Push It (4:01)

“Push It” is a song by Garbage, released as the first single from their second album Version 2.0 in 1998. It became a worldwide hit in the spring of 1998, preceding the long awaited second album from the group. It was accompanied by an acclaimed music video.

In 2007, “Push It” was remastered and included on Garbage’s greatest hits album Absolute Garbage.

“Push It” was written and recorded at Smart Studios during the 1997 sessions for Version 2.0. Bass on “Push It” is performed by Daniel Shulman. “Push It” contains an interpolation of 60’s Californian band the Beach Boys hit “Don’t Worry Baby” which was written by members Brian Wilson & Roger Christian and 1990s act Salt-N-Pepa’s “Push It” written by Herbie Azor.

“On “Push It”, it was how far can we go, to just get so intense. The verses are slow and dreamy and pull you in, and then, of course, it gets very confrontational. The Beach Boys thing was a conscious thing, Shirley just came up with the lyric don’t worry baby, and we wanted to try having a vocal chorus answering her. I think it was Steve who sampled the Beach Boys right off the record. So we had Shirley Manson singing and the Beach Boys answering her. It was amazing.”

Garbage originally sampled the actual Beach Boys vocal track, but it wouldn’t work with the song, so Shirley re-sung the lyric.