The Impression That I Get

"The Impression That I Get" is a song by American ska punk band the Mighty Mighty Bosstones, released as the lead single from their fifth studio album, Let's Face It (1997), in February 1997. The track reached number one on the US Billboard Modern Rock Tracks chart and number 23 on the Billboard Hot 100 Airplay chart while also charting highly in Australia, Canada, and the United Kingdom. The song was certified gold in the United States and Australia. Chris Applebaum directed the song's music video while Adam Stern produced it.^[1]

"The Impression That I Get"
Single by the Mighty Mighty Bosstones
from the album Let's Face It
Released	February 10, 1997 (1997-02-10)
Genre	Ska punk alternative rock punk rock reggae rock
Length	3:14
Label	Big Rig Mercury
Songwriter(s)	Dicky Barrett Joe Gittleman
Producer(s)	Paul Q. Kolderie Sean Slade
The Mighty Mighty Bosstones singles chronology
"Hell of a Hat" (1995) "The Impression That I Get" (1997) "The Rascal King" (1997)

Music

Musically the song is a mix of ska punk,^[2][3] alternative rock,^[4][5] punk rock,^[3] and reggae rock.^[6]

Background

More than a year before the release of Let's Face It, the song appeared on Safe and Sound: A Benefit in Response to the Brookline Clinic Violence;^[7] the album was released in response to the slayings of two abortion clinic workers in two different clinics in Brookline, Massachusetts on December 30, 1994.

Live performances

In 1998, a live version of this song appeared on Live from the Middle East. That same year, the Bosstones performed this song during their debut performance on Saturday Night Live.^{[citation needed]}

Track listings

US 7-inch single[8] "The Impression That I Get"  – 3:15 "At It Again"  – 2:04 UK CD 1 and cassette single[9][10] "The Impression That I Get"  – 3:15 "Is It 2"  – 2:53 UK CD 2[11] "The Impression That I Get"  – 3:15 "Wake Up Call"  – 2:16 "So Many Ways"  – 2:38

European CD single[12] "The Impression That I Get"  – 3:15 "Desensitized"  – 2:04 "Is It"  – 2:53 "Storm Hit"  – 3:15 Australian CD single[13] "The Impression That I Get"  – 3:13 "Is It?"  – 2:53 "Storm Hit"  – 3:14

Charts

Weekly charts Chart (1997–1998) Peak position Australia (ARIA)[14] 11 Canada Top Singles (RPM)[15] 26 Canada Adult Contemporary (RPM)[16] 33 Canada Rock/Alternative (RPM)[17] 1 Scotland (OCC)[18] 10 UK Singles (OCC)[19] 12 US Hot 100 Airplay (Billboard)[20] 23 US Adult Top 40 (Billboard)[21] 17 US Modern Rock Tracks (Billboard)[22] 1 US Top 40/Mainstream (Billboard)[23] 19

Year-end charts Chart (1997) Position Canada Rock/Alternative (RPM)[24] 7 US Hot 100 Airplay (Billboard)[25] 46 US Modern Rock Tracks (Billboard)[26] 3 US Top 40/Mainstream (Billboard)[27] 61 Chart (1998) Position Australia (ARIA)[28] 54

Certifications

Region	Certification	Certified units/sales
Australia (ARIA)[29]	Gold	35,000^
United States (RIAA)[30]	Gold	500,000‡
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone. ‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Release history

Region	Date	Format(s)	Label(s)	Ref(s).
United States	February 10, 1997	Rock radio	Big Rig Mercury	[31][32]
	May 6, 1997	Contemporary hit radio		[33]
United Kingdom	April 13, 1998	CD		[34]

Usage in media

The song is featured on the soundtrack to the films Step Brothers, Chasing Amy, Fathers' Day, Krippendorf's Tribe,^{[citation needed]} and Digimon: The Movie.^[35] The song is featured as a playable track in the 2009 video game Band Hero and the 2015 video game Rock Band 4.^[36] It is often credited as the origin of the Disney Channel theme, but that jingle was actually composed by Alex Lasarenko.^[37]

See also

• List of Billboard number-one alternative singles of the 1990s
• List of RPM Rock/Alternative number-one singles

