100% (Sonic Youth song)

"100%" is a song by American rock band Sonic Youth from their seventh studio album Dirty (1992). It was released as the lead single from the album in July 1992, by DGC. Written by Sonic Youth, the song discusses the murder of Joe Cole, a friend of the band who was killed in an armed robbery on December 19, 1991.

"100%"
Single by Sonic Youth
from the album Dirty
B-side
  • "Crème Brûlée"
  • "Genetic"
  • "Hendrix Necro"
ReleasedJuly 1992 (1992-07)
RecordedEarly 1992
StudioMagic Shop (New York City)
Genre
Length2:28
LabelDGC
Songwriter(s)Sonic Youth
Producer(s)
Sonic Youth singles chronology
"Dirty Boots"
(1991)		 "100%"
(1992)		 "Youth Against Fascism"
(1992)
Music video
"100%" on YouTube

Recording

The song was recorded and produced in early 1992 at Magic Shop in New York City by Butch Vig and Sonic Youth. Vig also engineered the song, with assistance from Edward Douglas.

Critical reception

Greg Kot of the Chicago Tribune praised the song's "garage-rock power chords", in addition to designating it as "a great single".[1] Dele Fadele of NME said the song "sets the tone perfectly for Dirty's loving seedy, political and romantic take on classic rock n roll - an Exile On Main Street for the '90s".[2] Scott Hreha of Pitchfork spoke positively of the confrontational lyrical content of "100%", describing the song, alongside "JC", as "elegiac tributes to murdered friends".[3] Uncut praised the radio-friendly nature of the song, referring to it as "contagious grunge-pop".[4]

Chart performance

In the United States, "100%” debuted at number 22 on the Alternative Airplay chart for the issue dated July 18, 1992.[5] Within five weeks, the song reached its peak position of number four, becoming Sonic Youth's highest charting song on the chart.[5] The song spent a total of 13 weeks on the chart.[5]

Music video

The music video for "100%" was directed by Tamra Davis and Spike Jonze, and shot in Los Angeles. Much of the video footage was shot by Jonze while riding on a skateboard, following others in the streets (including then-skateboarder, now-actor Jason Lee). The video also alluded to the shooting death of Cole, but is not specifically about him, and more about friendship between two skateboarders. Sonic Youth is shown playing a house party throughout the film. Kim Gordon plays a yellow Fender bass guitar, which she borrowed from actor Keanu Reeves.[6][7]

Ban

In the music video, Kim Gordon dons a counterfeit The Rolling Stones T-shirt with the phrase “Eat me” written across the front.[8] This phrase was deemed as too obscene for MTV, resulting in the video being banned from the network.[8] Gordon responded to the banning: “It's a bootleg Rolling Stones shirt — the big mouth — and it said 'Eat me' on it. At the time, I just took it, like, ‘Well, that's confusing’, because they've obviously got, like, mostly naked women in their videos”.[8]

Live performances

On September 4, 1992, Sonic Youth performed the song on Late Night with David Letterman.[9]

Cover versions

“100%” was covered by Mantar on their fourth studio album, Grungetown Hooligans II (2020).[10] Matthis Van Der Meulen directed an accompanying music video, which acts as an homage to the original music video released by Sonic Youth.[10]

Track listings and formats
  1. "100%" (LP version) – 2:28
  2. "Crème Brûlée" (LP version) – 2:33
  3. "Genetic"  – 3:34
  4. "Hendrix Necro"  – 2:49
  1. "100%" (LP Version) – 2:28
  2. "Crème Brûlée" (LP version) – 2:33

Charts
Chart performance for "100%"
Chart (1992) Peak
position
Australia (ARIA)[16] 67
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[17] 30
UK Singles (OCC)[18] 28
US Alternative Airplay (Billboard)[5] 4

References
  1. "Sonic Boom". The Chicago Tribune. July 23, 1992. Retrieved June 13, 2021.
  2. Fadele, Dele (July 18, 1992). "Sonic Youth – Dirty". NME. Archived from the original on August 17, 2000. Retrieved January 27, 2015.
  3. Hreha, Scott (May 14, 2003). "Sonic Youth: Dirty: Deluxe Edition". Pitchfork. Retrieved April 17, 2013.
  4. "Sonic Youth – Dirty". Uncut (72): 114. May 2003. Retrieved January 27, 2015.
  5. "Sonic Youth Chart History (Alternative Airplay)". Billboard. Retrieved June 13, 2021.
  6. Biography for Keanu Reeves at IMDb
  7. Archived at Ghostarchive and the Wayback Machine: "Sonic Youth - 100%". YouTube.
  8. "Sonic Youth's Kim Gordon On Marriage, Music And Moving On". NPR. February 22, 2015. Retrieved June 13, 2021.
  9. "Ten Unforgettable David Letterman Guest Moments". Newsweek. April 7, 2014. Retrieved June 13, 2021.
  10. Rosenberg, Axl (June 9, 2020). "Mantar Debut Sonic Youth Cover". MetalSucks. Retrieved June 14, 2021.
  11. 100% (United Kingdom 12" vinyl liner notes). Sonic Youth. DGC. 1992. DGCT 11.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  12. 100% (United Kingdom 10" vinyl liner notes). Sonic Youth. DGC. 1992. DGCV 11.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  13. 100% (Australian cassette liner notes). Sonic Youth. DGC. 1992. DGCCS19077.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  14. 100% (United States CD single liner notes). Sonic Youth. DGC. 1992. DGCDM-21735.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  15. 100% (United Kingdom 7" vinyl liner notes). Sonic Youth. DGC. 1992. GES 19077.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  16. Ryan, Gavin (2011). Australia's Music Charts 1988–2010 (PDF ed.). Mt Martha, Victoria, Australia: Moonlight Publishing. p. 260.
  17. "Sonic Youth – 100%". Top 40 Singles.
  18. "Sonic Youth: Artist Chart History". Official Charts Company. Retrieved June 13, 2021.
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