"Sympathy for the Devil"
1973 German single picture sleeve
Song by the Rolling Stones
from the album Beggars Banquet
Released6 December 1968 (1968-12-06)
Recorded4–5, 8–10 June 1968
StudioOlympic, London
GenreSamba rock
Length6:18
LabelDecca
Songwriter(s)Jagger–Richards
Producer(s)Jimmy Miller
Audio sample
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"Sympathy for the Devil" on YouTube

"Sympathy for the Devil" is a song by English rock band the Rolling Stones. The song was written by Mick Jagger and credited to the Jagger–Richards partnership. It is the opening track on the band's 1968 album Beggars Banquet. The song has received critical acclaim and features on Rolling Stone's 500 Greatest Songs of All Time list.[1]

Inspiration

"Sympathy for the Devil" is credited to Jagger and Richards, though the song was largely a Jagger composition.[2] The working title of the song was "The Devil Is My Name", having earlier been called "Fallen Angels". Jagger sings in first person narrative as the Devil, who boasts of his role in each of several historical atrocities and repeatedly asks the listener to "guess my name." The singer demands the listener's courtesy towards him, implicitly chastising the listeners for their collective culpability in the listed killings and crimes. In the 2012 documentary Crossfire Hurricane, Jagger stated that his influence for the song came from Baudelaire and from the Russian author Mikhail Bulgakov's novel The Master and Margarita (which had just appeared in English translation in 1967). The book was given to Jagger by Marianne Faithfull and she confirmed the inspiration in an interview with Sylvie Simmons for the magazine Mojo in 2005.[3]

In a 1995 interview with Rolling Stone, Jagger said, "that was taken from an old idea of Baudelaire's, I think, but I could be wrong. Sometimes when I look at my Baudelaire books, I can't see it in there. But it was an idea I got from French writing. And I just took a couple of lines and expanded on it. I wrote it as sort of like a Bob Dylan song."[2] It was Richards who suggested changing the tempo and using additional percussion, turning the folk song into a samba.[4]

Jagger stated in the Rolling Stone interview: "it's a very long historical figure – the figures of evil and figures of good – so it is a tremendously long trail he's made as personified in this piece."[2] By the time Beggars Banquet was released, the Rolling Stones had already caused controversy for sexually forward lyrics such as "Let's Spend the Night Together"[5] and their cover of the Willie Dixon's blues "I Just Want to Make Love to You". There were also claims they had dabbled in Satanism[6] (their previous album, while containing no direct Satanic references in its music or lyrics, was titled Their Satanic Majesties Request). "Sympathy" brought these concerns to the fore, provoking media rumors and fears among some religious groups that the Stones were devil worshippers and a corrupting influence on youth.[6]

The lyrics focus on atrocities in mankind's history from Satan's point of view, including the trial and death of Jesus Christ, European wars of religion, the violence of the Russian Revolution of 1917 and the 1918 execution of the Romanov family during World War I, and World War II. The song was originally written with a line asking who shot Kennedy, but after Robert F. Kennedy's assassination on 6 June 1968, the line was changed to reference both assassinations.[7]

The song may have been spared further controversy when the first single from the same album, "Street Fighting Man", became even more controversial in view of the race riots and student protests occurring in many cities in Europe and in the United States.[8]

Recording

The recording of "Sympathy for the Devil" began at London's Olympic Sound Studios on 4 June 1968; overdubs were done on 8, 9 and 10 June.[9] Personnel included on the recording include Nicky Hopkins on piano, Rocky Dijon on congas and Bill Wyman on shekere. Marianne Faithfull, Anita Pallenberg, Brian Jones, Charlie Watts, photographer Michael Cooper, Wyman, and Richards performed backup vocals. Richards plays bass on the original recording, and also electric guitar. Brian Jones plays a mostly mixed out acoustic guitar, although in isolated tracks of the studio cut, it is audible playing along with the piano.

In the 2003 book According to the Rolling Stones, Watts commented:

"Sympathy" was one of those sort of songs where we tried everything. The first time I ever heard the song was when Mick was playing it  ...  and it was fantastic. We had a go at loads of different ways of playing it; in the end I just played a jazz Latin feel in the style that Kenny Clarke would have played on "A Night in Tunisia".[4]

On the overall power of the song, Jagger continued in Rolling Stone:

It has a very hypnotic groove, a samba, which has a tremendous hypnotic power, rather like good dance music. It doesn't speed up or slow down. It keeps this constant groove. Plus, the actual samba rhythm is a great one to sing on, but it's also got some other suggestions in it, an undercurrent of being primitive – because it is a primitive African, South American, Afro-whatever-you-call-that rhythm (candombe).[2]

The backing vocals came about by accident by producer Jimmy Miller and Anita Pallenberg. Pallenberg was in the engineering booth with Miller while Jagger was belting out an early vocal take of the song. According to Pallenberg, Miller was half talking to himself as Jagger sang, saying "Who, who?" He then repeated the words several times as Jagger sang on, and Pallenberg realized how wonderful that all sounded. After the take, she told Jagger what transpired in the booth and suggested that "who who" be used in the song as a backing vocal chant. The Stones then gave it a go and after the first take, "Who who" became "woo-woo", with most of this caught on film by director Jean-Luc Godard for his One Plus One (a.k.a. Sympathy for the Devil) movie.

