10 Rare Smashing Pumpkins Songs You've Probably Never Heard
3. X.Y.U. Medley (Live At Dodger Stadium, LA)
Featured On: Adore 2014 CD/DVD Reissue
The Pumpkin’s Medley was recorded while the band supported Kiss during their Halloween 1998 show. X.Y.U. is one of the perfect tracks in the band’s live repertoire, likely owing to the Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness original being recorded in one take. It forms the basis of the Medley. X.Y.U. is one of the songs which Corgan identified as having particularly dark tones and themes.
The live version differs from its recorded counterpart, opening with a funkier bassline from Wretzky and a headbanging percussion attack. The band mixes in instrumental track The Ethers Tragic. Corgan’s vocals are at their best with his signature twang in full effect.
He diverts from the original lyrics adding the chorus of Romeo Void’s Never Say Never, drawling ‘I might like you better if we slept together’. Corgan’s live bite and sneering sexuality gives way to heavy distortion as the rest of the band showcase their skills. The track ends teasing Where Boys Fear To Tread leaving the sparse instrumental throbbing in the listener’s eardrum like a melodious car alarm.