Immortality is a song by Pearl Jam, released on June 6, 1995 as the third single from the band’s third studio album, Vitalogy (1994). Although credited to all members of Pearl Jam, it was primarily written by vocalist Eddie Vedder. The song was included on Pearl Jam’s 2004 greatest hits album, rearviewmirror (Greatest Hits 1991–2003). Immortality Single album by Pearl Jam from the album Vitalogy was recorded on March-April 1994 at Southern Tracks Recording and Doppler Studios, Atlanta, Georgia and April-May 1994 at Bad Animals Studio, Seattle, Washington.
Immortality peaked at number 10 on the Billboard Mainstream Rock Tracks chart and number 31 on the Billboard Modern Rock Tracks chart. Outside of the United States, the single was released commercially in Australia, Austria, Canada, Germany, and the Netherlands. In Canada, the song reached number 62 on the Canadian Singles Chart, and later charted on the Canadian Alternative Top 30 chart, where it peaked at number ten. Immortality reached the top 30 in New Zealand.
The lyrical interpretation of Immortality can be disputed, as many feel it may be about Nirvana frontman Kurt Cobain‘s death, although vocalist Eddie Vedder has denied this. He stated:
No, that was written when we were on tour in Atlanta. It’s not about Kurt. Nothing on the album was written directly about Kurt, and I don’t feel like talking about him, because it (might be seen) as exploitation. But I think there might be some things in the lyrics that you could read into and maybe will answer some questions or help you understand the pressures on someone who is on a parallel train…
In a later interview, Vedder talked about how he thought of Cobain and himself as “parallel trains.” He said:
You look at it objectively and you think, ‘What could be so fucking hard about being in a band?’ But if you’re coming from a place that’s real, it’s much harder.
Tracklist:
- Immortality
- Rearviewmirror (Performed by The Frogs)
Pearl Jam
Jeff Ament: bass guitar
Stone Gossard: guitar, vocals
Mike McCready: guitar
Eddie Vedder: vocals, guitar
Dave Abbruzzese: drums