Legacy

Of the change in public perception the band experienced after the song's release, Richards said in a 1971 interview with Rolling Stone, "Before, we were just innocent kids out for a good time, they're saying, 'They're evil, they're evil.' Oh, I'm evil, really? So that makes you start thinking about evil ... What is evil? Half of it, I don't know how many people think of Mick as the devil or as just a good rock performer or what? There are black magicians who think we are acting as unknown agents of Lucifer and others who think we are Lucifer. Everybody's Lucifer."[10]

Hunter S. Thompson and his attorney Oscar Zeta Acosta kept replaying the song hundreds of times during their drug-induced Chevy ride to Las Vegas in 1971 to maintain focus whilst high on class A drugs. In Thompson's novel, Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas and the film of the same name, the song is referenced several times.[11]

Contrary to a widespread misconception, it was "Under My Thumb" and not "Sympathy for the Devil" that the Stones were performing when Meredith Hunter was killed at the Altamont Free Concert.[6] Rolling Stone magazine's early articles on the incident typically misreported that the killing took place during "Sympathy for the Devil",[12] but the Stones in fact played "Sympathy for the Devil" earlier in the concert; it was interrupted by a fight and restarted, Jagger commenting, "We're always having – something very funny happens when we start that number." Several other songs were performed before Hunter was killed.[9]

Personnel

According to authors Philippe Margotin and Jean-Michel Guesdon,[13] except where noted:

The Rolling Stones

Additional personnel

Certifications

Region CertificationCertified units/sales
Australia (ARIA)[18] 3× Platinum 210,000‡
Germany (BVMI)[19] Gold 250,000‡
Italy (FIMI)[20] Platinum 50,000‡
United Kingdom (BPI)[21] Platinum 600,000‡

‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Avant-garde film

Cover art for DVD release

Sympathy for the Devil is also the title of a 1968 film by Godard, also titled One Plus One. A depiction of the late 1960s American counterculture, the film primarily featured the Rolling Stones in the process of recording the song in the studio. On the filming, Jagger said in Rolling Stone: "[it was] very fortuitous, because Godard wanted to do a film of us in the studio. I mean, it would never happen now, to get someone as interesting as Godard. And stuffy. We just happened to be recording that song. We could have been recording 'My Obsession'. But it was 'Sympathy for the Devil', and it became the track that we used."[2]

During the several days of recording the Stones as they played, a film lamp set up by Godard's crew started a major fire in the studio that caused substantial damage to the studio and laid waste to some of the band's equipment. However, the song's tapes were saved by Miller before he fled the studio, and Godard kept his cameras rolling capturing the fire on film as it roared on.

Guns N' Roses version

"Sympathy for the Devil"
Single by Guns N' Roses
from the album Interview with the Vampire (soundtrack)
B-side"Escape to Paris" (by Elliot Goldenthal)
Released27 December 1994
RecordedOctober 1994
StudioRumbo Recorders (Los Angeles)
GenreHard rock
Length7:36
LabelGeffen
Songwriter(s)Jagger/Richards
Producer(s)
Guns N' Roses singles chronology
"Since I Don't Have You"
(1994)		 "Sympathy for the Devil"
(1994)		 "Chinese Democracy"
(2008)

Guns N' Roses recorded a cover in 1994 which reached number 55 on the Billboard Hot 100; it was featured in the closing credits of Neil Jordan's film adaptation of Anne Rice's Interview with the Vampire and was included on their Greatest Hits album. This cover is noteworthy for causing an incident involving incoming guitarist Paul "Huge" Tobias, that was partially responsible for guitarist Slash departing from the band in 1996.[22] Slash has described the Guns N' Roses version of the song as "the sound of the band breaking up".[23]

Rhythm guitarist Gilby Clarke, who does not appear on the recording, noted that the recording foreshadowed his departure from the band:

They did that while I was on the road touring for my solo record. [...] I knew that that was the ending because nobody told me about it. Officially I was in the band at that time, and they did that song without me. That was one of the last straws for me, because nobody had said anything to me, and they recorded a song by one of my favorite bands.[24]

This was the band's final single until 2021's "Absurd" to feature guitarist Slash and bassist Duff McKagan.

