Should I Stay or Should I Go
Encyclopedia
"Should I Stay or Should I Go" is a song by the English punk rock
band The Clash
, from their album Combat Rock
. It was written in 1981 and featured Mick Jones
on lead vocals. It became the band's only number-one single on the UK Singles Chart
, a decade after it was originally released. In November 2004, it was ranked at 228 on Rolling Stone's 500 Greatest Songs of All Time. In 2009 it was ranked 42nd on VH1
's program 100 Greatest Hard Rock Songs.
The tune leans towards more of a retro punk rock
sound than most of the other tracks on the album. Though many legends have arisen about what the song is about (one of which is Jones' impending dismissal from The Clash in 1983), it is actually about a rocky personal relationship between Jones and singer Ellen Foley
that would soon implode. The lyrics seem to reflect ups and downs concerning the relationship and the dilemma of sticking with or ending it.
The Spanish
backing vocals are courtesy of Joe Strummer
:
" and with "Cool Confusion" as its B-side. It was reissued again in 1983,which is a cool song, with "First Night Back in London" on the side two, and then for a third time in 1991, with "Rush" by Mick Jones' group Big Audio Dynamite II as its B-side (see the table below).
by many artists including Skin
, Ice Cube
and Mack 10
, Living Colour
, Maroon 5
, Weezer
, Guitar Wolf
, Die Toten Hosen
, The Ukulele Orchestra of Great Britain
, and Kylie Minogue
. A version by former Prime Minister of the United Kingdom
, Tony Blair
was created by digital editing of his speeches to make it appear he was performing the song.
Post punk band The Libertines
performed a live version of the song, with Mick Jones featured on guitar. Jones also sampled the track for his Big Audio Dynamite II song "The Globe
". American punk band MxPx
frequently covers the song during live sets, and it appears on their album On the Cover II
. ZZ Top
also covered it in the early 1980s. "Weird Al" Yankovic
performs this in his "Polkas on 45" medley on his album "Weird Al" Yankovic in 3-D
, released in 1984.
The main riff was parodized by the Brazilian rock band Mamonas Assassinas
, in the song "Chopis Centis", released in 1995 on their album of same name
.
In 2001, Paul Shanklin
recorded a version called "Will I Stay or Will I Go?" In it, Shanklin imitates John McCain
debating whether or not to leave the Republican Party. Christian parody band ApologetiX
recorded "Should I Pray or Should I Go?" on their Adam Up album (2003). On 22 December 2007, Love and Rockets
played "Should I Stay or Should I Go" at the Strummerville benefit show at the Key Club in Los Angeles. Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers
also included it in their sets in the past.
Argentine band Los Fabulosos Cadillacs
included a Spanish-language version of the song on their album La Luz del Ritmo
. Punk band Anti-Flag
performed the song, along with other Clash songs as part of a U.S. festival. It has appeared in setlists multiple times since then.
Cover band Camp Freddy
have performed an acoustic version of the song. The rock band Šank Rock
from Slovenia
made a cover of the song in Slovene with the title "Al' Naj Ostanem Al' Naj Grem" which is simply the translation of "Should I Stay or Should I Go". The rock band Bajaga i Instruktori
from Serbia
made a cover of the song in Serbian with the title "Da li da odem ili ne", the title also being the translation of "Should I Stay or Should I Go".
Filipino
band Parokya ni Edgar
did a parody of this song (The Crush) in their debut album.
On 29 October 2011, Frankie Cocozza covered the song on The X Factor
.
(1991), for Zoey 101
while saying, "Should she stay, or should she go?", for Pontiac
(2004/05), for Benylin
(Canada, 2008/09) and for mobile phone network Claro
(Brazil, 2009).
's Ashes to Ashes
(in its second series), Blackpool
(episode five), and Bravo Two Zero
(miniseries). Both CTV
teen drama series Instant Star
and Degrassi: The Next Generation
had episodes named after the song. It was used and inspired a segment on the Frosty, Heidi and Frank radio show.
A live version of the song was used for the opening sequence of the film 28 Days
in 2000. In 2003, Jones had a cameo appearance in the film Code 46
, singing "Should I Stay or Should I Go" in a karaoke
club. It was sung by Angelica Pickles
' character in the children's film Rugrats Go Wild, also released in 2003. It is also featured as a playable track in the video game Rock Band.
