"Santa Monica"
Single by Everclear
from the album Sparkle and Fade
B-side"Heroin Girl" (live)
ReleasedDecember 5, 1995 (radio)
GenreGrunge[1]
Length3:11
LabelCapitol
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)Art Alexakis
Everclear singles chronology
"Heroin Girl"
(1995) 		"Santa Monica"
(1995) 		"Heartspark Dollarsign"
(1996)
Music video
"Santa Monica" on YouTube

"Santa Monica" (subtitled "Watch the World Die" in Europe) is a song by American rock band Everclear, from their 1995 album Sparkle and Fade. The song was written by the band's lead singer, Art Alexakis. Though it was not commercially released as a single in the United States, radio stations played "Santa Monica" enough for it to reach number 29 on the Billboard Hot 100 Airplay chart and number one the Billboard Album Rock Tracks chart for three weeks in 1996. It became a top-40 hit in Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and the United Kingdom; it is the band's highest-charting single in Australia.

Background and content

In an October 2003 interview with Songfacts, Alexakis explained the song:

I'm using a place where I grew up and palm trees as iconic references. It's what I grew up with. I grew up in a seaside town called Santa Monica, which is like L.A. but on the coast. I've lived in cold places and been in bad relationships, and I think everybody has a place in their mind that is like a safe haven. It's also about getting away from bad times ... the ending of something is also the beginning of something new, whether it's with someone or getting out of a bad job, a bad way of life or an abusive relationship.[2]

When Alexakis was a teenager, his girlfriend committed suicide; shortly thereafter, Alexakis attempted the same by jumping off the Santa Monica Pier in southern California.[3] Following the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001, the song was placed on the list of post-9/11 inappropriate titles distributed by Clear Channel Communications.[4][5]

Track listings

Charts

References

  1. ^ Erlewine, Stephen. "So Much for the Afterglow - Everclear - Allmusic". Allmusic. Retrieved May 3, 2021. Sparkle and Fade became a surprise hit thanks to "Santa Monica," a gritty, infectious grunge hit that captured Everclear at their best.
  2. ^ "Art Alexakis of Everclear". Songfacts. Retrieved January 21, 2018.
  3. ^ Mervis, Scott (March 26, 2009). "Everclear's Art Alexakis goes from Iraq to the Hard Rock". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Retrieved December 26, 2020.
  4. ^ "It's the End of the World as Clear Channel Knows It". Slate. September 17, 2001. Retrieved February 10, 2023.
  5. ^ Eakin, Marah (September 11, 2015). "Every Single Song Clear Channel Suggested Its Stations Skip Post-9/11". The A.V. Club. Retrieved February 10, 2023.
  6. ^ Santa Monica (US 7-inch jukebox vinyl disc). Everclear. Capitol Records. 1995. S7-19018.((cite AV media notes)): CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  7. ^ Santa Monica (Watch the World Die) (UK limited 7-inch single sleeve). Everclear. Capitol Records. 1996. CL 775, 7243 8 83123 7 0.((cite AV media notes)): CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  8. ^ Santa Monica (Watch the World Die) (UK CD1 liner notes). Everclear. Capitol Records. 1996. CDCLS 775, 7243 8 83123 2 5.((cite AV media notes)): CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  9. ^ Santa Monica (Watch the World Die) (UK CD2 liner notes). Everclear. Capitol Records. 1996. CDCL 775, 7243 883124 2 4.((cite AV media notes)): CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  10. ^ Santa Monica (Watch the World Die) (European maxi-CD single liner notes). Everclear. Capitol Records, Tim/Kerr Records. 1996. C2 7243 8 82676 2 5.((cite AV media notes)): CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  11. ^ Santa Monica (Watch the World Die) (Dutch maxi-CD single liner notes). Everclear. Capitol Records. 1996. 7243 8 83113 2 8.((cite AV media notes)): CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  12. ^ Santa Monica (Australian CD single liner notes). Everclear. Capitol Records. 1996. 7243 8 82584 2 5.((cite AV media notes)): CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  13. ^ "Everclear – Santa Monica (Watch the World Die)". ARIA Top 50 Singles. Retrieved March 27, 2019.
  14. ^ "Top RPM Singles: Issue 2969." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved March 27, 2019.
  15. ^ "Top RPM Rock/Alternative Tracks: Issue 2877." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved March 27, 2019.
  16. ^ "Everclear – Santa Monica (Watch the World Die)". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved March 27, 2019.
  17. ^ "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved March 27, 2019.
  18. ^ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved March 27, 2019.
  19. ^ "Everclear Chart History (Radio Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved March 27, 2019.
  20. ^ "Everclear Chart History (Alternative Airplay)". Billboard. Retrieved March 27, 2019.
  21. ^ "Everclear Chart History (Mainstream Rock)". Billboard. Retrieved March 27, 2019.
  22. ^ "Everclear Chart History (Pop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved March 27, 2019.
  23. ^ "The ARIA Australian Top 100 Singles 1996". Australian Record Industry Association. Archived from the original on November 2, 2015. Retrieved March 28, 2019.
  24. ^ "The Year in Music: Hot Mainstream Rock Tracks". Billboard. Vol. 108, no. 52. December 28, 1996. p. YE-76. ISSN 0006-2510. Retrieved December 25, 2023 – via Google Books.
  25. ^ "The Year in Music: Hot Modern Rock Tracks". Billboard. Vol. 108, no. 52. December 28, 1996. p. YE-78. ISSN 0006-2510. Retrieved January 17, 2024 – via Google Books.
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