Control (Puddle of Mudd song)

"Control" is the debut single by the rock band Puddle of Mudd, released in July 2001. It was written by Wes Scantlin and Brad Stewart, and is from their debut album Come Clean. The song peaked at number three on both the Billboard Mainstream Rock and Modern Rock Tracks charts, Number one on the Billboard Active Rock charts and number 68 on the Billboard Hot 100. The song was used for WWF Survivor Series in 2001.

"Control"
Single by Puddle of Mudd
from the album Come Clean
Released	July 17, 2001
Genre	Nu metal[1] hard rock[2]
Length	3:49
Label	Flawless Geffen
Songwriter(s)	Wes Scantlin Brad Stewart
Puddle of Mudd singles chronology
"Control" (2001) "Blurry" (2001)

Meaning and background

"Control" is about a relationship that Puddle of Mudd member Wes Scantlin was in. Scantlin told MTV that he was "going out with an uncontrollable person" and said that he was uncontrollable, too. Scantlin then told MTV:

But the intimacy was really, really good ... [There were] some freaky-deaky things going on. The end of the song is the wake-up [where you realize], "Man, I can't deal with this anymore." The mental frustration isn't worth the bonus that you get intimacy-wise. When I wrote those lyrics, I was going, "Ah, man, I don't know if the record company's going to let this fly." I didn't know what anybody in the band was going to think.^[3]

Music video

The music video starts with a segment of Wes Scantlin being kicked out from a truck after he had been arguing with a girl who was driving. As a result, the band are late to a gig at a local bar. The majority of the video cuts between Scantlin walking to the venue, the driver driving away from him, and the band performing at the bar. Towards the bridge of the song, Scantlin finds the girl again, who has pulled over to the side of the road. The two pretend to make up, but as the two embrace, Scantlin pickpockets the woman of her keys. As the final chorus comes in, Scantlin throws her keys into a puddle of mud, a pun on the band's name.

Single

Track listings

US and Europe promo (2001)

No.	Title	Length
1.	"Control" (album version) (Brad Stewart, Wesley Scantlin)	3:50

Europe enhanced single (2001)

No.	Title	Length
1.	"Control" (album version)	3:50
2.	"Control" (acoustic version) (Brad Stewart, Wesley Scantlin)	4:09
3.	"Control" (video) (directed by Fred Durst)	4:40
Total length:		12:03

Australian enhanced (2001)

No.	Title	Length
1.	"Control" (album version)	3:50
2.	"Control" (acoustic version)	4:09
3.	"Never Change" (album version) (Scantlin)	3:59
4.	"Control" (video)	4:40
Total length:		16:37

UK enhanced single (2002)

No.	Title	Length
1.	"Control" (album version)	3:50
2.	"Abrasive" (non-LP track) (Scantlin, from Abrasive album)	3:14
3.	"Control" (acoustic version)	4:09
4.	"Control" (video)	4:40
Total length:		15:17

UK 7-inch brown vinyl

Side A

No.	Title	Length
1.	"Control" (album version)	3:50

Side B

No.	Title	Length
1.	"Abrasive" (non-LP track)	3:14

Europe enhanced maxi single (2002)

No.	Title	Length
1.	"Control" (album version)	3:50
2.	"Control" (acoustic version)	4:09
3.	"Abrasive" (non-LP track)	3:14
4.	"Control" (video)	4:40
Total length:		15:17

Charts

Chart (2001–2002)	Peak position
Australia (ARIA)[4]	54
Germany (GfK)[5]	44
Ireland (IRMA)[6]	30
Scotland (OCC)[7]	14
Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[8]	84
UK Singles (OCC)[9]	15
UK Rock & Metal (OCC)[10]	1
US Billboard Hot 100[11]	68
US Alternative Airplay (Billboard)[12]	3
US Mainstream Rock (Billboard)[13]	3
US Active Rock (Billboard)[14]	1
US Heritage Rock (Billboard)[15]	6

Year-end charts

Year-end chart performance for "Control"

Chart (2001)	Position
US Mainstream Rock	14
US Alternative Airplay	16
US Active Rock	10
US Heritage Rock	26

Chart (2002)	Position
US Mainstream Rock	33
US Active Rock	54
US Heritage Rock	24

References

1. Zaleski, Annie (17 May 2017). "30 Best Nu Metal Songs, Ranked". Spin. Spin Magazine.
2. Ramanand, Liz (June 28, 2012). "No. 36: Puddle of Mudd, 'Control' - Top 21st Century Hard Rock Songs". Loudwire. Retrieved January 4, 2024.
3. "Puddle of Mudd: "Control" Freaks". MTV. Archived from the original on October 4, 2001.
4. "Issue 620" ARIA Top 100 Singles. National Library of Australia. Retrieved February 24, 2021.
5. "Puddle of Mudd – Control" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved February 24, 2021.
6. "Discography Puddle Of Mudd". Hung Medien. Retrieved November 23, 2021.
7. "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved February 24, 2021.
8. "Puddle of Mudd – Control". Swiss Singles Chart.
9. "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved February 24, 2021.
10. "Official Rock & Metal Singles Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved February 24, 2021.
11. "Puddle of Mudd Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved February 24, 2021.
12. "Puddle of Mudd Chart History (Alternative Airplay)". Billboard. Retrieved February 24, 2021.
13. "Puddle of Mudd Chart History (Mainstream Rock)". Billboard. Retrieved February 24, 2021.
14. "Puddle Of Mudd - Chart History - Active Rock". billboard.com. Billboard. Retrieved August 7, 2019.
15. "Puddle Of Mudd - Chart History - Heritage Rock". billboard.com. Billboard. Retrieved August 7, 2019.

External links

• "Control" Official music video on YouTube