Empty

Album: Strange Little Birds (2016)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • This is the first single from Garbage's sixth studio album, Strange Little Birds. "'Empty' is just exactly what it says it is. A song about emptiness," said vocalist Shirley Manson.
  • Strange Little Birds is a record with a cohesive mood of darkness. "There aren't really any upbeat pop songs," said drummer Butch Vig. "Even 'Empty,' which has a big, anthemic guitar sound, has pretty dark lyrics."

    "I love dark and dismal," Manson added. "I'm aching for some dark and dismal. Because I feel like the musical landscape of late has been incredibly happy and shiny and poppy. Everybody's fronting all the time, dancing as fast as they can, smiling as hard as they can, working on their brand. Nobody ever says, 'Actually, I'm lost and I don't have a f--king clue what I'm doing with the rest of my life and I'm frightened.'"
  • Samuel Bayer, who did the Garbage videos for "Only Happy When It Rains" and "Stupid Girl," returned to direct "Empty."

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

Jack Tempchin - "Peaceful Easy Feeling"

Jack Tempchin - "Peaceful Easy Feeling"They're Playing My Song

When a waitress wouldn't take him home, Jack wrote what would become one of the Eagles most enduring hits.

Annie Haslam of Renaissance

Annie Haslam of RenaissanceSongwriter Interviews

The 5-octave voice of the classical rock band Renaissance, Annie is big on creative expression. In this talk, she covers Roy Wood, the history of the band, and where all the money went in the '70s.

Bryan Adams

Bryan AdamsSongwriter Interviews

What's the deal with "Summer of '69"? Bryan explains what the song is really about, and shares more of his songwriting insights.

Francis Rossi of Status Quo

Francis Rossi of Status QuoSongwriter Interviews

Doubt led to drive for Francis, who still isn't sure why one of Status Quo's biggest hits is so beloved.

Billy Steinberg - "Like A Virgin"

Billy Steinberg - "Like A Virgin"They're Playing My Song

The first of Billy's five #1 hits was the song that propelled Madonna to stardom. You'd think that would get you a backstage pass, wouldn't you?

American Hits With Foreign Titles

American Hits With Foreign TitlesSong Writing

What are the biggest US hits with French, Spanish (not "Rico Suave"), Italian, Scottish, Greek, and Japanese titles?