"Edging" (stylized in all caps) is a song recorded by American rock band Blink-182. Released on October 14, 2022, through Columbia Records, it is the band's first release following the return of founding guitarist and vocalist Tom DeLonge after a seven-year hiatus. It was written by DeLonge, bassist Mark Hoppus and drummer Travis Barker, the latter of whom also produced the song.[2] "Edging" was released as the lead single to the band's ninth album, One More Time....[3]
Background
On producing the song, Barker offered: "I wanted to imagine as a listener what I wanted to experience and at the same time as a band member what we wanted to make and say and most importantly how it would sound production wise in 2022."[4][5] Though the song's title refers to the sexual practice, the song's lyrics do not directly reference it.[6]
The band first announced the song with a promotional video announcing their reunion with DeLonge on October 11,[7] with further clips shared on TikTok.[8]
The song's music video was directed by Cole Bennett,[12] and produced through his Lyrical Lemonade studio. In the clip, the band is seen playing the song in a run down carnival surrounded by people in rabbit costumes, who they then proceed to murder with throwing knives.[13][14] Lyrical Lemonade released an alternate version of the video, featuring cameo appearances by Bennett himself and rapper Lil Tracy on October 19, 2022.[15]
Commercial performance
In the United States, "Edging" became the band's highest-charting single on the all-genre Hot 100 in eighteen years, posting at number 61.[16] It also made its debut at number twelve on Billboard's Alternative Airplay after just three days of tracking. It then went on to become the band's fourth and longest number one single in its history, spending 13 weeks on top of Alternative Airplay, where it also gave Blink-182 a top placement single in four different decades, tying them with Green Day and Red Hot Chili Peppers for the most ever by an artist.[17][18] In addition, "Edging" became their biggest hit on Billboard's Mainstream Rock Airplay, peaking at number two. The song also charted well outside the United States, including Canada, the UK, New Zealand, Australia, and Japan.[19][20][21][22][23]
Reception
The song received positive reviews from contemporary music critics. Jason Lipshutz at Billboard opined that the track "proves that DeLonge, Mark Hoppus and Travis Barker still know how to get in a room and create tight, catchy, exceedingly sophomoric pop-punk; it's great to have them back."[24]Stereogum columnist Rachel Brodsky called the tune "fun, flippant, and satisfying as hell."[12] Lars Brandle from Billboard called it "straight-up Blink-182 material, hewn from misspent youth and with all the bluster, swagger and stop-on-a-dime detail that made the threesome one of the most popular alternative rock acts of its era."[25] Ellie Robinson from NME dubbed the "belting pop-punk anthem" an ode to the "dissolution of a relationship".[6] Sam Roche from Guitar World characterized the tune as a "mid-tempo bouncy number loaded with Blink's tried-and-tested stylistic devices, including punchy powerchords, a stellar drum performance and a light-hearted tongue-in-cheek set of lyrics."[26]Jon Caramanica of The New York Times considered it sterile, writing, "It's familiar but uncanny, Botoxed tight but with none of the puerile joy that marked the group's breakout hits."[27]
^Johnson, Laura (October 14, 2022). "Blink-182 Release New Single Edging". Stereoboard. Retrieved November 27, 2022. It finds the trio delivering the singalong punk-rock they're known for with dark lyrics that belie their upbeat delivery.
^Faulkner, Brent (October 17, 2022). "blink-182, "Edging" Track Review". The Musical Hype. Retrieved November 27, 2022. The music matches the lyrics – it's bright and boisterous, which is the perfect fuel for that punk-rock fire!
