# Wolves (Garbage song) > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Wolves_(Garbage_song) > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Wolves_(Garbage_song).md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wolves_(Garbage_song) > Source revision: 1341859060 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) {{Use mdy dates|date=November 2023}} {{Infobox song | name = Wolves | cover = Wolves single cover art.jpeg | alt = | type = single | artist = [Garbage](/source/Garbage_(band)) | album = [No Gods No Masters](/source/No_Gods_No_Masters_(Garbage_album)) | released = {{Start date|2021|05|19}} | recorded = 2018–2020 | genre = [Alternative rock](/source/Alternative_rock) | length = {{Duration|m=4|s=16}} | label = Stunvolume | writer = Garbage | producer = * Garbage * [Billy Bush](/source/Billy_Bush_(record_producer)) | prev_title = [No Gods No Masters](/source/No_Gods_No_Masters_(song)) | prev_year = 2021 | year = 2021 | next_title = [Witness to Your Love](/source/Witness_to_Your_Love) | next_year = 2022 }} "'''Wolves'''" is a song by American [alternative rock](/source/alternative_rock) band Garbage. It was released as the third and final single from the band's seventh studio album ''[No Gods No Masters](/source/No_Gods_No_Masters_(Garbage_album))'' (2021) on May 19, 2021 by their independent label Stunvolume.{{Cite web |date=2021-05-19 |title=Garbage – "Wolves" |url=https://www.stereogum.com/2148364/garbage-wolves/music/ |access-date=2022-10-08 |website=Stereogum |language=en}} == Background and composition == "Wolves" is a guitar-driven [alternative rock](/source/alternative_rock) song with [industrial](/source/Industrial_music), [grunge](/source/grunge) and [electronic](/source/Electronic_music) elements.{{Cite web |last=Listening |first=The Daily |date=2021-05-20 |title=[LISTEN] Garbage - "Wolves" |url=https://www.thedailylistening.com/listen-garbage-wolves/ |access-date=2022-10-08 |website=The Daily Listening |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |title=Garbage Shares "Wolves" & Stark Mixed-Media Music Video |url=https://rockcellarmagazine.com/garbage-wolves-no-gods-no-monsters-video-watch/ |access-date=2022-10-08 |website=rockcellarmagazine.com}}{{Cite web |last=Corcoran |first=Nina |date=2021-05-19 |title=Garbage unveil haunting new single "Wolves": Stream |url=https://consequence.net/2021/05/garbage-wolves-stream/ |access-date=2022-10-08 |website=Consequence |language=en-US}} Singer [Shirley Manson](/source/Shirley_Manson) described it as the album's "pop song."{{Cite web |last=Kreps |first=Daniel |date=2021-05-19 |title=Garbage Wrestle With 'Inner Conflict' on New Song 'Wolves' |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/garbage-wolves-video-1171672/ |access-date=2022-10-08 |website=Rolling Stone |language=en-US}} "Wolves" was inspired by [the two wolves story](/source/Two_Wolves) which Manson read somewhere on Easter-European folklore about "the boy who had the wolves inside and this wrestling of good and evil". After she read the story, Manson left a note of it on her computer and never went back to it again, so she doesn't recall where it was from or who wrote it.{{Cite web |title=Garbage's Shirley Manson on Touring with Alanis Morissette and Liz Phair: "It's Not Gonna Be Like a Normal Tour" by Kyle Meredith With... |url=https://anchor.fm/kyle-meredith-with/episodes/Garbages-Shirley-Manson-on-Touring-with-Alanis-Morissette-and-Liz-Phair-Its-Not-Gonna-Be-Like-a-Normal-Tour-e12f9mt |access-date=2022-10-01 |website=Anchor |language=en}} The story was popularized by [Billy Graham](/source/Billy_Graham) in his book ''The Holy Spirit: Activating God's Power in Your Life''.{{Cite web |last=Jay |date=2020-01-11 |title=The Two Wolves — A Story |url=https://medium.com/@jaymis2019/the-two-wolves-a-story-7e7255015e3f |access-date=2022-10-08 |website=Medium |language=en}} Manson said "Wolves" is "a song about inner conflict. About regret. About duality," dealing with the choice of [good vs. evil](/source/Good_and_evil) and questioning "[w]ho are you going to be as a person? Are you going to be a force of harm or are you going to try to do good in the world?" She added "it's mostly to do with the battle with self and how we're all made up with different facets of our personality, and some are good, some are less impressive. And it's the struggle within oneself to try to be kind, try to be good, try to be the best you can be in your life and not resort to the worst version of yourself", joking that she finds as a human being she often resorts to being the worst version of herself. Manson also conceded the song is a reflection on her cruelty and aggressiveness towards other people during her youth, explaining "[i]n the past I have hurt so many people in my life, both knowingly and unknowingly. But when you’re young and in self-survival mode, much like a baby rattlesnake, you have no idea how strong your venom is. But it has the power to kill. Meanwhile you’re just out there having fun." She further added that she believes aggressive behaviour as a response to an offense can be controlled and she pledges to do it by "choos[ing] kindness instead," continuing "I want to try and control the hardcore wolf and let the kind, soft wolf out instead."