Misery (Soul Asylum song)

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“Misery”
“Misery” cover
Single by Soul Asylum
from the album Let Your Dim Light Shine
Released 1995
Format Cassette, CD
Recorded 1995
Genre Alternative rock
Length 4:24
Label Columbia
Writer(s) Dave Pirner
Producer Butch Vig & Soul Asylum
Soul Asylum singles chronology
"Summer of Drugs"
(1994)
"Misery"
(1995)
"Just Like Anyone"
(1995)

"Misery" is a 1995 song performed by the Minneapolis rock band Soul Asylum. Although Let Your Dim Light Shine critically suffered in comparison to its predecessor, Grave Dancers Union, "Misery" managed to hit number 20 on The Billboard Hot 100 and number one on the US Modern Rock Tracks chart.

Contents

[edit] Track listing

  1. "Misery" - 4:24

[edit] Lyrics

Some people have speculated that the song itself is referring to the fact that the record companies like to make "Misery" (aka alternate rock songs with dark lyrics). This theory states that Soul Asylum and its members are criticizing this idea. (In support of this idea, many people point out in the video, a CD manufacturer is shown making "Misery".)

[edit] Music Video

The music video for "Misery" features footage of the band performing onstage intercut with film of what appears to be the making of the "Misery" CD single itself.

[edit] Trivia

  • The song was later parodied by "Weird Al" Yankovic on his 1996 album Bad Hair Day. Yankovic's parody was entitled Syndicated Inc. and it dealt with a man and his family who constantly watch syndicated TV.
  • The song "Misery" was played during the closing montage and part of the credits for the movie Clerks II.
Preceded by
"Good" by Better than Ezra
Billboard Modern Rock Tracks number-one single
June 3, 1995 - June 17, 1995
Succeeded by
"Hold Me, Thrill Me, Kiss Me, Kill Me" by U2