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{{Short description|1993 single by Hole}}
{{Infobox single <!-- See Wikipedia:WikiProject_Songs -->
{{Infobox song
| Name = Beautiful Son
| Cover = Beautifulsoncov.jpg
| name = Beautiful Son
| Artist = [[Hole (band)|Hole]]
| cover = Beautifulsoncov.jpg
⚫
| alt =
⚫
| B-side = "[[Old Age (song)|Old Age]]" <small>(CD, 12")</small><br>"20 Years in the Dakota" <small>(CD, 12", 7")</small>
| Released = {{Start date|1993|4}}
| type = single
| artist = [[Hole (band)|Hole]]
| Format = [[CD single]], [[12-inch single|12"]], [[Gramophone record|7"]]
⚫
| album =
⚫
| Recorded = November 8–10, 1992 at [[Reciprocal Recording|Word of Mouth Productions]] in [[Seattle, Washington]]
⚫
| B-side = {{ubl|"[[Old Age (song)|Old Age]]"|"20 Years in the Dakota"}}
| Genre = [[Alternative rock]], [[grunge]]
| Length = {{Duration|m=02|s=29}}
| released = {{Start date|1993|4}}
| recorded = November 8–10, 1992
⚫
| Label = [[City Slang]]
⚫
| studio = [[Reciprocal Recording|Word of Mouth Productions]] ([[Seattle, Washington]], U.S.)
| Writer = [[Eric Erlandson]], [[Courtney Love]], [[Patty Schemel]]
| Producer = [[Jack Endino]]
| genre = [[Grunge]]
| length = {{Duration|m=2|s=29}}
⚫
| Last single = "[[Teenage Whore]]"<br />(1991)
⚫
| label = [[City Slang]]
| This single = "'''Beautiful Son'''"<br />(1993)
⚫
| writer = {{hlist|[[Courtney Love]]|[[Eric Erlandson]]|[[Patty Schemel]]}}
⚫
| Next single = "[[Miss World (song)|Miss World]]"<br />(1994)
| producer = [[Jack Endino]]
⚫
| prev_title = [[Teenage Whore]]
| prev_year = 1991
⚫
| next_title = [[Miss World (song)|Miss World]]
| next_year = 1994
}}
}}
⚫
"'''Beautiful Son'''" is a song by American [[alternative rock]] band [[Hole (band)|Hole]], co-written by frontwoman [[Courtney Love]], lead guitarist [[Eric Erlandson]], and drummer [[Patty Schemel]]. The song was released as the band's fourth [[Single (music)|single]] in April 1993 on the European label [[City Slang]]. To coincide with the song's lyrics, Love used a photograph of her husband, [[Kurt Cobain]], at age 7 as the single's artwork.

⚫
"'''Beautiful Son'''" is a song by American [[alternative rock]] band [[Hole (band)|Hole]], written collectively by frontwoman [[Courtney Love]], lead guitarist [[Eric Erlandson]] and drummer [[Patty Schemel]]. The song was released as the band's fourth [[Single (music)|single]] in April 1993 on the European label [[City Slang]]. To coincide with the song's lyrics, Love used a photograph of her husband, [[Kurt Cobain]], at age 7 as the single's artwork.


==Origin and recording==
==Origin and recording==
"Beautiful Son" is known to have been written as early as 1992, around the time of [[Courtney Love]] and [[Kurt Cobain]]'s marriage. Love stated that the song-writing process was an attempt to "be a little dumber" and that she "was always trying to write a very complex song without ever having learned to write an easy [[The Beatles|Beatles]] song. It just had a riff. It wasn't super smart but it sounded good and that's when I started learning things don't have to have lots and lots of notes. That the best songs are carried by simple lines and simple melodies."<ref name="dane">{{Cite journal|last=Rolsted|first=Thomas|journal=The Danish Magazine|volume=Mix 1994|page=44}}</ref>
"Beautiful Son" is known to have been written as early as 1992, around the time of [[Courtney Love]] and [[Kurt Cobain]]'s marriage. Love stated that the song-writing process was an attempt to "be a little dumber" and that she "was always trying to write a very complex song without ever having learned to write an easy [[The Beatles|Beatles]] song. It just had a riff. It wasn't super smart but it sounded good and that's when I started learning things don't have to have lots and lots of notes. That the best songs are carried by simple lines and simple melodies."<ref name="dane">{{Cite journal|last=Rolsted|first=Thomas|journal=The Danish Magazine|volume=Mix 1994|page=44}}</ref>