{{Citation |title=No Gods No Masters by Garbage |date=2021-06-11 |url=https://music.apple.com/us/album/no-gods-no-masters/1556301766 |language=en-US |access-date=2022-10-08}} The lyrics were not only inspired by personal experiences, but also by Manson's nephew Syd, who she claims has a similar emotional makeup to her.{{Cite web |title=At Home With Shirley Manson from Garbage on Apple Music |url=https://music.apple.com/gb/post/1572007929 |access-date=2022-10-08 |website=Apple Music |language=en-GB}}{{Cite web |title=Shirley Manson - My beautiful nephew has just completed his first decade on earth today. Happy Birthday Syd Boi. Love you to the moon and back. ❤️ {{!}} Facebook |url=https://www.facebook.com/shirleymanson/photos/a.10151954235256387/10155418459721387/ |access-date=2022-10-08 |website=www.facebook.com |language=en}} The artwork is an edit of an illustration of a wolf of Southern States by English soldier, artist and naturalist [Charles Hamilton Smith](/source/Charles_Hamilton_Smith).{{Cite web |last=Limited |first=Alamy |title=Wolf of Southern States, North America, Charles Hamilton Smith, 1776–1859, Belgian, ca. 1837, Watercolor, pen and brown ink, gray ink, and graphite on moderately thick, smooth, cream, wove paper, Sheet: 4 7/8 × 7 5/8 inches (12.4 × 19.4 cm), animal art Stock Photo - Alamy |url=https://www.alamy.com/wolf-of-southern-states-north-america-charles-hamilton-smith-17761859-belgian-ca-1837-watercolor-pen-and-brown-ink-gray-ink-and-graphite-on-moderately-thick-smooth-cream-wove-paper-sheet-4-78-7-58-inches-124-194-cm-animal-art-image389703707.html |access-date=2022-10-08 |website=www.alamy.com |language=en}} == Release and promotion == "Wolves" was released as the third and final single from ''No Gods No Masters'' on May 19, 2021. The song was premiered on [Apple Music 1](/source/Apple_Music_1) for ''The [Zane Lowe](/source/Zane_Lowe) Show'' 30 minutes before the release.{{Cite web |title=Wolves tomorrow {{!}} Our new single "Wolves" arrives tomorrow at 10AM PT/6PM UK! Be the first to hear it tomorrow on Apple Music for the @Zane Lowe World First Premiere|url=https://www.facebook.com/GarbageOfficial/videos/wolves-tomorrow/3030415587244070/ |access-date=2022-10-08 |website=www.facebook.com |language=en}} The same day, the music video was released on the band's YouTube channel. The single edit of the song features shorter intro and a [fade-out](/source/fade-out) outro. On June 10, a day before the ''No Gods No Masters'' release, Garbage performed "Wolves" on the ''[Late Night with Seth Meyers](/source/Late_Night_with_Seth_Meyers)'' show.{{Citation |title=Watch Late Night with Seth Meyers Highlight: Garbage: Wolves - NBC.com |date=2021-06-11 |url=https://www.nbc.com/late-night-with-seth-meyers/video/garbage-wolves/4378150 |language=en-US |access-date=2022-08-19}} A live performance of the song recorded at the Mates Rehearsal Studios in [North Hollywood](/source/North_Hollywood%2C_Los_Angeles) was sent to [''World Cafe''](/source/World_Cafe_(radio_program)){{Citation |title=Garbage - 4 Song Set (Recorded Live for World Cafe) |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CCasDqgr3IQ |language=en |access-date=2022-08-19}} to promote the album while keeping social distance during the ongoing [COVID-19 pandemic](/source/COVID-19_pandemic). == Music video == The music video was directed by Chilean video director and artist Javi Mi Amor.