September 2, 1995
- STAYED AT #1:3 Weeks
In The Alternative Number Ones, I’m reviewing every #1 single in the history of the Billboard Modern Rock Tracks/Alternative Songs, starting with the moment that the chart launched in 1988. This column is a companion piece to The Number Ones, and it’s for members only. Thank you to everyone who’s helping to keep Stereogum afloat.
I have terrible news. There's no bathroom. In addition, there is no sink. And if that wasn't bad enough, the water out of the tap is verrrryyy hard to drink! It's very hard to drink! I'm as appalled as you are. We're looking into it very strongly.
Daniel Johns, the frontbaby from the ridiculously young Australian grunge trio Silverchair, told Rolling Stone that "Tomorrow," the band's breakout hit, was inspired by a TV show he'd seen. The song, per Johns, is "about this rich dude, and I was thinking about what a cock he was. It’s just a song about any rich dickhead." That's right, Daniel Johns! Let these one percent motherfuckers know! When rendered in radio-grunge form, Silverchair's message of class war came out sounding like this: "You say that money isn't everything, but I'd like to see you live without it/ You think you can keep on goin’, livin’ like a king?/ Ooh babe, but I strongly doubt it." He strongly doubts it! Very hard to drink!