The song's opening riff was used by Brazil
ian comedy rock band Mamonas Assassinas
on their song "Chopis Centis". It is also referenced in the lyrics of Kelly Clarkson
's hit "Walk Away
", in the lines "Should you stay or should you go?"
A part of the song is played in the films "Iron Man 2
" and "Divorcing Jack
".
Punk rock
Punk rock is a rock music genre that developed between 1974 and 1976 in the United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia. Rooted in garage rock and other forms of what is now known as protopunk music, punk rock bands eschewed perceived excesses of mainstream 1970s rock...
band The Clash
The Clash
The Clash were an English punk rock band that formed in 1976 as part of the original wave of British punk. Along with punk, their music incorporated elements of reggae, ska, dub, funk, rap, dance, and rockabilly...
, from their album Combat Rock
Combat Rock
The album received positive reviews from critics, and reached the number two on the UK Albums Chart, the number seven on the Billboard Pop albums, and the top ten on many charts in other countries...
. It was written in 1981 and featured Mick Jones
Mick Jones (The Clash)
Michael Geoffrey "Mick" Jones is the former lead guitarist, secondary vocalist and co-founder for the British punk rock band The Clash until his dismissal in 1983. He went on to form the band Big Audio Dynamite with Don Letts before line-up changes led to the formation of Big Audio Dynamite II and...
on lead vocals. It became the band's only number-one single on the 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 ...
, a decade after it was originally released. In November 2004, it was ranked at 228 on Rolling Stone's 500 Greatest Songs of All Time. In 2009 it was ranked 42nd on 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...
's program 100 Greatest Hard Rock Songs.
The tune leans towards more of a retro punk rock
Punk rock
Punk rock is a rock music genre that developed between 1974 and 1976 in the United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia. Rooted in garage rock and other forms of what is now known as protopunk music, punk rock bands eschewed perceived excesses of mainstream 1970s rock...
sound than most of the other tracks on the album. Though many legends have arisen about what the song is about (one of which is Jones' impending dismissal from The Clash in 1983), it is actually about a rocky personal relationship between Jones and singer Ellen Foley
Ellen Foley
Ellen Foley is an American singer and actress, who has appeared on Broadway and television, where she co-starred in the sitcom Night Court. In music, she has released three solo albums but is best known for her collaborations with the singer Meat Loaf.- Early life and career :Foley was born in St....
that would soon implode. The lyrics seem to reflect ups and downs concerning the relationship and the dilemma of sticking with or ending it.
The Spanish
Spanish language
Spanish , also known as Castilian , is a Romance language in the Ibero-Romance group that evolved from several languages and dialects in central-northern Iberia around the 9th century and gradually spread with the expansion of the Kingdom of Castile into central and southern Iberia during the...
backing vocals are courtesy of Joe Strummer
Joe Strummer
John Graham Mellor , best remembered by his stage name Joe Strummer, was the co-founder, lyricist, rhythm guitarist and lead vocalist of the British punk rock band The Clash. His musical experience included his membership in The 101ers, Latino Rockabilly War, The Mescaleros and The Pogues, in...
:
Releases
The single was reissued several times. It was first reissued in 1982, with a different cover as a double A-side with "Straight to HellStraight to Hell (song)
"Straight to Hell" is a song by The Clash, from their album Combat Rock. It was released as a double A-side single with "Should I Stay or Should I Go" on 17 September 1982 in 12" and 7" vinyl format format. A slow, mournful ballad, it is one of the most popular songs in the Clash canon due to its...
" and with "Cool Confusion" as its B-side. It was reissued again in 1983,which is a cool song, with "First Night Back in London" on the side two, and then for a third time in 1991, with "Rush" by Mick Jones' group Big Audio Dynamite II as its B-side (see the table below).
