Hook Me Up (song)
Encyclopedia
"Hook Me Up" is a song by Australian duo The Veronicas
for their second album, Hook Me Up
. Produced by Greg Wells
, it was released as the albums lead single in late 2007 in Australia. The downtempo, electropop-dance
song is a change in direction from the pop rock
sound from their previous album, The Secret Life Of...
. The song is about escaping reality and the stresses of life.
"Hook Me Up" was well received by critics who praised the song for its dance-floor friendly sound. The song was commercially successful peaking at number one on the Australian ARIA Singles Charts
, becoming their first ever number one hit. The accompanying music video for the song portrays Jessica
and Lisa Origliasso
in a boarding school rebellion.
The song was performed live at the 2008 Australia Day concert as well as the Hook Me Up and Revenge Is Sweeter
tours, in 2007 and 2009, resepectively. The song was nominated for an ARIA Music Award in 2008 for Highest Selling Single.
and Lisa Origliasso
, Shelly Peiken
and Greg Wells
, and produced by Wells. The single was influenced the electropop songs of underground bands in Los Angeles, whose sound The Veronica's were keen to incorporate into their own music.
Jessica explained the meaning behind the song as, "Its about being tired with where you're at in life and wanting to get away and out for just a little bit of time-whether it's in a relationship or in life. I guess we went through that a little bit when things started getting full on with us. It went from one extreme, where no one knew who we were, to the complete opposite."
"Hook Me Up" is a downtempo electropop-dance
song. The song is set in common time
and in the key of G minor
. with an energy filled fast tempo
of 134 beats per minute. The song begins with electronic
synths and electronic pop beat, then progresses into fast tempo techno beat with synth washes played by guitars, synthesizer keyboards, and synthesized drums. The song samples elements of "Tainted Love
" by Soft Cell
.
called the song "quite fun" with a "serious drive to the dance floor." Similarly, Alex Lai from Contactmusic.com
commented about the dance floor friendly song, calling it "sexy" and "sassy", but he noted that it made for "stale listening". The song was named the best song on the album by David James Young from Sputnikmusic
. He stated that "the best thing adbout this song is how damn infectious it is, thus making it an excellent pop song with top harmonies and a synth hook" Andrew Tijs from CitySearch Brisbane
stated that the song "has the kind of breathless, carnivorous sexuality that Madonna
still keeps trying to convince us she has," but it wasn't "the sexual awakening that most have been waiting for [them] to have." For its lyrics, Evan Sawdey from PopMatters
said the song "sacrifice[s] lyrical clarity for the sake of a good hook."
In Australia
, "Hook Me Up" debuted at number five on the ARIA Singles Chart
, for the issue date 7 October 2007. It spent seven weeks on the charts before reaching number one on 18 November, where it stayed for one week and became their first ever number one single. The song received platinum status by the Australian Recording Industry Association
(ARIA) for over 70,000 copies shipped in Australia.
On the week of its release the single became the second most added song on Australian radio. On the ARIA end of year charts "Hook Me Up" ranked at number twenty two. The single was nominated for Highest Selling Single at the ARIA Music Awards of 2008
.
, after a sexy concept was first presented to them. The Veronicas explained the concept of the music video to the Herald Sun
:
, held on 21 October. Clothed in costumes similar to the music video, Lisa and Jessica appeared from a yellow school bus. During the performance Lisa and Jessica sang vocals, while the latter played the electric guitar
with their band, as opposed to using the synthesised instruments like the recording. At the end of the performance, two streamer cannons on opposite ends of the stage, shot out pink streamers. They continued to promote the song on Australian television, including The Today Show
and Rove Live
. They also performed the song at the 2008 Australia Day
concert, Australia's Funniest Home Videos, Take 40 Live Lounge, and on Video Hits
in 2009. "Hook Me Up" was added to the setlists of both the Hook Me Up and Revenge Is Sweeter tour
in 2007 and 2009, respectively.
