"Comedown" is a song by British rock band Bush, released on 26 September 1995 as the third single from their debut album, Sixteen Stone.

"Comedown"
Single by Bush
from the album Sixteen Stone
B-side"Comedown" (acoustic)
Released26 September 1995
Recorded1994
Genre
Length
  • 4:37 (music video)
  • 5:26 (album version)
Label
Songwriter(s)Gavin Rossdale
Producer(s)
Bush singles chronology
"Little Things"
(1995)
"Comedown"
(1995)
"Glycerine"
(1995)

Composition

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Gavin Rossdale wrote the song about an ex-girlfriend, stating, "It was written in the context of half regret, half celebration and just being objective about the situation of coming down from that high and dealing with those intense emotions." In 2017 he added:

I liked the idea of euphoria. But having that euphoria has a comedown. It's inside your brain and just says, 'I'm having the greatest time, and I don't want to stop.' But most of the time, people lose that zone and it changes and you're like, 'No, I didn't want this.' And that's such a common feeling. I watched it being sung every night - it's one of the songs where I can step back and let the people sing. It's the best feeling in the world as a songwriter.[4]

Drummer Robin Goodridge told music publication Modern Drummer that the bass line and drum grooves in "Comedown" were borrowed from a song by English band Massive Attack.[5]

Of the 12 songs featured on Sixteen Stone, "Comedown" was the first to be written, and remains unchanged lyrically from its original form.[6]

Music video

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The music video was directed by Jake Scott in Los Angeles. Scott used a special "fish eye" lens to film some of the scenes, to give a distorted view as if looking through a peep hole.[7]

Commercial performance

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"Comedown" remains one of the band's most commercially successful songs, reaching number one on the Billboard Alternative Songs chart and number two on the Billboard Mainstream Rock Tracks chart in late 1995. The song also gave Bush their first American top 40 hit, reaching number 30 on the Billboard Hot 100 on 4 November 1995.

Track listing

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  • AUS CD single 6544-95728-2 (cardsleeve version)
    1. "Comedown"
    2. "Comedown [acoustic]"
  • AUS CD single IND95728 (jewel case version)
    1. "Comedown"
    2. "Testosterone [LP version]"
    3. "Revolution Blues [live]"

Appearances in the media

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Chart positions

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Chart (1995–96) Peak
Position
Australia (ARIA)[9] 45
Canada Rock/Alternative (RPM)[10] 1
US Billboard Hot 100[11] 30
US Alternative Airplay (Billboard)[12] 1
US Mainstream Rock (Billboard)[13] 2

Cover versions

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  • In 2010, Mono Inc released an EP with Comedown on it. Comedown was also featured on their Symphonies Of Pain compilation album in 2017.
  • In 2012 Robert Cole Band released a cover on the album Steel and Glass.[14]
  • In 2014 Mayday Parade released a cover for the compilation Punk Goes 90's 2. It was released as a single.[15]

References

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  1. ^ Crane, Matt (18 March 2014). "Mayday Parade release Bush cover, "Comedown"". Alternative Press. Retrieved 2 June 2021.
  2. ^ Williott, Carl (5 December 2014). "Sixteen Stone Turns 20". Stereogum.
  3. ^ Piccoli, Sean (22 March 1997). "Bush: America's Band". Sun Sentiel. Sun Senitel. Retrieved 23 January 2020.
  4. ^ "Comedown by Bush". Songfacts. Retrieved 5 January 2019.
  5. ^ "There's no point in being a clever bastard, because all you'll end up doing is sounding like someone is falling into the drum kit while everyone else is playing the song". Modern Drummer. 1996.
  6. ^ Nine, Jennifer (1999). Bush: Twenty-seventh Letter : the Official History. Virgin. ISBN 9780753501894. Retrieved 26 July 2020.
  7. ^ "Music Video History at OneSecondBush.com - A Comprehensive Fan Site for the Band Bush". Archived from the original on 20 February 2012. Retrieved 4 March 2012.
  8. ^ "CBC's Closing Montage and Credits of the 2006 NHL Playoffs". YouTube. Retrieved 5 February 2023.
  9. ^ "Bush – Comedown". ARIA Top 50 Singles. Retrieved 10 April 2021.
  10. ^ "Top RPM Rock/Alternative Tracks: Issue 2759." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 10 April 2021.
  11. ^ "Bush Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved 11 March 2017.
  12. ^ "Bush Chart History (Alternative Airplay)". Billboard. Retrieved 11 March 2017.
  13. ^ "Bush Chart History (Mainstream Rock)". Billboard. Retrieved 11 March 2017.
  14. ^ "steel and glass"
  15. ^ "Comedown (2014) | Mayday Parade". 7digital. Retrieved 30 August 2015.
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