Blurry

This article is about the song by Puddle of Mudd. For other uses, see Blur.

"Blurry" is a song by American rock band Puddle of Mudd. It was released on October 16, 2001, as the second single from the band's debut album Come Clean (2001). It was 2002's most successful rock song in the United States, topping the Billboard Mainstream Rock and Modern Rock Tracks charts as well as their year-end listings. "Blurry" also found success outside the US, reaching the top 20 in Ireland, New Zealand, and the United Kingdom.

"Blurry"
Single by Puddle of Mudd
from the album Come Clean
Released	October 16, 2001 (2001-10-16)
Recorded	Late 2000
Genre	Post-grunge[1] alternative rock[2]
Length	5:04 (album version) 4:17 (radio and video version)
Label	Flawless Geffen
Songwriter(s)	Wes Scantlin Doug Ardito Jimmy Allen
Producer(s)	John Kurzweg Puddle of Mudd
Puddle of Mudd singles chronology
"Control" (2001) "Blurry" (2001) "Drift & Die" (2002)
Music video
"Blurry" on YouTube

Background

Puddle of Mudd played small shows in the Kansas City area for most of the 1990s with little mainstream success.^[3] However, singer Wes Scantlin got a demo tape to Limp Bizkit singer Fred Durst when Limp Bizkit were in town on October 12th, 1999, on the Family Values Tour, and Durst's label Flawless Records signed him to a recording contract. Unimpressed with Scantlin's bandmates, Flawless Records scrapped them all,^[4] rebuilt the group with musicians Scantlin had never seen before, and flew him out to Los Angeles in late 2000 to record with them. He spent his days fiddling with his acoustic guitar in a hotel room on Hollywood Boulevard, where he reworked a previous Puddle of Mudd song called "Electron Moon" into "Blurry".^[5][6]

“’Blurry’ was basically about being flown to freaking Los Angeles and y’know, I didn't have any friends so they had put me into a hotel room,” Scantlin told American Songwriter. “I didn't know anybody at all. And I was just missing my family and son, I missed my grandma and stuff.”^[5]

Composition

The song is written in the key of E♭ minor with a moderately slow tempo of 78 beats per minute. The song follows a chord progression of C♭–D♭–E♭m, and the vocals in the song span from D♭₃ to A♭₄.^[7]

Commercial performance

"Blurry" is Puddle of Mudd's most successful song, reaching the number-one spot on the Billboard Hot Mainstream Rock Tracks and Hot Modern Rock Tracks charts for 10 and nine weeks, respectively. This soon propelled the single to mainstream success, reaching the number five spot on both the Billboard Hot 100 Airplay^[8] and Billboard Hot 100^[9] and number three on the Pop Songs chart. "Blurry" was the eight-most played song on radio in Canada in 2002.^[10] The song is also the band's highest selling U.S. single ever, with sales of 753,000 copies, as of 2010.^[11] Additionally, the song's writers, Wes Scantlin, Doug Ardito, and Jimmy Allen, won ASCAP (American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers) Song of the Year and Pop Song of the Year for this tune.^[12] "Blurry" also won two Billboard Awards in 2002, for Modern Rock Track of the Year and Rock Track of the Year. It also received the Kerrang! Award for Best Single. "Blurry" reached number eight on the UK Singles Chart on its release there in June 2002, becoming the band's highest charting single in the United Kingdom.

Music video

The music video shows Scantlin playing with his son Jordan, interspersed with shots of the band playing in a garage. Towards the end of the video, a man and a woman (presumably Jordan's mother and stepfather) are shown driving away with Jordan in the back seat as Wes watches sadly. The video was directed by Limp Bizkit vocalist Fred Durst.

Accolades

Accolades for "Blurry"

Publication	Region	Accolade	Year	Rank
AOL Radio	United States	"Top Alternative Songs of the Decade – 2000s"[13]	2009	3

Track listings

Australian CD single[14] "Blurry" (radio edit) "Abrasive" "Nobody Told Me" European CD single[15] "Blurry" (album version) "All I Ask For" UK cassette single[16] "Blurry" "All I Ask For" (demo)

UK CD1[17] "Blurry" "All I Ask For" (demo) "Out of My Head" (live) "Blurry" (video) UK CD2[18] "Blurry" "Control" (live) "Bring Me Down" (live)

