Thanks to the resilience of the band and some persistent studio support, “Hey Jealousy” stands out as the breakthrough single for Gin Blossoms. But there’s also a sad story behind it, due to the struggles of the guy who wrote the song.
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Many people who groove out to the track’s adept mix of musical forward momentum and lyrical tartness don’t have a clue what went on behind the scenes. That story delivers triumph and tragedy in equal measure.
Blossoming Stars
The Gin Blossoms formed out of the Tempe, Arizona area in 1987. Like so many bands, they shuffled through several different lineups in their early days. But they were able to churn out a debut album, Dusted, on an independent label in 1989.
That Gin Blossoms album included a pair of songs, “Hey Jealousy” and “Found Out About You”, that would become big hits for the band. The success wouldn’t actually take place until a few years down the road. Gin Blossoms would eventually get a major label behind them and record the songs with a bit more polish.
Both of those songs were written by the band’s lead guitarist, Doug Hopkins. Hopkins wrote “Hey Jealousy” based on the struggles he was having in a relationship at the time. And those were struggles that emanated from his drinking and disloyalty.
“Jealousy” Rises
In 1992, Gin Blossoms secured a major deal with A&M. They decided to re-record “Hey Jealousy” and “Found Out About You” for the album New Miserable Experience. The label decided to give the band a boost in the form of a video for “Hey Jealousy”.
The song, boosted by this turn of events, made it all the way to no. 25 on the pop charts in 1993. Sadly, by that time, the man who wrote it was out of the group. Although he finished recording New Miserable Experience with the band, Doug Hopkins was asked to leave the group when his drinking became unmanageable.
Thus, Hopkins watched from the sidelines as the song took off. “Found Out About You”, another Hopkins composition, was on its way up the charts when Hopkins tragically took his own life in December 1993.
Behind the Meaning of “Hey Jealousy”
“Hey Jealousy” plays out as a dialogue between a guy who is trying to drink away his problems and the ex whose justifiable departure from his life only exacerbated his downward spiral. He begins with a simple request: “Well, tell me do you think it’d be all right / If I could just crash here tonight?“
He soon starts to reveal much of his inner turmoil, realizing the error of his ways but unable to break his self-destructive cycle.
“If I hadn’t blown the whole thing years ago / I might be here with you.”
His pleas to come back into her life are weak.
“And if you don’t expect too much from me / You might not be let down.”
He knows his best self is with her: “Feeling like I matter too.”
Hoping against hope, he angles for a reunion: “The past is gone, something might be found to take its place.”
Sung by Robin Wilson with honest regret in his voice, “Hey Jealousy” presents this character as a lovable lout. The fact that it became a 90s staple and one of the Gin Blossoms’ signature songs is a testament both to the energy of the performance and the fearless honesty of the late Doug Hopkins as a writer.
Photo by Shervin Lainez
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