Messed Up World (F'd Up World)

"Messed Up World (F'd Up World)" (titled "Fucked Up World" in the album version) is a song by American rock band The Pretty Reckless from their second studio album, Going to Hell (2014). It was released on April 22, 2014, as the album's third single. The track topped Billboard's Mainstream Rock Songs chart in 2014.

"Messed Up World (F'd Up World)"
Single by The Pretty Reckless
from the album Going to Hell
Released	April 22, 2014 (2014-04-22)
Recorded	2013
Studio	Water Music (Hoboken, New Jersey)
Genre	Rock
Length	4:15
Label	Razor & Tie
Songwriter(s)	Taylor Momsen Ben Phillips
Producer(s)	Kato Khandwala
The Pretty Reckless singles chronology
"Heaven Knows" (2014) "Messed Up World (F'd Up World)" (2014) "Follow Me Down" (2014)

Background

The song was the last one to be completed for their 2014 album Going to Hell, originally being written on an acoustic guitar.^[1] The song was chosen as the second single from the album, being released in April 2014.^[2] A music video for the song, directed by frontwoman Taylor Momsen,^[3][4] was filmed in Miami on April 30,^[5][6] and released in June 2014.^[7] The video starts off as a light-hearted day at the beach, initially as an ironic counter-point to the song's lyrical material, but eventually begins to allude to various provocative situations that the song lyrically covers.^[8]

In September 2014, "Messed Up World" topped Billboard's Mainstream Rock Songs chart, making the band the only female-fronted band to ever top the chart with their first two hits, with the song being the second to top the chart after their prior single "Heaven Knows".^[9][10] "Messed Up World", along with "Heaven Knows" and Halestorm's 2013 single "Freak Like Me", are the only female front bands to top the chart since Alannah Myles' "Black Velvet".^[9] Additionally, no female-fronted group, or female musician, have had two back-to-back topping songs since the 1980s.^[9]

Track listing

Digital download^[11]

No.	Title	Length
1.	"Fucked Up World"	4:17
2.	"Messed Up World (F'd Up World)"	4:15

Credits and personnel

Credits adapted from the liner notes of Going to Hell.^[12]

The Pretty Reckless Taylor Momsen – lead vocals Ben Phillips – guitars, backing vocals Mark Damon – bass Jamie Perkins – drums

Additional personnel Kato Khandwala – production, mixing Ted Jensen – mastering

Charts

Weekly charts Chart (2014) Peak position Canada Rock (Billboard)[13] 41 US Hot Rock & Alternative Songs (Billboard)[14] 44 US Mainstream Rock (Billboard)[15] 1

Year-end charts Chart (2014) Position US Mainstream Rock (Billboard)[16] 15

References

1. Florino, Rick (17 March 2014). "Interview: Taylor Momsen of The Pretty Reckless". Artistdirect. Retrieved 19 March 2022.
2. "The top 10 best The Pretty Reckless songs". AXS. Retrieved May 10, 2017.
3. "Watch The Pretty Reckless' Raunchy New Video 'Messed Up World'". Radio.com. Retrieved May 10, 2017.
4. "The Pretty Reckless Release Raunchy 'Messed Up World' Video (a top story)::Pretty Reckless News". antiMusic.com. Retrieved May 10, 2017.
5. Momsen, Taylor [@taylormomsen] (April 30, 2014). "Filming the video today in Miami...The Pretty Reckless – Fucked Up World" (Tweet). Retrieved March 17, 2019 – via Twitter.
6. Stanisci, Grace (May 13, 2014). "Taylor Momsen dishes about The Pretty Reckless' new 'F—ed Up World' music video". Yahoo! Music Canada. Archived from the original on July 14, 2014. Retrieved March 17, 2019.
7. "THE PRETTY RECKLESS: 'Messed Up World (F'd Up World)' Video Released". Blabbermouth.net. June 17, 2014. Retrieved May 10, 2017.
8. "The Pretty Reckless Unveil 'Messed Up World' Video". Loudwire. Retrieved May 10, 2017.
9. "Pretty Reckless Only Female-Fronted Band to Top Mainstream Rock With First 2 Hits". Billboard. 4 September 2014. Retrieved May 10, 2017.
10. "The Pretty Reckless provides the soundtrack for a 'Messed Up World'". Retrieved May 10, 2017.
11. "Fucked Up World/Messed Up World - The Pretty Reckless - Songs, Reviews, Credits - AllMusic". AllMusic. Retrieved May 10, 2017.
12. Going to Hell (liner notes). The Pretty Reckless. Razor & Tie. 2014. 79301-83539-2.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
13. "The Pretty Reckless Chart History (Canada Rock)". Billboard. Retrieved February 9, 2018.
14. "The Pretty Reckless Chart History (Hot Rock & Alternative Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved February 9, 2018.
15. "The Pretty Reckless Chart History (Mainstream Rock)". Billboard. Retrieved February 9, 2018.
16. "Mainstream Rock Songs – Year-End 2014". Billboard. 2 January 2013. Retrieved March 17, 2019.