References

1. "Production Notes". Billboard. Vol. 109, no. 15. April 12, 1997. p. 75.
2. Conaton, Chris (November 19, 2021). "LESS THAN JAKE'S SKA-PUNK CLASSIC 'LOSING STREAK' STILL HAS A KICK 25 YEARS LATER". PopMatters. Retrieved December 31, 2021. The mid-'90s are filled with ska-punk hits, both major (The Mighty Mighty Bosstones, "The Impression That I Get") and minor (Reel Big Fish, "Sell Out")
3. Krovatin, Chris (August 1, 2020). "14 of the best punk rock sing-along tracks". Kerrang!. Retrieved December 31, 2021.
4. "The 79 Best Alternative Rock Songs Of 1997". Spin. April 25, 2017. Retrieved December 27, 2021.
5. Cosores, Philip (July 4, 2017). "Ranking: Every Alternative Rock No. 1 Hit from Worst to Best". Consequence of Sound. Retrieved December 29, 2021.
6. Bryant, Tom (June 25, 2014). "17 rock-reggae crossovers that work... and three that don't". Louder Sound.
7. Various Artists - Safe and Sound: A Benefit in Response to the Brookline Clinic Violence at AllMusic
8. The Impression That I Get (US 7" single liner notes). The Mighty Mighty Bosstones. Big Rig Records. 1997.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
9. The Impression That I Get (UK CD 1 single liner notes). The Mighty Mighty Bosstones. Big Rig Records. 1998. 574 842-2.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
10. The Impression That I Get (UK cassette single liner notes). The Mighty Mighty Bosstones. Big Rig Records. 1998. 574 842-4.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
11. The Impression That I Get (UK CD 2 single liner notes). The Mighty Mighty Bosstones. Big Rig Records. 1998. 568 815-2.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
12. The Impression That I Get (EU CD single liner notes). The Mighty Mighty Bosstones. Big Rig Records. 1998. 574 843-2.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
13. The Impression That I Get (AUS CD single liner notes). The Mighty Mighty Bosstones. Big Rig Records. 1997. 574 599-2.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
14. "The Mighty Mighty Bosstones – The Impression That I Get". ARIA Top 50 Singles. Retrieved April 28, 2018.
15. "Top RPM Singles: Issue 3348." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved April 28, 2018.
16. "Top RPM Adult Contemporary: Issue 3433." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved April 28, 2018.
17. "Top RPM Rock/Alternative Tracks: Issue 8286." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved April 28, 2018.
18. "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved April 28, 2018.
19. "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved April 28, 2018.
20. "Radio Songs". Billboard. October 25, 1997. Retrieved October 22, 2023.
21. "Adult Pop Airplay". Billboard. October 4, 1997. Retrieved October 22, 2023.
22. "Alternative Airplay". Billboard. June 28, 1997. Retrieved October 22, 2023.
23. "Pop Airplay". Billboard. October 25, 1997. Retrieved October 22, 2023.
24. "RPM '97 Year End Top 50 Alternative Tracks". RPM. Retrieved April 28, 2018 – via Library and Archives Canada.
25. "The Year in Music 1997: Hot 100 Airplay". Billboard. Vol. 109, no. 52. December 27, 1997. p. YE-36.
26. "The Year in Music 1997: Hot Modern Rock Tracks". Billboard. Vol. 109, no. 52. December 27, 1997. p. YE-73.
27. "Best of '97: Top 40/Mainstream Singles". Airplay Monitor. Vol. 5, no. 52. December 28, 1997. p. 38.
28. "ARIA Top 100 Singles for 1998". ARIA. Retrieved March 2, 2019.
29. "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 1998 Singles" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association.
30. "American single certifications – The Mighty Mighty Bosstones – The Impression That I Get". Recording Industry Association of America.
31. Mirkin, Steve (February 1, 1997). "Bosstones Face Ska-Happy Market". Billboard. Vol. 109, no. 5. p. 14. ...the album's first single, 'The Impression I Get,' goes to radio Feb. 10.
32. "Be on the Lookout". Gavin Report. No. 2140. January 24, 1997. p. 36.
33. "New Releases". Radio & Records. No. 1195. May 2, 1997. p. 35.
34. "New Releases: Singles". Music Week. April 11, 1998. p. 27.
35. "Digimon: The Movie Soundtrack". Retrieved January 20, 2023.
36. "Rock Band 4 Core Soundtrack". Retrieved April 29, 2018.
37. Perjurer, Kevin. "Disney Channel's Theme: A History Mystery". YouTube. Retrieved November 25, 2022.

External links

• "The Impression That I Get" Official music video on YouTube