The recording sessions for the "Beautiful Son" single took place between November 8 and 10, 1992 at [[Reciprocal Recording|Word Of Mouth Productions]], formerly Reciprocal Recording where "[[Dicknail]]" had been mixed, in [[Seattle|Seattle, Washington]]. The assigned [[Record producer|producer]] was [[Jack Endino]], who had recorded [[Nirvana (band)|Nirvana]]'s debut album ''[[Bleach (album)|Bleach]]'' (1989) at the same studio four years prior.<ref>{{Cite book|last=Azerrad|first=Michael|title=Come as You Are: The Story of Nirvana|publisher=Doubleday|year=1993|isbn=0-385-47199-8|page=94}}</ref> Incidentally, Cobain was due to partake in the sessions, mainly taking on bass duties, however, seeing as he arrived only on the last day, he had no contribution to the session. Rumours circulated that the Nirvana song "Talk To Me" was recorded with Cobain, however, Hole later recorded a demo version at Hanzek Audio, a related recording studio, in August 1993,<ref>{{Cite web|title=Hole Studio Chronology &#124; A Hole recording database|url=http://www.holestudiochronology.eu.pn/august-1993.htm|publisher=The Hole Studio Chronology|accessdate=April 8, 2010}}</ref> during the initial recording sessions for Hole's second studio album, ''[[Live Through This]]'' (1994). Contrary to popular belief, temporary bassist [[Leslie Hardy]] did not play bass at this session, nor was she even in the band at this time. Endino played bass on "Beautiful Son",<ref name="ts">{{Cite book|last=True|first=Everett|title=NIRVANA: The True Story|page=415|publisher=Omnibus Press|year=2006|isbn=978-1-84449-640-2}}</ref> and Love played bass on "20 Years in the Dakota". Endino described the atmosphere of the session as "quite negative" and that "it was really strange, cognitive dissonance." Love was noted as being civil towards Endino, however, constantly shouting at other bands members, such as one instance when [[Eric Erlandson]] pointed out that the riff to "Beautiful Son" sounded "exactly" like Nirvana's hit, "[[Smells Like Teen Spirit]]". Erlandson then tried to record it in a different style, but Love demanded "this is how it should sound."<ref name="ts" /> The band left before midnight on November 10. Before the band left, Endino recorded the bass parts to "Beautiful Son", then Love recorded the final bass track to "20 Years In The Dakota." "Between us we had the bass done in about a half-hour," noted Endino and finally mixed the three tracks as he was getting tired and "[didn't] want to stay [t]here 'till 6am mixing three songs."<ref name="hsc">{{Cite web|title=Hole Studio Chronology &#124; A Hole recording database|url=http://www.holestudiochronology.eu.pn/november-08-1992.htm|publisher=The Hole Studio Chronology|accessdate=April 8, 2010}}</ref>
The recording sessions for the "Beautiful Son" single took place between November 8 and 10, 1992, at [[Reciprocal Recording|Word Of Mouth Productions]], formerly Reciprocal Recording where "[[Dicknail]]" had been mixed, in [[Seattle|Seattle, Washington]]. The assigned [[Record producer|producer]] was [[Jack Endino]], who had recorded [[Nirvana (band)|Nirvana]]'s debut album ''[[Bleach (Nirvana album)|Bleach]]'' (1989) at the same studio four years prior.<ref>{{Cite book|last=Azerrad|first=Michael|title=Come as You Are: The Story of Nirvana|publisher=Doubleday|year=1993|isbn=0-385-47199-8|page=94}}</ref> Incidentally, Cobain was due to partake in the sessions, mainly taking on bass duties, however, seeing as he arrived only on the last day, he had no contribution to the session. Rumours circulated that the Nirvana song "Talk To Me" was recorded with Cobain, however, Hole later recorded a demo version at Hanzek Audio, a related recording studio, in August 1993,<ref>{{Cite web|title=Hole Studio Chronology &#124; A Hole recording database|url=http://www.holestudiochronology.eu.pn/august-1993.htm|publisher=The Hole Studio Chronology|access-date=April 8, 2010|url-status = dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110817233914/http://holestudiochronology.eu.pn/august-1993.htm|archivedate=August 17, 2011}}</ref> during the initial recording sessions for Hole's second studio album, ''[[Live Through This]]'' (1994). Contrary to popular belief, temporary bassist [[Leslie Hardy]] did not play bass at this session, nor was she even in the band at this time. Endino played bass on "Beautiful Son",<ref name="ts">{{Cite book|last=True|first=Everett|title=NIRVANA: The True Story|page=415|publisher=Omnibus Press|year=2006|isbn=978-1-84449-640-2}}</ref> and Love played bass on "20 Years in the Dakota". Endino described the atmosphere of the session as "quite negative" and that "it was really strange, [[cognitive dissonance]]." Love was noted as being civil towards Endino, however, constantly shouting at other band members, such as one instance when [[Eric Erlandson]] pointed out that the riff to "Beautiful Son" sounded "exactly" like Nirvana's hit, "[[Smells Like Teen Spirit]]". Erlandson then tried to record it in a different style, but Love demanded "this is how it should sound."<ref name="ts" /> The band left before midnight on November 10. Before the band left, Endino recorded the bass parts to "Beautiful Son", then Love recorded the final bass track to "20 Years In The Dakota." "Between us we had the bass done in about a half-hour," noted Endino and finally mixed the three tracks as he was getting tired and "[didn't] want to stay [t]here 'till 6am mixing three songs."<ref name="hsc">{{Cite web|title=Hole Studio Chronology &#124; A Hole recording database|url=http://www.holestudiochronology.eu.pn/november-08-1992.htm|publisher=The Hole Studio Chronology|access-date=April 8, 2010|url-status = dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120324224534/http://www.holestudiochronology.eu.pn/november-08-1992.htm|archivedate=March 24, 2012}}</ref>