CD single
The Veronicas
The Veronicas are an Australian electrorock, pop-punk and rock band. Twin sisters Jessica and Lisa Origliasso formed the band in 1999 in Brisbane. They have their own line of clothing which was released in 2007....
for their second album, Hook Me Up
Hook Me Up
Hook Me Up is the second studio album by Australian band The Veronicas, which was released on 3 November 2007 by Rhino Entertainment, Sire Records and London Records. The album shows a new direction in music for the duo – exploring a New Wave/electro-pop sound which was influenced by Los Angeles...
. Produced by Greg Wells
Greg Wells
Greg Wells is a multiple Grammy nominated musician, record producer and songwriter based in Los Angeles. Wells has produced and written hits with Adele, Weezer, Pink, Theophilus London, Deftones, Katy Perry, Rufus Wainwright, The All American Rejects, OneRepublic, Mika, Aerosmith, Burt Bacharach,...
, it was released as the albums lead single in late 2007 in Australia. The downtempo, electropop-dance
Dance music
Dance music is music composed specifically to facilitate or accompany dancing. It can be either a whole musical piece or part of a larger musical arrangement...
song is a change in direction from the pop rock
Pop rock
Pop rock is a music genre which mixes a catchy pop style and light lyrics in its guitar-based rock songs. There are varying definitions of the term, ranging from a slower and mellower form of rock music to a subgenre of pop music...
sound from their previous album, The Secret Life Of...
The Secret Life Of... (album)
The Secret Life of... is the debut studio album by Australian pop rock band The Veronicas, released on 17 October 2005 on Sire Records. It reached #2 in Australia and is certified 4x platinum. The album also reached #5 in New Zealand and #3 in the Billboard Top Heatseekers. The Secret Life of......
. The song is about escaping reality and the stresses of life.
"Hook Me Up" was well received by critics who praised the song for its dance-floor friendly sound. The song was commercially successful peaking at number one on the Australian ARIA Singles Charts
ARIA Charts
The ARIA charts are the main Australian music sales charts, issued weekly by the Australian Recording Industry Association. The charts are a record of the highest selling singles and albums in various genres in Australia. ARIA commenced compiling its own charts in-house from the week ending 26 June...
, becoming their first ever number one hit. The accompanying music video for the song portrays Jessica
Jessica Origliasso
Jessica Louise Origliasso is an Australian singer-songwriter, actress and fashion designer. Born and raised in Albany Creek, Queensland she, along side twin sister Lisa Origliasso, performed in show business at a young age. Origliasso rose to fame in 2000's when she and her sister formed a pop duo...
and Lisa Origliasso
Lisa Origliasso
Lisa Marie Origliasso is an Australian singer-songwriter, actress and fashion designer. Born and raised in Albany Creek, Queensland she, along side twin sister Jessica Origliasso, performed in show business at a young age. Origliasso rose to fame in 2000's when she and her sister formed a pop duo...
in a boarding school rebellion.
The song was performed live at the 2008 Australia Day concert as well as the Hook Me Up and Revenge Is Sweeter
Revenge Is Sweeter tour
The Revenge Is Sweeter tour is a tour by The Veronicas which was announced in November 2008.-Tour information:The sixteen date tour was their first to extend outside of Australia into New Zealand. The tour will begin on 13 February 2009 in Newcastle and conclude on 7 March 2009 in Dunedin, New...
tours, in 2007 and 2009, resepectively. The song was nominated for an ARIA Music Award in 2008 for Highest Selling Single.
Background and composition
"Hook Me Up" was written by JessicaJessica Origliasso
Jessica Louise Origliasso is an Australian singer-songwriter, actress and fashion designer. Born and raised in Albany Creek, Queensland she, along side twin sister Lisa Origliasso, performed in show business at a young age. Origliasso rose to fame in 2000's when she and her sister formed a pop duo...
and Lisa Origliasso
Lisa Origliasso
Lisa Marie Origliasso is an Australian singer-songwriter, actress and fashion designer. Born and raised in Albany Creek, Queensland she, along side twin sister Jessica Origliasso, performed in show business at a young age. Origliasso rose to fame in 2000's when she and her sister formed a pop duo...
