Supernova (Liz Phair song) explained

Supernova
Cover:	Supernova,_Liz_Phair.jpg
Type:	single
Artist:	Liz Phair
Album:	Whip-Smart
B-Side:	"Combo Platter"
Released:	July 23, 1994
Recorded:	August 1993 February 1994
Studio:	Idful, Chicago, Illinois Compass Point, Nassau, Bahamas
Length:	2:48
Label:	Matador
Prev Title:	Stratford-on-Guy
Prev Year:	1993
Next Title:	Whip-Smart
Next Year:	1994

"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]}

1. "Supernova" (Album Version) – 2:50
2. "Supernova" (Clean Version) – 2:49
3. "Combo Platter" (Girlie Sound) – 4:48

• German cassette^[7]

1. "Supernova" (LP Version) – 2:47
2. "X-Ray Man" (Remix) – 2:30

• US 7-inch vinyl and cassette^{[8] [9]}

1. "Supernova" (Album Version) – 2:49
2. "Combo Platter" (Girlysound) – 4:48

• US single^[10]

1. "Supernova" (Edit) – 2:50
2. "Supernova" (Clean Version) – 2:49
3. "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
Canada Top Singles (RPM)^[12]	59
US Cash Box Top 100^[13]	81

Notes and References

1. Web site: Rock on the Net: Grammy Awards: Best Rock Vocal Performance - Female.
2. Web site: Love & Other Drugs (2010) - IMDb. IMDb.
3. Web site: 'I did not enjoy my early career at all'. A frank discussion with Liz Phair . Pike. Gemma. . March 7, 2019 . March 20, 2022.
4. Single Reviews. Billboard Music Week. 29 October 1994. 75 . July 23, 2024.
5. Supernova. Liz Phair. 1994. AUS Single liner notes. Warner Music Australasia. 7567958312.
6. Supernova. Liz Phair. 1994. GER Single liner notes. Matador Records. 7567-95831-2.
7. Supernova. Liz Phair. 1994. GER Cassette liner notes. Matador Records. 7567-98224-4.
8. Supernova. Liz Phair. 1994. US 7" Vinyl liner notes. Matador Records. OLE 103-7.
9. Supernova. Liz Phair. 1994. US Cassette liner notes. Matador Records. OLE 103-4.
10. Supernova. Liz Phair. 1994. US Single liner notes. Matador Records. OLE 103-2.
11. Liz Phair. Whip-Smart. 1994. Inlay cover. Matador. 92429-2.
12. https://worldradiohistory.com/CANADA/RPM/90s/1994/RPM-1994-11-21.pdf RPM Magazine: November 21, 1994
13. Web site: Cash Box Top 100 Singles – Week ending January 21, 1995. . 10 . 23 July 2024.