==Composition==
==Composition==
Due to Love's intentions to compose a song with "simple melodies," her initial guitar riff was developed further by Eric Erlandson and [[Patty Schemel]]. The final riff consists of three main [[barre chords]] (B5-C5-A5) which is used for both the verses and choruses of the song. An underlying riff of the same chords, played in a [[Guitar tunings|higher tuning]], is heard in the studio recording of the song. During the chorus, the riff is highly distorted as opposed to its thin-sounding lead during the verse. This alternating quiet-loud dynamic is typical of [[grunge]] music,<ref>{{Cite web|title=Top 20 Sub Pop Albums - Best Ever 20 Records on Sub Pop|url=http://altmusic.about.com/od/top10lists/tp/Top-10-Sub-Pop-Albums.htm|publisher=[[About.com|About]]|author=Anthony Carew|accessdate=June 2, 2011}}</ref> such as Nirvana's "Smell's Like Teen Spirit," which Erlandson drew comparisons to during the recording sessions.<ref name="hsc" /> During the song's bridge, the song again quiets down and uses a series of notes performed on the D and G strings (E-F#-G/B-G-B-E) before a short solo by Erlandson.
Due to Love's intentions to compose a song with "simple melodies," her initial guitar riff was developed further by Erlandson and [[Patty Schemel]]. The final riff consists of three main [[barre chords]] (B5-C5-A5) which is used for both the verses and choruses of the song. An underlying riff of the same chords, played in a [[Guitar tunings|higher tuning]], is heard in the studio recording of the song. During the chorus, the riff is highly distorted as opposed to its thin-sounding lead during the verse. This alternating quiet-loud dynamic is typical of [[grunge]] music,<ref>{{Cite web|title=Top 20 Sub Pop Albums - Best Ever 20 Records on Sub Pop|url=http://altmusic.about.com/od/top10lists/tp/Top-10-Sub-Pop-Albums.htm|publisher=[[About.com|About]]|author=Anthony Carew|access-date=June 2, 2011|archive-date=September 29, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110929104028/http://altmusic.about.com/od/top10lists/tp/Top-10-Sub-Pop-Albums.htm|url-status=dead}}</ref> such as Nirvana's "Smells Like Teen Spirit," which Erlandson drew comparisons to during the recording sessions.<ref name="hsc" /> During the song's bridge, the song again quiets down and uses a series of notes performed on the D and G strings (E-F{{music|sharp}}-G/B-G-B-E) before a short solo by Erlandson.


Love is reported to have written the lyrics of "Beautiful Son" about [[Kurt Cobain]]'s [[crossdressing]] as a child.<ref>{{Cite book|last=Sanford|first=Christopher|title=Kurt Cobain|publisher=Carroll & Graf|year=2004|pages=269|ISBN=978-0-7867-0394-4}}</ref> The single's front cover compliments this as it features a photograph of a young Cobain, at the age of around 7, surrounded by gift bows designed by Love. The "friends" in the lyrics who "clean the mess" are usually seen as a reference to [[Krist Novoselic]] and [[Dave Grohl]], other members of Nirvana.
Love is reported to have written the lyrics of "Beautiful Son" about Cobain's [[crossdressing]] as a child.<ref>{{Cite book|last=Sanford|first=Christopher|title=Kurt Cobain|publisher=Carroll & Graf|year=2004|pages=269|isbn=978-0-7867-0394-4}}</ref> The single's front cover complements this as it features a photograph of a young Cobain, at the age of around 7, surrounded by gift bows designed by Love. The "friends" in the lyrics who "clean the mess" are usually seen as a reference to [[Krist Novoselic]] and [[Dave Grohl]], other members of Nirvana.{{Citation needed|date=January 2019}}