, Shelly Peiken
Shelly Peiken
Shelly Peiken is a multi-platinum Grammy nominated songwriter who is best known for her #1 hits "What a Girl Wants" and "Come on Over Baby ".Shelly and Meredith Brooks earned a Grammy nomination for Brooks's hit song "Bitch"....
and Greg Wells
Greg Wells
Greg Wells is a multiple Grammy nominated musician, record producer and songwriter based in Los Angeles. Wells has produced and written hits with Adele, Weezer, Pink, Theophilus London, Deftones, Katy Perry, Rufus Wainwright, The All American Rejects, OneRepublic, Mika, Aerosmith, Burt Bacharach,...
, and produced by Wells. The single was influenced the electropop songs of underground bands in Los Angeles, whose sound The Veronica's were keen to incorporate into their own music.
Jessica explained the meaning behind the song as, "Its about being tired with where you're at in life and wanting to get away and out for just a little bit of time-whether it's in a relationship or in life. I guess we went through that a little bit when things started getting full on with us. It went from one extreme, where no one knew who we were, to the complete opposite."
"Hook Me Up" is a downtempo electropop-dance
Dance music
Dance music is music composed specifically to facilitate or accompany dancing. It can be either a whole musical piece or part of a larger musical arrangement...
song. The song is set in common time
Common Time
"Common Time" is a science fiction short story written by James Blish. It first appeared in the August 1953 issue of Science Fiction Quarterly and has been reprinted several times: in the 1959 short-story collection Galactic Cluster; in The Testament of Andros ; in The Penguin Science Fiction...
and in the key of G minor
G minor
G minor is a minor scale based on G, consisting of the pitches G, A, B, C, D, E, and F. For the harmonic minor scale, the F is raised to F. Its relative major is B-flat major, and its parallel major is G major....
. with an energy filled fast tempo
Tempo
In musical terminology, tempo is the speed or pace of a given piece. Tempo is a crucial element of any musical composition, as it can affect the mood and difficulty of a piece.-Measuring tempo:...
of 134 beats per minute. The song begins with electronic
Electronic music
Electronic music is music that employs electronic musical instruments and electronic music technology in its production. In general a distinction can be made between sound produced using electromechanical means and that produced using electronic technology. Examples of electromechanical sound...
synths and electronic pop beat, then progresses into fast tempo techno beat with synth washes played by guitars, synthesizer keyboards, and synthesized drums. The song samples elements of "Tainted Love
Tainted Love
"Tainted Love" is a song composed by Ed Cobb, formerly of The Four Preps, which was originally recorded by Gloria Jones in 1965. It attained worldwide fame after being covered by Soft Cell in 1981, reaching number one in the UK Singles Chart, and has since been covered by numerous groups and...
" by Soft Cell
Soft Cell
Soft Cell are an English synthpop duo who came to prominence in the early 1980s. They consist of vocalist Marc Almond and instrumentalist David Ball. The duo is most widely known for their 1981 worldwide hit version of "Tainted Love" and platinum debut Non-Stop Erotic Cabaret...
.
Reception
Ben Norman from About.comAbout.com
About.com is an online source for original information and advice. It is written in English, and is aimed primarily at North Americans. It is owned by The New York Times Company....
called the song "quite fun" with a "serious drive to the dance floor." Similarly, Alex Lai from Contactmusic.com
Contactmusic.com
Contactmusic.com is a Leeds UK based entertainment magazine/webzine. The site was launched in April 2000 by a small team and has now expanded to 12 fulltime staff and many freelance contributors from across the globe...
commented about the dance floor friendly song, calling it "sexy" and "sassy", but he noted that it made for "stale listening". The song was named the best song on the album by David James Young from Sputnikmusic
Sputnikmusic
Sputnikmusic, or simply Sputnik, is a music website offering music criticism and music news alongside features commonly associated with wiki-style websites...
