Overblown

Album: Singles Soundtrack (1992)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • The song's lyrical meaning deals with the intense mainstream attention Seattle Rock bands experienced during the early '90s. Mudhoney lead singer/guitarist Mark Arm told us, "There was a certain amount of frustration in terms of the changes that had happened locally to shows in the '80s. There was a small group of people, maybe a couple hundred, that went to shows and you maybe didn't know everyone, but you knew them by sight. And all of a sudden, you'd go to a show and none of those people were around anymore. All you saw was this new group of people who got turned on to local music by MTV or something. It was really weird. So it was just a reaction to that. I was trying to keep it funny and light as well. I wasn't really going to move out of town."
  • Mudhoney never got the big payday, but they were an influential and credible band deserving of a spot on the soundtrack of Singles. Directed by Cameron Crowe, the film featured a bizarro version of Pearl Jam (Citizen Dick in the movie) fronted by Matt Dillon and with Eddie Vedder on drums. The movie wasn't specifically about the music scene in the area, but that culture was part of the backdrop. By the time the film was released in 1992, Grunge music was everywhere and flannel was in fashion.

    Mudhoney never bought into the hype, but they did cash in on the $20,000 budget they were given to record this song for the Singles soundtrack. Mark Arm tells us they spent about $164 to record the song, and pocketed the rest.

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

Sarah Brightman

Sarah BrightmanSongwriter Interviews

One of the most popular classical vocalists in the land is lining up a trip to space, which is the inspiration for many of her songs.

Al Kooper

Al KooperSongwriter Interviews

Kooper produced Lynyrd Skynyrd, played with Dylan and the Stones, and formed BS&T.

Reverend Horton Heat

Reverend Horton HeatSongwriter Interviews

The Reverend rants on psychobilly and the egghead academics he bashes in one of his more popular songs.

90210 to Buffy to Glee: How Songs Transformed TV

90210 to Buffy to Glee: How Songs Transformed TVSong Writing

Shows like Dawson's Creek, Grey's Anatomy and Buffy the Vampire Slayer changed the way songs were heard on TV, and produced some hits in the process.

Van Dyke Parks

Van Dyke ParksSongwriter Interviews

U2, Carly Simon, Joanna Newsom, Brian Wilson and Fiona Apple have all gone to Van Dyke Parks to make their songs exceptional.

Richard Marx

Richard MarxSongwriter Interviews

Richard explains how Joe Walsh kickstarted his career, and why he chose Hazard, Nebraska for a hit.