===Songwriting credits controversy===
===Songwriting credits controversy===
Although songwriting credits on the official release note all three songs featured on the single as being written collectively by Hole, according to [[Broadcast Music Incorporated|BMI]], "Beautiful Son" and "20 Years in the Dakota" were written by [[Courtney Love]], [[Eric Erlandson]] and [[Patty Schemel]].<ref>{{Cite web|title=BMI &#124; Repertoire Search|url=http://repertoire.bmi.com/title.asp?blnWriter=True&blnPublisher=True&blnArtist=True&page=1&keyid=3916759&ShowNbr=0&ShowSeqNbr=0&querytype=WorkID|publisher=[[Broadcast Music Incorporated|BMI]]|accessdate=June 2, 2011}}</ref> However, the single's [[b-side]] "Old Age" was the subject of controversy in the 1998 when it was revealed to be a Cobain composition by the Seattle newspaper ''[[Stranger (magazine)|The Stranger]]''.<ref>{{Cite journal|last=Wilston|first=Kathleen|journal=[[Stranger (magazine)|The Stranger]]|title=Whose Song is it, Anyway?|year=1998}}''</ref> However, prior to the publication, Love stated in an interview that "Old Age" "is partly someone else's composition. It's something somebody had a little bit of and I said 'let me have the rest of it' and I wrote this thing in it and tried to make it goth. I found it, wrote it, and recorded it the same night."<ref>{{Cite journal|last=Love|first=Courtney|journal=[[Melody Maker]]|volume=1997}}</ref> In actuality, "Old Age" was initially a Cobain-penned song, and recorded during the sessions for ''[[Nevermind]]'' (1991), but after dissatisfaction with the song, gave it to Love. Love re-arranged parts of the song melodically and used entirely different lyrics. Due to this, Cobain is unofficially referred to{{by whom|date=January 2013}} as a co-writer of "Old Age," considering its origins.{{fact|date=January 2013}}
Although songwriting credits on the official release note all three songs featured on the single as being written collectively by Hole, according to [[Broadcast Music Incorporated|BMI]], "Beautiful Son" and "20 Years in the Dakota" were written by Love, Erlandson, and Schemel.<ref>{{Cite web|title=BMI &#124; Repertoire Search|url=http://repertoire.bmi.com/title.asp?blnWriter=True&blnPublisher=True&blnArtist=True&page=1&keyid=3916759&ShowNbr=0&ShowSeqNbr=0&querytype=WorkID|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120713231610/http://repertoire.bmi.com/title.asp?blnWriter=True&blnPublisher=True&blnArtist=True&page=1&keyid=3916759&ShowNbr=0&ShowSeqNbr=0&querytype=WorkID|url-status = dead|archive-date=July 13, 2012|publisher=[[Broadcast Music Incorporated|BMI]]|access-date=June 2, 2011}}</ref> However, the single's [[b-side]] "Old Age" was the subject of controversy in 1998 when it was revealed to be a Cobain composition by the Seattle newspaper ''[[Stranger (magazine)|The Stranger]]''.<ref>{{Cite journal|last=Wilston|first=Kathleen|journal=[[Stranger (magazine)|The Stranger]]|title=Whose Song is it, Anyway?|year=1998}}''</ref> However, prior to the publication, Love stated in an interview that "Old Age" "is partly someone else's composition. It's something somebody had a little bit of and I said 'let me have the rest of it' and I wrote this thing in it and tried to make it goth. I found it, wrote it, and recorded it the same night."<ref>{{Cite journal|last=Love|first=Courtney|journal=[[Melody Maker]]|volume=1997}}</ref> In actuality, "Old Age" was initially a Cobain-penned song, and recorded during the sessions for ''[[Nevermind]]'' (1991), but after dissatisfaction with the song, gave it to Love. Love re-arranged parts of the song melodically and used entirely different lyrics.


