Misery (Maroon 5 song)
Encyclopedia
"Misery" is a song by American band Maroon 5
. It was released on June 22, 2010 by A&M/Octone Records
via the iTunes Store
. The song was released in advance of the band's mid-2010 tour, and is the first single from their third studio album, Hands All Over
, which was released on September 21, 2010.
, Jesse Carmichael
, and Sam Farrar
, the song is about the narrator finding himself in a difficult situation when a relationship fades. "Why won't you answer me? / The silence is slowly killing me / Girl you really got me bad," he states in the lyrics. The song documents the decay of a relationship, familiar territory for the band. Frontman Adam Levine
told MTV News
: "'Misery' is about the desperation of wanting someone really badly in your life but having it be very difficult. Kind of what all the songs I write are about. I'm not treading on new ground, but I think a lot of people – including myself – deal with that all the time. Relationships are difficult, and it's good therapy to write about them."
on September 21, 2010. They were also on the Jimmy Kimmel Live
on September 28, 2010.
while reviewing the single, awarded it with the maximum of stars (5 out of 5), saying: "All of the usual elements of a Maroon 5
hit are here from the perky pop-soul sound to lyrics of intense conflict in a relationship. However, this time the band takes it all a few steps forward into the category of pop perfection. Quite possibly a key reason for this step forward is the presence of the by now legendary Robert John "Mutt" Lange in the producers chair. "Misery" is instantly the best mainstream pop single of 2010 so far. MTV Buzzworthy
stated that the single was "pretty classic Maroon 5", and "a buoyant, poppy affair that has a dark underbelly." AOL Radio
stated that it was a "falsetto-pleading, yet upbeat, keyboard-popping track" with a chorus
similar to Maroon 5's 2004 single "This Love". The New York Post
stated that the single was "exactly the kind of up tempo, falsetto-filled single we've come to expect". Rolling Stone
reviewers called the song a "funk-rock singalong" that "some people might have a hard time picking out... from a police line-up of Maroon 5 songs."
that the song's music video, directed by Joseph Kahn
, focuses on violence, rather than sex, where the female lead attempts to torture and possibly kill her lover. Russian model and Adam Levine
's current girlfriend Anne Vyalitsyna
appears in this video. The various members of the band appear as bystanders or passersby who get variously hit by cars, etc., as they wind up becoming casualties of the female lead's violence towards Levine's character. The video premiered on July 1, 2010 on MTV
and VH1
. The UK version censors the majority of the violence with cartoon-like graphics, and adds shots of the band (wearing the same outfits as they do in the rest of the video). http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WXNqs0LEEss
Levine added: "I did a lot of stuff, a lot of stuff is me! But most of it wasn't very dangerous. Although, by the end of the day, even not being hit by things is such a physical thing that I was really kind of beat up. I was like, 'Man, even thinking I got my ass kicked feels like getting my ass kicked.'"
said that: " Directed by visual maestro Joseph Kahn, the clip features M5 frontman Adam Levine getting kicked, punched, thrown off a building, bitten, hit by a car and having his head slammed in the door of a bathroom stall by a foxy babe. But that’s nothing compared to what happens to his bandmates". MTV Buzzworthy reviewed positively the video, saying: "Maroon 5 makes being miserable sound so irresistibly catchy! And Adam Levine and model Anne Vyalitsyna make a love-hate relationship look so sexy in Maroon 5's new video, "Misery." But that way leads madness, as Maroon 5 soon finds out. She may look real pretty, but it turns out that hot model chick is not afraid to throw knives, headbutt a dude, run people over and basically kick ass. Yes, "Misery," directed by Joseph Kahn, is a violent video, but it's clearly a tongue-in-cheek look (um, she has a BAZOOKA!) at the progression of an unhealthy relationship. A VERY unhealthy relationship. And judging from the expressions on Adam Levine's face, this is not the first time she's pulled heavy artillery on him, and it will not be the last. To love!".
.
Maroon 5
Maroon 5 is an American pop rock band from Los Angeles, California. While they were in high school, lead vocalist and rhythm guitarist Adam Levine, keyboardist Jesse Carmichael, bass guitarist Mickey Madden, and drummer Ryan Dusick formed a garage band called Kara's Flowers and released one album...
. It was released on June 22, 2010 by A&M/Octone Records
A&M/Octone Records
A&M/Octone Records is an American record label and a joint venture between Universal Music Group and Octone Records, also known as OctoScope Music...
via the iTunes Store
ITunes Store
The iTunes Store is a software-based online digital media store operated by Apple. Opening as the iTunes Music Store on April 28, 2003, with over 200,000 items to purchase, it is, as of April 2008, the number-one music vendor in the United States...
. The song was released in advance of the band's mid-2010 tour, and is the first single from their third studio album, Hands All Over
Hands All Over (album)
Hands All Over is the third studio album by the American pop rock band Maroon 5. Produced by veteran producer Robert John "Mutt" Lange, the album was released by A&M/Octone Records on September 21, 2010. On July 12, 2011, the band re-released the album to include their summer hit "Moves Like...
, which was released on September 21, 2010.