| Year | B-side | Format | Label | Country | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1982 | CBS logo etched into vinyl | 45 rpm 7" vinyl | Epic ENR-03571 | USA | One Sided Single - Epic's Get the Hit - Special Low Price. |
| 1982 | "Cool Confusion" | 45 rpm 12" vinyl | Epic 07 5P-223 | JP | — |
| 1982 | "Straight to Hell Straight to Hell (song) "Straight to Hell" is a song by The Clash, from their album Combat Rock. It was released as a double A-side single with "Should I Stay or Should I Go" on 17 September 1982 in 12" and 7" vinyl format format. A slow, mournful ballad, it is one of the most popular songs in the Clash canon due to its... " (Edit) |
45 rpm 12" vinyl | CBS CBS A13 2646 | UK | — |
| 1982 | "Straight to Hell Straight to Hell (song) "Straight to Hell" is a song by The Clash, from their album Combat Rock. It was released as a double A-side single with "Should I Stay or Should I Go" on 17 September 1982 in 12" and 7" vinyl format format. A slow, mournful ballad, it is one of the most popular songs in the Clash canon due to its... " (Edit) |
45 rpm 7" vinyl | CBS CBS AII 2646 | UK | Picture disc. |
| 1982 | "Inoculated City" | 45 rpm 7" vinyl | Epic 14-03006 | USA | 10 June 1982. |
| 1982 | "First Night Back in London" | 45 rpm 7" vinyl | Epic 34-03061 | USA | Released on 20 July 1982 |
| 1982 | "Straight to Hell Straight to Hell (song) "Straight to Hell" is a song by The Clash, from their album Combat Rock. It was released as a double A-side single with "Should I Stay or Should I Go" on 17 September 1982 in 12" and 7" vinyl format format. A slow, mournful ballad, it is one of the most popular songs in the Clash canon due to its... " |
45 rpm 7" vinyl | CBS CBS A 2646 | UK | Released on 17 September 1982. |
| 1983 | "Cool Confusion" | 45 rpm 7" vinyl | Epic 34-03547 | USA | Released on 27 January 1983. |
| 1991 |
|
45 rpm 12" vinyl | CBS / Sony | UK | A-side
Big Audio Dynamite Big Audio Dynamite are a British musical group formed in 1984 by the ex-guitarist and singer of the Clash, Mick Jones. The group are noted for their effective mixture of varied musical styles, incorporating elements of punk rock, dance music, hip hop, reggae, and funk... ) |
Cover versions and parodies
"Should I Stay or Should I Go" has been coveredCover version
In popular music, a cover version or cover song, or simply cover, is a new performance or recording of a contemporary or previously recorded, commercially released song or popular song...
by many artists including Skin
Skin (UK band)
Skin are a UK hard rock band active during the 1990s who reformed in 2009, only to disband again in 2010.-History:Skin were formed in the early 1990s by ex-Jagged Edge members Myke Gray and Andy Robbins along with former Kooga vocalist Neville MacDonald and drummer Dicki Fliszar, formerly from...
, Ice Cube
Ice Cube
O'Shea Jackson , better known by his stage name Ice Cube, is an American rapper and actor. He began his career as a member of the hip-hop group C.I.A. and later joined the rap group N.W.A. After leaving N.W.A in December 1989, he built a successful solo career in music, and also as a writer,...
and Mack 10
Mack 10
Dedrick Rolison, , better known by his stage name Mack 10 is an American rapper and actor. He was a member of hip hop trio Westside Connection, along with Ice Cube and WC...
, Living Colour
Living Colour
Living Colour is an American rock band from New York City, formed in 1984. Stylistically, the band's music is a creative fusion influenced by free jazz, funk, neo-psychedelia, hard rock, and heavy metal...
, 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...
, Weezer
Weezer
Weezer is an American alternative rock band. The band currently consists of Rivers Cuomo , Patrick Wilson , Brian Bell , and Scott Shriner . The band has changed lineups three times since its formation in 1992...
, Guitar Wolf
Guitar Wolf
Guitar Wolf is a Japanese garage punk power trio founded in Nagasaki, Nagasaki in 1987. The band is known for songs with piercing vocals and an extremely loud style of noise-influenced punk which emphasizes heavy distortion and feedback...
, Die Toten Hosen
Die Toten Hosen
Die Toten Hosen is a German punk band from Düsseldorf. They have enjoyed decades-long mass appeal in Germany.The band's name literally means "The Dead Pants" in English, although the phrase "tote Hose" is a German expression meaning "nothing going on" or "boring"...
, The Ukulele Orchestra of Great Britain
The Ukulele Orchestra of Great Britain
The Ukulele Orchestra of Great Britain is a musical ensemble featuring ukuleles in different registers and a bass ukulele .-History:...