Charts

Weekly charts Weekly chart performance for "Blurry" Chart (2001–2002) Peak position Australia (ARIA)[19] 52 Canada Radio (Nielsen BDS)[20] 2 Canada CHR (Nielsen BDS)[21] 8 Europe (Eurochart Hot 100)[22] 30 European Radio Top 50 (Music & Media)[23] 41 France (SNEP)[24] 74 Germany (GfK)[25] 44 Ireland (IRMA)[26] 18 Italy (FIMI)[27] 37 Netherlands (Dutch Top 40 Tipparade)[28] 15 Netherlands (Single Top 100)[29] 98 New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[30] 9 Scotland (OCC)[31] 7 Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[32] 72 UK Singles (OCC)[33] 8 UK Indie (OCC)[34] 12 UK Rock & Metal (OCC)[35] 1 US Billboard Hot 100[36] 5 US Adult Pop Airplay (Billboard)[37] 6 US Alternative Airplay (Billboard)[38] 1 US Mainstream Rock (Billboard)[39] 1 US Active Rock (Billboard) 1 US Heritage Rock (Billboard) 1 US Pop Airplay (Billboard)[40] 3 US Top 40 Tracks (Billboard)[41] 6

Year-end charts Year-end chart performance for "Blurry" Chart (2002) Position Canada Radio (Nielsen BDS)[42] 8 UK Singles (OCC)[43] 136 US Billboard Hot 100[44] 10 US Adult Top 40 (Billboard)[45] 14 US Mainstream Rock Tracks (Billboard)[46] 1 US Active Rock (Billboard) 3 US Heritage Rock (Billboard) 3 US Mainstream Top 40 (Billboard)[47] 14 US Modern Rock Tracks (Billboard)[46] 1 US Top 40 Tracks (Billboard)[45] 18

Certifications

Certifications and sales for "Blurry"

Region	Certification	Certified units/sales
United Kingdom (BPI)[48]	Gold	400,000‡
‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Release history

Release dates and formats for "Blurry"

Region	Date	Format(s)	Label(s)	Ref.
United States	October 16, 2001	Mainstream rock active rock alternative radio	Flawless Geffen	[49]
Australia	April 1, 2002	CD		[50]
United Kingdom	June 3, 2002	CD cassette		[51]

Uses in media

• This song was used as the title theme for the video game Ace Combat 5: The Unsung War.^[52]
• This song was used in the trailer for the 2003 film A Man Apart.^[53]
• On June 21, 2011, this song was released as downloadable content for the rhythm game Rock Band 3.^[54]
• The song was used in the American television show The Secret Life of the American Teenager in the series finale.

Covers

• P.M. Dawn appeared on NBC's Hit Me, Baby, One More Time, performing "Set Adrift on Memory Bliss", and covered Puddle of Mudd's "Blurry". Despite the fact that Prince Be was still suffering the effects of this stroke, they beat Animotion, Missing Persons, Juice Newton and Shannon to claim the $20,000 charitable prize, which they contributed to the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, as Prince Be was a diabetic. In June 2019, P.M. Dawn collaborated with musician Tommy Marz on a studio version of Blurry dedicated to the memory of Attrell Cordes^[55]
• On May 21, 2021, country rock singer-songwriter Hardy released a cover of "Blurry" with an accompanying music video on YouTube.^[56]

