My Gen X Playlist: Bullet with Butterfly Wings – Smashing Pumpkins

We were relaxing having Sunday morning coffee and pastries when the topic of vampires came up. And no, not the kind you’re thinking of. I listened intently as a friend described the procedure. What in the world? Apparently, there is something called vampire facials.

A vampire facial (otherwise known as a vampire facelift or a platelet-rich plasma(PRP) facial) involves taking a sample of your own blood, extracting the plasma (the liquid part of your blood), and then injecting it with needles back in your face. 

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I’m Gen X. When I think of vampires, I only think of the movie Interview with a Vampire or the TV show Buffy the Vampire Slayer. Not skin care. This is both crazy and incredibly fascinating at the same time. I’m still in shock. It shows the incredible lengths some woman will travel to for the sake of skin care. I realize this is an extreme example, but I’m still impressed even by the routine skin care regiment women go through every day. I have to applaud you ladies for all the effort you put in. Impressive.

On the other hand, it’s so simple being a guy. Maybe too simple. But that’s how we roll. Honestly, it’s a rare occasion if we do any more than wash our face with soap. Um, bar soap might I add. The bar was set intentionally low, gentlemen. Let’s be sure to get at least that right.

Vampire songs. Surprisingly, there are a number of them, but I’m choosing a vampire song that’s really not a vampire song. The Smashing Pumpkins released Bullet With Butterfly Wings in 1995. I don’t remember much of the lyrics except that first line.

“Bullet With Butterfly Wings” isn’t really a song about vampires – like most Smashing Pumpkins songs, it’s mostly about frontman Billy Corgan’s grandiose angst and alienation – but the song kicks off with one of the most memorable vampire-related lyrics in rock history: “The world is vampire sent to draiiiiin!” Why is the world a vampire? Because it sucks, duh.

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Well, let’s not go that far. I’d say the world sucks from time to time, but not all the time. I guess that depends upon your level of angst. From the sound of it, Billy Corgan must have had his fair share. He’s just lucky he’s a dude and didn’t have to stand in line and pay to get his blood extracted, treated and then injected back into his face. Who knows what those extra platelets would do to his already fragile self. I can’t even imagine.

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For a complete playlist, please click here.

For the Spotify playlist, please click here.

The world is a vampire, sent to drain
Secret destroyers, hold you up to the flames
And what do I get, for my pain?
Betrayed desires, and a piece of the game

Even though I know, I suppose I'll show
All my cool and cold, like old Job

Despite all my rage I am still just a rat in a cage
Despite all my rage I am still just a rat in a cage
Then someone will say what is lost can never be saved
Despite all my rage I am still just a rat in a cage

Now I'm naked, nothing but an animal
But can you fake it, for just one more show?
And what do you want?
I want to change
And what have you got, when you feel the same?

Even though I know, I suppose I'll show
All my cool and cold, like old job

Despite all my rage I am still just a rat in a cage
Despite all my rage I am still just a rat in a cage
Then someone will say what is lost can never be saved
Despite all my rage I am still just a rat in a cage

Tell me I'm the only one
Tell me there's no other one
Jesus was the only son, yeah.
Tell me I'm the chosen one
Jesus was the only son for you

Despite all my rage I am still just a rat in a cage
Despite all my rage I am still just a rat in a cage
And someone will say what is lost can never be saved
Despite all my rage I am still just a rat in a cage

Despite all my rage am I still just a rat in a-
Despite all my rage am I still just a rat in a-
Despite all my rage am I still just a rat in a cage

Tell me I'm the only one
Tell me there's no other one
Jesus was the only son for you

And I still believe that I cannot be saved
And I still believe that I cannot be saved
And I still believe that I cannot be saved
And I still believe that I cannot be saved