Sour Girl
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| “Sour Girl” | ||||||||||||||
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| Single by Stone Temple Pilots from the album No. 4 |
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| B-side | "Sex & Violence (live)" "Sour Girl (live)" |
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| Released | 2000 | |||||||||||||
| Format | CD single | |||||||||||||
| Recorded | 1999 | |||||||||||||
| Genre | Alternative rock | |||||||||||||
| Length | 4:16 | |||||||||||||
| Label | Atlantic | |||||||||||||
| Writer(s) | Music: Dean DeLeo Lyrics: Scott Weiland |
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| Producer | Brendan O'Brien | |||||||||||||
| Stone Temple Pilots singles chronology | ||||||||||||||
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"Sour Girl" is a song by Stone Temple Pilots. The song was written by singer Scott Weiland and guitarist Dean DeLeo for their band's fourth album, aptly titled No. 4. It is the only STP song to enter the Billboard Hot 100 chart, peaking at number 78. "Sour Girl" was one of STP's biggest hits since the Core and Purple eras.
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[edit] Composition and inspiration
Weiland wrote the song in reference to his first marriage with Janina Castaneda, in which his then-wife was unhappy with him but upbeat and happy-go-lucky without him. Weiland claimed that he "held her emotionally hostage in the marriage".[citation needed] Weiland and Castaneda ended up divorcing in 2000, the same year "Sour Girl" was released and Scott began his second marriage with Mary Forsberg. On STP's appearance on VH1 Storytellers, Weiland stated that he thinks "Sour Girl" is one of the best songs the band has ever written.
[edit] Music video
While writing the majority of No. 4, Weiland was in jail for various drug charges. During that time, he became a fan of the television show Buffy the Vampire Slayer. He also became enamored with the show's star, Sarah Michelle Gellar. When it became time to make the video for "Sour Girl", Weiland requested that she be in the video as well.[citation needed]
The video for Sour Girl is characterized by its small background setting, smooth camera work, and beautiful cinematography. Weiland passionately sings the lyrics while rhythmically moving his arms and body. Gellar appears initially in a gothic outfit, acting as a guardian angel to Weiland; later, she returns to her regular appearance, acting as Weiland's love interest. An interesting artistic choice was using Weiland's current wife at the time, Mary Forsberg, as the go-between with Weiland and Gellar. Other band members appear in the video as well, interacting with bunny-suited characters the size of Teletubbies. Two of the bunny characters are especially prominent in the choreography: one of them has happy features; while the other has an eerie, almost evil expression. This seems to be be symbolic of the contrast between how the "girl" was variously "happy" and "sour". The video was directed by David Slade (who later would direct Hard Candy and 30 Days of Night).
It visually reminds us of Mark Ryden's work, when it uses the scary bunnies, the bugs, the Sacred Heart of Jesus, the symbols of the planets and all that dark atmosphere with commonly happy elements.
[edit] Reception
The video was nominated for a MTV Video Music Award for Best Cinematography in 2000, but lost to Macy Gray's "Do Something". It was also nominated for a Billboard Music Video Award for Best Modern Rock Track, but lost to 3 Doors Down's "Kryptonite". The video also appeared on the MTV show Making the Video.
[edit] External links
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