The Hell Song

"The Hell Song" is a song by Canadian rock band Sum 41. The song was released on February 10, 2003, as the second single of the band's album Does This Look Infected?. "The Hell Song" became a top-40 hit in Ireland, Italy, and the United Kingdom. On May 29, 2015, it was certified gold by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA).

"The Hell Song"
Single by Sum 41
from the album Does This Look Infected?
Released	February 10, 2003 (2003-02-10)
Studio	Avatar (New York City, New York) Metalworks (Mississauga, Ontario)
Genre	Pop punk[1]
Length	3:18
Label	Aquarius Island Mercury
Songwriter(s)	Greig Nori Deryck Whibley
Producer(s)	Greig Nori
Sum 41 singles chronology
"Still Waiting" (2002) "The Hell Song" (2003) "Over My Head (Better Off Dead)" (2003)

Background

Deryck Whibley, the lead vocalist of Sum 41, wrote "The Hell Song" after learning that one of his friends had contracted HIV.^[2] He said, "That song just came out in, like, half an hour when I just found out," Whibley said. "I wasn't even meaning to write about it, but for some reason that just came out right away".^[3]

Music video

The music video was of a concert with dolls and action figures, with Sum 41's faces on those "performing" in front of a Lite-Brite screen with the band's name on it. They were joined with other action figures such as those of Snoop Dogg, Eminem, Ozzy Osbourne with his family, Marilyn Manson, Korn, Metallica, Eddie the Head, Gene Simmons, Spice Girls, Angus Young, Jesus Christ, Alice Cooper, Destiny's Child, George W. Bush and Ludacris. The video ends when police dolls arrive to break up the concert, and the band avoids arrest by taking off in a helicopter (which is then comically hurled out of a window and falls to the ground, accompanied by laughter). The dolls' obscene finger gestures and nudity are comically censored, which parodies real life. The video was directed by Marc Klasfeld.

The music video was nominated for Best Breakthrough Video & Best Direction at the 2003 MTV Video Music Awards, losing both awards to Coldplay's "The Scientist".

Track listings

UK CD1[4] "The Hell Song" (explicit version) "Over My Head (Better Off Dead)" (demo) "My Direction" (demo) "The Hell Song" (CD-ROM video) UK CD2[5] "The Hell Song" (live) "Still Waiting" (live) "Rhythms" (live) "The Hell Song" (live CD-ROM video) UK 7-inch single[6] A. "The Hell Song" (album version—explicit) – 3:18 B. "Still Waiting" (live from Sound, London) – 2:44

European CD single[7] "The Hell Song" "Over My Head" (demo) Australian CD single[8] "The Hell Song" "Over My Head" (demo) "My Direction" (demo) "WW7 Pts 1 & 2" (performed by "Pain for Pleasure")

Charts

Weekly charts Chart (2003) Peak position Australia (ARIA)[9] 76 Belgium (Ultratip Bubbling Under Flanders)[10] 9 Canada (Billboard)[11] 122 Ireland (IRMA)[12] 31 Italy (FIMI)[13] 37 Scotland (OCC)[14] 35 UK Singles (OCC)[15] 35 UK Rock & Metal (OCC)[16] 4 US Alternative Airplay (Billboard)[17] 13

Year-end charts Chart (2003) Position US Modern Rock Tracks (Billboard)[18] 58

Certifications

Certifications and sales for "The Hell Song"

Region	Certification	Certified units/sales
Italy (FIMI)[19]	Gold	50,000‡
United States (RIAA)[20]	Gold	500,000‡
‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Release history

Release dates and formats for "The Hell Song"

Region	Date	Format(s)	Label(s)	Ref(s).
United Kingdom	February 10, 2003	7-inch vinyl CD	Mercury	[21]
United States	February 17, 2003	Mainstream rock active rock alternative radio	Island	[22][23]
	April 7, 2003	Contemporary hit radio		[24]
Australia	April 14, 2003	CD		[25]

References

1. "All Messed Up: A Look Back At Sum 41's 'Does This Look Infected?'". The Carouser. Archived from the original on July 16, 2015.
2. "Sum 41 Sober Up On Does This Look Infected?". MTV. Archived from the original on November 19, 2002.
3. Whitmire, Margo (November 30, 2002). "Sum 41 Spreads 'Infected'". Billboard. Vol. 114, no. 48. p. 11. ISSN 0006-2510.
4. The Hell Song (UK CD1 liner notes). Sum 41. Mercury Records. 2003. 063 719-2.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
5. The Hell Song (UK CD2 liner notes). Sum 41. Mercury Records. 2003. 063 720-2.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
6. The Hell Song (UK 7-inch single sleeve). Sum 41. Mercury Records. 2003. 063 720-7.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
7. The Hell Song (European CD single liner notes). Sum 41. Island Def Jam Music Group. 2003. 063 721-2.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
8. The Hell Song (Australian CD single liner notes). Sum 41. Island Records. 2003. 063 722-2.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
9. "Issue 687" ARIA Top 100 Singles. National Library of Australia. Retrieved March 2, 2023.
10. "Sum 41 – The Hell Song" (in Dutch). Ultratip.
11. "Singles : Top 50". Broadcast Data Systems. Archived from the original on August 1, 2003. Retrieved November 29, 2023.
12. "Irish-charts.com – Discography Sum 41". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved March 2, 2023.
13. "Sum 41 – The Hell Song". Top Digital Download. Retrieved August 9, 2020.
14. "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved August 9, 2020.
15. "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved May 14, 2019.
16. "Official Rock & Metal Singles Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved May 14, 2019.
17. "Sum 41 Chart History (Alternative Airplay)". Billboard. Retrieved May 14, 2019.
18. "The Year in Charts 2003: Most-Played Modern Rock Songs". Airplay Monitor. Vol. 11, no. 51. December 19, 2003. p. 43.
19. "Italian single certifications – Sum 41 – The Hell Song" (in Italian). Federazione Industria Musicale Italiana. Retrieved October 13, 2024.
20. "American single certifications – Sum 41 – The Hell Song". Recording Industry Association of America.
21. "New Releases – For Week Starting 10 February 2003: Singles". Music Week. February 8, 2003. p. 23.
22. "Going for Adds". Radio & Records. No. 1491. February 14, 2003. p. 28.
23. "FMQB Airplay Archive: Modern Rock". FMQB. Archived from the original on March 22, 2013. Retrieved October 30, 2016.
24. "Going for Adds". Radio & Records. No. 1498. April 4, 2003. p. 28.
25. "The ARIA Report: New Releases Singles – Week Commencing 14th April 2003" (PDF). ARIA. April 14, 2003. p. 29. Archived from the original (PDF) on February 22, 2008. Retrieved March 2, 2023.

External links

• "The Hell Song" Official music video on YouTube