Doll Parts
Encyclopedia
"Doll Parts" is a song by American alternative rock
band Hole
, written by vocalist and guitarist Courtney Love
. The song was released as the band's sixth single and second from their sophomore studio album, Live Through This
, in November 1994 to accompany the band's North American tour. It was also the first single to be released following the death of bassist, Kristen Pfaff
in June 1994. The song is considered by fans and critics alike as one of Hole's signature songs.
under the working title "I Am." The song developed in to its final form less than two weeks later and became a regular number on setlists during the band's tour of Europe the United Kingdom the following month. Journalist Everett True
also noted that Love performed an acoustic version of the song to him over a telephone at 4a.m during the band's tour.
The first known studio version of "Doll Parts" was recorded on November 19, 1991 at Maida Vale Studios
as part of Hole's first radio session with BBC
DJ John Peel
. A second version of the song was recorded on March 27, 1993 with Mark Goodier
, another BBC radio host, during a short three-date tour of England. In October 1993, the band recorded the album version of the song as part of the Live Through This sessions at Triclops Studios in Atlanta, Georgia
.
magazine in 2010, Love stated: "I still don't understand why that one song with just three chords is such a big thing. But it's definitely got some good lyrics. That was a song about Kurt. I wrote it in Boston." Love also said that the line "dog beg" was written because there was a dog in the room with her begging for food.
Both the title of the song and the lyrical meaning are inspired by an encounter Love had with husband Kurt Cobain
in 1991 prior to their relationship. Love had sent Cobain "a heart-shaped box scented with perfume and inside a porcelain doll, three dried roses, a miniature teacup and shellac-covered seashells" to apologize for their first meeting in May 1991, where Love infamously wrestled Cobain. The box, purchased in an antique store in New Orleans, was later the influence for the Cobain-penned Nirvana
song, "Heart-Shaped Box
." The lyrics reflect Love's initial feelings about Cobain having felt rejected by his lack of communication which is most accurately conveyed in the line: "he only loves those things because he loves to see them break."
After Cobain's death
in April 1994, "Doll Parts" took on a more tragic meaning with Love giving anguished performances of the song on tour. Drummer Patty Schemel
has said that "certain things would remind her, a lot of the time on-stage, and it would just come out. Certain lyrics had a lot more meaning."
On both Live Through This and the individual single, the song is credited on record as written by Hole as a band, however according to BMI
's website, the official author is solely Courtney Love.
, the promotional music video for "Doll Parts" was post-poned until July 1994 when Hole commissioned Samuel Bayer
— who had also directed music videos for The Smashing Pumpkins
and Nirvana — to film and direct the video. The bassist featured in the video is Jennifer Finch
of L7
, an old friend of Love's who stepped in as Hole had not yet replaced Pfaff. Though originally considered as a new bassist, Finch never joined the band.
Two edits of the video has been broadcast and/or released. The original version of the video had a large amount of doll imagery, which was later taken out and replaced with shots of a barefoot Courtney Love in a field of petals. The video uses both black and white and color imagery and shots of Courtney interspersed with shots of the band playing as a whole. The video also features a small blonde boy, which many take to be the figure of the late Cobain, as he pays more than a passing resemblance to the singer in his youth, who was also featured on the cover of Hole's 1993 single, "Beautiful Son
."
The video was nominated for Best Alternative Video
at the 1995 MTV Video Music Awards
.
, unless where noted.
European CD single and UK 7" single
UK CD and 7" single, 1995
US CD and 7" single
Alternative rock
Alternative rock is a genre of rock music and a term used to describe a diverse musical movement that emerged from the independent music underground of the 1980s and became widely popular by the 1990s...
band Hole
Hole (band)
Hole is an American alternative rock band that originally formed in Los Angeles in 1989. The band is fronted by vocalist/songwriter and rhythm guitarist Courtney Love, who co-founded Hole with former songwriter/lead guitarist Eric Erlandson...
, written by vocalist and guitarist Courtney Love
Courtney Love
Courtney Michelle Love is an American rock musician. Love is the lead vocalist, lyricist, and rhythm guitarist for alternative rock band Hole, which she formed in 1989, and is an actress who has moved from bit parts in Alex Cox films to significant and acclaimed roles in The People vs...
. The song was released as the band's sixth single and second from their sophomore studio album, Live Through This
Live Through This
Live Through This is the second studio album by American alternative rock band Hole. It was released by Geffen Records on April 12, 1994, just four days after frontwoman Courtney Love's husband, Kurt Cobain, was found dead in their home....