References

1. Geffen, Sasha (October 7, 2013). "In Defense of Post-Grunge Music". Consequence of Sound. Retrieved September 21, 2020.
2. Cosores, Philip (July 4, 2017). "Ranking: Every Alternative Rock No. 1 Hit from Worst to Best". Consequence of Sound. p. 5. Retrieved September 3, 2020.
3. "Puddle of Mudd Albums Ranked". Return of Rock. June 4, 2020. Retrieved December 21, 2022.
4. "Flawless Stuff from Fred". NME. May 16, 2001. Retrieved December 25, 2022.
5. Bennett, Macie (February 17, 2021). "Behind the Song : "Blurry" by Puddle of Mudd". American Songwriter. Retrieved December 21, 2022.
6. Prato, Greg (December 19, 2022). "Wes Scantlin of Puddle of Mudd : Songwriter Interviews". Songfacts. Retrieved December 21, 2022.
7. "Blurry". www.musicnotes.com. May 21, 2002. Retrieved January 2, 2016.
8. "Top 100 Music Hits, Top 100 Music Charts, Top 100 Songs & The Hot 100". Billboard.com. Retrieved August 20, 2011.
9. Whitburn, Joel (2004). The Billboard Book of Top 40 Hits, 8th Edition (Billboard Publications), page 510.
10. "Top 100 top played radio tracks in Canada in 2002". Archived from the original on November 23, 2004. Retrieved April 11, 2020.
11. "Chart Watch Extra: Top 20 Songs In Digital History – Chart Watch". New.music.yahoo.com. August 6, 2010. Retrieved August 20, 2011.
12. ""Elvis Costello Receives Founders Award at 20th Annual Pop Music Awards" American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers Retrieved June 16, 2011". Ascap.com. Retrieved August 20, 2011.
13. Dickinson, Boonsri (December 7, 2009). "Top Alternative Songs of the Decade – 2000s – AOL Radio Blog". AOL Radio. Retrieved February 4, 2010.
14. Blurry (Australian CD single liner notes). Puddle of Mudd. Flawless Records, Geffen Records. 2002. 497 698-2.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
15. Blurry (European CD single liner notes). Puddle of Mudd. Flawless Records, Geffen Records. 2002. 497 709-2.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
16. Blurry (UK cassette single sleeve). Puddle of Mudd. Flawless Records, Geffen Records. 2002. 497 735-4.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
17. Blurry (UK CD1 liner notes). Puddle of Mudd. Flawless Records, Geffen Records. 2002. 497 734-2.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
18. Blurry (UK CD2 liner notes). Puddle of Mudd. Flawless Records, Geffen Records. 2002. 497 735-2.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
19. "Issue 632" ARIA Top 100 Singles. National Library of Australia. Retrieved September 22, 2020.
20. "The Hits Charts (Airplay): Top 100 Singles". Jam!. April 18, 2002. Archived from the original on April 19, 2002. Retrieved September 5, 2024.
21. "Canadian Top 20 in 2002" (PDF). Cross Canada Countdown. Archived from the original (PDF) on April 7, 2005. Retrieved November 10, 2023.
22. "Eurochart Hot 100 Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 20, no. 26. June 22, 2002. p. 14. Retrieved July 23, 2020.
23. "European Radio Top 50" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 16, no. 12. June 29, 2002. p. 17. OCLC 29800226. Retrieved April 30, 2023 – via World Radio History.
24. "Puddle of Mudd – Blurry" (in French). Les classement single.
25. "Puddle of Mudd – Blurry" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved November 24, 2018.
26. "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Blurry". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved March 18, 2018.
27. "Puddle of Mudd – Blurry". Top Digital Download. Retrieved March 18, 2018.
28. "Tipparade-lijst van week 26, 2002" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved March 17, 2023.
29. "Puddle of Mudd – Blurry" (in Dutch). Single Top 100.
30. "Puddle of Mudd – Blurry". Top 40 Singles.
31. "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved March 18, 2018.
32. "Puddle of Mudd – Blurry". Swiss Singles Chart.
33. "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved March 18, 2018.
34. "Official Independent Singles Chart Top 50". Official Charts Company. Retrieved November 24, 2018.
35. "Official Rock & Metal Singles Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved November 24, 2018.
36. "Puddle of Mudd Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved March 18, 2018.
37. "Puddle of Mudd Chart History (Adult Pop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved March 18, 2018.
38. "Puddle of Mudd Chart History (Alternative Airplay)". Billboard. Retrieved March 18, 2018.
39. "Puddle of Mudd Chart History (Mainstream Rock)". Billboard. Retrieved March 18, 2018.
40. "Puddle of Mudd Chart History (Pop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved March 18, 2018.
41. "Puddle of Mudd Awards". AllMusic. Archived from the original on May 1, 2016. Retrieved June 1, 2021.
42. "Top 100 top played radio tracks in Canada in 2002". Jam!. Archived from the original on August 12, 2004. Retrieved March 21, 2022.
43. "The Official UK Singles Chart 2002" (PDF). UKChartsPlus. Retrieved November 24, 2018.
44. "The Year in Music 2002: Hot 100 Singles & Tracks". Billboard. Vol. 114, no. 52. December 28, 2002. p. YE-38. ISSN 0006-2510. Retrieved June 8, 2020.
45. "The Year in Music 2002: Top 40". Billboard. Vol. 114, no. 52. December 28, 2002. p. YE-97. ISSN 0006-2510. Retrieved June 8, 2020.
46. "The Year in Music 2002: Mainstream and Modern Rock". Billboard. Vol. 114, no. 52. December 28, 2002. p. YE-87. ISSN 0006-2510. Retrieved June 8, 2020.
47. "Most-Played Mainstream Top 40 Songs of 2002". Airplay Monitor. Vol. 10, no. 51. December 20, 2002. p. 12.
48. "British single certifications – Puddle of Mudd – Blurry". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved June 30, 2023.
49. "Going for Adds" (PDF). Radio & Records. No. 1423. October 12, 2001. pp. 95, 99, 107. Retrieved April 28, 2021.
50. "The ARIA Report: New Releases Singles – Week Commencing 1st April 2002" (PDF). ARIA. April 1, 2002. p. 26. Archived from the original (PDF) on April 23, 2002. Retrieved April 28, 2021.
51. "In-Store Next Week (from 3/6/02)". Music Week. June 1, 2002. p. 11.
52. "Ace Combat 5 lands in Puddle of Mudd".
53. "Trailer of A Man Apart". YouTube. Archived from the original on December 13, 2021. Retrieved July 22, 2013.
54. "Blurry in Rock Band 3 DLC list". Archived from the original on August 10, 2011.
55. "Tommy Marz Drops New Single Featuring P.M. Dawn". National Rock Review. June 21, 2019. Retrieved July 1, 2019.
56. "HARDY Dives Into His Rock-Loving Roots With Cover Of Puddle Of Mudd's "Blurry"". CMT. May 21, 2021. Archived from the original on May 22, 2021.

External links

• "Blurry" official music video on YouTube