Mother Mother (song)
Encyclopedia
"Mother Mother" is a song by Tracy Bonham
from her debut album The Burdens of Being Upright
. It reached the top of Billboard magazine's Modern Rock Tracks
chart (#18 Mainstream Rock Tracks
) in mid-1996.
"I'm freezing, I'm starving, I'm bleeding to death, everything's fine!
I miss you, I love you..."
and VH-1:
One video, directed by Jake Scott
, was shot for MTV featuring an older woman (Bonham's real life mother) turning on the television on which Tracy's image is singing as the woman proceeds to clean the room. The backing band is seen as well playing in an adjoining dining room. The video had a disjointed quality about it and was perfect for the tone of MTV at the time, which was still playing alternative rock at the time.
A second video was shot for more family-friendly VH-1 in which the entire band including Bonham are in a large clothes closet as she sings into a mirror and then quick shots of her are shown playfully trying on different kinds of women's clothes. This version visually alters the message and almost defuses the tone of the song.
on their album The Secret Life Of...
.
Tracy Bonham
Tracy Bonham is an American alternative rock musician best known for her 1996 single "Mother Mother".Raised in Eugene, Oregon, Bonham is a classically-trained violinist and pianist...
from her debut album The Burdens of Being Upright
The Burdens of Being Upright
The Burdens of Being Upright is the first album by American singer/songwriter Tracy Bonham. It was released on March 19, 1996 by Island Records, with distribution by Polygram and it was her major label debut...
. It reached the top of Billboard magazine's Modern Rock Tracks
Modern Rock Tracks
Alternative Songs is a music chart in the United States that has appeared in Billboard magazine since September 10, 1988. It lists the 40 most-played songs on modern rock radio stations, most of which are alternative rock songs...
chart (#18 Mainstream Rock Tracks
Mainstream Rock Tracks
Hot Mainstream Rock Tracks is a ranking in Billboard magazine of the most-played songs on mainstream rock radio stations, a category that includes stations that play primarily rock music. Modern rock tracks are counted in the Alternative Songs chart.This chart began with the March 21, 1981, issue...
) in mid-1996.
Lyrics
The song's lyrics resemble a telephone call by a young woman to her mother. The verses detail her experiences with several mundane aspects of her daily life but then the chorus provides an uglier, darker contrast with Bonham screaming the lyrics, leading up to the climactic lines"I'm freezing, I'm starving, I'm bleeding to death, everything's fine!
I miss you, I love you..."
The music videos
Two music videos were shot for the song and were used on both MTVMTV
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....
and VH-1:
One video, directed by Jake Scott
Jake Scott (director)
Jake Scott is a British film director who works primarily in the field of music videos. Most of his works were produced under the Ridley Scott Associates banner or RSA's music video subdivision Black Dog Films...
, was shot for MTV featuring an older woman (Bonham's real life mother) turning on the television on which Tracy's image is singing as the woman proceeds to clean the room. The backing band is seen as well playing in an adjoining dining room. The video had a disjointed quality about it and was perfect for the tone of MTV at the time, which was still playing alternative rock at the time.
A second video was shot for more family-friendly VH-1 in which the entire band including Bonham are in a large clothes closet as she sings into a mirror and then quick shots of her are shown playfully trying on different kinds of women's clothes. This version visually alters the message and almost defuses the tone of the song.
Notable Covers
In 2005 the song was covered by The VeronicasThe Veronicas
The Veronicas are an Australian electrorock, pop-punk and rock band. Twin sisters Jessica and Lisa Origliasso formed the band in 1999 in Brisbane. They have their own line of clothing which was released in 2007....
on their album The Secret Life Of...
The Secret Life Of... (album)
The Secret Life of... is the debut studio album by Australian pop rock band The Veronicas, released on 17 October 2005 on Sire Records. It reached #2 in Australia and is certified 4x platinum. The album also reached #5 in New Zealand and #3 in the Billboard Top Heatseekers. The Secret Life of......
.
Charts
| Chart (1996) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Australian Singles Chart | 5 |
| Dutch Singles Chart | 32 |
| New Zealand Singles Chart | 13 |
| Norwegian Singles Chart | 6 |
| U.S. Billboard Modern Rock Tracks Modern Rock Tracks Alternative Songs is a music chart in the United States that has appeared in Billboard magazine since September 10, 1988. It lists the 40 most-played songs on modern rock radio stations, most of which are alternative rock songs... |
1 |
| U.S. Billboard Mainstream Rock Tracks Mainstream Rock Tracks Hot Mainstream Rock Tracks is a ranking in Billboard magazine of the most-played songs on mainstream rock radio stations, a category that includes stations that play primarily rock music. Modern rock tracks are counted in the Alternative Songs chart.This chart began with the March 21, 1981, issue... |
18 |