, in November 1994 to accompany the band's North American tour. It was also the first single to be released following the death of bassist, Kristen Pfaff
Kristen Pfaff
Kristen Marie Pfaff was an American bass guitarist, best known for her work with Hole.-Early life and career:Pfaff was born and raised in Buffalo, New York, attending Buffalo Academy of the Sacred Heart. She spent a short time in Europe and briefly attended Boston College before ultimately...
in June 1994. The song is considered by fans and critics alike as one of Hole's signature songs.
Origin and recording
Courtney Love is known to have written "Doll Parts" as early as November 1991, performing the acoustically at a Hole concert in MassachusettsMassachusetts
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. It is bordered by Rhode Island and Connecticut to the south, New York to the west, and Vermont and New Hampshire to the north; at its east lies the Atlantic Ocean. As of the 2010...
under the working title "I Am." The song developed in to its final form less than two weeks later and became a regular number on setlists during the band's tour of Europe the United Kingdom the following month. Journalist Everett True
Everett True
For the cartoon character, see The Outbursts of Everett True.Everett True is a British music journalist, who grew up in Chelmsford, Essex...
also noted that Love performed an acoustic version of the song to him over a telephone at 4a.m during the band's tour.
The first known studio version of "Doll Parts" was recorded on November 19, 1991 at Maida Vale Studios
Maida Vale Studios
Maida Vale Studios is a complex of seven BBC studios on Delaware Road, Maida Vale, London.It has been used to record thousands of classical music, popular music and drama sessions for BBC Radio 1, BBC Radio 2, BBC Radio 3 and BBC Radio 4 from 1946 to the present...
as part of Hole's first radio session with BBC
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
DJ John Peel
John Peel
John Robert Parker Ravenscroft, OBE , known professionally as John Peel, was an English disc jockey, radio presenter, record producer and journalist. He was the longest-serving of the original BBC Radio 1 DJs, broadcasting regularly from 1967 until his death in 2004...
. A second version of the song was recorded on March 27, 1993 with Mark Goodier
Mark Goodier
-Early career:Mark Goodier was born in Rhodesia . His family moved to the UK when he was a child, eventually settling in Scotland. He was educated at George Heriot's School, in Edinburgh. He became a mobile DJ in Edinburgh and then joined local station Radio Forth at the age of 19...
, another BBC radio host, during a short three-date tour of England. In October 1993, the band recorded the album version of the song as part of the Live Through This sessions at Triclops Studios in Atlanta, Georgia
Atlanta, Georgia
Atlanta is the capital and most populous city in the U.S. state of Georgia. According to the 2010 census, Atlanta's population is 420,003. Atlanta is the cultural and economic center of the Atlanta metropolitan area, which is home to 5,268,860 people and is the ninth largest metropolitan area in...
.
Composition and lyrics
"Doll Parts" is known to deal with themes of both love and rejection. Speaking to UncutUNCUT (magazine)
Uncut magazine, trademarked as UNCUT, is a monthly publication based in London. It is available across the English-speaking world, and focuses on music, but also includes film and books sections...
magazine in 2010, Love stated: "I still don't understand why that one song with just three chords is such a big thing. But it's definitely got some good lyrics. That was a song about Kurt. I wrote it in Boston." Love also said that the line "dog beg" was written because there was a dog in the room with her begging for food.
Both the title of the song and the lyrical meaning are inspired by an encounter Love had with husband Kurt Cobain
Kurt Cobain
Kurt Donald Cobain was an American singer-songwriter, musician and artist, best known as the lead singer and guitarist of the grunge band Nirvana...
in 1991 prior to their relationship. Love had sent Cobain "a heart-shaped box scented with perfume and inside a porcelain doll, three dried roses, a miniature teacup and shellac-covered seashells" to apologize for their first meeting in May 1991, where Love infamously wrestled Cobain. The box, purchased in an antique store in New Orleans, was later the influence for the Cobain-penned Nirvana
Nirvana (band)
Nirvana was an American rock band that was formed by singer/guitarist Kurt Cobain and bassist Krist Novoselic in Aberdeen, Washington in 1987...
song, "Heart-Shaped Box
Heart-Shaped Box
"Heart-Shaped Box" is a song by the American grunge band Nirvana, written by vocalist and guitarist Kurt Cobain. The song was released as the first single from the group's third and final studio album, In Utero, in 1993. It was one of two songs from the album mixed by Scott Litt in order to augment...
." The lyrics reflect Love's initial feelings about Cobain having felt rejected by his lack of communication which is most accurately conveyed in the line: "he only loves those things because he loves to see them break."
After Cobain's death
Death of Kurt Cobain
Kurt Cobain was found dead at his home located at 171 Lake Washington Boulevard in Seattle, Washington, United States on April 8, 1994. Cobain, the lead singer of the American grunge band Nirvana, had checked out of a drug rehabilitation facility and been reported suicidal by his wife Courtney Love...
in April 1994, "Doll Parts" took on a more tragic meaning with Love giving anguished performances of the song on tour. Drummer Patty Schemel
Patty Schemel
Patricia Theresa Schemel is an American drummer, most notably known as the drummer of the alternative rock band Hole from 1992 until 1998.-Early music career:Schemel learned to play drums after her father bought her a drum kit at age 11...
has said that "certain things would remind her, a lot of the time on-stage, and it would just come out. Certain lyrics had a lot more meaning."
