Disposable Teens

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"Disposable Teens"
Disposable Teens cover
Song by Marilyn Manson
Album Holy Wood (In the Shadow of the Valley of Death)
Released November 13, 2000
Recorded 1999–2000 at the Mansion in Death Valley, California
Genre Alternative metal
Length 3:01
Label Nothing, Interscope
Writer Marilyn Manson
Composer John 5, Twiggy Ramirez
Producer Marilyn Manson, Dave Sardy

"Disposable Teens" is the first single and the fourth track of the fourth album Holy Wood (In the Shadow of the Valley of Death). It is considered a teenage anthem of sorts, echoing what Manson sees as teenagers who act violently in retaliation against parental and social authority.

Single

"Disposable Teens" was composed by John 5 and Twiggy Ramirez.[1] The lyrics were written by the band's frontman Marilyn Manson.[1] During pre-release interviews, Manson described it as a "signature Marilyn Manson song."[2] Its bouncing guitar riff and teutonic staccato had its roots in former glam rocker and convicted pedophile Gary Glitter's song "Rock and Roll, Pt.2".[3] Its lyrical themes tackled the disenfranchisement of contemporary youth, "particularly those that have been [brought up] to feel like accidents", with the revolutionary idealism of their parent's generation.[4][2] The influence of The Beatles was critical in this song.[5][6][4] The chorus echoed the Liverpool quartet's own disillusionment with the 1960s counterculture movement in the opening lines of their White Album song "Revolution 1".[6][4] Here the sentiment was re-appropriated as a rallying cry for "disposable teens" against the shortcomings of "this so-called generation of revolutionaries", whom the song indicted: "You said you wanted evolution, the ape was a great big hit. You say want a revolution, man, and I say that you're full of shit."[6][4]

Music video

Manson dressed up as the pope in front of a cross with a monkey hanging from it

Two music videos for the single was created by director Samuel Bayer, with one premiering on MTV's Total Request Live on October 25, 2000 (3:30-4:30pm EST).[7][8] Manson asked Los Angeles radio station KROQ-FM to help spread the word that the band is looking for 200 to 250 fans to dress in black and participate in the shoot.[8] The clip was filmed in Los Angeles.[8]

The original version features prominent symbols of Holy Wood such as Manson playing the pope, and the ape. The alternate version features a basic performance by the band, with police surrounding the stage. Both versions of the video are available on the Lest We Forget (The Best of) bonus DVD.

Cover songs

As early as the band's August 30, 2000, appearance at the Kerrang! Awards, Marilyn Manson expressed interest in covering Lennon's "Working Class Hero" due to its correlation with Holy Wood (In the Shadow of the Valley of Death)'s thematic preoccupations. The cover was recorded in the interim leading up to the November 7, 2000, launch of the single.[5][3][9] In describing Lennon's idealism and influence on him Manson said that, "some of Lennon's Communist sentiments in his music later in his life were very dangerous. I think he died because of it. I don't think his death was any sort of accident. Aside from that, I think he's one of my favorite songwriters of all time."[3] Band members Manson, Ramirez, and John 5 later performed the song as part of a special invitation-only acoustic set at the Saci nightclub in New York City to celebrate the album's November 14, 2000, release.[9][10]

Tarot Cards Board

The special edition of this single included a Holy Wood Tarot cards Board for proper reading sessions.

Appearances

Albums

Singles

Versions

Chart success

Chart (2000) Peak
position
Australian Singles Chart[11] 46
Dutch Top 40[11] 99
French Singles Chart[11] 67
Italian Singles Chart[11] 7
Swedish Singles Chart[11] 52
Swiss Singles Chart[11] 73
US Mainstream Rock Chart[12] 22
US Modern Rock Chart[12] 24

Accolades

In 2002, Kerrang! ranked "Disposable Teens" 73rd in their 100 Greatest Singles of All Time. [13]

Lyrics

    And I'm a black rainbow
    And I'm an ape of god
    I've got a face that's made for violence upon
    and I'm a teen distortion
    Survived abortion
    A rebel from the waist down
    
    I wanna thank you mom
    I wanna thank you dad
    for bringing this fucking world
    to a bitter end
    I never really hated the one true god,
    but the god of the people I hated
    
    You said you wanted evolution
    The ape was a great big hit
    You say you want a revolution man
    and I say that you're full of shit
    
    we're disposable teens
    we're disposable teens
    we're disposable
    
    you said you wanted evolution
    the ape was a great big hit
    you say you want a revolution, man
    and I say that you're full of shit
    
    The more that you fear us
    the bigger we get
    the more that you fear us
    the bigger we get
    and don't be surprised, don't be surprised
    don't be surprised when we destroy all of it
    
    you said you wanted evolution
    the ape was a great big hit
    you say you want a revolution man
    and I say that you're full of shit
    
    we're disposable teens
    we're disposable teens
    we're disposable

Trivia

  • At the beginning of the "Disposable Teens" music video, Manson emerges from the water possibly portraying the Little Horn, a character mentioned in the Antichrist Superstar track "Little Horn". In the Bible, the Book of Daniel references a "little horn": "He arose from the water with large iron teeth that he used to smash his enemies with..." Manson's teeth in this scene appear to be iron-like.
  • The line "We're rebels from the waist down" also appears in the 1949 novel Nineteen Eighty-Four by George Orwell, which Manson has mentioned as one of the books that had an influence on him.
  • The chorus "You said you wanted evolution, the ape was a great big hit. You say you want a revolution, man, and I say that you're full of shit" are direct references to the John Lennon songs "Revolution 1" and "Power to the People", the former contain the lyric "You say you want a revolution, well you know we all want to change the world. You tell me that it's evolution, well you know we all want to change the world".
  • The line "I never really hated the one true god/ but the god of the people I hated" references the quote "I did not hate God or Christ, but merely the God and Christ of the people whom I hated" by Aleister Crowley.
  • The song is available to download as a playable track for the Rock Band video game series as part of the Mayhem Tour 2009 pack.
  • "East Jesus Nowhere" by Green Day possibly borrows the main riff from "Disposable Teens".


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