The Chemicals Between Us

"The Chemicals Between Us"
Single by Bush
from the album The Science of Things
B-side
Released14 September 1999 (1999-09-14)
Genre
Length
  • 3:38 (album version)
  • 3:10 (UK radio edit)
  • 3:06 (international radio edit)
Label
SongwriterGavin Rossdale
ProducerGavin Rossdale
Bush singles chronology
"Mouth (The Stingray Mix)"
(1997) 		"The Chemicals Between Us"
(1999) 		"Warm Machine"
(2000)

"The Chemicals Between Us" is a song by English rock band Bush. It was released on 14 September 1999 as the lead single from the band's third album, The Science of Things (1999). It peaked at number 46 in the United Kingdom and topped the US Billboard Modern Rock Tracks chart, becoming their last song to top the chart until "The Sound of Winter" in 2011.

Lyrics and style

Gavin Rossdale described the song as being "all about the differences and distances between people." He also said the song was about misunderstanding and not being able to communicate. He said, "I was thinking the chemicals between us would be when things aren't going so good and you're in that lonely bed with that person and you're not communicating."[3]

The song is unique among most other singles by the band due to its numerous electronic elements as well as an almost dancey percussion. However, it also bears a prominent hard rock guitar riff throughout.

Commercial performance

"The Chemicals Between Us" spent five non-consecutive weeks at number one on the US Billboard Modern Rock Tracks chart and peaked at number 67 on the Billboard Hot 100 on 4 December 1999. The song would eventually become Bush's last major worldwide hit before their 2002 breakup.

Music video

The song's music video was originally going to be directed by Paul Hunter, but he departed due to scheduling conflicts. Stéphane Sednaoui wound up directing the video, which was filmed in late August 1999 in Los Angeles.[4]

Gavin Rossdale on the video:

"Thinking about it, the most extravagant thing was my last video ('The Chemicals Between Us')- that was fucking extravagant. I think the next video I do I'm just going to get a pile of money and burn it, KLF style. I might as well just cut to the chase."[5]

The music video begins with Bush performing in an alley with a white monolith beside them, then Rossdale comes inside the monolith in a white background surrounded by a Japanese-inspired island. Later, the scene becomes interspersed with Rossdale doing karate blindfolded and Parsons doing martial arts as well. The video ends with the band entering the monolith.

Track listing

UK CD1

  1. "The Chemicals Between Us" (Radio Edit) – 3:10
  2. "The Chemicals Between Us" (Super Collider Vapour Version) – 10:02
  3. "The Chemicals Between Us" (CD-ROM Video) – 3:38

UK CD2

  1. "The Chemicals Between Us" – 3:37
  2. "Homebody" – 4:22
  3. "Letting the Cables Sleep (Original Demo)" – 4:36

Australian CD single

  1. "The Chemicals Between Us" – 3:37
  2. "Homebody" – 4:22
  3. "The Chemicals Between Us" [Super Collider Vapour Version] – 10:02
  4. "The Chemicals Between Us" [CD-Rom Video] – 3:37

Charts

Release history

Region Date Format(s) Label(s) Ref.
United States 14 September 1999
[19]
United Kingdom 22 November 1999
  • 7-inch vinyl
  • CD
 [20]

References

  1. ^ Brian Galindo, Alex Naidus & Ryan Creed (5 November 2023). "37 Alt Rock Songs You Haven't Thought About Since The Late '90s". BuzzFeed. Retrieved 19 November 2015.
  2. ^ Hill, Stephen (16 July 2023). "10 terrible grunge albums with one classic song". LouderSound. Retrieved 5 October 2023.
  3. ^ "The Chemicals Between Us at OneSecondBush.com". OneSecondBush. Retrieved 5 May 2021.
  4. ^ "Bush Switches Release Date, Video Director". MTV. 23 August 1999. Archived from the original on 27 December 2001. Retrieved 18 June 2025.
  5. ^ "Music Video History at OneSecondBush.com - A Comprehensive Fan Site for the Band Bush". Archived from the original on 20 February 2012. Retrieved 1 November 2011.
  6. ^ Ryan, Gavin (2011). Australia's Music Charts 1988–2010. Mt. Martha, VIC, Australia: Moonlight Publishing.
  7. ^ "Top RPM Rock/Alternative Tracks: Image 9948". RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 10 September 2020.
  8. ^ "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart on 28/11/1999 – Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 10 September 2020.
  9. ^ "Official Singles Chart on 28/11/1999 – Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 10 September 2020.
  10. ^ "Official Rock & Metal Singles Chart on 28/11/1999 – Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 10 September 2020.
  11. ^ "Bush Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved 11 March 2017.
  12. ^ "Bush Chart History (Alternative Airplay)". Billboard. Retrieved 11 March 2017.
  13. ^ "Bush Chart History (Mainstream Rock)". Billboard. Retrieved 11 March 2017.
  14. ^ "RPM 1999 Top 50 Rock Tracks". RPM. Retrieved 16 February 2026 – via Library and Archives Canada.
  15. ^ "Most Played Mainstream Rock Songs of 1998". Airplay Monitor. Vol. 6, no. 52. 25 December 1998. p. 34.
  16. ^ "1999 The Year in Music: Hot Modern Rock Tracks". Billboard. Vol. 111, no. 52. 25 December 1999. p. YE-90.
  17. ^ "The Year in Music 2000: Hot Mainstream Rock Tracks". Billboard. Vol. 112, no. 53. 30 December 2000. p. YE-87.
  18. ^ "The Year in Music 2000: Hot Modern Rock Tracks". Billboard. Vol. 112, no. 53. 30 December 2000. p. YE-88.
  19. ^ "Going for Adds". Radio & Records. No. 1316. 10 September 1999. pp. 103, 108, 118.
  20. ^ "New Releases – For Week Starting 22 November, 1999: Singles". Music Week. 20 November 1999. p. 29.
allikas: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Chemicals_Between_Us