Amazing (Aerosmith song)

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"Amazing"
Single by Aerosmith
from the album Get a Grip
B-side"Gotta Love It"
ReleasedNovember 1993
GenreRock
Length
  • 5:55 (album version)
  • 4:38 (edit version)
  • 6:48 (video version)
LabelGeffen
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)Bruce Fairbairn
Aerosmith singles chronology
"Cryin'"
(1993) 		"Amazing"
(1993) 		"Shut Up and Dance"
(1994)
Music video
"Amazing" on YouTube

"Amazing" is a song by American hard rock band Aerosmith. Don Henley lends his vocals, shadowing lead singer Steven Tyler in parts of this song. The rock ballad was written by Tyler and longtime band friend and collaborator Richie Supa, and released in November 1993 by Geffen Records. It peaked at number 24 on the US Billboard Hot 100, number three on the Billboard Album Rock Tracks chart, number nine on the Billboard Top 40/Mainstream chart. The song was also successful abroad, peaking at number two in Iceland, number four in Canada, number five in Norway, and the top 20 in the Netherlands and Switzerland. Marty Callner directed its music video.

On the album Get a Grip, as soon as the song ends, a radio is heard being tuned into a recording of "Who Threw the Whiskey in the Well", recorded by Lucky Millinder. Tyler says, "So from all of us at Aerosmith to all of you out there, wherever you are, remember: the light at the end of the tunnel may be you. Good night." Millinder's orchestra plays as the music fades out.

Lyrical content[edit]

"Amazing" was written by Steven Tyler, with assistance from the professional songwriter and former bandmate Richie Supa. It tells about his troubled life and drug abuse after the band broke up. The 1987 comeback album Permanent Vacation and its title track are mentioned in the lyrics for "Amazing".

Critical reception[edit]

Pan-European magazine Music & Media commented, "Hold your lighters into the air and do the wave, because this is the ultimate stadium rock ballad. You will still be singing it when you drive home."[1] Leesa Daniels from Smash Hits gave "Amazing" five out of five, writing, "The 'Smith have yet again come up with another anthem rock ballad that'll have you screeching in full rock god style until your lungs explode."[2]

Music video[edit]

The accompanying music video for the song, directed by Marty Callner, is well known for its depiction of digital technology and was the second appearance of Alicia Silverstone in the band's videos. Paired with her was Jason London, star of Dazed and Confused, a film which was released in the same year as Get a Grip and which memorably made numerous references to Aerosmith. The characters appear in the music video as two cyberspace kids who escape to a world of virtual reality together, neither realizing the other is also in virtual reality. The head-mounted display worn by London in the video was manufactured by Liquid Image, who was contacted by the production crew and asked to provide a head-mounted display system for the VR sequence. Aerosmith guitarist Joe Perry suffered a slight head injury during the making of the video, and it was extended by 52 seconds at the end, where two loops were inserted.

In the virtual dream world, the two embark on a motorcycle journey and sky-dive, as well as engage in a steamy makeout session. One part of the video shows the characters boarding and taking flight in a biplane which, combined with the digital technology, creates what is often regarded as a fascinating dichotomy between antiquated and modern technology, in some ways presenting a parallel for the characters. Meanwhile, members of the band perform in various parts throughout the song, including in a tunnel, as well as solo shots of Steven Tyler in a room by himself and Joe Perry playing a guitar solo with a cityscape in the background. At the end of the video, it is discovered that it was Silverstone who was engaging in the virtual fantasy.

Track listing[edit]

US 7-inch and cassette single
No.TitleLength
1."Amazing" (LP version)5:56
2."Fever" (LP version)4:16

Charts[edit]

Release history[edit]

Region Date Format(s) Label(s) Ref.
United States November 1993
  • 7-inch vinyl
  • cassette
 Geffen
Japan November 21, 1993 CD [22]
United Kingdom December 6, 1993
  • 12-inch vinyl
  • CD
  • cassette
 [23]

References[edit]

  1. ^ "New Releases: Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 11, no. 4. January 22, 1994. p. 9. Retrieved March 9, 2021.
  2. ^ Daniels, Leesa (December 4, 1993). "New Singles". Smash Hits. p. 57. Retrieved December 16, 2022.
  3. ^ "Aerosmith – Amazing" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved August 7, 2019.
  4. ^ "Aerosmith – Amazing" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved August 7, 2019.
  5. ^ "Top RPM Singles: Issue 2382." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved August 7, 2019.
  6. ^ "Eurochart Hot 100 Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 11, no. 11. March 12, 1994. p. 14. Retrieved February 1, 2020.
  7. ^ "Aerosmith – Amazing" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved August 7, 2019.
  8. ^ "Íslenski Listinn Topp 40 (17.–23. feb.)". Dagblaðið Vísir (in Icelandic). February 17, 1994. p. 20. Retrieved October 1, 2019.
  9. ^ "Nederlandse Top 40 – week 9, 1994" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved August 7, 2019.
  10. ^ "Aerosmith – Amazing" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved August 7, 2019.
  11. ^ "Aerosmith – Amazing". VG-lista. Retrieved August 7, 2019.
  12. ^ "Top 10 Sales in Europe" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 11, no. 2. January 8, 1994. p. 12. Retrieved February 1, 2020.
  13. ^ "Aerosmith – Amazing". Singles Top 100. Retrieved August 7, 2019.
  14. ^ "Aerosmith – Amazing". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved August 7, 2019.
  15. ^ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved August 7, 2019.
  16. ^ "Aerosmith Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved August 7, 2019.
  17. ^ "Aerosmith Chart History (Mainstream Rock)". Billboard. Retrieved August 7, 2019.
  18. ^ "Aerosmith Chart History (Pop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved August 7, 2019.
  19. ^ "RPM Top 100 Hit Tracks of 1994". RPM. Retrieved August 7, 2019 – via Library and Archives Canada.
  20. ^ "Árslistinn 1994". Dagblaðið Vísir (in Icelandic). January 2, 1995. p. 16. Retrieved May 30, 2020.
  21. ^ "Billboard Top 100 – 1994". Archived from the original on March 1, 2009. Retrieved August 27, 2010.
  22. ^ "アメイジング | エアロスミス" [Amazing | Aerosmith] (in Japanese). Oricon. Retrieved August 29, 2023.
  23. ^ "Single Releases". Music Week. December 4, 1993. p. 21.
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