"Cannonball" is a song by the Breeders from their 1993 album Last Splash. It was released as a single on August 9, 1993, on 4AD/Elektra Records, reaching on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100, and in the UK Singles Chart. It was released in France in November 1993, where it remained charted for 30 weeks, peaking at.
Recording
The rhythm of the introduction is constructed from metallic clicking on a snare rim and cymbal stand, which is tapped out by drummer Jim McPherson.
Composition
"Cannonball" is an alternative rock, pop rock, indie pop and grunge song that lasts for a duration of three minute and thirty-six seconds, featuring a balance of quirky pop hooks and surging power which support playful, goofball lyrics. According to the sheet music published at Musicnotes.com by EMI Music Publishing, the song is written in the time signature of common time, with a moderately fast rock tempo of 112 beats per minute. "Cannonball" is composed in the key of E-flat major, while Kim Deal's vocal range spans from a low of E3 to a high of B4. The song has a basic sequence that alternates between the chords of B5 and E5 during the introduction and verses and follows B5–E5–A5 at the chorus as its chord progression. The song's opens with an unusual, attention-grabbing introduction. It begins with the distorted voice of singer-songwriter Kim Deal testing a microphone by intoning "Check, check, one, two" against hissing feedback and over similar distorted vocal harmonizing. The track's drum rhythm and trademark bubbling bass line signal the start of the song. A slithering guitar lick skips the above its rhythm section before being overtaken by the high, squealing feedback of crunching guitar. It is nearly a full minute into the song before the introduction of its vocal melody, with Deal slyly cooing humorous lyrics. The band pulls to a brief halt for Deal to proclaim the parent album's title: "I'm the last splash." During the verses, Kim Deal recites repetitive lines with a seductive shyness. The song intensifes at the jubilant chorus, which is signaled by pelting snare rolls. They unleash layers of guitar distortion alongside Deal's distorted, transmitted vocals shouting: "Hey now, hey now/I want you Koo Koo, Cannonball." Its musical arrangement features stuttering, start-and-stop transitions before evening out into an infectious, melodic hook layered with sweet vocal harmonies, with Deal and the band repeating the line: "In the shade/In the shade." "Cannonball" employs a false ending, pausing for a whole measure and then crashing into its chorus and shifting in another full verse and chorus before coming to an abrupt halt.
Reception
As the lead single from their sophomore album, "Cannonball" went on to become the Breeders' biggest commercial success. The song was ranked as song of the year by both English music weekly magazines Melody Maker and NME and helped propel the album as well as the release of their follow-up single "Divine Hammer" to Platinum status. AllMusic's Tom Maginnis complimented the single, writing, "the song conveys an effusive energy, balancing quirky hooks with a gushing power, supporting playful, goofball lyrics that perfectly deliver the song's sense of unhinged, freewheeling fun." NME, Melody Maker and The Village Voices Pazz & Jop annual year-end critics' poll all named "Cannonball" their best single of 1993. In May 2007, NME magazine placed "Cannonball" at number 22 in its list of the 50 Greatest Indie Anthems Ever. It ranked on VH1's "100 Greatest Songs of the 90s". In September 2010, Pitchfork Media included the song at number 22 on their Top 200 Tracks of the 90s.
Music video
The music video for "Cannonball" was directed by Kim Gordon and Spike Jonze. It features the band in a garage, and the Deal sisters in what seems to be a dressing room trashed with clothes, sitting in a chair together. There are also shots of a cannonball rolling down suburban streets, as well as a shot of Kim Deal singing underwater.
Usage in media
"Cannonball" was featured in a preview for , the film Moonlight and Valentino, the start of A Walk to Remember as well as in the heist scene of Sugar & Spice. It was the original televised score to a skit on MTV's sketch comedy showThe State, but due to music licensing issues had to be re-recorded with a sound-alike song for the DVD. The song was also featured in the third season in episode 3 in Misfits and in the season six finale of True Blood. The band Phish covered the song during their May 7th, 1994 concert in Dallas, Texas, which was later released commercially as Live Phish Volume 18. In 2000, Nissan used the song in a commercial for the Sentra.
Track listings
CD single
"Cannonball" – 3:33
"Cro-Aloha" – 2:15
CD and 12" maxi
"Cannonball" – 3:33
"Cro-Aloha" – 2:15
"Lord of the Thighs" – 3:58
"900" – 4:27
Cassette
"Cannonball" – 3:33
"Lord of the Thighs" – 3:58
"Cro-Aloha" – 2:15
"Cro-Aloha" is a demo version of "No Aloha" from Last Splash.
