Do the Evolution
"Do the Evolution" is a song by American rock band Pearl Jam. Featuring lyrics written by vocalist Eddie Vedder and music written by guitarist Stone Gossard, "Do the Evolution" is the seventh track on the band's fifth studio album, Yield (1998). Despite the lack of a commercial single release, the song managed to reach number 33 on the Billboard Modern Rock Tracks chart. The song was included on Pearl Jam's 2004 greatest hits album, rearviewmirror (Greatest Hits 1991–2003). It was the first of the band's songs to receive a music video since "Oceans", the final single from the group's 1991 debut Ten.
"Do the Evolution"
Origin and recording[edit]
"Do the Evolution" features lyrics written by vocalist Eddie Vedder and music written by guitarist Stone Gossard. Bassist Jeff Ament does not appear on the track. Gossard recorded the bass line for the track.[2] Vedder said that it is his favorite song from Yield.[3] He stated, "I can listen to it like it's some band that just came out of nowhere. I just like the song. I was able to listen to it as an outside observer and just really play it over and over. Maybe because I was singing it from a third person so it didn't really feel like me singing."[3]
Reception[edit]
Without being released as a single, "Do the Evolution" peaked at number 40 on the Billboard Mainstream Rock Tracks chart and number 34 on the Billboard Modern Rock Tracks chart in 1998.[8][9] In Canada, the song reached number 50 on the RPM 100 Hit Tracks chart.[10] At the 1999 Grammy Awards, "Do the Evolution" received a nomination for Best Hard Rock Performance.[11]
In E! Online's review of Yield, "Do the Evolution" was described as having a "Neil Young-Beck hybrid feel."[12] Tom Sinclair of Entertainment Weekly stated, "On the album's most gleeful hip shaker, "Do the Evolution", Vedder howls throwaway lyrics...while the guitars gnash and grind at the primitive melody, briefly evoking the gnarly cacophony of the Stooges' monumental Fun House."[13]
Live performances[edit]
"Do the Evolution" was first performed live at the band's November 12, 1997, concert in Santa Cruz, California at The Catalyst.[18] Live performances of "Do the Evolution" can be found on the live album Live on Two Legs, various official bootlegs, the Live at the Gorge 05/06 box set, and the live album Live at Lollapalooza 2007. Performances of the song are also included on the DVDs Single Video Theory, Touring Band 2000, Live at the Showbox, and Live at the Garden. On Touring Band 2000, Vedder adds the lyrics "free the West Memphis 3!" to the song.