==Release==
==Release==
According to reports, ''Live Through This'', the follow-up to Hole's debut studio album, ''[[Pretty on the Inside]]'' (1991), was originally due to be released in January 1993 and as consolation for the unexpected delay, Hole released "Beautiful Son,"<ref name="dane" /> however, no actual confirmation supports this. Nevertheless, "Beautiful Son" was released in the [[United Kingdom]] on [[City Slang]] in April 1993. Upon its release, it was issued in three formats: as a [[CD single]], as a [[Gramophone record|7" and 12" vinyl]], the 7" version does not included "Old Age"." In support of the single release, Hole performed a short three-date tour of [[London]], United Kingdom in March 1993, performing at [[Rough Trade Records]] on March 28 and Subterrania on March 29. The band were also featured on [[Channel 4]] music programme ''[[The Word (TV series)|The Word]]'' on March 26,<ref name="imdb">{{Cite web|title="The Word" Episode #3.20 (TV Episode 1993) - IMDb|url=http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0759421/|publisher=[[IMDb]]|accessdate=June 2, 2011}}</ref> where the song was performed live for the first time. The song debuted in the [[UK Singles Chart]] at number 54 and remained there for one week.<ref name="uk">{{Cite web|title=HOLE - The Official Charts Company|url=http://www.theofficialcharts.com/artist/_/HOLE/#singles|publisher=[[UK Singles Chart]]|accessdate=June 2, 2011| archiveurl= http://web.archive.org/web/20110615185443/http://www.theofficialcharts.com/artist/_/hole/| archivedate= 15 June 2011 <!--DASHBot-->| deadurl= no}}</ref>
According to reports, ''Live Through This'', the follow-up to Hole's debut studio album, ''[[Pretty on the Inside]]'' (1991), was originally due to be released in January 1993 and as consolation for the unexpected delay, Hole released "Beautiful Son,"<ref name="dane" /> however, no actual confirmation supports this. Nevertheless, "Beautiful Son" was released in the United Kingdom on [[City Slang]] in April 1993. Upon its release, it was issued in three formats: as a [[CD single]], as a [[Gramophone record|7" and 12" vinyl]], the 7" version does not included "Old Age"." In support of the single release, Hole performed a short three-date tour of London, United Kingdom in March 1993, performing at [[Rough Trade Records]] on March 28 and Subterrania on March 29. The band were also featured on [[Channel 4]] music programme ''[[The Word (TV series)|The Word]]'' on March 26,<ref name="imdb">{{Cite web|title="The Word" Episode #3.20 (TV Episode 1993) - IMDb|url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0759421/|publisher=[[IMDb]]|access-date=June 2, 2011}}</ref> where the song was performed live for the first time. The song debuted on the [[UK Singles Chart]] at number 54 and remained there for one week.<ref name="uk"/>


The song was later released on [[Geffen Records]] 1994 compilation album, ''DGC Rarities, Vol.1''<ref>{{Cite web|title=DGC Rarities, Vol.1 - Various Artists &#124; AllMusic|url=http://www.allmusic.com/album/dgc-rarities-vol-1-r203116|publisher=[[Allmusic]]|author=Stephen Thomas Erlewine|accessdate=June 2, 2011}}</ref> and on Hole's 1997 compilation album, ''[[My Body, the Hand Grenade]]''.
The song was later released on the American version of [[Geffen Records]] 1994 compilation album, ''[[DGC Rarities Volume 1|DGC Rarities, Vol.1]]''<ref>{{Cite web|title=DGC Rarities, Vol.1 - Various Artists &#124; AllMusic|url=http://www.allmusic.com/album/dgc-rarities-vol-1-r203116|publisher=[[AllMusic]]|author=Stephen Thomas Erlewine|access-date=June 2, 2011}}</ref> and on Hole's 1997 compilation album, ''[[My Body, the Hand Grenade]]''.


==Live performances==
==Live performances==
Line 41: Line 45:


==Music video==
==Music video==
According to Love's friend and Nirvana biographer, [[Everett True]], a music video for "Beautiful Son" was recorded before Kristen Pfaff was recruited as the band's bassist. Describing the video, True noted in ''NIRVANA: The True Story'' that "Kurt was featured as a young child on the cover, and played bass wearing one of Courtney's dresses in the video (filmed before Kristen joined the band) - thus confirming the lyric, ''"You look good in my dress / My beautiful son"''.<ref>{{Cite book|last=True|first=Everett|title=NIRVANA: The True Story|pages=459–460|publisher=Omnibus Press|year=2006|isbn=978-1-84449-640-2}}</ref> Although vague in its description, no evidence supports that an official promotional music video was filmed for the single and the video may be a home recording by Cobain and Love.{{fact|date=January 2013}}
According to Love's friend and Nirvana biographer, [[Everett True]], a music video for "Beautiful Son" was recorded before Kristen Pfaff was recruited as the band's bassist. Describing the video, True noted in ''NIRVANA: The True Story'' that "Kurt was featured as a young child on the cover, and played bass wearing one of Courtney's dresses in the video (filmed before Kristen joined the band) - thus confirming the lyric, "You look good in my dress / My beautiful son".<ref>{{Cite book|last=True|first=Everett|title=NIRVANA: The True Story|pages=459–460|publisher=Omnibus Press|year=2006|isbn=978-1-84449-640-2}}</ref> Although vague in its description, no evidence supports that an official promotional music video was filmed for the single and the video may be a home recording by Cobain and Love.{{Citation needed|date=January 2013}}


