United States of Whatever
Encyclopedia
"United States of Whatever" is a comedy song written by Liam Lynch
for his 2003 album
Fake Songs
. It was the only single
released from that album. The song made its debut on Lynch's MTV
comedy show Sifl and Olly
in 1999; Lynch has stated it was improvised, being recorded in a single take.
The song achieved some success in countries like the United Kingdom
and Australia
, reaching #10 and #6 in their respective singles charts. Until 2007, the song was the shortest to appear in these charts. Steve Lamacq
of BBC Radio 1
declared it "the greatest single of 2002".
The song was also a hit on American alternative radio, peaked at #34 on the Billboard Modern Rock Tracks
chart
style, consisting of two power-chord riffs played by an overdriven distorted electric guitar and bass. The song begins with a dismissive "whatever", and each verse consists of a short encounter which abruptly ends with the word. The chorus proclaims: "This is my United States of whatever." He also dismisses people he should not ignore for his own well-being. In one verse, the character Zafo voiced by guitarist/producer "Chris Tench" from Sifl and Olly
is spared the disparaging remark.
, Lynch performed "United States of Whatever" with Tony Kanal
and Adrian Young
of No Doubt
. Lynch performed the song at a Foo Fighters
show in 2003 with Dave Grohl on drums.
The song is played weekly on the radio station WWWV
of Charlottesville, Virginia, as part of their 'Friday Freakout' segment. It has also featured in an advertisement for Tony Hawk's Underground
, on an episode of The Screensavers, and was played on the credits of an episode of High School Stories
. It was also used in behind-the-scenes content for the film Clerks II
.
A second version was written where George W. Bush responds to various criticisms of the Iraq War with the refrain of "Whatever!"
The song was parodied by Western Isles comedian Mac a' Noo Noo in "United States of Stornoway".http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FO8-JU5ld88
The song has also been parodied by Tedd Schermerhorn (of T-Ball and BJ) in the song "My West Hollywood Lifestyle Whatever".
The song is featured on the British Virgin/EMI compilation The Best Bands Ever 2004 (2003). It also appeared as the last track on the first disc on Q: The Album (an album made for Q Magazine
in March 2003), however it is fourteen seconds shorter, ending abruptly on the line "And then up comes Zafo, I'm, like, "yo, Zafo. What's up?", He's, like, "nothin'", And I'm, like, "that's cool"". This is because the disc was 79 minutes and 54 seconds long, and to include the further fourteen seconds would exceed the capacity of the disc.
Liam Lynch (musician)
Liam Lynch is a musician, puppeteer, writer and director. He co-created, co-wrote, played the music for, directed, and produced MTV's Sifl and Olly Show....
for his 2003 album
Album
An album is a collection of recordings, released as a single package on gramophone record, cassette, compact disc, or via digital distribution. The word derives from the Latin word for list .Vinyl LP records have two sides, each comprising one half of the album...
Fake Songs
Fake Songs
Fake Songs is an album created by Liam Lynch. It was released in 2003, and it features his best-known song "United States of Whatever", which was released as a single in 2002.- Background :...
. It was the only single
Single (music)
In music, a single or record single is a type of release, typically a recording of fewer tracks than an LP or a CD. This can be released for sale to the public in a variety of different formats. In most cases, the single is a song that is released separately from an album, but it can still appear...
released from that album. The song made its debut on Lynch's 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....
comedy show Sifl and Olly
Sifl and Olly
The Sifl and Olly Show is a comedy TV series that used sock puppets, animation, and music. Musicians Liam Lynch and Matt Crocco, friends since childhood, created and performed the series. The first episode aired on MTV in 1997. The show was cancelled in 1999...
in 1999; Lynch has stated it was improvised, being recorded in a single take.
The song achieved some success in countries like the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
and 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...
, reaching #10 and #6 in their respective singles charts. Until 2007, the song was the shortest to appear in these charts. Steve Lamacq
Steve Lamacq
Steve Lamacq , sometimes known by his nicknames Lammo or "The Cat" is an English disc jockey, currently working with the BBC radio stations BBC 6 Music and BBC Radio 2.-Early career:He was born in Basingstoke, Hampshire...
of BBC Radio 1
BBC Radio 1
BBC Radio 1 is a British national radio station operated by the British Broadcasting Corporation which also broadcasts internationally, specialising in current popular music and chart hits throughout the day. Radio 1 provides alternative genres after 7:00pm including electronic dance, hip hop, rock...
declared it "the greatest single of 2002".
