This is the second song by The Smashing Pumpkins to feature here in fairly quick succession after Today – a happy quirk of the alphabetical order of song titles. Tonight, Tonight is a grand juggernaut of dreamy, celestial alternative rock. The song and its video are epic and feel like an odyssey. The music video was inspired by Georges Méliès’ 1902 silent film A Trip to the Moon. It shows a couple taking a trip to the moon, while the band performs the track as if floating in space.
The grand scope and symphonic string and drum elements of Tonight, Tonight mark a strong shift from the prototypical alt-rock grunge sound heard on their earlier album Siamese Dream. As Frontman and guitarist Billy Corgan sings, “In the resolute urgency of now” it pulls you into the present moment, and everything comes together in the chorus. The strings were recorded with members of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra. Corgan said that recording with a 30-piece string section for the song “was probably one of the most exciting recording experiences I have ever had.”
The song moves into quieter moments with just guitar and Corgan’s raspy, nasal voice, before returning to the sweeping strings and pounding drums, with Corgan crying out “Believe!” He has said the song is addressed to himself – a message to the child who survived an abusive upbringing – urging him to keep believing in himself. It is that contrast between the huge cinematic sound and the reflective passages that gives the song its power and emotional reach.
Tonight, Tonight was released as the fourth single from the Smashing Pumpkins third studio album Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness in 1995. The recording of Tonight, Tonight first began while the Pumpkins were still on the Siamese Dream tour.
Tonight, Tonight was critically acclaimed and commercially well-received upon its release. It reached No. 36 on the US Billboard, No. 7 in the UK, No 21 in Australia and No. 1 in Iceland.
[Verse 1]
Time is never time at all
You can never ever leave
Without leaving a piece of youth
And our lives are forever changed
We will never be the same
The more you change, the less you feel
[Pre-Chorus]
Believe, believe in me
Believe, believe
[Chorus]
That life can change, that you’re not stuck in vain
We’re not the same, we’re different
Tonight
Tonight, tonight, so bright
Tonight
Tonight
[Verse 2]
And you know you’re never sure
But you’re sure you could be right
If you held yourself up to the light
And the embers never fade
In your city by the lake
The place where you were born
[Pre-Chorus]
Believe, believe in me
Believe, believe
[Chorus]
In the resolute urgency of now
And if you believe there’s not a chance
Tonight
Tonight, tonight, so bright
Tonight
Tonight
[Bridge]
We’ll crucify the insincere tonight (Tonight)
We’ll make things right, we’ll feel it all tonight (Tonight)
We’ll find a way to offer up the night (Tonight)
The indescribable moments of your life (Tonight)
The impossible is possible tonight (Tonight)
Believe in me as I believe in you
[Outro]
Tonight
Tonight, tonight
Tonight
Tonight
References:
1. The 100 Greatest Music Videos – Rolling Stone
2. Tonight, Tonight (The Smashing Pumpkins song) – Wikipedia
“The more I live, the more I learn. The more I learn, the more I realize, the less I know.”- Michel Legrand
Observation Blogger 
Another great one Matt! I thought the music video was beautiful magical.
Did you get this one on Guitar Hero as well?
Although, unlike many of their songs, it’s not so guitar-driven.
Yeah, the video is really cool and even reached No. 36 on Rolling Stone’s list of the best music videos of all time.
Yeah, this one was not on Guitar Hero. My dad actually showed me this one along with the music video. It is definitely a lovely shakeup from their usual sound and look.
Your dad must have been pretty hip then;.P You did well!
Lol yeah he had his moments for sure. I definitely got an appreciation for different types of music from him.
He’s one cool guy Ash
Thank you, he passed away back in ’21 so it is cool to still have the connection through music.
I’m sorry for your fairly recent loss. Yes, it is lovely you will always have that connection.
I appreciate it but that is life after all.
Good choice
Thanks Sheree
That is indeed an epic song and video; the sound is unlike other SP songs I know. Mind you, I missed a lot of the grunge years, becoming and then being a young parent.
Orchestration always adds so much, and I can imagination what a thrill it would be to record with one. Thanks for the introduction to this track, Matt!
I see how the grunge years would have easily slipped by – given your family situation.
I was at the other extreme as a young adult during this alt-rock grunge phase. My rebel friends and I threw ourselves headfirst into this crazy scene in Canberra, Australia even exploring obscure grunge music dives with new garage bands replicating their favourite alt-Seattle music. We all loved this music.
Yes, Tonight, Tonight was not your typical SP song with the strings and cinematic feel.
My early adult years were more around pub rock, then a dash of punk, but mostly post-punk and new wave/new romantics kind of stuff. Pretty much all in there with my friends of the time, too.
Interesting discussion, Steve. I missed the whole punk scene in my early adult years; in fact, it’s never really been high on my radar—unless you count some of The Cure and The Prodigy. In recent years, though, I’ve really been swept up in the discography of The Smiths and Morrissey solo.
In my first year outside the family nest, I was into a lot of Aussie pub rock when going out, along with classic rock staples from the likes of Eric Clapton and Dire Straits, to name just a couple. There was some early ’80s new wave in the mix too. Then we went on our alt-rock grunge junket—Soundgarden, Pearl Jam, The Smashing Pumpkins, and Live etc, etc. Fun times.
Interesting indeed, Matt. Ah yes, the good old days of growing up with the music that was around us through those periods. Fun times to be sure.