, and Kylie Minogue
Kylie Minogue
Kylie Ann Minogue, OBE - often known simply as Kylie - is an Australian singer, recording artist, songwriter, and actress. After beginning her career as a child actress on Australian television, she achieved recognition through her role in the television soap opera Neighbours, before commencing...
. A version by former Prime Minister of the United Kingdom
Prime Minister of the United Kingdom
The Prime Minister of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is the Head of Her Majesty's Government in the United Kingdom. The Prime Minister and Cabinet are collectively accountable for their policies and actions to the Sovereign, to Parliament, to their political party and...
, Tony Blair
Tony Blair
Anthony Charles Lynton Blair is a former British Labour Party politician who served as the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 2 May 1997 to 27 June 2007. He was the Member of Parliament for Sedgefield from 1983 to 2007 and Leader of the Labour Party from 1994 to 2007...
was created by digital editing of his speeches to make it appear he was performing the song.
Post punk band The Libertines
The Libertines
The Libertines were an English rock band, formed in London in 1997 by frontmen Carl Barât and Pete Doherty . The band, centred on the song-writing partnership of Barat and Doherty, also included John Hassall and Gary Powell for most of its recording career...
performed a live version of the song, with Mick Jones featured on guitar. Jones also sampled the track for his Big Audio Dynamite II song "The Globe
The Globe (song)
"The Globe" is a song by Alternative dance group Big Audio Dynamite II. It was released as a single in the US and is taken from their album The Globe...
". American punk band MxPx
MxPx
MxPx is a pop punk band from Bremerton, Washington with connections to the Christian punk scene. The band has recorded eight studio albums, four EPs, four compilation albums, a live album, a VHS tape, a DVD and released 20 singles....
frequently covers the song during live sets, and it appears on their album On the Cover II
On the Cover II
On the Cover II is an album of song covers by pop punk band MxPx, like On the Cover. The album features covers of various 80s songs. Beginning on February 9, 2009, feature artists were announced, one per day, on Alternative Press' website....
. ZZ Top
ZZ Top
ZZ Top is an American rock band, sometimes referred to as "That Little Ol' Band from Texas". Their style, which is rooted in blues-based boogie rock, has come to incorporate elements of arena, southern, and boogie rock. The band, from Houston Texas, formed in 1969...
also covered it in the early 1980s. "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...
performs this in his "Polkas on 45" medley on his album "Weird Al" Yankovic in 3-D
"Weird Al" Yankovic in 3-D
"Weird Al" Yankovic in 3-D is the second studio album by American signer-songwriter "Weird Al" Yankovic, released on February 28, 1984, by Rock 'n Roll Records. The album was one of many produced by former The McCoys guitarist Rick Derringer...
, released in 1984.
The main riff was parodized by the Brazilian rock band Mamonas Assassinas
Mamonas Assassinas
Mamonas Assassinas was a satirical Brazilian rock band. Their lyrics, music and live performances were as famous as their tragical end: on March 2, 1996, the plane in which they were crashed into the Cantareira mountain range, near São Paulo, killing all band members.The band's name carries a...
, in the song "Chopis Centis", released in 1995 on their album of same name
Mamonas Assassinas (album)
Mamonas Assassinas is the only studio album released by the Brazilian rock band of same name. It was released in 1995, and in only eight months , it sold more than 2 million copies.- Track listing :-1406:...
.
In 2001, Paul Shanklin
Paul Shanklin
Paul Shanklin is an American conservative political satirist, impressionist, comedian, and conservative speaker...
recorded a version called "Will I Stay or Will I Go?" In it, Shanklin imitates John McCain
John McCain
John Sidney McCain III is the senior United States Senator from Arizona. He was the Republican nominee for president in the 2008 United States election....
debating whether or not to leave the Republican Party. Christian parody band ApologetiX
ApologetiX
ApologetiX is a Christian parody band from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA. The band was founded in 1992, and since then, has played in 44 states, released 17 studio albums, and built up a fan club that includes 45,000 people. The band is currently composed of J...
recorded "Should I Pray or Should I Go?" on their Adam Up album (2003). On 22 December 2007, Love and Rockets
Love and Rockets (band)
Love and Rockets were an English alternative rock band formed in 1985 by former Bauhaus members Daniel Ash , David J , and Kevin Haskins . Former Bauhaus vocalist Peter Murphy had embarked on a solo career after Bauhaus split in 1983...
played "Should I Stay or Should I Go" at the Strummerville benefit show at the Key Club in Los Angeles. Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers
Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers
Tom Petty And The Heartbreakers are an American rock band from Gainesville, Florida. They were formed in 1976 by Tom Petty , Mike Campbell , Benmont Tench , , Ron Blair and Stan Lynch...
also included it in their sets in the past.
