Supernova (Liz Phair song)

"Supernova"
Single by Liz Phair
from the album Whip-Smart
B-side	"Combo Platter"
Released	July 23, 1994
Recorded	August 1993 February 1994
Studio	Idful, Chicago, Illinois Compass Point, Nassau, Bahamas
Genre	Indie rock neo-psychedelia
Length	2:48
Label	Matador
Songwriter(s)	Liz Phair
Producer(s)	Liz Phair Brad Wood
Liz Phair singles chronology
"Stratford-on-Guy" (1993) "Supernova" (1994) "Whip-Smart" (1994)
Music video
"Supernova" on YouTube

"Supernova" is a song by American singer-songwriter Liz Phair from her second album, Whip-Smart, released in 1994.

The song received heavy rotation on radio stations and its music video was frequently aired on MTV. The song went on to hit number 6 on the Modern Rock Tracks chart and number 78 on the Billboard Hot 100. In 1995, the song was nominated for Best Female Rock Vocal Performance in the 37th Annual Grammy Awards.^[1]

This song was used for the soundtrack of the film Love & Other Drugs.^[2]

Background

Phair said, "I wanted to just kind of write about the joy of being in love and having sex be a part of that. ... I'm so awestruck by the fact that my body, which has evolved over millions of years, has these responses and it's all wrapped up with the emotions that I'm feeling. I wanted to describe every level of that in a song."^[3]

Reception

In their review of the single, Billboard commented that "it's time for this alternative rock darling to make the transition into pop stardom. Fuzzy, guitar-rooted ditty bounces with a pure-pop hook, saucy lyrics, and layered vocals that sound like a cute girl group gone mad."^[4]

Track listings and formats

Australian and German single[5][6] "Supernova" (Album Version) – 2:50 "Supernova" (Clean Version) – 2:49 "Combo Platter" (Girlie Sound) – 4:48 German cassette[7] "Supernova" (LP Version) – 2:47 "X-Ray Man" (Remix) – 2:30

US 7-inch vinyl and cassette[8][9] "Supernova" (Album Version) – 2:49 "Combo Platter" (Girlysound) – 4:48 US single[10] "Supernova" (Edit) – 2:50 "Supernova" (Clean Version) – 2:49 "Combo Platter" (Girlie Sound) – 4:48

Credits and personnel

• Liz Phair – vocals, guitar, writer, director
• Brad Wood – drums, percussion, recording, mixing
• Casey Rice – talking guitar lines, guitar solo, recording, mixing
• Leroy Bach – bass
• Roger Seibel – mastering

Credits and personnel adapted from Whip-Smart album liner notes.^[11]

Charts

Chart (1994–1995)	Peak position
Australia (ARIA)[12]	43
Canada Top Singles (RPM)[13]	59
US Billboard Hot 100[14]	78
US Alternative Airplay (Billboard)[15]	6
US Cash Box Top 100[16]	81

References

1. "Rock on the Net: Grammy Awards: Best Rock Vocal Performance - Female".
2. "Love & Other Drugs (2010) - IMDb". IMDb.
3. Pike, Gemma (March 7, 2019). "'I did not enjoy my early career at all'. A frank discussion with Liz Phair". Double J. Retrieved March 20, 2022.
4. "Single Reviews" (PDF). Billboard Music Week. No. 29 October 1994. p. 75. Retrieved July 23, 2024.
5. Supernova (AUS Single liner notes). Liz Phair. Warner Music Australasia. 1994. 7567958312.
6. Supernova (GER Single liner notes). Liz Phair. Matador Records. 1994. 7567-95831-2.
7. Supernova (GER Cassette liner notes). Liz Phair. Matador Records. 1994. 7567-98224-4.
8. Supernova (US 7" Vinyl liner notes). Liz Phair. Matador Records. 1994. OLE 103-7.
9. Supernova (US Cassette liner notes). Liz Phair. Matador Records. 1994. OLE 103-4.
10. Supernova (US Single liner notes). Liz Phair. Matador Records. 1994. OLE 103-2.
11. Whip-Smart (Inlay cover). Liz Phair. Matador. 1994. 92429-2.
12. "Liz Phair – Supernova". ARIA Top 50 Singles. Retrieved July 2, 2016.
13. RPM Magazine: November 21, 1994 Worldradiohistory.com
14. "Liz Phair Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved July 2, 2016.
15. "Liz Phair Chart History (Alternative Airplay)". Billboard. Retrieved July 2, 2016.
16. "Cash Box Top 100 Singles – Week ending January 21, 1995" (PDF). Cash Box. p. 10. Retrieved July 23, 2024.