The song was also a hit on American alternative radio, peaked at #34 on the Billboard Modern Rock Tracks
Modern Rock Tracks
Alternative Songs is a music chart in the United States that has appeared in Billboard magazine since September 10, 1988. It lists the 40 most-played songs on modern rock radio stations, most of which are alternative rock songs...
chart
Structure
The song is in a punk rockPunk 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...
style, consisting of two power-chord riffs played by an overdriven distorted electric guitar and bass. The song begins with a dismissive "whatever", and each verse consists of a short encounter which abruptly ends with the word. The chorus proclaims: "This is my United States of whatever." He also dismisses people he should not ignore for his own well-being. In one verse, the character Zafo voiced by guitarist/producer "Chris Tench" from Sifl and Olly
Sifl and Olly
The Sifl and Olly Show is a comedy TV series that used sock puppets, animation, and music. Musicians Liam Lynch and Matt Crocco, friends since childhood, created and performed the series. The first episode aired on MTV in 1997. The show was cancelled in 1999...
is spared the disparaging remark.
Performances and usage
On Late Late Show with Craig KilbornThe Late Late Show (CBS TV series)
The Late Late Show is an American late-night television talk and variety show on CBS hosted by Craig Ferguson since 2005. It immediately follows Late Show with David Letterman and is produced by Letterman's Worldwide Pants Incorporated...
, Lynch performed "United States of Whatever" with Tony Kanal
Tony Kanal
Tony Kanal is an English musician, record producer and songwriter. Kanal is the bassist for the American rock band No Doubt...
and Adrian Young
Adrian Young
Adrian Samuel Young is the drummer for the rock band No Doubt.-Biography:Young's parents were hippies. He has four brothers: Alex, Damian, Jeff and Aaron. His father is a teacher in Cypress CA and his stepmother, Jeanne, is currently suffering from ALS...
of No Doubt
No Doubt
No Doubt is an American rock band from Anaheim, California that formed in 1986. The ska-pop sound of their first album No Doubt , failed to make an impact...
. Lynch performed the song at a Foo Fighters
Foo Fighters
Foo Fighters is an American alternative rock band originally formed in 1994 by Nirvana drummer Dave Grohl as a one-man project following the dissolution of his previous band. The band got its name from the UFOs and various aerial phenomena that were reported by Allied aircraft pilots in World War...
show in 2003 with Dave Grohl on drums.
The song is played weekly on the radio station WWWV
WWWV
WWWV is an Active Rock formatted broadcast radio station licensed to Charlottesville, Virginia, and serves Central Virginia and the Central Shenandoah Valley...
of Charlottesville, Virginia, as part of their 'Friday Freakout' segment. It has also featured in an advertisement for Tony Hawk's Underground
Tony Hawk's Underground
Tony Hawk's Underground, abbreviated to THUG, is a skateboarding video game, available for the PlayStation 2, GameCube, Game Boy Advance, and Xbox platforms released in 2003. A PC version was released exclusively in Australia as a budget release in 2005. This version was ported by Beenox. In 2004,...
, on an episode of The Screensavers, and was played on the credits of an episode of High School Stories
High School Stories
High School Stories is an original program that aired on the MTV network, and featured stories of pranks, scandals, and controversies kids took part in when they were in high school...
. It was also used in behind-the-scenes content for the film Clerks II
Clerks II
Clerks II is a 2006 American comedy film written and directed by Kevin Smith, sequel to his 1994 film Clerks, and his sixth and latest feature film to be set in the View Askewniverse...
.
A second version was written where George W. Bush responds to various criticisms of the Iraq War with the refrain of "Whatever!"
The song was parodied by Western Isles comedian Mac a' Noo Noo in "United States of Stornoway".http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FO8-JU5ld88
The song has also been parodied by Tedd Schermerhorn (of T-Ball and BJ) in the song "My West Hollywood Lifestyle Whatever".
The song is featured on the British Virgin/EMI compilation The Best Bands Ever 2004 (2003). It also appeared as the last track on the first disc on Q: The Album (an album made for Q Magazine
Q (magazine)
Q is a popular music magazine published monthly in the United Kingdom.Founders Mark Ellen and David Hepworth were dismayed by the music press of the time, which they felt was ignoring a generation of older music buyers who were buying CDs — then still a new technology...
in March 2003), however it is fourteen seconds shorter, ending abruptly on the line "And then up comes Zafo, I'm, like, "yo, Zafo. What's up?", He's, like, "nothin'", And I'm, like, "that's cool"". This is because the disc was 79 minutes and 54 seconds long, and to include the further fourteen seconds would exceed the capacity of the disc.
Track listing
- United States of Whatever (Original Version) 1:26min
- United States of Whatever 2:04min
- Sir Track (Previously Untitled) 1:34min