On both Live Through This and the individual single, the song is credited on record as written by Hole as a band, however according to BMI
Broadcast Music Incorporated
Broadcast Music, Inc. is one of three United States performing rights organizations, along with ASCAP and SESAC. It collects license fees on behalf of songwriters, composers, and music publishers and distributes them as royalties to those members whose works have been performed...
's website, the official author is solely Courtney Love.
Music video
Following the death of bassist Kristen PfaffKristen Pfaff
Kristen Marie Pfaff was an American bass guitarist, best known for her work with Hole.-Early life and career:Pfaff was born and raised in Buffalo, New York, attending Buffalo Academy of the Sacred Heart. She spent a short time in Europe and briefly attended Boston College before ultimately...
, the promotional music video for "Doll Parts" was post-poned until July 1994 when Hole commissioned Samuel Bayer
Samuel Bayer
Samuel David Bayer is an American commercial, music video and film director, and cinematographer.-Early life:Bayer was born in Syracuse, New York...
— who had also directed music videos for The Smashing Pumpkins
The Smashing Pumpkins
The Smashing Pumpkins are an American alternative rock band that formed in Chicago, Illinois in 1988. Formed by Billy Corgan frontman and James Iha , the band has included Jimmy Chamberlin , D'arcy Wretzky , and currently includes Jeff Schroeder Mike Byrne , and Nicole Fiorentino The Smashing...
and Nirvana — to film and direct the video. The bassist featured in the video is Jennifer Finch
Jennifer Finch
Jennifer Finch , born August 5, 1966, is an American photographer and musician, notable for her involvement in the all-female punk rock group L7.-Music:...
of L7
L7 (band)
L7 was an American rock band from Los Angeles, that was active from 1985 to 2000. Due to their sound and image, they are often associated with the grunge movement of the late 1980s and early 1990s.-History:...
, an old friend of Love's who stepped in as Hole had not yet replaced Pfaff. Though originally considered as a new bassist, Finch never joined the band.
Two edits of the video has been broadcast and/or released. The original version of the video had a large amount of doll imagery, which was later taken out and replaced with shots of a barefoot Courtney Love in a field of petals. The video uses both black and white and color imagery and shots of Courtney interspersed with shots of the band playing as a whole. The video also features a small blonde boy, which many take to be the figure of the late Cobain, as he pays more than a passing resemblance to the singer in his youth, who was also featured on the cover of Hole's 1993 single, "Beautiful Son
Beautiful Son
"Beautiful Son" is a song by American alternative rock band Hole, written collectively by frontwoman Courtney Love, lead guitarist Eric Erlandson and drummer Patty Schemel. The song was released as the band's fourth single in April 1993 on the European label City Slang...
."
The video was nominated for Best Alternative Video
MTV Video Music Award for Best Alternative Video
The MTV Video Music Award for Best Alternative Video was first given out in 1992. Prior to its inception, though, this award was known as Best Post-Modern Video in 1989 and 1990...
at the 1995 MTV Video Music Awards
MTV Video Music Awards
An MTV Video Music Award , is an award presented by the cable channel MTV to honor the best in music videos...
.
Track listing
All songs written by Courtney LoveCourtney Love
Courtney Michelle Love is an American rock musician. Love is the lead vocalist, lyricist, and rhythm guitarist for alternative rock band Hole, which she formed in 1989, and is an actress who has moved from bit parts in Alex Cox films to significant and acclaimed roles in The People vs...
, unless where noted.
European CD single and UK 7" single
UK CD and 7" single, 1995
US CD and 7" single
- all live tracks recorded at Hollywood PalladiumHollywood PalladiumThe Hollywood Palladium is a theater located at 6215 Sunset Boulevard in Hollywood, California. It was built in a Streamline Moderne, Art Deco style and includes an 11,200 square foot dance floor with room for up to 4,000 people.-History:...
on November 9, 1994 except "Plump", recorded at Universal Amphitheater, Universal CityUniversal CityUniversal City may refer to:In the entertainment industry:* Universal City Studios, an alternate name of Universal Studios* Universal City RecordsThe following places owned by Universal Studios:* Universal City, California...
on December 10, 1994.
Chart positions
| Chart (1994) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Billboard Hot 100 Billboard Hot 100 The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday... |
58 |
| Billboard Modern Rock Tracks | 4 |
| UK Singles Chart UK Singles Chart The UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ... |
16 |