Argentine band Los Fabulosos Cadillacs
Los Fabulosos Cadillacs
Los Fabulosos Cadillacs is an Argentine ska band from Buenos Aires. Formed in 1985, they released their first album, Bares y Fondas in 1986...
included a Spanish-language version of the song on their album La Luz del Ritmo
La Luz del Ritmo
La Luz del Ritmo is the fifteenth albums by Ska Argentine band Los Fabulosos Cadillacs. After a 7 year long hiatus of the group in which some of the members of the band spent some time in their own projects, Los Fabulosos Cadillacs regrouped to launch a very anticipated disc which includes 5 new...
. Punk band Anti-Flag
Anti-Flag
Anti-Flag is a punk rock band from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania in the United States, formed in 1988. The band is well known for its outspoken political views. Much of the band's lyrics have focused on fervent anti-war activism, criticism of United States foreign policy, corporatism, U.S. wealth...
performed the song, along with other Clash songs as part of a U.S. festival. It has appeared in setlists multiple times since then.
Cover band Camp Freddy
Camp Freddy
Camp Freddy is a group of established musicians who play rock and roll covers at various shows around America. The band is composed of core members Dave Navarro , Billy Morrison , Matt Sorum , Donovan Leitch, Jr. and Chris Chaney...
have performed an acoustic version of the song. The rock band Šank Rock
Šank Rock
Šank Rock was a five-piece Slovenian rock group, formed in 1982. In their long-lasting career they have published 13 albums.Their greatest distinction is probably that their music remains the same as it was from the beginning...
from Slovenia
Slovenia
Slovenia , officially the Republic of Slovenia , is a country in Central and Southeastern Europe touching the Alps and bordering the Mediterranean. Slovenia borders Italy to the west, Croatia to the south and east, Hungary to the northeast, and Austria to the north, and also has a small portion of...
made a cover of the song in Slovene with the title "Al' Naj Ostanem Al' Naj Grem" which is simply the translation of "Should I Stay or Should I Go". The rock band Bajaga i Instruktori
Bajaga i Instruktori
Bajaga i Instruktori are a highly popular Serbian and former Yugoslav rock band...
from Serbia
Serbia
Serbia , officially the Republic of Serbia , is a landlocked country located at the crossroads of Central and Southeast Europe, covering the southern part of the Carpathian basin and the central part of the Balkans...
made a cover of the song in Serbian with the title "Da li da odem ili ne", the title also being the translation of "Should I Stay or Should I Go".
Filipino
Culture of the Philippines
Philippine culture is related to Micronesian, Bornean, Mexican and Spanish cultures. The people today are mostly of Malayo-Polynesian origin, although there are people with Spanish, Mexican, Austro-Melanesian and Chinese blood. Geographically, the Philippines is considered part of Southeast Asia...
band Parokya ni Edgar
Parokya ni Edgar
Parokya ni Edgar is a Filipino band that was formed in 1993 by a group of college students. The band is famous and most lauded for its original rock novelty songs and often satirical covers of popular songs...
did a parody of this song (The Crush) in their debut album.
On 29 October 2011, Frankie Cocozza covered the song on The X Factor
The X Factor (UK series 8)
The X Factor is a British television music competition to find new singing talent. The eighth series began airing on ITV on 20 August 2011. Louis Walsh is the only judge from the previous series to return, as the other three, Simon Cowell, Dannii Minogue and Cheryl Cole, all left to join other...
.
Commercial uses
As sign of popularity, the song was used in many television commercials, including for Levi Strauss & Co.Levi Strauss & Co.