Background and writing
Written by Adam LevineAdam Levine
Adam Noah Levine is an American singer-songwriter and musician, best known as the front man and guitarist for the pop rock band Maroon 5. He is also a coach on the American talent show The Voice.-Early life:...
, Jesse Carmichael
Jesse Carmichael
Jesse Carmichael is an American musician who is the keyboardist for Maroon 5....
, and Sam Farrar
Sam Farrar
Sam Farrar is the bass guitar player for American rock 'n roll band Phantom Planet. The band is now on an indefinite hiatus. His father John Farrar was in the Shadows and also carved a successful songwriting career, penning many of Olivia Newton-John's big hits. His mother, Pat Carroll, was a...
, the song is about the narrator finding himself in a difficult situation when a relationship fades. "Why won't you answer me? / The silence is slowly killing me / Girl you really got me bad," he states in the lyrics. The song documents the decay of a relationship, familiar territory for the band. Frontman Adam Levine
Adam Levine
Adam Noah Levine is an American singer-songwriter and musician, best known as the front man and guitarist for the pop rock band Maroon 5. He is also a coach on the American talent show The Voice.-Early life:...
told MTV News
MTV News
MTV News is the news division of MTV, one of the first and most popular music television network in the U.S., as well as some of MTV's related channels around the world. MTV News began in the late 1980s with the program The Week In Rock, hosted by Kurt Loder, the first official MTV News correspondent...
: "'Misery' is about the desperation of wanting someone really badly in your life but having it be very difficult. Kind of what all the songs I write are about. I'm not treading on new ground, but I think a lot of people – including myself – deal with that all the time. Relationships are difficult, and it's good therapy to write about them."
Promotion
The song was used in the trailer for the 2011 film The Dilemma. The song is part on the 2011 Grammy Nominees album.Live performances
The band performed it live on the Late Show with David LettermanLate Show with David Letterman
Late Show with David Letterman is a U.S. late-night talk show hosted by David Letterman on CBS. The show debuted on August 30, 1993, and is produced by Letterman's production company, Worldwide Pants Incorporated. The show's music director and band-leader of the house band, the CBS Orchestra, is...
on September 21, 2010. They were also on the Jimmy Kimmel Live
Jimmy Kimmel Live
Jimmy Kimmel Live! is an American late-night talk show, created and hosted by Jimmy Kimmel and broadcast on ABC.The nightly hour-long show made its debut on January 26, 2003, following Super Bowl XXXVII. Jimmy Kimmel Live! is produced by Jackhole Productions in association with ABC Studios...
on September 28, 2010.
Critical reception
The song received mostly positive reviews from music critics. Bill Lamb 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....
while reviewing the single, awarded it with the maximum of stars (5 out of 5), saying: "All of the usual elements of a Maroon 5
Maroon 5
Maroon 5 is an American pop rock band from Los Angeles, California. While they were in high school, lead vocalist and rhythm guitarist Adam Levine, keyboardist Jesse Carmichael, bass guitarist Mickey Madden, and drummer Ryan Dusick formed a garage band called Kara's Flowers and released one album...
hit are here from the perky pop-soul sound to lyrics of intense conflict in a relationship. However, this time the band takes it all a few steps forward into the category of pop perfection. Quite possibly a key reason for this step forward is the presence of the by now legendary Robert John "Mutt" Lange in the producers chair. "Misery" is instantly the best mainstream pop single of 2010 so far. MTV Buzzworthy
MTV
MTV, formerly an initialism of Music Television, is an American network based in New York City that launched on August 1, 1981. The original purpose of the channel was to play music videos guided by on-air hosts known as VJs....
stated that the single was "pretty classic Maroon 5", and "a buoyant, poppy affair that has a dark underbelly." AOL Radio
AOL Radio
AOL Radio powered by Slacker, , is an online radio service available only in the United States.- Roots :...
stated that it was a "falsetto-pleading, yet upbeat, keyboard-popping track" with a chorus
Refrain
A refrain is the line or lines that are repeated in music or in verse; the "chorus" of a song...
similar to Maroon 5's 2004 single "This Love". The New York Post
New York Post
The New York Post is the 13th-oldest newspaper published in the United States and is generally acknowledged as the oldest to have been published continuously as a daily, although – as is the case with most other papers – its publication has been periodically interrupted by labor actions...
stated that the single was "exactly the kind of up tempo, falsetto-filled single we've come to expect". Rolling Stone
Rolling Stone
Rolling Stone is a US-based magazine devoted to music, liberal politics, and popular culture that is published every two weeks. Rolling Stone was founded in San Francisco in 1967 by Jann Wenner and music critic Ralph J...
reviewers called the song a "funk-rock singalong" that "some people might have a hard time picking out... from a police line-up of Maroon 5 songs."
Music video
The video was filmed in May 2010. Levine stated to MTV NewsMTV News
MTV News is the news division of MTV, one of the first and most popular music television network in the U.S., as well as some of MTV's related channels around the world. MTV News began in the late 1980s with the program The Week In Rock, hosted by Kurt Loder, the first official MTV News correspondent...
that the song's music video, directed by Joseph Kahn
Joseph Kahn
Joseph Kahn is an American music video, advertising, and feature film director.-Early life:Kahn was born in Jersey Village, Texas, a suburb of Houston. He is of Korean ancestry. He spent part of his childhood growing up in Livorno, Italy until his family moved to Texas...
