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"Kool Thing" was the first major label single from Sonic Youth's 1990 album Goo. It was released in June 1990 on DGC. The song was inspired by an interview bassist/singer Kim Gordon conducted with LL Cool J for Spin in which the two artists clashed. Although he is never mentioned by name, the song's lyrics contain several references to LL Cool J. Gordon's lyrics make reference to several of the rapper's works, including the single "I Can't Live Without My Radio" and the album Walking With a Panther. She also repeats the line "I don't think so", which appears in LL Cool J's "Going Back to Cali". Chuck D also contributes some vocals in the song.

Track listing

1. "Kool Thing" (LP version) - 4:06
2. "That's All I Know (Right Now)" - 2:20
3. "Dirty Boots" (Rock and Roll Heaven version) - 5:28
4. "Kool Thing" (8-track demo version) - 4:15

"That's All I Know (Right Now)" is a cover of a Neon Boys song, an early Tom Verlaine project.

Music video

The music video for "Kool Thing" was the band's first for a major label. The video was directed by Tamra Davis. The video deals with Kim Gordon's fascination with 1960s radicalism (particularly Patty Hearst and the Black Panthers), and features the band wearing glam style clothing. The video was stylized after LL Cool J's "Going Back to Cali" video, down to the black and white camera, and Go-Go style dancers One of the Go-Go dancers is Amma Walcott.

The video was released June 4, 1990

Singles chart

In pop culture

• It is featured in the video game Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock and available as downloadable content for the Rock Band video game series.
• It is featured in the video game True Crime: New York City.
• The video features Chuck D of Public Enemy, who also appears on the song.
• The song was used in the Hal Hartley film Simple Men.
• In season six, episode 16 of Gilmore Girls, when getting ready for an event, "Kool Thing" can be heard in the background.
• Brian Molko of Placebo said that this was the first song he ever heard by Sonic Youth, adding that if it were not for them, his own band would never have existed.

References

1. Blanco, John (1991-03-20). "STAYING KOOLSONIC YOUTH SURVIVES A MAJOR LABEL". Phoenix New Times. Retrieved 2009-12-23. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
2. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZSzmOuENvFI

• Sonic Youth songs
• 1990 singles
• Experimental rock songs