==Single track listing==
==Track listings==
'''7-inch single'''
All songs written by [[Courtney Love]], [[Eric Erlandson]] and [[Patty Schemel]] unless otherwise noted.
⚫
# "Beautiful Son" (Courtney Love, Eric Erlandson, Patty Schemel) – 2:29
⚫
# "20 Years in the Dakota" (Love, Erlandson, Schemel) – 2:54


'''CD and 12-inch single'''
;7" Single:
⚫
# "Beautiful Son" (Love, Erlandson, Schemel) – 2:29
{{Tracklist
# "20 Years in the Dakota" (Love, Erlandson, Schemel) – 2:54
| total_length =
# "[[Old Age (song)|Old Age]]" (Love, [[Kurt Cobain]]) – 3:34
| writing_credits = yes
| title1 = Beautiful Son
⚫
| note1 =
⚫
| writer1 = Courtney Love, Eric Erlandson, Patty Schemel
| length1 = 2:29
| title2 = 20 Years in the Dakota
⚫
| writer2 = Love, Erlandson, Schemel
| length2= 2:54
}}


==Credits and personnel==
'''Hole'''
⚫
* Courtney Love – vocals, guitar, bass {{small|("20 Years in the Dakota")}}
⚫
* Eric Erlandson – guitar
* Patty Schemel – drums, percussion


⚫
'''Technical'''
;CD Single and 12" Single:
⚫
* Jack Endino – [[Record producer|production]], [[Audio engineering|engineering]], bass {{small|("Beautiful Son")}}
{{Tracklist
| total_length =
| writing_credits = yes
| title1 = Beautiful Son
⚫
| note1 =
⚫
| writer1 = Courtney Love, Eric Erlandson, Patty Schemel
| length1 = 2:29
| title2 = 20 Years in the Dakota
⚫
| writer2 = Love, Erlandson, Schemel
| length2= 2:54
| title3= [[Old Age (song)|Old Age]]
| writer3= Love, [[Kurt Cobain]]
| length3= 3:34
| note3= 1992 acoustic version
}}

==Personnel==
;Hole
⚫
*[[Courtney Love]] – [[Singing|vocals]], [[guitar]], [[Bass guitar|bass]] (on "20 Years in the Dakota")
⚫
*[[Eric Erlandson]] – [[lead guitar]]
*[[Patty Schemel]] –– [[Drum kit|drums]]

⚫
;Technical personnel
⚫
*Jack Endino – [[Record producer|producer]], [[Audio engineering|engineer]], bass (on "Beautiful Son")


==Chart positions==
==Charts==
{| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:left;"
{|class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"
! scope="col"| Chart (1993)
! scope="col"| Chart (1993)
! scope="col"| Peak<br /> position
! scope="col"| Peak<br />position
|-
|-
{{single chart|UKsinglesbyname|54|artist=Hole|artistid=28780|rowheader=true|access-date=October 22, 2022|refname="uk"}}
! scope="row"| [[UK Singles Chart]]<ref name="uk" />
| style="text-align:center;"| 54
|}
|}


==References==
==References==
{{reflist}}
{{Reflist}}


{{Hole}}
{{Hole}}
{{Authority control}}


⚫
[[Category:1993 songs]]
[[Category:Hole (band) songs]]
[[Category:Hole (band) songs]]
[[Category:Kurt Cobain]]
[[Category:Kurt Cobain]]
⚫
[[Category:1993 songs]]
[[Category:Songs written by Courtney Love]]
[[Category:Songs written by Courtney Love]]
[[Category:Songs written by Eric Erlandson]]
[[Category:Songs written by Eric Erlandson]]
[[Category:Songs about cross-dressing]]

Latest revision as of 19:04, 10 January 2024

"Beautiful Son"
Single by Hole
B-side
ReleasedApril 1993 (1993-04)
RecordedNovember 8–10, 1992
StudioWord of Mouth Productions (Seattle, Washington, U.S.)
GenreGrunge
Length2:29
LabelCity Slang
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)Jack Endino
Hole singles chronology
"Teenage Whore"
(1991) 		"Beautiful Son"
(1993) 		"Miss World"
(1994)

"Beautiful Son" is a song by American alternative rock band Hole, co-written by frontwoman Courtney Love, lead guitarist Eric Erlandson, and drummer Patty Schemel. The song was released as the band's fourth single in April 1993 on the European label City Slang. To coincide with the song's lyrics, Love used a photograph of her husband, Kurt Cobain, at age 7 as the single's artwork.