Personnel

Charts

Weekly charts

Weekly chart performance for "Sympathy for the Devil"
Chart (1994–1995) Peak
position
Australia (ARIA)[25] 12
Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)[26] 17
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[27] 18
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Wallonia)[28] 40
Canada Top Singles (RPM)[29] 48
Canada (The Record)[30] 9
Denmark (IFPI)[31] 2
Europe (Eurochart Hot 100)[32] 3
Finland (Suomen virallinen lista)[33] 2
France (SNEP)[34] 15
Germany (Official German Charts)[35] 20
Iceland (Íslenski listinn Topp 40)[36] 4
Ireland (IRMA)[37] 5
Italy (Musica e dischi)[38] 5
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[39] 10
Netherlands (Single Top 100)[40] 9
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[41] 13
Norway (VG-lista)[42] 5
Scotland (OCC)[43] 8
Spain (AFYVE)[44] 4
Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)[45] 7
Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[46] 15
UK Singles (OCC)[47] 9
US Billboard Hot 100[48] 55
US Mainstream Rock (Billboard)[49] 10

Year-end charts

1994 year-end chart performance for "Sympathy for the Devil"
Chart (1994) Position
Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)[50] 97
1995 year-end chart performance for "Sympathy for the Devil"
Chart (1995) Position
Belgium (Ultratop Wallonia)[51] 74
Europe (Eurochart Hot 100)[52] 63
Iceland (Íslenski Listinn Topp 40)[53] 86
Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)[54] 88

Sales and certifications

Region CertificationCertified units/sales
Japan (RIAJ)[55] Gold 50,000^

^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

Notes

  1. ↑ Margotin and Guesdon write that, in addition to Wyman's shekere contribution, other maracas appear on the track, but are unsure who contributed them.[15]
  2. ↑ Authors Andy Babiuk and Greg Prevost write that Faithfull and Pallenberg added backing vocals with the Rolling Stones,[14] while Margotin and Guesdon write the additional vocals were provided by Faithfull and Pallenberg, as well as Jones' new girlfriend, model Suki Potier, and the session's sound engineer, Glyn Johns.[16] However, the footage shot during the recording session by Jean-Luc Godard for his film One Plus One clearly shows that the background vocals, in addition to the band members, are Faithfull and Pallenberg along with photographer Michael Cooper.

