Damned If I Do Ya (Damned If I Don't)
Encyclopedia
"Damned If I Do Ya" is a song by American pop punk
band All Time Low
and the second single taken from their third studio album, Nothing Personal (2009). It was released by Hopeless Records
as a digital download
on June 16, 2009. During its first week of availability, the song went as high as #21 on iTunes. Consequently, it became All Time Low's first US Billboard Hot 100 charting song, debuting at #67 and becoming their highest position on the chart to date.
and vocalist Alex Gaskarth. They share a 50/50 writing credit for the track.
.
It shows lead singer Alex Gaskarth in a school bench with a teacher walking around him. It was shot with a green screen, which Rian Dawson (drummer for All Time Low) explained would mean that the editors would create the background during the production process.
The video was directed and animated by Matthew Stawski, who also directed All Time Low's video for "Weightless" and Fall Out Boy
's "America's Suitehearts
" video. The artwork for the video was done by Joshua Clay, who also did the artwork for Fall Out Boy
's "America's Suitehearts
" along with Serge Gay, Jr.
Some behind the scenes photos were posted on a Glamour Kills blog on September 8 stating that the music video will premiere the following week.
The video itself premiered on 11 September.
The video revolves mainly on lead singer Alex Gaskarth. It is set as Alex is on a talk show called "Damned If I Do Ya, Damned If I Don't". The video opens with Alex and the host, Nika "Nothing Personal" Jones as she talks about Alex's affair with his school teacher. Throughout the video it shows distractions Alex has with his classes and at his band practices. After the end of the bridge, "...but I never promised you," the song comes to a halt and Jack, Zack, Rian, Alex's parents, and the school teacher come out, and it starts a full out brawl. When the brawl starts, the chorus comes back in as everyone is beating each other up. There is an added verse of the end music so the fight can continue, once Alex defeats everyone, him and the school teacher kiss and the video ends with the audience clapping.
Pop punk
Pop punk is a fusion music genre that combines elements of punk rock with pop music, to varying degrees. Allmusic describes the genre as a strand of alternative rock, which typically merges pop melodies with speedy punk tempos, chord changes and loud guitars...
band All Time Low
All Time Low
All Time Low is an American pop punk band from Baltimore, Maryland, formed in 2003.The band consists of vocalist and rhythm guitarist Alexander Gaskarth, lead guitarist and backing vocalist Jack Barakat, bassist and backing vocalist Zachary Merrick, and drummer Rian Dawson...
and the second single taken from their third studio album, Nothing Personal (2009). It was released by Hopeless Records
Hopeless Records
Hopeless Records is an independent record label located in Van Nuys, Los Angeles, California. The label was started in 1993 by Louis Posen and financed by a group of private investors. Hopeless's artists are generally considered punk rock, pop punk, post-hardcore, or alternative rock, but some...
as a digital download
Music download
A music download is the transferral of music from an Internet-facing computer or website to a user's local computer. This term encompasses both legal downloads and downloads of copyright material without permission or payment...
on June 16, 2009. During its first week of availability, the song went as high as #21 on iTunes. Consequently, it became All Time Low's first US Billboard Hot 100 charting song, debuting at #67 and becoming their highest position on the chart to date.
Writing
The song was written by Butch WalkerButch Walker
Butch Walker is an American recording artist, songwriter, and record producer. He was the lead guitarist for the metal band SouthGang from the late 80s to early 90s as well as the lead vocalist and guitarist for rock band Marvelous 3 from 1997 until 2001.-Career:Walker grew up in Cartersville,...
and vocalist Alex Gaskarth. They share a 50/50 writing credit for the track.
Lyrical meaning
In an exclusive acoustic session with Real Magic TV, Alex stated "It's about charades one may have with another individual, I'll leave the rest up to you" Which could also mean that this could be a song with a similar meaning to Coffee Shop Soundtrack.Music video
In the first week of July, three videos for the making of "Damned If I Do Ya (Damned If I Don't)" were posted on BuzznetBuzznet
BuzzNet is a photo, journal, and video-sharing social media network, owned by Buzz Media. Like other social networking sites, Buzznet is a platform for members to share content based on their personal interests...
.
It shows lead singer Alex Gaskarth in a school bench with a teacher walking around him. It was shot with a green screen, which Rian Dawson (drummer for All Time Low) explained would mean that the editors would create the background during the production process.
The video was directed and animated by Matthew Stawski, who also directed All Time Low's video for "Weightless" and Fall Out Boy
Fall Out Boy
Fall Out Boy is an American rock band from Wilmette, Illinois, formed in 2001. The band consists of vocalist, guitarist and composer Patrick Stump, bassist and lyricist Pete Wentz, guitarist Joe Trohman, and drummer Andy Hurley. The band released five studio albums from 2003–2008...
's "America's Suitehearts
America's Suitehearts
"America's Suitehearts" is a song by American rock band Fall Out Boy and the second single taken from their fifth studio album, Folie à Deux . A demo/snippet titled "America's Sweethearts" was included on the band's mixtape, Welcome to the New Administration, as part of their viral campaign in...
" video. The artwork for the video was done by Joshua Clay, who also did the artwork for Fall Out Boy
Fall Out Boy
Fall Out Boy is an American rock band from Wilmette, Illinois, formed in 2001. The band consists of vocalist, guitarist and composer Patrick Stump, bassist and lyricist Pete Wentz, guitarist Joe Trohman, and drummer Andy Hurley. The band released five studio albums from 2003–2008...
's "America's Suitehearts
America's Suitehearts
"America's Suitehearts" is a song by American rock band Fall Out Boy and the second single taken from their fifth studio album, Folie à Deux . A demo/snippet titled "America's Sweethearts" was included on the band's mixtape, Welcome to the New Administration, as part of their viral campaign in...
" along with Serge Gay, Jr.
Some behind the scenes photos were posted on a Glamour Kills blog on September 8 stating that the music video will premiere the following week.
The video itself premiered on 11 September.
The video revolves mainly on lead singer Alex Gaskarth. It is set as Alex is on a talk show called "Damned If I Do Ya, Damned If I Don't". The video opens with Alex and the host, Nika "Nothing Personal" Jones as she talks about Alex's affair with his school teacher. Throughout the video it shows distractions Alex has with his classes and at his band practices. After the end of the bridge, "...but I never promised you," the song comes to a halt and Jack, Zack, Rian, Alex's parents, and the school teacher come out, and it starts a full out brawl. When the brawl starts, the chorus comes back in as everyone is beating each other up. There is an added verse of the end music so the fight can continue, once Alex defeats everyone, him and the school teacher kiss and the video ends with the audience clapping.
Chart
| Chart (2009) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| U.S. Billboard Hot 100 Billboard Hot 100 The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday... |
67 |