. He stated that "the best thing adbout this song is how damn infectious it is, thus making it an excellent pop song with top harmonies and a synth hook" Andrew Tijs from CitySearch Brisbane
Citysearch
Citysearch is an online city guide that provides information about businesses in the categories of dining, entertainment, retail, travel, and professional services in cities throughout the United States. Visitors to each of Citysearch's local city guides will find contact information, maps, driving...
stated that the song "has the kind of breathless, carnivorous sexuality that Madonna
Madonna (entertainer)
Madonna is an American singer-songwriter, actress and entrepreneur. Born in Bay City, Michigan, she moved to New York City in 1977 to pursue a career in modern dance. After performing in the music groups Breakfast Club and Emmy, she released her debut album in 1983...
still keeps trying to convince us she has," but it wasn't "the sexual awakening that most have been waiting for [them] to have." For its lyrics, Evan Sawdey from PopMatters
PopMatters
PopMatters is an international webzine of cultural criticism that covers many aspects of popular culture. PopMatters publishes reviews, interviews, and detailed essays on most cultural products and expressions in areas such as music, television, films, books, video games, comics, sports, theater,...
said the song "sacrifice[s] lyrical clarity for the sake of a good hook."
In Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
, "Hook Me Up" debuted at number five on the ARIA Singles Chart
ARIA Charts
The ARIA charts are the main Australian music sales charts, issued weekly by the Australian Recording Industry Association. The charts are a record of the highest selling singles and albums in various genres in Australia. ARIA commenced compiling its own charts in-house from the week ending 26 June...
, for the issue date 7 October 2007. It spent seven weeks on the charts before reaching number one on 18 November, where it stayed for one week and became their first ever number one single. The song received platinum status by the Australian Recording Industry Association
Australian Recording Industry Association
The Australian Recording Industry Association is a trade group representing the Australian recording industry which was established in 1983 by six major record companies, EMI, Festival, CBS, RCA, WEA and Universal replacing the Association of Australian Record Manufacturers which was formed in 1956...
(ARIA) for over 70,000 copies shipped in Australia.
On the week of its release the single became the second most added song on Australian radio. On the ARIA end of year charts "Hook Me Up" ranked at number twenty two. The single was nominated for Highest Selling Single at the ARIA Music Awards of 2008
ARIA Music Awards of 2008
The 22nd Annual Australian Recording Industry Association Music Awards took place on 19 October 2008...
.
Background
The Veronicas pushed for a school revolt storyline, to the director Scott SpeerScott Speer
Scott Speer is an American music video director born in San Diego, California.-Career:At age 23 he was signed with HSI Productions, and in 2006 Speer received the MVPA Award for Directorial Debut of the Year for the music video of "Stars" by Switchfoot.In 2007 he won his first MTV Video Music...
, after a sexy concept was first presented to them. The Veronicas explained the concept of the music video to the Herald Sun
Herald Sun
The Herald Sun is a morning tabloid newspaper based in Melbourne, Australia. It is published by The Herald and Weekly Times, a subsidiary of News Limited, itself a subsidiary of News Corporation. It is available for purchase throughout Melbourne, Regional Victoria, Tasmania, the Australian Capital...
:
"We explained to him what the song was about and he said, 'So, breaking out ... what about a boarding school?' We love any movies to do with boarding schools – Cruel IntentionsCruel IntentionsCruel Intentions is a 1999 American drama film starring Sarah Michelle Gellar, Ryan Phillippe, Reese Witherspoon, and Selma Blair. The film is an adaptation of the 18th-century French epistolary novel Les Liaisons dangereuses by Laclos and is set among wealthy teenagers living in modern New York...
, The CraftThe Craft (film)The Craft is a 1996 American supernatural teen horror film directed by Andrew Fleming and starring Robin Tunney, Rachel True, Fairuza Balk and Neve Campbell. The film's plot centers on a group of four teenage girls who pursue witchcraft and use it for their own gain...
. We were like 'Yes, yes!' and we all brainstormed from there[...] We really had to push. A lot[...] We had a lot of control over making the music on this record and we wrote Hook Me Up so we would have the best idea of what the video would be. So it was 'Use our ideas. They're free'[...] Because the song is so different from the first record, we wanted to make a video that was young and fun that kids could relate to. The video idea that was first proposed really was not for a young market. It was a lot older."