Origin and recording

[edit]

"Beautiful Son" is known to have been written as early as 1992, around the time of Courtney Love and Kurt Cobain's marriage. Love stated that the song-writing process was an attempt to "be a little dumber" and that she "was always trying to write a very complex song without ever having learned to write an easy Beatles song. It just had a riff. It wasn't super smart but it sounded good and that's when I started learning things don't have to have lots and lots of notes. That the best songs are carried by simple lines and simple melodies."[1]

The recording sessions for the "Beautiful Son" single took place between November 8 and 10, 1992, at Word Of Mouth Productions, formerly Reciprocal Recording where "Dicknail" had been mixed, in Seattle, Washington. The assigned producer was Jack Endino, who had recorded Nirvana's debut album Bleach (1989) at the same studio four years prior.[2] Incidentally, Cobain was due to partake in the sessions, mainly taking on bass duties, however, seeing as he arrived only on the last day, he had no contribution to the session. Rumours circulated that the Nirvana song "Talk To Me" was recorded with Cobain, however, Hole later recorded a demo version at Hanzek Audio, a related recording studio, in August 1993,[3] during the initial recording sessions for Hole's second studio album, Live Through This (1994). Contrary to popular belief, temporary bassist Leslie Hardy did not play bass at this session, nor was she even in the band at this time. Endino played bass on "Beautiful Son",[4] and Love played bass on "20 Years in the Dakota". Endino described the atmosphere of the session as "quite negative" and that "it was really strange, cognitive dissonance." Love was noted as being civil towards Endino, however, constantly shouting at other band members, such as one instance when Eric Erlandson pointed out that the riff to "Beautiful Son" sounded "exactly" like Nirvana's hit, "Smells Like Teen Spirit". Erlandson then tried to record it in a different style, but Love demanded "this is how it should sound."[4] The band left before midnight on November 10. Before the band left, Endino recorded the bass parts to "Beautiful Son", then Love recorded the final bass track to "20 Years In The Dakota." "Between us we had the bass done in about a half-hour," noted Endino and finally mixed the three tracks as he was getting tired and "[didn't] want to stay [t]here 'till 6am mixing three songs."[5]

Composition

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Due to Love's intentions to compose a song with "simple melodies," her initial guitar riff was developed further by Erlandson and Patty Schemel. The final riff consists of three main barre chords (B5-C5-A5) which is used for both the verses and choruses of the song. An underlying riff of the same chords, played in a higher tuning, is heard in the studio recording of the song. During the chorus, the riff is highly distorted as opposed to its thin-sounding lead during the verse. This alternating quiet-loud dynamic is typical of grunge music,[6] such as Nirvana's "Smells Like Teen Spirit," which Erlandson drew comparisons to during the recording sessions.[5] During the song's bridge, the song again quiets down and uses a series of notes performed on the D and G strings (E-F♯-G/B-G-B-E) before a short solo by Erlandson.

Love is reported to have written the lyrics of "Beautiful Son" about Cobain's crossdressing as a child.[7] The single's front cover complements this as it features a photograph of a young Cobain, at the age of around 7, surrounded by gift bows designed by Love. The "friends" in the lyrics who "clean the mess" are usually seen as a reference to Krist Novoselic and Dave Grohl, other members of Nirvana.[citation needed]

Songwriting credits controversy

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Although songwriting credits on the official release note all three songs featured on the single as being written collectively by Hole, according to BMI, "Beautiful Son" and "20 Years in the Dakota" were written by Love, Erlandson, and Schemel.[8] However, the single's b-side "Old Age" was the subject of controversy in 1998 when it was revealed to be a Cobain composition by the Seattle newspaper The Stranger.[9] However, prior to the publication, Love stated in an interview that "Old Age" "is partly someone else's composition. It's something somebody had a little bit of and I said 'let me have the rest of it' and I wrote this thing in it and tried to make it goth. I found it, wrote it, and recorded it the same night."[10] In actuality, "Old Age" was initially a Cobain-penned song, and recorded during the sessions for Nevermind (1991), but after dissatisfaction with the song, gave it to Love. Love re-arranged parts of the song melodically and used entirely different lyrics.