References

  1. ↑ "Sympathy For the Devil ranked #106 on Rolling Stone 500 Greatest Songs List". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 23 September 2021.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 Wenner, Jann (14 December 1995). "Mick Jagger Remembers". Rolling Stone.
  3. ↑ Vanhellemont, Jan. "The Rolling Stones – Sympathy for the Devil". EU: The Master and Margarita.
  4. 1 2 Jagger, Mick; Richards, Keith; Watts, Charlie; Wood, Ronnie (2003). According to the Rolling Stones. Chronicle Books. p. 119. ISBN 0-8118-4060-3.
  5. ↑ Unterberger, Richie. "Let's Spend the Night Together". AllMusic. 2007. Retrieved 26 June 2007.
  6. 1 2 3 Cruickshank, Douglas (14 January 2002). "Sympathy for the Devil". Salon. Retrieved 25 June 2006.
  7. ↑ Jagger/Richards (20 June 2004). "Sympathy for the Devil". RollingStones.com. Archived from the original on 30 September 2007. Retrieved 1 March 2008.
  8. ↑ Wyman, Bill (2002). Rolling With the Stones. DK Publishing. p. 309. ISBN 0-7894-9998-3.
  9. 1 2 Zentgraf, Nico. "The Complete Works of the Rolling Stones 1962–2008". Retrieved 23 February 2008.
  10. ↑ Greenfield, Robert (19 August 1971). "The Rolling Stone Interview: Keith Richards". Rolling Stone.
  11. ↑ "Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas". Daily Script.
  12. ↑ Burks, John (7 February 1970). "Rock & Roll's Worst Day". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on 23 April 2006. Retrieved 13 September 2008.
  13. ↑ Margotin & Guesdon 2016, pp. 256–259.
  14. 1 2 3 Babiuk & Prevost 2013, p. 290.
  15. ↑ Margotin & Guesdon 2016, p. 259.
  16. ↑ Margotin & Guesdon 2016, p. 256.
  17. ↑ Godard Whoo-Whoo's footage retrieved 31 August 2023
  18. ↑ "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2023 Singles" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association.
  19. ↑ "Gold-/Platin-Datenbank (The Rolling Stones; 'Sympathy for the devil')" (in German). Bundesverband Musikindustrie. Retrieved 10 June 2023.
  20. ↑ "Italian single certifications – The Rolling Stones – (Sympathy for the devil)" (in Italian). Federazione Industria Musicale Italiana. Retrieved 10 June 2023. Select "2019" in the "Anno" drop-down menu. Select "(Sympathy for the devil)" in the "Filtra" field. Select "Singoli" under "Sezione".
  21. ↑ "British single certifications – Rolling Stones – Sympathy for the Devil". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 31 July 2020.
  22. ↑ Gary Graft (January 1997). "Total Guitar-Slash, Rock and Roses 1997". oocities.org; Total Guitar. Retrieved 24 April 2015.
  23. ↑ Bozza, Anthony; Slash (2007). Slash (Paperback). New York: Harper Collins. p. 480. ISBN 978-0-00-725777-5. (German paperback is ISBN 0-00-725776-7)
  24. ↑ "Gilby Clarke Opens Up About His Final Guns N' Roses Gig". Ultimate Classic Rock. 11 October 2013.
  25. ↑ "Guns N' Roses – Sympathy for the Devil". ARIA Top 50 Singles. Retrieved 26 March 2017.
  26. ↑ "Guns N' Roses – Sympathy for the Devil" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved 26 March 2017.
  27. ↑ "Guns N' Roses – Sympathy for the Devil" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved 26 March 2017.
  28. ↑ "Guns N' Roses – Sympathy for the Devil" (in French). Ultratop 50. Retrieved 26 March 2017.
  29. ↑ "Top RPM Singles: Issue 2701." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 25 November 2019.
  30. ↑ "HITS OF THE WORLD". Billboard. 22 April 1995. Retrieved 30 December 2018.
  31. ↑ "Top 10 Sales in Europe" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 12, no. 3. 21 January 1995. p. 15. Retrieved 12 April 2020.
  32. ↑ "Eurochart Hot 100 Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 12, no. 3. 21 January 1995. p. 13. Retrieved 12 April 2020.
  33. ↑ Pennanen, Timo. Sisältää hitin: levyt ja esittäjät Suomen musiikkilistoilla vuodesta 1972. Otava Publishing Company Ltd, 2003. ISBN 951-1-21053-X
  34. ↑ "Guns N' Roses – Sympathy for the Devil" (in French). Les classement single. Retrieved 26 March 2017.
  35. ↑ "Guns N' Roses – Sympathy for the Devil" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved 26 March 2017.
  36. ↑ "Íslenski Listinn Topp 40 (21.01 '95 – 27.01 '95)". Dagblaðið Vísir (in Icelandic). 21 January 1995. p. 20. Retrieved 30 May 2020.
  37. ↑ "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Guns N' Roses". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved 26 March 2017.
  38. ↑ "Top 10 Sales in Europe" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 12, no. 2. 14 January 1995. p. 11. Retrieved 25 November 2019.
  39. ↑ "Nederlandse Top 40 – week 2, 1995" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved 28 September 2018.
  40. ↑ "Guns N' Roses – Sympathy for the Devil" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved 26 March 2017.
  41. ↑ "Guns N' Roses – Sympathy for the Devil". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved 26 March 2017.
  42. ↑ "Guns N' Roses – Sympathy for the Devil". VG-lista. Retrieved 26 March 2017.
  43. ↑ "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 28 September 2018.
  44. ↑ Salaverri, Fernando (September 2005). Sólo éxitos: año a año, 1959–2002 (1st ed.). Spain: Fundación Autor-SGAE. ISBN 84-8048-639-2.
  45. ↑ "Guns N' Roses – Sympathy for the Devil". Singles Top 100. Retrieved 26 March 2017.
  46. ↑ "Guns N' Roses – Sympathy for the Devil". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved 26 March 2017.
  47. ↑ "Guns N' Roses: Artist Chart History". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 26 March 2017.
  48. ↑ "Guns N' Roses Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved 26 March 2017.
  49. ↑ "Guns N' Roses Chart History (Mainstream Rock)". Billboard. Retrieved 26 March 2017.
  50. ↑ "Årslista Singlar, 1994" (in Swedish). Sverigetopplistan. Retrieved 27 April 2022.
  51. ↑ "Rapports Annuels 1995". Ultratop. Retrieved 31 January 2022.
  52. ↑ "Year End Sales Charts – Eurochart Hot 100 Singles 1995" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 12, no. 51/52. 23 December 1995. p. 14. Retrieved 30 May 2020.
  53. ↑ "Árslistinn 1995". Dagblaðið Vísir (in Icelandic). 2 January 1996. p. 25. Retrieved 30 May 2020.
  54. ↑ "Årslista Singlar, 1995" (in Swedish). Sverigetopplistan. Retrieved 27 April 2022.
  55. ↑ "RIAJ > The Record > June 1995 > Page 5 > Certified Awards (April 1995)" (PDF). Recording Industry Association of Japan (in Japanese). Retrieved 14 February 2014.

Sources

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