Levi Strauss & Co. is a privately held American clothing company known worldwide for its Levi's brand of denim jeans. It was founded in 1853 when Levi Strauss came from Buttenheim, Franconia, to San Francisco, California to open a west coast branch of his brothers' New York dry goods business...
(1991), for Zoey 101
Zoey 101
Zoey 101 is an American television series that ran from January 9, 2005 to May 2, 2008 starring Jamie Lynn Spears as teenager Zoey Brooks, produced for Nickelodeon and syndicated worldwide. The show was initially filmed at Pepperdine University in Malibu, California, then at stages in Valencia,...
while saying, "Should she stay, or should she go?", for Pontiac
Pontiac
Pontiac was an automobile brand that was established in 1926 as a companion make for General Motors' Oakland. Quickly overtaking its parent in popularity, it supplanted the Oakland brand entirely by 1933 and, for most of its life, became a companion make for Chevrolet. Pontiac was sold in the...
(2004/05), for Benylin
Benylin
Benylin is a brand name owned by Johnson & Johnson for a range of cough, cold and flu medications. The flagship cough syrup and cold care brand is marketed in several countries as Benylin DM, for its active ingredient, dextromethorphan...
(Canada, 2008/09) and for mobile phone network Claro
Claro (mobile phone network)
Claro is the largest mobile phone network in the Americas. It is part of the Mexican telecom group América Móvil which is one of the four largest mobile phone network operators in the world, with more than 200 million customers...
(Brazil, 2009).
Notable appearances
"Should I Stay or Should I Go" has been used in several TV programs, such as BBC OneBBC One
BBC One is the flagship television channel of the British Broadcasting Corporation in the United Kingdom. It was launched on 2 November 1936 as the BBC Television Service, and was the world's first regular television service with a high level of image resolution...
's Ashes to Ashes
Ashes to Ashes (TV series)
Ashes to Ashes is a British science fiction and police procedural drama television series, serving as the sequel to Life on Mars.The series began airing on BBC One in February 2008. A second series began broadcasting in April 2009...
(in its second series), Blackpool
Blackpool (TV serial)
Blackpool is a British television musical comedy drama serial, produced in-house by the BBC. It was screened on BBC One as six one-hour episodes on Thursday nights at 9pm from 11 November to 16 December 2004...
(episode five), and Bravo Two Zero
Bravo Two Zero (film)
Bravo Two Zero is a 1999 two hour television miniseries , based on the book of the same name by Andy McNab. The film covers real life events - from the perspective of Andy McNab, patrol commander of Bravo Two Zero, a British SAS patrol , tasked to find Iraqi Scud missile launchers during the Gulf...
(miniseries). Both CTV
CTV television network
CTV Television Network is a Canadian English language television network and is owned by Bell Media. It is Canada's largest privately-owned network, and has consistently placed as Canada's top-rated network in total viewers and in key demographics since 2002, after several years trailing the rival...
teen drama series Instant Star
Instant Star
Instant Star was a Canadian television program which aired from September 2004 to June 2008. The series starred Alexz Johnson as adolescent music competition winner Jude Harrison. The show chronicles Harrison's experience in the recording industry whilst focusing upon character development.Linda...
and Degrassi: The Next Generation
Degrassi: The Next Generation
Degrassi: The Next Generation is a Canadian teen drama television series set in the Degrassi universe, which was created by Linda Schuyler and Kit Hood in 1979. Degrassi is the fourth fictional series in the Degrassi franchise, and follows The Kids of Degrassi Street, Degrassi Junior High, and...
had episodes named after the song. It was used and inspired a segment on the Frosty, Heidi and Frank radio show.
A live version of the song was used for the opening sequence of the film 28 Days
28 Days (film)
28 Days is a 2000 American drama film directed by Betty Thomas. Sandra Bullock plays Gwen Cummings, a newspaper columnist obliged to enter rehabilitation for alcoholism. The film costars Viggo Mortensen, Dominic West, Elizabeth Perkins, Steve Buscemi and Diane Ladd.-Plot:Gwen Cummings borrows the...
in 2000. In 2003, Jones had a cameo appearance in the film Code 46
Code 46
Code 46 is a 2003 British film directed by Michael Winterbottom, with screenplay by Frank Cottrell Boyce. It was produced by BBC Films and Revolution Films. It is a disquieting science fiction love story with themes that explore the moral impacts of advances in biotechnology. The soundtrack was...