Release

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According to reports, Live Through This, the follow-up to Hole's debut studio album, Pretty on the Inside (1991), was originally due to be released in January 1993 and as consolation for the unexpected delay, Hole released "Beautiful Son,"[1] however, no actual confirmation supports this. Nevertheless, "Beautiful Son" was released in the United Kingdom on City Slang in April 1993. Upon its release, it was issued in three formats: as a CD single, as a 7" and 12" vinyl, the 7" version does not included "Old Age"." In support of the single release, Hole performed a short three-date tour of London, United Kingdom in March 1993, performing at Rough Trade Records on March 28 and Subterrania on March 29. The band were also featured on Channel 4 music programme The Word on March 26,[11] where the song was performed live for the first time. The song debuted on the UK Singles Chart at number 54 and remained there for one week.[12]

The song was later released on the American version of Geffen Records 1994 compilation album, DGC Rarities, Vol.1[13] and on Hole's 1997 compilation album, My Body, the Hand Grenade.

Live performances

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The song performed live on Channel 4 music programme The Word on March 26, 1993.[11] Recorded at Teddington Studios in London, this performance featured new bassist Kristen Pfaff and most notably, the programme's host, Mark Lamarr, incorrectly introduced the song as "Brother Son."[14] It was also featured as regular song on setlists for the band's succeeding tours, however, was abandoned during the tours for Celebrity Skin (1998).

Music video

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According to Love's friend and Nirvana biographer, Everett True, a music video for "Beautiful Son" was recorded before Kristen Pfaff was recruited as the band's bassist. Describing the video, True noted in NIRVANA: The True Story that "Kurt was featured as a young child on the cover, and played bass wearing one of Courtney's dresses in the video (filmed before Kristen joined the band) - thus confirming the lyric, "You look good in my dress / My beautiful son".[15] Although vague in its description, no evidence supports that an official promotional music video was filmed for the single and the video may be a home recording by Cobain and Love.[citation needed]

Track listings

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7-inch single

  1. "Beautiful Son" (Courtney Love, Eric Erlandson, Patty Schemel) – 2:29
  2. "20 Years in the Dakota" (Love, Erlandson, Schemel) – 2:54

CD and 12-inch single

  1. "Beautiful Son" (Love, Erlandson, Schemel) – 2:29
  2. "20 Years in the Dakota" (Love, Erlandson, Schemel) – 2:54
  3. "Old Age" (Love, Kurt Cobain) – 3:34

Credits and personnel

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Hole

  • Courtney Love – vocals, guitar, bass ("20 Years in the Dakota")
  • Eric Erlandson – guitar
  • Patty Schemel – drums, percussion

Technical

Charts

[edit]
Chart (1993) Peak
position
UK Singles (OCC)[12] 54

References

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  1. ^ a b Rolsted, Thomas. The Danish Magazine. Mix 1994: 44. {{cite journal}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  2. ^ Azerrad, Michael (1993). Come as You Are: The Story of Nirvana. Doubleday. p. 94. ISBN 0-385-47199-8.
  3. ^ "Hole Studio Chronology | A Hole recording database". The Hole Studio Chronology. Archived from the original on August 17, 2011. Retrieved April 8, 2010.
  4. ^ a b True, Everett (2006). NIRVANA: The True Story. Omnibus Press. p. 415. ISBN 978-1-84449-640-2.
  5. ^ a b "Hole Studio Chronology | A Hole recording database". The Hole Studio Chronology. Archived from the original on March 24, 2012. Retrieved April 8, 2010.
  6. ^ Anthony Carew. "Top 20 Sub Pop Albums - Best Ever 20 Records on Sub Pop". About. Archived from the original on September 29, 2011. Retrieved June 2, 2011.
  7. ^ Sanford, Christopher (2004). Kurt Cobain. Carroll & Graf. p. 269. ISBN 978-0-7867-0394-4.
  8. ^ "BMI | Repertoire Search". BMI. Archived from the original on July 13, 2012. Retrieved June 2, 2011.
  9. ^ Wilston, Kathleen (1998). "Whose Song is it, Anyway?". The Stranger.
  10. ^ Love, Courtney. Melody Maker. 1997. {{cite journal}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  11. ^ a b ""The Word" Episode #3.20 (TV Episode 1993) - IMDb". IMDb. Retrieved June 2, 2011.
  12. ^ a b "Hole: Artist Chart History". Official Charts Company. Retrieved October 22, 2022.
  13. ^ Stephen Thomas Erlewine. "DGC Rarities, Vol.1 - Various Artists | AllMusic". AllMusic. Retrieved June 2, 2011.
  14. ^ Lamarr, Mark. "This is a band that has just come over and are playing exclusively for us, their new single, 'Brother Son,' it's Hole." Extracts of a transcription of The Word episode dated March 26, 1993. Video available on Veoh
  15. ^ True, Everett (2006). NIRVANA: The True Story. Omnibus Press. pp. 459–460. ISBN 978-1-84449-640-2.
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