Immortality

"Immortality"
Single by Pearl Jam
from the album Vitalogy
B-side	"Rearviewmirror" (performed by The Frogs)
Released	June 6, 1995
Format	CD single, Cassette, Vinyl
Recorded	March–April 1994 at Southern Tracks Recording and Doppler, Atlanta, Georgia and April–May 1994 at Bad Animals Studio, Seattle, Washington
Genre	Alternative rock
Length	5:28
Label	Epic
Writer(s)	Dave Abbruzzese, Jeff Ament, Stone Gossard, Mike McCready, Eddie Vedder
Producer	Brendan O'Brien, Pearl Jam
Pearl Jam singles chronology
"Not for You" (1995) "Immortality" (1995) Merkin Ball (1995) Vitalogy track listing "Aye Davanita" (Track 12) "Immortality" (Track 13) "Hey Foxymophandlemama, That's Me" (Track 14) Audio sample file info · help

"Immortality" is a song by the American rock band Pearl Jam, released on June 6, 1995 as the third single from the band's third studio album, Vitalogy (1994). Although credited to all members of Pearl Jam, it was primarily written by vocalist Eddie Vedder. The song peaked at number 10 on the Billboard Mainstream Rock Tracks chart. The song was included on Pearl Jam's 2004 greatest hits album, rearviewmirror (Greatest Hits 1991–2003).

Lyrics

The lyrical interpretation of "Immortality" can be disputed, as many feel it may be about Nirvana frontman Kurt Cobain's death, although vocalist Eddie Vedder has denied this. He stated:

No, that was written when we were on tour in Atlanta. It's not about Kurt. Nothing on the album was written directly about Kurt, and I don't feel like talking about him, because it [might be seen] as exploitation. But I think there might be some things in the lyrics that you could read into and maybe will answer some questions or help you understand the pressures on someone who is on a parallel train...^[1]

In a later interview, Vedder talked about how he thought of Cobain and himself as "parallel trains." He said, "You look at it objectively and you think, 'What could be so fucking hard about being in a band?' But if you're coming from a place that's real, it's much harder."^[2]

Release and reception

"Immortality" peaked at number 10 on the Billboard Mainstream Rock Tracks chart and number 31 on the Billboard Modern Rock Tracks chart. Outside the United States, the single was released commercially in Australia, Austria, Canada, Germany, and the Netherlands. In Canada, the song reached number 62 on the Canadian Singles Chart, and later it charted on the Canadian Alternative Top 30 chart where it reached number ten. "Immortality" reached the top 30 in New Zealand.

In Allmusic's review of the "Immortality" single, it was stated that "Immortality" is "the best ballad from the otherwise spotty Vitalogy."^[3] Jon Pareles of The New York Times called it a "sullen Neil Young-style march" in which Eddie Vedder "ruminates over suicide as an end to pain."^[4] David Browne of Entertainment Weekly said that "the sulking, lashing "Immortality" appears to be a Big Statement song about death, yet you'd never know that from its obtuse lyrics."^[5]

"Immortality" was featured in the Cold Case episode "Into the Blue" in 2009.

Live performances

"Immortality" was first performed live at the band's April 11, 1994 concert in Boston, Massachusetts at the Boston Garden.^[6] The lyrics that appeared in the first live version of the song were altered before release. Live performances of "Immortality" can be found on various official bootlegs and the live album Live at Benaroya Hall.

Cover versions

A live acoustic version of "Immortality" by the band Seether can be found on the band's 2006 live album, One Cold Night.

Track listing

All songs written by Dave Abbruzzese, Jeff Ament, Stone Gossard, Mike McCready, and Eddie Vedder.

1. "Immortality" – 5:18
2. "Rearviewmirror" – 5:18
   • Performed by The Frogs.

Chart positions

References

External links

• Lyrics at pearljam.com