, focuses on violence, rather than sex, where the female lead attempts to torture and possibly kill her lover. Russian model and Adam Levine
Adam Levine
Adam Noah Levine is an American singer-songwriter and musician, best known as the front man and guitarist for the pop rock band Maroon 5. He is also a coach on the American talent show The Voice.-Early life:...
's current girlfriend Anne Vyalitsyna
Anne Vyalitsyna
Anne Vyalitsyna , also known simply as Anne V, is a clothing and swimwear model...
appears in this video. The various members of the band appear as bystanders or passersby who get variously hit by cars, etc., as they wind up becoming casualties of the female lead's violence towards Levine's character. The video premiered on July 1, 2010 on MTV
MTV
MTV, formerly an initialism of Music Television, is an American network based in New York City that launched on August 1, 1981. The original purpose of the channel was to play music videos guided by on-air hosts known as VJs....
and VH1
VH1
VH1 or Vh1 is an American cable television network based in New York City. Launched on January 1, 1985 in the old space of Turner Broadcasting's short-lived Cable Music Channel, the original purpose of the channel was to build on the success of MTV by playing music videos, but targeting a slightly...
. The UK version censors the majority of the violence with cartoon-like graphics, and adds shots of the band (wearing the same outfits as they do in the rest of the video). http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WXNqs0LEEss
About the video
Levine told MTV News about the Joseph Kahn-directed video. "The cool thing is, when Joseph wrote the treatment after reading a few sentences, I thought it was really amazing," he said. "Because it kind of turns the whole idea of the sexual energy between two people – a guy and a girl, a music video, you've seen that a million times – that exists in this video, but it's turning it on its ass and having the girl be the more domineering one who's trying to kill me." Levine admitted to MTV News: "I'll tell you a little secret... the stuntmen were so great, but they probably weren't too happy because they had to dress like us [for the video], which was hilarious, because we aren't the most masculine dressers. This dude who was [keyboardist] Jesse [Carmichael]'s stunt double was, like, really buff, and he has Jesse's little low-top Converse and skinny jeans on. The shoes were, like, falling off his massive ankles."Levine added: "I did a lot of stuff, a lot of stuff is me! But most of it wasn't very dangerous. Although, by the end of the day, even not being hit by things is such a physical thing that I was really kind of beat up. I was like, 'Man, even thinking I got my ass kicked feels like getting my ass kicked.'"
Reception
Robbie Daw from IdolatorIdolator
Idolator is the third album by the Japanese, melodic death metal band, Blood Stain Child. Idolator combines melodic death metal similar to the more recent In Flames albums with electronic and trance influences, particularly on "Nuclear Trance". "Embrace Me", has a piano section both at the...
said that: " Directed by visual maestro Joseph Kahn, the clip features M5 frontman Adam Levine getting kicked, punched, thrown off a building, bitten, hit by a car and having his head slammed in the door of a bathroom stall by a foxy babe. But that’s nothing compared to what happens to his bandmates". MTV Buzzworthy reviewed positively the video, saying: "Maroon 5 makes being miserable sound so irresistibly catchy! And Adam Levine and model Anne Vyalitsyna make a love-hate relationship look so sexy in Maroon 5's new video, "Misery." But that way leads madness, as Maroon 5 soon finds out. She may look real pretty, but it turns out that hot model chick is not afraid to throw knives, headbutt a dude, run people over and basically kick ass. Yes, "Misery," directed by Joseph Kahn, is a violent video, but it's clearly a tongue-in-cheek look (um, she has a BAZOOKA!) at the progression of an unhealthy relationship. A VERY unhealthy relationship. And judging from the expressions on Adam Levine's face, this is not the first time she's pulled heavy artillery on him, and it will not be the last. To love!".
Awards and nominations
The song was nominated in the Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal category at the 53rd Grammy Awards53rd Grammy Awards
The 53rd annual Grammy Awards were held on February 13, 2011, at the Staples Center in Los Angeles. They were broadcast on CBS with a rating of 26.6 million viewers. Barbra Streisand was honored as the MusiCares Person of the Year two nights prior to the telecast on February 11. Nominations were...
.
Track listing
Charts
| Chart (2010) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| South Korea (GAON) | 4 |
Year-end charts
| Chart (2010) | Position |
|---|---|
| Hungarian Airplay Chart | 30 |
| Japanese Top 100 RIAJ Digital Track Chart The is chart ranks the best selling digital singles in Japan, provided by the Recording Industry Association of Japan since April 2009. The chart measures cellphone downloads .... |
19 |
| 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... |
62 |
| Canadian Hot 100 | 70 |
Chart procession and succession
Release history
| Region | Date | Format |
|---|---|---|
| United States | June 22, 2010 | 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... |
| June 29, 2010 | Mainstream radio | |
| Australia | June 22, 2010 | Digital download |
| France | June 23, 2010 | Digital download |
| United Kingdom | September 1, 2010 | CD Single, 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... |