Music Seen: Music Supervisor Hot Picks * Soundgarden’s “Gun”

Artist: Soundgarden

Song: “Gun”

Soundgarden circa 1990

Why I Luv It: In recognition of the quintessential cultural taste-maker Perry Farrell and his annual music and arts festival Lollapalooza, the 10th installment of this “Music Seen” blog will profile a song from one of the bands the helped launch this popular festival in the early 90’s to its current elevated heights of success today.

Over the years, Lollapalooza concertgoers have seen many groundbreaking artists on its many stages. Everyone from Metallica to Nine Inch Nails, Arcade Fire to Cut Copy, Tool to Bat for Lashes, and Lady Gaga to Ministry and so many more have played it… The long list of bands seems to go on and on, and it’s important to recognize that Perry Farrell is responsible for getting all of these influential bands in one place at one time every year on United States soil. Bravo, Mr. Farrell. Bravo!!!

In case you haven’t heard, Soundgarden is back together (in its original line-up), and from what my friends are telling me, they absolutely destroyed it at Lollapalooza this past weekend in Chicago.  So in celebration of the reunion of one of the most bad-ass and influential grunge rock bands in the history of rock n roll, this week we’re uncovering a hidden nugget from the early days of Soundgarden before grunge was recognized as a scene, and it is such an easy feature song placement opportunity waiting to happen that it sickens me!!  It sickens me even more that I myself haven’t placed it!

Here’s my attempt at alerting the masses that the timeless song “Gun” by Soundgarden needs to be placed.  Soon.

“Gun” by Soundgarden can be found on the band’s ’89 A&M full-length record, “Loader Than Love,” which set up the release of band’s breakthrough album “Badmotorfinger” in 1991. This, along with Nirvana’s Nevermind and Alice in Chains Dirt, collectively launched the rock sub-genre known as grunge.  They had help from Mother Love Bone and Mudhoney too by the way!!

Scene I Can See it In: “Gun” was no radio hit, and frankly I’ve never heard it used in a film or TV show up to this point. That’s not to say it hasn’t happened.  Things slip by me every once in awhile, but as far as I know, “Gun” has yet to be placed. It’s a shame too because this baby has potential to be a featured cue in way too many scenes to list here.  I will outline my favorite one.

A&M Records released Soundgarden's "Louder Than Love" in 1989.

Soundgarden’s “Gun” would fit perfectly as a background in a scene from a teen comedy (like Superbad or Not Another Teen Movie) where a young father of a teenage daughter is about to meet a teen boy she wants to date for the first time.  Imagine the intro to this powerful sludgy down-tempo battering ram of song as it opens with one of the thickest nastiest guitar / bass riffs ever supporting imagery of Dad in a beautiful modern kitchen while he’s fantasizing over the torture and misery he will bring to this adolescent boy if he were ever to harm to his precious daughter.

Chris Cornell’s lyrics are fitting as well when they come in singing “I got an idea! Of something we can do with a gunnnnnnnnn!!!!!” The lyrics of the song go on and get funnier and funnier if you interpret them from the perspective of dropping the song in to this scene. Read through them at the end of this article to see for yourself.  This song usage could create a really hilarious juxtaposition if done properly.

As the scene opens, the song initially paints the father as a closet maniac killer, but then when the teen boy shows up, he actually turns out to be a super nice and respectful kid that the father instantly realizes will most definitely do nothing harmful to his girl.  When that realization comes to his mind, perhaps the iconic “record scratch” sound effect cuts the song out at hard dramatic “ah ha” moment type of stop followed by a close-up on Dad’s slightly embarrassed yet surprisingly relieved face.  (I’m a single Dad of a four-year old daughter by the way, so “Gun” will be my soundtrack when this day comes in to my reality.  Thankfully, it should be at least a decade til that happens.  A decade, right?  Please tell me I’m right!!!!!!  I can’t take it any sooner!)

“Gun” is one of my favorite songs by one of my favorite bands that I never got a chance to place, but I’m not dead yet, so keep your ears and eyes open!  There are few bands that under similar circumstances that I’d like to see reunite.  Soundgarden is an important band to the state of rock n roll globally, and if you don’t believe me, ask anyone in Pearl Jam because they’re taking a break to give drummer Matt Cameron time to work with this group.

Soundgarden is Chris Cornell (lead vocals / guitar), Kim Thayil (lead guitar), Ben Shepherd (Bass), and Matt Cameron (drums).  Let’s hope they tour in 2010-11, and maybe we’ll even get blessed with some new material.  My fingers are crossed!  Are yours?  Talk to me about it in the comments section.

Lyrics:
I got an idea of something we can do with a gun
Sink load and fire till the empire
Reaps what they’ve sown
Shoot shoot shoot till their minds are open
Shoot shoot shoot till their eyes are closed
Push push push till we get some motion
Push push push till the bombs explode
I got an idea
We can do it
All on our own
Nothing to worry
Regret must weigh a ton
Kick kick kick till the laws are broken
Kick kick kick till the boots are worn
Hit hit hit till the truth is spoken
Hit hit hit till the truth is born

I got an idea of something
We can do with a gun

Update! August 23,2010

This just in, the spankin’ new Soundgarden single Black Rain is online. Music Seen sez: THIS SONG F’ING ROCKS!!! Listen to it right here.

Dave Hnatiuk of Autonatic Entertainment is a Music Supervisor / Sound Designer for MTV On-Air Promotions, NYC. Visit him at Autonatic Entertainment, Music Supervision Central or The Song Hunters. To be considered for a “Music Seen,” submit your track or link to Hnatiuk at submissions@sonicscoop.com.

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