The Smashing Pumpkins were one of my college bands. In the early 90s, it was all grunge, all the time. I couldn’t stand most of it. Nirvana irritated, except for a few songs here and there (I did like Heart Shaped Box). Alice in Chains? Forget it. Pearl Jam? Eh, I liked Alive, that was about it. But the Smashing Pumpkins … they were different. They had some pop to them. The first time I heard Today, I was in my friend’s dorm room. That jangly beginning, the faux-happy lyrics, the whole sound was great. I admit that I like their lighter music better, although some of the darker music, like Bullet in Butterfly Wings is good too.

This song takes me back to a time when I really did think that relationships could be perfect … While I don’t believe that today, the lyrics still get to me: “But please, you know you’re just like me, next time I promise we’ll be perfect.”

I know
We’re just like old friends
We just can’t pretend
That lovers make amends
We are reasons so unreal
We can’t help but feel
That something has been lost

But please
You know you’re just like me
Next time I promise we’ll be perfect
Perfect
Perfect

Strangers down the line
Lovers out of time
Memories unwind
So far, I still know who you are
But now I wonder who I was
Angel, you know it’s not the end
We’ll always be good friends
The letters have been sent on

So please
You always were so free
You’ll see, I promise we’ll be perfect
Perfect

Strangers when we meet
Strangers on the street
Lovers while we sleep

Perfect
You know this has to be
We always were so free
We promised that we’d be
Perfect
Perfect