Synopsis
The music video is based on a boarding school revolt. The video starts off with flash images of the exterior of an old school building. It then cuts to two separate lines of male and female students, the latter being led by Lisa and Jess, marching down a school hall led by a teacher with a whip in her hand while being watched by surveillance cameras. It then shifts to the male students walking past a sign that says "no girls beyond this point". The first verse then begins and the students are marching into a classroom and sit at their individual tables. When the chorus of the song begins, Lisa and Jess are standing on a stage in front of their band performing in front of lines of still students who stare back blankly. When the second verse begins the students are in the classroom while guards patrol its perimeter and the teacher hits a black board with a pointing stick. During the second chorus Lisa and Jess get their band members together in a toilet to start their rebellion on the school. When the bridge starts smash cuts are shown of them taking over the schools PA system, and the students getting up from their chairs in the classrooms and throwing objects at a teacher standing in front of a blackboard. The video ends with everyone running down stairs out of the school, with Jess and Lisa leading the way. The scenes are inter cut to scenes of Lisa and Jess holding each other. They are dressed in tartan skirts with the former wearing a black cardigan and a open collared shirt, and the latter a black blazer and a shirt with a tartan patterned skinny tie. Both the cardigan and blazer have a striped crest with a pink "v" in the middle.Live performances
One of the first performances of the song was at the ARIA Music Awards of 2007ARIA Music Awards of 2007
The 21st Annual Australian Recording Industry Association Music Awards were held on 28 October 2007 at the Acer Arena at the Sydney Olympic Park complex. Rove McManus was the host of the event...
, held on 21 October. Clothed in costumes similar to the music video, Lisa and Jessica appeared from a yellow school bus. During the performance Lisa and Jessica sang vocals, while the latter played the electric guitar
Electric guitar
An electric guitar is a guitar that uses the principle of direct electromagnetic induction to convert vibrations of its metal strings into electric audio signals. The signal generated by an electric guitar is too weak to drive a loudspeaker, so it is amplified before sending it to a loudspeaker...
with their band, as opposed to using the synthesised instruments like the recording. At the end of the performance, two streamer cannons on opposite ends of the stage, shot out pink streamers. They continued to promote the song on Australian television, including The Today Show
Today (Australian TV program)
Today and Weekend Today are Australian breakfast television programmes, the show is often referred to as The Today Show. The show has been broadcast live by the Nine Network each morning since 1982...
and Rove Live
Rove Live
Rove, formerly Rove Live, was an Australian television talk show which premiered on the Nine Network on 22 September 1999, before moving to Network Ten which aired the program from 2000 until November, 2009. The show was hosted by comedian Rove McManus, and featured an ensemble cast, who presented...
. They also performed the song at the 2008 Australia Day
Australia Day
Australia Day is the official national day of Australia...
concert, Australia's Funniest Home Videos, Take 40 Live Lounge, and on Video Hits
Video Hits
Video Hits may be the name of a television series devoted to music videos:* Video Hits * Video Hits...
in 2009. "Hook Me Up" was added to the setlists of both the Hook Me Up and Revenge Is Sweeter tour
Revenge Is Sweeter tour
The Revenge Is Sweeter tour is a tour by The Veronicas which was announced in November 2008.-Tour information:The sixteen date tour was their first to extend outside of Australia into New Zealand. The tour will begin on 13 February 2009 in Newcastle and conclude on 7 March 2009 in Dunedin, New...
in 2007 and 2009, respectively.
Track listing
iTunes single- "Hook Me Up" — 2:57
CD single
- Hook Me Up — 2:57
- Everything — 3:20
- Insomnia — 3:28
Personnel
- SongwritingSongwriterA songwriter is an individual who writes both the lyrics and music to a song. Someone who solely writes lyrics may be called a lyricist, and someone who only writes music may be called a composer...
