Loser (song)

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Not to be confused with the song by 3 Doors Down.
"Loser"
"Loser" cover
Single by Beck
from the album Mellow Gold
Released 1993
Format 12", 2 CDs
Recorded 1992
Genre Rock
Length 3 min 55 s
Label DGC/Bong Load
Producer(s) Beck, Carl Stephenson, Tom Rothrock
Chart positions
Beck singles chronology
"MTV Makes Me Wanna Smoke Crack (1993) "Loser"
(1993)		 "Pay No Mind"
(1994)

"Loser" is the name of a song by Beck and Carl Stephenson, taken from his first major album, Mellow Gold. It is widely considered Beck's breakout hit. Upon release, it reached #10 in the U.S. Chart and #15 in the UK, and also occupies position #200 on the List of Rolling Stone's 500 Greatest Songs of All Time, which contains no other Beck songs. Loser was one of the first songs recorded for Mellow Gold, and was a collaboration between him and Carl Stephenson. Its conception began when producer Tom Rothrock, co-owner of Bong Load Custom Records introduced Beck to fledgling hip-hop producer Stephenson after Beck mentioned his interest in rapping. They were introduced at Stephenson's apartment, and recorded the song that day. In an early interview, Beck confessed that this song was written on the spur of the moment: after trying, and failing, to rap in the style of Public Enemy's Chuck D, Beck remarked "Man, I’m the worst rapper in the world—I’m just a loser." So I started singing, "I’m a loser baby, so why don’t you kill me." The rest of the song was largely freestyled around the premise of being an outcast from society. "Loser" was one of the first experiments that Beck made with the fusion of genres; the song combines delta blues, about which he was passionate, and rap. Beck has stated that he enjoyed producing "Loser", but also his consternation of the song's being taken out of context. Many music critics and fans alike consider it to be the anthem of the slacker generation, but, interestingly, Beck was working long shifts for $4 per hour when he recorded the song.

One can consider "Loser" to be a fluke hit. Beck has claimed that it was 'a personal joke, [which] wasn't originally intended to be released.' Beck and co-producer and friend, Carl Stephenson, wrote the song while hanging out together eating pizza. While they joked about the song, it was never expected to be a huge success. The song "Loser" is still considerably popular today, and is played at most Beck concerts.

The Spanish lyric in the song's chorus, "Soy un perdedor," means "I am a loser".

The song is built around a sample from Dr. John's song "I Walk on Gilded Splinters."

Richard Cheese and Lounge Against the Machine covered this on his 2002 album "Tuxicity".

Contents

[edit] Track listings

[edit] UK #1

  1. "Loser" - 3:55
  2. "Corvette Bummer" - 4:57
  3. "Alcohol" - 3:51
  4. "Soul Suckin' Jerk (Reject)" - 6:10
  5. "Fume" - 4:29

[edit] UK #2

  1. "Loser" - 3:55
  2. "Totally Confused" - 3:29
  3. "Corvette Bummer" - 4:57
  4. "MTV Makes Me Wanna Smoke Crack" - 3:40

[edit] 12"

  1. "Loser" - 3:55

[edit] Samples

[edit] External links

Beck
Discography
Major label albums: Mellow Gold | Odelay | Mutations | Midnite Vultures | Sea Change | Guero | The Information
Remix albums: Guerolito
Independent releases: Stereopathetic Soulmanure | One Foot in the Grave
Unofficial releases: Golden Feelings | A Western Harvest Field by Moonlight
Singles: Loser | Pay No Mind (Snoozer) | Beercan | It's All In Your Mind | Where It's At | Devils Haircut
The New Pollution | Sissyneck | Jack-Ass | Deadweight | Tropicalia | Cold Brains
Nobody's Fault But My Own | Sexx Laws | Mixed Bizness | Lost Cause | Nicotine & Gravy
E-Pro | Girl | Hell Yes | Nausea
Related articles
Nigel Godrich | Dust Brothers | Bendin' in the Wind
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