Novocaine for the Soul

"Novocaine for the Soul" is a song by American rock band Eels. It was released as the lead single from their 1996 debut album, Beautiful Freak. The song charted in several countries including the United States, Canada, United Kingdom and the Netherlands.

"Novocaine for the Soul"
Single by Eels
from the album Beautiful Freak
Released	1996
Genre	Alternative rock indie rock
Length	3:08
Label	DreamWorks
Songwriter(s)	Mark Oliver Everett Mark Goldenberg
Producer(s)	Mark Oliver Everett
Eels singles chronology
"Novocaine for the Soul" (1996) "Susan's House" (1997)
Music video
"Novocaine for the Soul" on YouTube

Background

Discussing the song's subject matter in 1996, Eels frontman E said, "Part of my problem is with intimacy. 'Novocaine for the Soul' sounds detached because it's about detachment. That's what I think is so great about that song, and on that level I think it's almost genius. It's detachment personified. I'm singing about numbness and I'm numb. It's about having too much feeling."^[1]

Release

After Steven Spielberg, Jeffrey Katzenberg and David Geffen signed the band to their then-newly formed record label DreamWorks, "Novocaine for the Soul" brought Eels international success, most notably in the United Kingdom, where it hit number 10 in the UK Singles Chart in February 1997.^[2] It also hit number one on the Billboard Modern Rock Tracks chart for two weeks in October 1996, and remained on the chart for 25 weeks.^[3] In Australia, "Novocaine for the Soul" peaked at number 84 in October 1996.^[4]

The song was featured in the television shows Trigger Happy TV, My Mad Fat Diary, and Five Bedrooms, the films Berlin Blues, Mean Creek and Dream for an Insomniac, and a trailer for the 2001 film Novocaine.

Music video

The music video was directed by Mark Romanek and features E and the other band members suspended on wires, making them appear to be flying.

Track listing

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Length
1.	"Novocaine for the Soul"	Mark Oliver Everett Mark Goldenberg	3:08
2.	"Guest List"	Everett	3:13
3.	"My Beloved Monster" (live from Tennessee)	Everett	2:13
4.	"Fucker"

Charts

Weekly charts Chart (1996–1997) Peak position Australia (ARIA)[4] 84 Canada Top Singles (RPM)[5] 76 Canada Rock/Alternative (RPM)[6] 1 Netherlands (Single Top 100)[7] 90 Scotland (OCC)[8] 7 UK Singles (OCC)[2] 10 US Radio Songs (Billboard)[9] 39 US Alternative Airplay (Billboard)[3] 1

Year-end charts Chart (1996) Position Canada Rock/Alternative (RPM)[10] 25 US Modern Rock (Billboard)[11] 23 Chart (1997) Position UK Singles (OCC)[12] 200

Certifications

Region	Certification	Certified units/sales
United Kingdom (BPI)[13]	Silver	200,000‡
‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Covers

• Portugal. The Man featuring Sir Chloe, released September 2021 (packaged as a single with a cover of Len's "Steal My Sunshine" featuring Cherry Glazerr on the other side)

See also

• Number one modern rock hits of 1996
• List of RPM Rock/Alternative number-one singles (Canada)

References

1. "PainspottingEel". Archived from the original on July 25, 2008. Retrieved May 26, 2021.
2. "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved May 26, 2021.
3. "Eels Chart History (Alternative Airplay)". Billboard. Retrieved August 7, 2017.
4. Ryan, Gavin (2011). Australia's Music Charts 1988–2010. Mt. Martha, VIC, Australia: Moonlight Publishing.
5. "Top RPM Singles: Issue 9929." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved May 26, 2021.
6. "Top RPM Rock/Alternative Tracks: Issue 9923." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved May 26, 2021.
7. "Eels – Novocaine for the Soul" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved May 26, 2021.
8. "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved May 26, 2021.
9. "Eels Chart History (Radio Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved May 26, 2021.
10. "RPM Year End Top Alternative Top 50". RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved May 26, 2021.
11. "This Year in Music: Hot Modern Rock Tracks". Billboard. 28 December 1996. Retrieved December 25, 2023.
12. "Najlepsze single na UK Top 40–1997" (in Polish). Archived from the original on 4 June 2015. Retrieved 2 July 2019.
13. "British single certifications – Eels – Novocaine for the Soul". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved January 6, 2024.

External links

• Novocaine for the Soul at MusicBrainz (list of releases)