"Owata" is the second single from The Smashing Pumpkins' aborted music project, Teargarden by Kaleidyscope, and tenth song released from the project.[1]

"Owata"
Single by The Smashing Pumpkins
from the album Teargarden by Kaleidyscope
ReleasedMay 4, 2011
Recorded2011
GenreAlternative rock
Length3:39
LabelMartha's Music / Rocket Science
Songwriter(s)Billy Corgan
The Smashing Pumpkins singles chronology
"Freak"
(2010)
"Owata"
(2011)
"The Celestials"
(2012)

History

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The song has a fairly long history prior to its official release. The song was performed, for the first time, on The Chris Isaak Hour on April 4, 2009, when Jimmy Chamberlin was still in the band.[2] Subsequently, it was performed throughout 2009 with Billy Corgan's Sky Saxon-inspired supergroup, Spirits in the Sky, which featured future Smashing Pumpkins drummer Mike Byrne. As well, the song was performed with the Smashing Pumpkins throughout 2010, prior to its official release on Teargarden by Kaleidyscope.[3] These early live versions are considerably different musically than the final studio version, with the studio version featuring a different drum arrangement, and a noticeably larger amount of synthesizers.[4]

Music video

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A 12-minute short film featuring an in-depth look at two female underground wrestlers was released in July, 2011.[5] The video was directed by Robby Starbuck[6] and stars Shelly Martinez, Raven and Alissa Flash, which was subsequently edited and released in a traditional music video format.[7] It was the first-ever video to be filmed with Red Digital Cinema Camera Company technology.[8]

Critical reception

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One Thirty BPM rated "Owata" 5/10, calling it "a sleekly produced pop-rocker characterized by acoustic guitar melodies and upbeat synths straight out of the 80s" and "a pleasant song and an admirable effort, but it’s a little too glossy and not quite catchy enough to achieve the anthemic heights for which it aims."[9]

References

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  1. ^ "Smashing Pumpkins Release Music Video for "Owata"". Guitar World. 2011-06-29. Retrieved 2011-11-22.
  2. ^ "Smashing Pumpkins - Owata [Chris Isaak Hour, 2009-04-02]". Retrieved November 2, 2019 – via www.youtube.com.
  3. ^ "The Smashing Pumpkins - Owata (Live at Terminal 5 NYC ~ 07-26-2010)". Retrieved November 2, 2019 – via www.youtube.com.
  4. ^ "Smashing Pumpkins - Owata + Lyrics". Retrieved November 2, 2019 – via www.youtube.com.
  5. ^ "Smashing Pumpkins post female wrestling short film online - video | News". Nme.Com. 2011-06-30. Retrieved 2011-11-22.
  6. ^ "Video: Smashing Pumpkins – "Owata" « Consequence of Sound". consequence.net. 2011-06-29. Retrieved 2011-11-22.
  7. ^ "Smashing Pumpkins - Owata (music video version)". Retrieved November 2, 2019 – via www.youtube.com.
  8. ^ "Press Release for Smashing Pumpkins 'Owata' Music Video featuring Cheerleader Melissa & Shelly Martinez". Diva Dirt. 2011-05-10. Retrieved 2011-11-22.
  9. ^ "Track Review: The Smashing Pumpkins – "Owata"". One Thirty BPM. 2011-05-20. Retrieved 2011-11-22.