Flagpole Sitta
Encyclopedia
"Flagpole Sitta" is a song by American rock band Harvey Danger
from their 1997 debut album, Where Have All the Merrymakers Gone?
. It was released as a single in April 1998. The song gained popularity after Sean Nelson
gave a copy of the album to a KNDD
DJ. Shortly after this, it was picked up by KROQ-FM
. It then appeared at #38 on the Billboard Hot 100 Airplay
chart.
since its second series. It also appeared briefly in the first series as background music in a bowling alley. Sean Nelson
has stated that its use in Peep Show is "...the only pop culture item the song has been associated with that feels like a kindred spirit to the original attitude of the lyric."
It was featured in the film Dickie Roberts: Former Child Star
during the scenes of news and talk shows when Dickie is rising to fame again. The song is also featured in the film American Pie
, during a montage of the protagonists' quest to help each other get laid. It was also used in the trailer of Disturbing Behavior
as well as in part of the movie itself. After the song proved to be popular, it replaced part of a piece titled "Unplugged at Bishop Flats" in the film itself.
Comedy site CollegeHumor
also made a lip dub
of their employees singing the song. The song was featured in the TV series October Road
episode, "Best Friend Windows." It was also featured on the TV series Psych on the episode "Tuesday the 17th." Most recently, the American version of "The Office" performed a homage to the College Humor lip dub for its cold open.
"Weird Al" Yankovic
used the chorus of the song in his polka
medley, "Polka Power!", in his 1999 album, Running with Scissors
.
Chiodos
have also covered this song on the album Punk Goes Pop 2
.
The song was featured in the Nostalgia Critic's reviews of "Tom and Jerry: The Movie
" and "The Thief and the Cobbler
" under the erroneous title "I'm Not Sick, but I'm Not Well."
Harvey Danger
Harvey Danger was an American indie rock band that formed in Seattle, Washington in 1993, and rose to prominence in 1998 with the single "Flagpole Sitta." On August 29, 2009, the band played its final show at the Crocodile Cafe in Seattle....
from their 1997 debut album, Where Have All the Merrymakers Gone?
Where Have All the Merrymakers Gone?
Where Have All the Merrymakers Gone? is Harvey Danger's first full album. It was released by Slash Records, Arena Rock Recording Co. and Island Records on July 29, 1997...
. It was released as a single in April 1998. The song gained popularity after Sean Nelson
Sean Nelson
Sean Nelson is an American singer, songwriter, and keyboardist, notable as the frontman for the alternative rock group Harvey Danger.- Career :...
gave a copy of the album to a KNDD
KNDD
KNDD , also known as "107.7 The End", is an alternative rock radio station in Seattle, Washington. It is operated by Entercom Communications Its studios are located in the Metropolitan Park West tower between Downtown and South Lake Union in Seattle...
DJ. Shortly after this, it was picked up by KROQ-FM
KROQ-FM
KROQ-FM — branded 106.7 KROQ — is a commercial modern rock radio station licensed to Pasadena, California serving the Greater Los Angeles. The call sign is pronounced "kay rock." It is the flagship station of Loveline hosted by Dr...
. It then appeared at #38 on the Billboard Hot 100 Airplay
Hot 100 Airplay
The Hot 100 Airplay chart is a chart released weekly by Billboard magazine in the United States. It measures radio airplay, and is one of the three component charts, along with the Hot Singles Sales and the Hot Digital Songs charts, that determine the chart positions of singles on the Billboard...
chart.
Charts
| Chart (1998-1999) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Canadian RPM Alternative 30 RPM (magazine) RPM was a Canadian music industry publication that featured song and album charts for Canada. The publication was founded by Walt Grealis in February 1964, supported through its existence by record label owner Stan Klees. RPM ceased publication in November 2000.RPM stood for "Records, Promotion,... |
9 |
| U.S. Billboard Hot Adult Top 40 Tracks Hot Adult Top 40 Tracks Adult Top 40 is a variation on the United States Billboard charts... |
31 |
| U.S. Billboard Hot Mainstream Rock Tracks | 33 |
| U.S. Billboard Hot Modern Rock Tracks | 3 |
| U.S. Billboard Top 40 Mainstream | 32 |
| UK Singles Chart UK Singles Chart The UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ... |
57 |
Use in other media
The song has been the theme song for the British comedy Peep ShowPeep Show (TV series)
Peep Show is a British sitcom starring David Mitchell and Robert Webb. The television programme is written by Jesse Armstrong and Sam Bain, with additional material by Mitchell and Webb themselves, amongst others. It has been broadcast on Channel 4 since 2003. The show's seventh series makes it...
since its second series. It also appeared briefly in the first series as background music in a bowling alley. Sean Nelson
Sean Nelson
Sean Nelson is an American singer, songwriter, and keyboardist, notable as the frontman for the alternative rock group Harvey Danger.- Career :...
has stated that its use in Peep Show is "...the only pop culture item the song has been associated with that feels like a kindred spirit to the original attitude of the lyric."
