Written by: Beck Hansen, Pharrell Williams
Versions:
- Chemical
Available on Hyperspace.
CreditsPharrell Williams: Drums, keyboards, Producer
Brent Paschke: Guitar
Randy Merrill: Mastering
David Greenbaum: Mix
Beck Hansen: Producer, Vocals
Roger Joseph Manning Jr.: Vocals (Background)
Lyrics:
Chemical [Version (a)]:
They say love is a chemical
Anodyne to the soul
What I really really want to know
Is if a mind's in control
I'm so high
And love is a chemical
I'm so high
And love is a chemical
Start it
Start it again
A random thought, a memory
A tidal wave of energy
I'm on my knees
A sudden change in everything
Don't know what I would even feel when I'm free
Found love, just a fantasy
Beautiful and ugly as a life could be
I don't lose any sleep honestly
I'm so high
And love is a chemical
I'm so high
And love is a chemical
Start it
Start it again
I can feel it minute by minute by day
I don't want to get it all night this way
Finally gonna get it on my mind this way
Saying what I feel
What can I tell you don't know?
Why you have to be like that?
Alligator teardrops fall
Love is a... love is a chemical
Love, it wears off like a miracle
I don't need anyone to turn me on
I don't need anyone, no
And when the feeling is over
There's no explanation
Shock to the system
Infatuation
Shake like a flower
Strange revelation
Cruel love illusion
Start it
Start it again
(I'm so high)
Saying what I feel
What can I tell you don't know?
Why you have to be like that?
Alligator teardrops fall
Love is a... love is a chemical
Love, it wears off like a miracle
I don't need anyone to turn me on
I don't need anyone no
(Start it again)
They say love is a chemical
Anodyne to the soul
What I really really want to know
Is if a mind's in control
I'm so high
And love is a chemical
I'm so high
And love is a chemical
Start it
Start it again
A random thought, a memory
A tidal wave of energy
I'm on my knees
A sudden change in everything
Don't know what I would even feel when I'm free
Found love, just a fantasy
Beautiful and ugly as a life could be
I don't lose any sleep honestly
I'm so high
And love is a chemical
I'm so high
And love is a chemical
Start it
Start it again
I can feel it minute by minute by day
I don't want to get it all night this way
Finally gonna get it on my mind this way
Saying what I feel
What can I tell you don't know?
Why you have to be like that?
Alligator teardrops fall
Love is a... love is a chemical
Love, it wears off like a miracle
I don't need anyone to turn me on
I don't need anyone, no
And when the feeling is over
There's no explanation
Shock to the system
Infatuation
Shake like a flower
Strange revelation
Cruel love illusion
Start it
Start it again
(I'm so high)
Saying what I feel
What can I tell you don't know?
Why you have to be like that?
Alligator teardrops fall
Love is a... love is a chemical
Love, it wears off like a miracle
I don't need anyone to turn me on
I don't need anyone no
(Start it again)
The Song:
This is a song on Beck's 2019 album, Hyperspace. It was one of the one of the songs done as a collaboration with Pharrell.
Beck has explained on another of the songs, "Uneventful Days," that basically Pharrell had the track and gave it to Beck to figure out what and how to sing over it. And looking at the credits for "Chemical," my guess is it was a similar deal. The only musicians credited on it are Pharrell (keys and drums) and Pharrell's guitarist, Brent Paschke. Then Beck and Roger Joseph Manning, Jr. sing vocals on top of it.
Beck did describe the evolution of the song, noting on Sirius FM how it went from a "Duran Duran/trap" song to something a little more psychedelic. He also called it his favorite song on the record.
Even though it isn't credited as such, the version of the song on Hyperspace 2020 seems to have some slightly different mix tweaks. Beck remixed four tracks for the release, but "Chemical" is not listed as one of them. But there seems to be some small change to the vocal mix at one point (around 3:38 in the song).
This is a song on Beck's 2019 album, Hyperspace. It was one of the one of the songs done as a collaboration with Pharrell.
Beck has explained on another of the songs, "Uneventful Days," that basically Pharrell had the track and gave it to Beck to figure out what and how to sing over it. And looking at the credits for "Chemical," my guess is it was a similar deal. The only musicians credited on it are Pharrell (keys and drums) and Pharrell's guitarist, Brent Paschke. Then Beck and Roger Joseph Manning, Jr. sing vocals on top of it.
Beck did describe the evolution of the song, noting on Sirius FM how it went from a "Duran Duran/trap" song to something a little more psychedelic. He also called it his favorite song on the record.
Even though it isn't credited as such, the version of the song on Hyperspace 2020 seems to have some slightly different mix tweaks. Beck remixed four tracks for the release, but "Chemical" is not listed as one of them. But there seems to be some small change to the vocal mix at one point (around 3:38 in the song).
Live:
Played live 8 times:
Earliest known live version: June 5, 2022
Latest known live version: April 16, 2023
Played live 8 times:
June 5, 2022
June 8, 2022
June 18, 2022
June 21, 2022
June 24, 2022
June 26, 2022
June 28, 2022
April 16, 2023
June 8, 2022
June 18, 2022
June 21, 2022
June 24, 2022
June 26, 2022
June 28, 2022
April 16, 2023
Earliest known live version: June 5, 2022
Latest known live version: April 16, 2023