Kool Thing

"Kool Thing"
Song
B-side	"That's All I Know (Right Now)", "Dirty Boots (Rock and Roll Heaven version)", "Kool Thing (8-track demo version)"

"Kool Thing" was the first major label single from Sonic Youth's 1990 album Goo. It was released in June 1990 on DGC. 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 "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".

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.

The video was released June 4th, 1990

Singles chart

Year	Single	Chart	Peak
1990	"Kool Thing"	Modern Rock Tracks	No. 7
1990	"Kool Thing"	UK Singles Chart	No. 81

Trivia

• It is featured in the video game Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock.
• It is featured in the video game True Crime: New York City.
• The video features Chuck D of Public Enemy.
• The song was artistically used in the Hal Hartley film Simple Men.