– Jessica OrigliassoJessica OrigliassoJessica Louise Origliasso is an Australian singer-songwriter, actress and fashion designer. Born and raised in Albany Creek, Queensland she, along side twin sister Lisa Origliasso, performed in show business at a young age. Origliasso rose to fame in 2000's when she and her sister formed a pop duo...
, Lisa OrigliassoLisa OrigliassoLisa Marie Origliasso is an Australian singer-songwriter, actress and fashion designer. Born and raised in Albany Creek, Queensland she, along side twin sister Jessica Origliasso, performed in show business at a young age. Origliasso rose to fame in 2000's when she and her sister formed a pop duo...
, Shelly PeikenShelly PeikenShelly Peiken is a multi-platinum Grammy nominated songwriter who is best known for her #1 hits "What a Girl Wants" and "Come on Over Baby ".Shelly and Meredith Brooks earned a Grammy nomination for Brooks's hit song "Bitch"....
, Greg WellsGreg WellsGreg Wells is a multiple Grammy nominated musician, record producer and songwriter based in Los Angeles. Wells has produced and written hits with Adele, Weezer, Pink, Theophilus London, Deftones, Katy Perry, Rufus Wainwright, The All American Rejects, OneRepublic, Mika, Aerosmith, Burt Bacharach,... - ProductionRecord producerA record producer is an individual working within the music industry, whose job is to oversee and manage the recording of an artist's music...
– Greg Wells - Instruments and programmingMusical instrumentA musical instrument is a device created or adapted for the purpose of making musical sounds. In principle, any object that produces sound can serve as a musical instrument—it is through purpose that the object becomes a musical instrument. The history of musical instruments dates back to the...
– Greg Wells, Fabien Waltmann, Sven Martin - RecordingSound recording and reproductionSound recording and reproduction is an electrical or mechanical inscription and re-creation of sound waves, such as spoken voice, singing, instrumental music, or sound effects. The two main classes of sound recording technology are analog recording and digital recording...
– Drew Pearson - EngineeringAudio engineeringAn audio engineer, also called audio technician, audio technologist or sound technician, is a specialist in a skilled trade that deals with the use of machinery and equipment for the recording, mixing and reproduction of sounds. The field draws on many artistic and vocational areas, including...
– Josh Alexander - Background vocalsBacking vocalistA backing vocalist or backing singer is a singer who provides vocal harmony with the lead vocalist or other backing vocalists...
– Jessica Origliasso, Lisa Origliasso - MixingAudio mixing (recorded music)In audio recording, audio mixing is the process by which multiple recorded sounds are combined into one or more channels, most commonly two-channel stereo. In the process, the source signals' level, frequency content, dynamics, and panoramic position are manipulated and effects such as reverb may...
– Greg Wells
Charts
| Chart (2007) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Australian Singles Chart ARIA Charts The ARIA charts are the main Australian music sales charts, issued weekly by the Australian Recording Industry Association. The charts are a record of the highest selling singles and albums in various genres in Australia. ARIA commenced compiling its own charts in-house from the week ending 26 June... |
1 |
Certifications
| Country | Certifications |
|---|---|
| Australia Australian Recording Industry Association The Australian Recording Industry Association is a trade group representing the Australian recording industry which was established in 1983 by six major record companies, EMI, Festival, CBS, RCA, WEA and Universal replacing the Association of Australian Record Manufacturers which was formed in 1956... |
Platinum |
Year-end charts
| Chart (2007) | Position |
|---|---|
| Australian Singles Chart | 22 |
Release history
| Country | Date | Format |
|---|---|---|
| Australia |
18 August 2011 | 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... |
| 27 August 2007 | Mainstream Contemporary hit radio Contemporary hit radio is a radio format that is common in the United States, United Kingdom, Canada and Australia that focuses on playing current and recurrent popular music as determined by the Top 40 music charts... airplay |
|
| 22 September 2007 | CD Compact Disc The Compact Disc is an optical disc used to store digital data. It was originally developed to store and playback sound recordings exclusively, but later expanded to encompass data storage , write-once audio and data storage , rewritable media , Video Compact Discs , Super Video Compact Discs ,... single |