Judith (A Perfect Circle song)

"Judith"
Single by A Perfect Circle
from the album Mer de Noms
Released2000
StudioSound City Studios, Van Nuys, CA
Genre
Length4:07
LabelVirgin
Songwriters
ProducerBilly Howerdel
A Perfect Circle singles chronology
"Judith"
(2000)
"3 Libras"
(2000)
Music video
"Judith" on YouTube

"Judith" is a song by American rock band A Perfect Circle. It was released as the lead single from their debut album, Mer de Noms. The single was released as a 1-track compact disc single in North America, and a 4-track single on both disc and vinyl format in Australia.

Background

Maynard Keenan explains on the Amotion DVD how the song is about his mother Judith Marie Keenan, who had a stroke and was reliant on a wheelchair for the rest of her life, yet still believed in Christianity.[3][4]

Composition

"Judith" features guitar riffs sliding over complex rhythms and breakdowns. The song's lyrics are deeply personal and express palpable anger. They touch on Maynard's mother, who became reliant on a wheelchair following a stroke, and have him conveying incredulity that she could still maintain her belief in God despite her suffering.[4]

Music video

The music video for "Judith" was directed by David Fincher, the director of Fight Club, Se7en, and music videos for Aerosmith, Madonna, and the Wallflowers.[5] Allen Daviau was the cinematographer.[6]

Track listing

  1. "Judith" – 4:03
  2. "Magdalena" (live) – 4:15
  3. "Breña" (live) – 4:04
  4. "Orestes" (demo) – 3:24

Personnel

Credits adapted from Mer de Noms liner notes[7]

Charts

Chart performance for "Judith"
Chart (2000) Peak
position
Australia (ARIA)[8] 25
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[9] 34
US Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles[10] 5
US Alternative Airplay (Billboard)[11] 5
US Mainstream Rock (Billboard)[12] 4

See also

References

  1. ^ "Tool Leader Keenan Forms A Perfect Circle; Brian Wilson Plans Tour With Orchestras". Billboard. Vol. 112, no. 12. March 18, 2000. p. 12.
  2. ^ Norris, Chris (June 2001). "Of the Gods". Spin. 17 (6): 90.
  3. ^ Borka Petrovic (3 August 2012). "Maynard James Keenan talks about Judith". Archived from the original on December 14, 2021 – via YouTube.
  4. ^ a b de Gallier, Thea (November 28, 2016). "The 10 best songs by a Perfect Circle". Louder Sound.
  5. ^ Basham, David (March 30, 2000). "David Fincher to Direct a Perfect Circle Video". MTV. Archived from the original on September 27, 2022.
  6. ^ Hermanns, Grant (April 16, 2020). "E.T. Cinematographer Allen Daviau Dies at Age 77 of COVID-19". ComingSoon.net. Retrieved September 18, 2025.
  7. ^ Mer de Noms (CD liner notes). A Perfect Circle. Virgin Records. 2000.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  8. ^ "A Perfect Circle – Judith". ARIA Top 50 Singles. Retrieved September 6, 2022.
  9. ^ "A Perfect Circle – Judith". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved September 6, 2022.
  10. ^ "Bubbling Under Hot 100: Week of August 26, 2000". Billboard. Retrieved September 6, 2022.
  11. ^ "A Perfect Circle Chart History (Alternative Airplay)". Billboard. Retrieved August 7, 2017.
  12. ^ "A Perfect Circle Chart History (Mainstream Rock)". Billboard. Retrieved August 7, 2017.