It was featured in the film Dickie Roberts: Former Child Star
Dickie Roberts: Former Child Star
Dickie Roberts: Former Child Star is a 2003 American comedy film directed by Sam Weisman and starring David Spade and Mary McCormack.- Plot :...
during the scenes of news and talk shows when Dickie is rising to fame again. The song is also featured in the film American Pie
American Pie (film)
American Pie is a 1999 teen comedy film written by Adam Herz. American Pie was the directorial film debut of brothers Paul and Chris Weitz, and the first film in the American Pie film series...
, during a montage of the protagonists' quest to help each other get laid. It was also used in the trailer of Disturbing Behavior
Disturbing Behavior
Disturbing Behavior is a 1998 thriller science fiction film starring James Marsden, Katie Holmes, and Nick Stahl. The film was released on July 24, 1998. The plot follows a group of high school outcasts who are horrified by their "Blue Ribbon" classmates...
as well as in part of the movie itself. After the song proved to be popular, it replaced part of a piece titled "Unplugged at Bishop Flats" in the film itself.
Comedy site CollegeHumor
CollegeHumor
CollegeHumor is a comedy website owned by InterActiveCorp and based in New York City. The site features daily original comedy videos and articles created by its in-house writing and production team, in addition to user-submitted videos, pictures, articles and links. In early 2009, CollegeHumor's...
also made a lip dub
Lip dub
A lip dub is a type of video that combines lip synching and audio dubbing to make a music video. It is made by filming individuals or a group of people lip synching while listening to a song or any recorded audio then dubbing over it in post editing with the original audio of the song. There is...
of their employees singing the song. The song was featured in the TV series October Road
October Road (TV series)
October Road is an American television drama that debuted on ABC on March 15, 2007 following Grey's Anatomy. It follows Nick Garrett , who after a decade returns to his hometown, the fictional Knights Ridge, Massachusetts.The series is produced by ABC Studios and GroupM Entertainment; the latter is...
episode, "Best Friend Windows." It was also featured on the TV series Psych on the episode "Tuesday the 17th." Most recently, the American version of "The Office" performed a homage to the College Humor lip dub for its cold open.
"Weird Al" Yankovic
"Weird Al" Yankovic
Alfred Matthew "Weird Al" Yankovic is an American singer-songwriter, music producer, accordionist, actor, comedian, writer, satirist, and parodist. Yankovic is known for his humorous songs that make light of popular culture and that often parody specific songs by contemporary musical acts...
used the chorus of the song in his polka
Polka
The polka is a Central European dance and also a genre of dance music familiar throughout Europe and the Americas. It originated in the middle of the 19th century in Bohemia...
medley, "Polka Power!", in his 1999 album, Running with Scissors
Running with Scissors (album)
Running with Scissors is the 10th studio album by "Weird Al" Yankovic, released on June 29, 1999. The album contains the hit single "The Saga Begins", a parody of Don McLean's song "American Pie".-Details:...
.
Chiodos
Chiodos
Chiodos is an American post hardcore band from Davison, Michigan. Formed in 2001, the group was originally known as "The Chiodos Bros," the band's name was a tribute to filmmakers Stephen, Charles, and Edward Chiodo, responsible for the film Killer Klowns from Outer Space. Chiodos released their...
have also covered this song on the album Punk Goes Pop 2
Punk Goes Pop 2
Punk Goes Pop 2 is the eighth compilation album released from the Punk Goes... series created by Fearless Records to feature covers by various artists of pop songs, and is the eighth album in the series overall. It was released on March 9, 2009, in the United Kingdom, and March 10, 2009, in the...
.
The song was featured in the Nostalgia Critic's reviews of "Tom and Jerry: The Movie
Tom and Jerry: The Movie
Tom and Jerry: The Movie is a 1992 American animated musical film directed by Phil Roman, and produced by Film Roman and Turner Pictures. It is a film adaptation of the Tom and Jerry series of theatrical shorts....
" and "The Thief and the Cobbler
The Thief and the Cobbler
The Thief and the Cobbler is an animated feature film, famous for its animation and its long, troubled history. The film was conceived by Canadian animator Richard Williams, who worked 28 years on the project. Beginning production in 1964, Williams intended The Thief and the Cobbler to be his...
" under the erroneous title "I'm Not Sick, but I'm Not Well."