, singing "Should I Stay or Should I Go" in a karaoke
Karaoke
is a form of interactive entertainment or video game in which amateur singers sing along with recorded music using a microphone and public address system. The music is typically a well-known pop song minus the lead vocal. Lyrics are usually displayed on a video screen, along with a moving symbol,...
club. It was sung by Angelica Pickles
Angelica Pickles
Angelica Charlotte Pickles is a character voiced by Cheryl Chase in the Nickelodeon shows Rugrats and All Grown Up! and is among the series' original characters. She is a spoiled brat and the cousin of Tommy and Dil Pickles, serves as the main antagonist or the tritagonist of the series...
' character in the children's film Rugrats Go Wild, also released in 2003. It is also featured as a playable track in the video game Rock Band.
The song's opening riff was used by Brazil
Brazil
Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
ian comedy rock band Mamonas Assassinas
Mamonas Assassinas
Mamonas Assassinas was a satirical Brazilian rock band. Their lyrics, music and live performances were as famous as their tragical end: on March 2, 1996, the plane in which they were crashed into the Cantareira mountain range, near São Paulo, killing all band members.The band's name carries a...
on their song "Chopis Centis". It is also referenced in the lyrics of Kelly Clarkson
Kelly Clarkson
Kelly Brianne Clarkson is an American pop rock singer-songwriter and actress. Clarkson came into prominence after becoming the winner of the inaugural season of the television series American Idol in 2002 and would later become the runner-up in the television special World Idol in 2003.In 2003,...
's hit "Walk Away
Walk Away (Kelly Clarkson song)
"Walk Away" is a song by American singer Kelly Clarkson on her second album, Breakaway, and was the album's fifth and final single.In March 2006, the single was certified gold by RIAA and has sold over 500,000 copies in all formats in the United States...
", in the lines "Should you stay or should you go?"
A part of the song is played in the films "Iron Man 2
Iron Man 2
Iron Man 2 is a 2010 American superhero film featuring the Marvel Comics character Iron Man, produced by Marvel Studios and distributed by Paramount Pictures. It is the sequel to 2008's Iron Man, the second film in a planned trilogy and is a part of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Directed by Jon...
" and "Divorcing Jack
Divorcing Jack (film)
Divorcing Jack is a 1998 satirical black comedy. The plot is set around the Northern Irish reporter Dan Starkey who gets entangled into a web of political intrigue and Irish sectarian violence, at the same time as Northern Ireland is set to elect a new Prime Minister...
".
Charts
| Chart (1982-83) | Peak Position |
|---|---|
| Canadian Singles Chart Canadian Singles Chart The Canadian Singles Chart is currently compiled by the U.S.-based music sales tracking company, Nielsen SoundScan . The chart is compiled every Wednesday, and is published by Jam! Canoe on Thursdays.... |
40 |
| Irish Singles Chart Irish Singles Chart The Irish Singles Chart is Ireland's music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by the Irish Recorded Music Association and compiled on behalf of the IRMA by Chart-Track. Chart rankings are based on sales, which are compiled through over-the-counter retail data captured... |
16 |
| 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 ... |
17 |
| US 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... |
45 |
| US Billboard Hot Mainstream Rock Tracks | 13 |
| Chart (1991, Re-release) | Peak Position |
|---|---|
| Austrian Singles Chart | 5 |
| Dutch Mega Top 100 | 3 |
| French SNEP Syndicat National de l'Edition Phonographique The Syndicat national de l'édition phonographique is the inter-professional organization which protects the interests of the French record industry... Singles Chart |
25 |
| German Media Control Media Control Charts The official music charts in Germany are gathered and published by the company Media Control GfK International on behalf of Bundesverband Musikindustrie... Singles Chart |
5 |
| Irish Singles Chart Irish Singles Chart The Irish Singles Chart is Ireland's music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by the Irish Recorded Music Association and compiled on behalf of the IRMA by Chart-Track. Chart rankings are based on sales, which are compiled through over-the-counter retail data captured... |
2 |
| Norwegian Singles Chart | 3 |
| Swedish Singles Chart | 6 |
| Swiss Singles Chart | 4 |
| 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 ... |
1 |