number 22 on their Top 200 Tracks of the 90s.
CD & 12" maxi
- "Cannonball" - 3:33
- "Cro-Aloha" - 2:15
- "Lord of the ThighsLord of the Thighs"Lord of the Thighs" is a song performed by American hard rock band Aerosmith. It was written by frontman Steven Tyler, and released on the band's 1974 album Get Your Wings. Drummer Joey Kramer has said it is his favorite song to perform live. Kramer and singer Steven Tyler have each said that he...
" - 3:58 (Steven TylerSteven TylerSteven Tyler is an American singer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist, best known as the frontman and lead singer of the Boston-based rock band Aerosmith, in which he also plays the harmonica, and occasional piano and percussion. He is known as the "Demon of Screamin'", due to his high screams...
) - "900" - 4:27 (Wiggs)
Cassette
- "Cannonball" - 3:33
- "Lord of the Thighs" - 3:58
- "Cro-Aloha" - 2:15
"Cro-Aloha" is a demo version of "No Aloha" from Last Splash.
Personnel
- Bass : Josephine WiggsJosephine WiggsJosephine Wiggs is an indie/alternative rock musician, noted for her work with the bands The Perfect Disaster, The Breeders, and Dusty Trails....
- Drums : Jim MacPhersonJim MacphersonJim Macpherson is a United States percussionist who has played with well-known rock groups, including Guided by Voices, The Breeders, The Moping Swans, The Raging Mantras, Killjoys and The Amps...
- Guitar : Kelley DealKelley DealKelley Deal is an American musician. The identical twin sister of Kim Deal, she is the lead guitarist of The Breeders, besides having a solo career.- Early days :...
and Kim DealKim DealKimberley Ann Deal is an American singer, songwriter and musician, best known as the bassist of the alternative rock band the Pixies and the lead vocalist and rhythm guitarist for The Breeders. Deal first joined the Pixies in January 1986 as the band's bassist, adopting the stage name Mrs... - Artwork by Paul McMenamin
- Design by Vaughan OliverVaughan OliverVaughan Oliver is a British graphic designer based in Epsom, South of London. Oliver is most noted for his work with graphic design studios 23 Envelope and v23...
- Photography by Jason Love
- Vocals by Josephine Wiggs, Kelley Deal and Kim Deal
- Recorded at Coast Recorders, San Francisco; Cro-Magnon, Dayton; Refhaze, Dayton
Certifications and sales
| Country | Certification | Date | Sales certified | Physical sales |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| France | Silver | December 21, 1994 | 125,000 | 210,000 |
Charts
| Chart (1993/94) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Dutch Mega Top 100 | 35 |
| French SNEP Singles Chart | 8 |
| UK Singles Chart | 40 |
| U.S. Billboard Hot 100 | 44 |
| U.S. Billboard Hot Mainstream Rock Tracks | 32 |
| U.S. Billboard Hot Modern Rock Tracks | 2 |
| U.S. Billboard Top 40 Mainstream | 39 |