{{Citation |title=Garbage - Wolves (Official Video) |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lT4CXVSU18k |language=en |access-date=2022-10-08}} The animated video makes heavy use of [stop motion](/source/stop_motion) and [rotoscoping](/source/rotoscoping) and features two wolves reflecting the song's theme of duality. The video also makes reference to previous Garbage music videos, featuring an animated version of the light bulb-headed man and the nuns surrounding Manson from the "[Push It](/source/Push_It_(Garbage_song))" music video and a female figure coloured in a pink-blue gradient representing Manson in the "[Androgyny](/source/Androgyny_(song))" music video. Due to the depiction of female nudity and allusions to sex, the YouTube video was flagged for adult content. == Reception == Critical reception to "Wolves" was positive, with critics often remarking a similarity of the sound with Garbage's older works. James Rettig of ''[Stereogum](/source/Stereogum)'' described the song as "a scorcher with some tangled-up guitars and a mewling Shirley Manson [hook](/source/Hook_(music))" whilst Mark Millar of ''XS Noize'' qualified it as "angularly powerful, hook-driven"{{Cite web |date=2021-05-19 |title=GARBAGE Share Video For New Single 'Wolves' - Watch Now! {{!}} XS Noize {{!}} Online Music Magazine |url=https://www.xsnoize.com/garbage-share-video-for-new-single-wolves-watch-now/ |access-date=2022-10-08 |website=www.xsnoize.com |language=en-GB}} and Damian Jones of ''[NME](/source/NME)'' as "stomping" and "vitriolic."{{Cite web |last=Jones |first=Damian |date=2021-05-19 |title=Listen to Garbage's stomping new single 'Wolves' |url=https://www.nme.com/news/music/listen-to-garbages-stomping-new-single-wolves-2944195 |access-date=2022-10-08 |website=NME |language=en-GB}} Tyler Golsen of ''Far Out'' called the song a "glammy [techno](/source/techno) stomper."{{Cite web |date=2021-05-21 |title=Listen to Garbage's latest single 'Wolves' |url=https://faroutmagazine.co.uk/listen-to-garbages-latest-single-wolves/ |access-date=2022-10-08 |website=faroutmagazine.co.uk |language=en-US}} In his 8/10 review for ''No Gods No Masters'' on [''Under the Radar''](/source/Under_the_Radar_(magazine)), Andy Von Pip praised "Wolves" for being "classic Garbage demonstrating their innate ability to craft futuristic dystopian doom pop." Austin Jones of [''Paste magazine''](/source/Paste_(magazine)) also complimented the track, saying it was reminiscent of vintage Garbage.{{Cite web |date=2021-06-08 |title=Garbage Serve up a Cooling Balm of Angst on No Gods No Masters |url=https://www.pastemagazine.com/music/garbage/no-gods-no-masters-album-review/ |access-date=2022-10-08 |website=pastemagazine.com |language=en}} Andrew Trendell was also positive in his review of the album for ''NME'', calling the track "a devious little desert [rock pop](/source/Pop_rock) beast."{{Cite web |last=Trendell |first=Andrew |date=2021-06-10 |title=Garbage – 'No Gods No Masters' review: their best in 20 years (but could only be made now) |url=https://www.nme.com/reviews/album/garbage-no-gods-no-masters-review-2963417 |access-date=2022-10-08 |website=NME |language=en-GB}} Lori Gava of ''XS Noize'' called the track "a free-wheeling examination of [Narcissism](/source/Narcissism) [run amok](/source/Running_amok)," saying it is "catchy as hell" and singling it out as a "must listen to" track on the album.{{Cite web |date=2021-06-11 |title=ALBUM REVIEW: Garbage - No Gods No Masters {{!}} XS Noize {{!}} Online Music Magazine |url=https://www.xsnoize.com/album-review-garbage-no-gods-no-masters/ |access-date=2022-10-08 |website=www.xsnoize.com |language=en-GB}} ''Wall of Sound'' particularly complimented the track's and previous single "No Gods No Masters'" production, defining it "eighties style."{{Cite web |last=walladmin |date=2021-06-08 |title=Garbage – No Gods No Masters (Album Review) |url=https://wallofsoundau.com/2021/06/09/garbage-no-gods-no-masters-album-review/ |access-date=2022-10-08 |website=Wall of Sound |language=en-US}} == Charts == {| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" |+Chart performance for "Wolves" ! scope="col" |Chart (2021) ! scope="col" |Peak position |- ! scope="row" |US [Adult Alternative Airplay](/source/Adult_Alternative_Airplay) (''[Billboard](/source/Billboard_(magazine))''){{Cite web |title=Garbage {{!}} Biography, Music & News |url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/garbage/ |access-date=2024-05-19 |website=Billboard |language=en-US}} | align="center" |37 |} == References == {{Reflist}} {{Garbage (band)}} {{Authority control}} Category:2021 singles Category:2021 songs Category:Animated music videos Category:Garbage (band) songs Category:Song recordings produced by Butch Vig Category:Songs written by Butch Vig Category:Songs written by Duke Erikson Category:Songs written by Shirley Manson Category:Songs written by Steve Marker Category:Works about narcissism --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Wolves (Garbage song)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wolves_(Garbage_song)) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wolves_(Garbage_song)?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.