2003 single by Sum 41
"The Hell Song " is a song by Canadian rock band Sum 41 . The song was released on February 10, 2003, as the second single of the band's album Does This Look Infected? . "The Hell Song" became a top-40 hit in Ireland, Italy, and the United Kingdom. On May 29, 2015, it was certified gold by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA).
Background
Deryck Whibley , the lead vocalist of Sum 41 , wrote "The Hell Song" after learning that one of his friends had contracted HIV .[ 2] He said, "That song just came out in, like, half an hour when I just found out," Whibley said. "I wasn't even meaning to write about it, but for some reason that just came out right away".[ 3]
Music video
The music video was of a concert with dolls and action figures , with Sum 41's faces on those "performing" in front of a Lite-Brite screen with the band's name on it. They were joined with other action figures such as those of Snoop Dogg , Eminem , Ozzy Osbourne with his family, Marilyn Manson , Korn , Metallica , Eddie the Head , Gene Simmons , Spice Girls , Angus Young , Jesus Christ , Alice Cooper , Destiny's Child , George W. Bush and Ludacris . The video ends when police dolls arrive to break up the concert, and the band avoids arrest by taking off in a helicopter (which is then comically hurled out of a window and falls to the ground, accompanied by laughter). The dolls' obscene finger gestures and nudity are comically censored, which parodies real life. The video was directed by Marc Klasfeld .
The music video was nominated for Best Breakthrough Video & Best Direction at the 2003 MTV Video Music Awards , losing both awards to Coldplay 's "The Scientist ".
Track listings
UK CD1 [ 4]
"The Hell Song" (explicit version)
"Over My Head (Better Off Dead) " (demo)
"My Direction" (demo)
"The Hell Song" (CD-ROM video)
UK CD2 [ 5]
"The Hell Song" (live)
"Still Waiting " (live)
"Rhythms" (live)
"The Hell Song" (live CD-ROM video)
UK 7-inch single [ 6]
A. "The Hell Song" (album version—explicit) – 3:18
B. "Still Waiting" (live from Sound, London) – 2:44
European CD single [ 7]
"The Hell Song"
"Over My Head" (demo)
Australian CD single [ 8]
"The Hell Song"
"Over My Head" (demo)
"My Direction" (demo)
"WW7 Pts 1 & 2" (performed by "Pain for Pleasure")
Charts
Weekly charts
Year-end charts
Certifications
Release history
References
^ "All Messed Up: A Look Back At Sum 41's 'Does This Look Infected?' " . The Carouser . Archived from the original on July 16, 2015.
^ "Sum 41 Sober Up On Does This Look Infected?" . MTV . Archived from the original on November 19, 2002.
^ Whitmire, Margo (November 30, 2002). "Sum 41 Spreads 'Infected' " . Billboard . Vol. 114, no. 48. p. 11. ISSN 0006-2510 .
^ The Hell Song (UK CD1 liner notes). Sum 41 . Mercury Records . 2003. 063 719-2.{{cite AV media notes }}
: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link )
^ The Hell Song (UK CD2 liner notes). Sum 41. Mercury Records. 2003. 063 720-2.{{cite AV media notes }}
: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link )
^ The Hell Song (UK 7-inch single sleeve). Sum 41. Mercury Records. 2003. 063 720-7.{{cite AV media notes }}
: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link )
^ The Hell Song (European CD single liner notes). Sum 41. Island Def Jam Music Group . 2003. 063 721-2.{{cite AV media notes }}
: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link )
^ The Hell Song (Australian CD single liner notes). Sum 41. Island Records . 2003. 063 722-2.{{cite AV media notes }}
: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link )
^ "Issue 687" ARIA Top 100 Singles . National Library of Australia. Retrieved March 2, 2023.
^ "Sum 41 – The Hell Song" (in Dutch). Ultratip .
^ "Singles : Top 50" . Broadcast Data Systems . Archived from the original on August 1, 2003. Retrieved November 29, 2023 .
^ "Irish-charts.com – Discography Sum 41" . Irish Singles Chart . Retrieved March 2, 2023.
^ "Sum 41 – The Hell Song" . Top Digital Download . Retrieved August 9, 2020.
^ "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100" . Official Charts Company . Retrieved August 9, 2020.
^ "Official Singles Chart Top 100" . Official Charts Company . Retrieved May 14, 2019.
^ "Official Rock & Metal Singles Chart Top 40" . Official Charts Company . Retrieved May 14, 2019.
^ "Sum 41 Chart History (Alternative Airplay)" . Billboard . Retrieved May 14, 2019.
^ "The Year in Charts 2003: Most-Played Modern Rock Songs". Airplay Monitor . Vol. 11, no. 51. December 19, 2003. p. 43.
^ "Italian single certifications – Sum 41 – The Hell Song" (in Italian). Federazione Industria Musicale Italiana . Retrieved October 13, 2024 .
^ "American single certifications – Sum 41 – The Hell Song" . Recording Industry Association of America .
^ "New Releases – For Week Starting 10 February 2003: Singles". Music Week . February 8, 2003. p. 23.
^ "Going for Adds". Radio & Records . No. 1491. February 14, 2003. p. 28.
^ "FMQB Airplay Archive: Modern Rock" . FMQB . Archived from the original on March 22, 2013. Retrieved October 30, 2016 .
^ "Going for Adds". Radio & Records . No. 1498. April 4, 2003. p. 28.
^ "The ARIA Report: New Releases Singles – Week Commencing 14th April 2003" (PDF) . ARIA . April 14, 2003. p. 29. Archived from the original (PDF) on February 22, 2008. Retrieved March 2, 2023 .
External links
Studio albums Live albums EPs Compilation albums Video albums Singles Other songs Tours Related