Miss World

"Miss World"
Single by Hole
from the album Live Through This
B-side	"Rock Star", "Do It Clean" (live)
Released	March 28, 1994 (1994-03-28)
Format	CD single, 7"
Recorded	October 1993 (1993-10) at Triclops Studios in Atlanta, Georgia
Genre	Alternative rock, grunge
Length	2:58
Label	Geffen
Writer(s)	Courtney Love, Eric Erlandson
Producer	Paul Q. Kolderie, Sean Slade
Hole singles chronology
"Beautiful Son" (1993) "Miss World" (1994) "Doll Parts" (1994)

"Miss World" is a song by American alternative rock band Hole, written by frontwoman Courtney Love and lead guitarist Eric Erlandson. The song was released as the band's fifth single and the first from their second studio album, Live Through This, in March 1994.

Origin and recording

Erlandson and Love wrote "Miss World" in summer 1992 after the departure of former band members Jill Emery and Caroline Rue. An early version of the song, recorded with Love's husband and Nirvana frontman Kurt Cobain, was recorded in BMG Ariola Ltda in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil on January 21, 1993. Featuring Love on lead guitar and vocals, recently-recruited drummer Patty Schemel and Cobain on bass, the trio recorded the song, alongside others such as "She Walks On Me", "Softer, Softest" and "Closing Time", during breaks in Nirvana's session. Sound engineer Craig Montgomery stated that though some songs were "half-baked ideas" that "'Miss World' was a fairly complete song at that point" and "'the most fleshed out song' of the session."^[1]

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.

Composition and lyrics

"Miss World" is known to deal with themes of self-image and substance abuse. Speaking of the song, reviewer Tim Grierson stated that "'Miss World' ties a deceptively candy-coated melody to a sad tale of drug abuse and distorted body image as Love hits upon a familiar theme of the album: the dichotomy of how ugly you feel on the inside while trying to appear beautiful to others."^[2]

The lyrics expand on the main theme of self-image with the opening lines containing "I am the girl you know, so sick I cannot try" and later lyrics relating to suffering. The use of the term "kill me pills" is inspired by, and also a reference to, Anne Sexton, who, after overdosing on barbiturates and pentobarbital called the drugs "kill me pills." Bassist Kristen Pfaff had a minor input in the lyrical composition contributing the chorus lines "I made my bed, I'll lie in it / I made my bed, I'll die in it" from a song, "Limited Edition," she had written earlier in her career with Janitor Joe.

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 authors are Courtney Love and Eric Erlandson.^[3]

The European single version of the song had b-sides featuring an alternative mix of "Rock Star" (mislabeled from the original title of the song, "Olympia") with multiple vocal tracks from Courtney Love playing simultaneously, giving it a sound reminiscent of cheerleading chants. This version of the song (which is a satire on the riot grrrl movement) has even more satirical lyrics than the album version on Live Through This: "When I went to school in Olympia/And everyone's the same/What do you do with a revolution?/You just forget your name/When I went to school in a fascist state/And everyone's the same/We took punk rock, and we got a grade."

The UK release of the single also featured a live cover of "Do It Clean" by Echo and the Bunnymen, while the US pressing featured a cover of "Over the Edge" by the Wipers.

Music video

Love's character in the video is almost identical to the character portrayed on the front artwork for Live Through This. Self-image is a major theme of the album and "Miss World" especially.

Prior to the single's release, a promotional music video for "Miss World" was recorded in Los Angeles, California in March 1994. Directed by Sophie Muller, best known later for No Doubt's "Don't Speak" video, the video features the band performing the song at a beauty pageant, in which Love is seen as the title character, Miss World; pampering herself, receiving flowers, being crowned, adored by fans and eventually crying onstage. The latter image bares striking resemblance to the cover of Live Through This. On the background of the stage, a sign reading "Cleanliness is next to godliness" is seen, which is also later featured in The Smashing Pumpkins's "Zero" music video.

Track listing

All songs written by Courtney Love and Eric Erlandson, unless where noted.

European CD single and 7" single^[4]

UK CD single and 7" single^[4]

US CD single and 7" single^[4]

• "Do It Clean" was recorded at Clapham Grand, London on July 15, 1993.
• "Olympia" is mislabelled as "Rock Star" in order to avoid confusion from the album misprint. (See Olympia/Rockstar mislabel.)

Chart positions

Musicians and personnel

Hole

• Courtney Love - lead vocals, rhythm guitar
• Eric Erlandson - lead guitar, acoustic guitar
• Kristen Pfaff - bass, piano, backing vocals
• Patty Schemel - drums, percussion

Guest musician

• Dana Kletter — additional vocals

Technical personnel

• Paul Q. Kolderie - producer, engineer
• Sean Slade - producer, engineer
• Brian Foxworthy - engineering (on "Over the Edge")
• Scott Litt - mixing

References