Misery (Maroon 5 song)

"Misery"
Single by Maroon 5
from the album Hands All Over
Released	June 22, 2010 (see release history)
Format	Digital download CD single
Genre	Pop rock funk rock
Length	3:36
Label	A&M/Octone
Writer(s)	Adam Levine Jesse Carmichael Sam Farrar
Producer(s)	Robert John "Mutt" Lange
Maroon 5 singles chronology
"Goodnight Goodnight" (2008) "Misery" (2010) "Give a Little More" (2010)

"Misery" is a song by American band Maroon 5. It was released on June 22, 2010 by A&M Octone Records via the iTunes Store. The song was released in advance of the band's mid-2010 tour, and is the first single from their third studio album, Hands All Over, which was released on September 21, 2010.^[1]

Background and writing

Written by Adam Levine, Jesse Carmichael, and Sam Farrar, the song is about the narrator finding himself in a difficult situation when a relationship fades.^[2] "Why won't you answer me? / The silence is slowly killing me / Girl you really got me bad," he states in the lyrics.^[3] The song documents the decay of a relationship, familiar territory for the band. Frontman Adam Levine told MTV News: "'Misery' is about the desperation of wanting someone really badly in your life but having it be very difficult. Kind of what all the songs I write are about. I'm not treading on new ground, but I think a lot of people – including myself – deal with that all the time. Relationships are difficult, and it's good therapy to write about them."^[4]

Live performances

The band performed it live on the Late Show with David Letterman on September 21, 2010.^[5] They were also on Jimmy Kimmel Live! on September 28, 2010.^[6]

Critical reception

The song received mostly positive reviews from music critics. Bill Lamb from About.com, while reviewing the single, awarded it with the maximum of stars (5 out of 5), saying: "All of the usual elements of a Maroon 5 hit are here, from the perky pop-soul sound to lyrics of intense conflict in a relationship. However, this time the band takes it all a few steps forward into the category of pop perfection. Quite possibly a key reason for this step forward is the presence of the by now legendary Robert John 'Mutt' Lange in the producers chair. 'Misery' is instantly the best mainstream pop single of 2010 so far."^[7]

MTV Buzzworthy stated that the single was "pretty classic Maroon 5", and "a buoyant, poppy affair that has a dark underbelly."^[2] AOL Radio stated that it was a "falsetto-pleading, yet upbeat, keyboard-popping track" with a chorus similar to Maroon 5's 2004 single "This Love".^[3] The New York Post stated that the single was "exactly the kind of up tempo, falsetto-filled single we've come to expect".^[8] Rolling Stone reviewers called the song a "funk-rock singalong"^[9] that "some people might have a hard time picking out... from a police line-up of Maroon 5 songs."^[10]

Music video

Background

The video was filmed in May 2010.^[11] Levine stated to MTV News that the song's music video, directed by Joseph Kahn, focuses on violence, rather than sex, where the female decides to assault, assassinate, rape, maim, humiliate, injure, and bruise her own significant other. Russian model and Adam Levine's now ex-girlfriend Anne Vyalitsyna appears in this video.^[12] The various members of the band appear as bystanders or passersby who get variously hit by cars, etc., as they wind up becoming casualties of the female lead's violence towards Levine's character. The video premiered on July 1, 2010 on MTV and VH1.^[13] The UK version censors the majority of the violence with cartoon-like graphics, and adds shots of the band (wearing the same outfits as they do in the rest of the video).

Levine told MTV News about the Joseph Kahn-directed video. "The cool thing is, when Joseph wrote the treatment after reading a few sentences, I thought it was really amazing," he said. "Because it kind of turns the whole idea of the sexual energy between two people – a guy and a girl, a music video, you've seen that a million times – that exists in this video, but it's turning it on its ass and having the girl be the more domineering one who's trying to kill me." Levine admitted to MTV News: "I'll tell you a little secret... the stuntmen were so great, but they probably weren't too happy because they had to dress like us [for the video], which was hilarious, because we aren't the most masculine dressers. This dude who was [keyboardist] Jesse [Carmichael]'s stunt double was, like, really buff, and he has Jesse's little low-top Converse and skinny jeans on. The shoes were, like, falling off his massive ankles."

Levine added: "I did a lot of stuff, a lot of stuff is me! But most of it wasn't very dangerous. Although, by the end of the day, even not being hit by things is such a physical thing that I was really kind of beat up. I was like, 'Man, even thinking I got my ass kicked feels like getting my ass kicked.'"^[14]

Reception

Robbie Daw from Idolator called director Joseph Kahn a "visual maestro".^[15] MTV Buzzworthy also reviewed the video positively, saying: "Adam Levine and model Anne Vyalitsyna make a love-hate relationship look so sexy in Maroon 5's new video, "Misery".

Awards and nominations

The song was nominated in the Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal category at the 53rd Grammy Awards.^[16]

In popular culture

A version was performed by Darren Criss (as his character Blaine Anderson) on the American TV series Glee, in the second season episode "Original Song" released as a single on iTunes in March 2011.

Charts and certifications

Weekly charts Chart (2010) Peak position Australia (ARIA)[17] 39 Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)[18] 28 Belgium (Ultratip Flanders)[19] 2 Belgium (Ultratop 50 Wallonia)[20] 30 Canada (Canadian Hot 100)[21] 13 Denmark (Tracklisten)[22] 28 France (SNEP) Download Chart[23] 14 Germany (Official German Charts)[24] 30 Hungary (Rádiós Top 40)[25] 4 Ireland (IRMA)[26] 10 Israel (Media Forest)[27] 6 Italy (FIMI)[28] 19 Japan (Japan Hot 100)[29] 4 South Korea (GAON)[30] 4 Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[31] 10 New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[32] 38 Spanish Airplay Chart[33] 20 Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[34] 32 UK Singles (Official Charts Company)[35] 30 US Billboard Hot 100[36] 14 US Adult Alternative Songs (Billboard)[37] 28 US Adult Contemporary (Billboard)[38] 9 US Adult Top 40 (Billboard)[39] 1 US Dance Club Songs (Billboard)[40] 5 US Mainstream Top 40 (Billboard)[41] 8 Venezuela Pop Rock General (Record Report)[42] 1

Year-end charts Chart (2010) Position Canadian Hot 100[43] 70 Hungarian Airplay Chart[44] 30 Japanese Top 100[45] 19 US Billboard Hot 100[46] 62 US Adult Contemporary[47] 35 US Adult Pop Songs[48] 8 US Pop Songs[49] 41 Chart (2011) Position Hungarian Airplay Chart[50] 37 US Adult Contemporary[51] 32 Certifications Region Certification Sales/shipments Australia (ARIA)[52] Gold 35,000 Canada (Music Canada)[53] Platinum 80,000 United States (RIAA)[54] Platinum 1,991,000[55] ^^shipments figures based on certification alone

Release history

Region	Date	Format
United States	June 22, 2010	Digital download[56]
	June 29, 2010	Mainstream radio[57]
Australia[58]	June 22, 2010	Digital download
France[59]	June 23, 2010	Digital download
United Kingdom	September 1, 2010	CD single digital download

References

1. "Quick Hits: Buckcherry, Papa Roach, R.E.M. & Tupac, Katy Perry, Maroon 5, Interpol, My Morning Jacket, Weird Al Yankovic, Beach Boys". FMQB. June 23, 2010. Retrieved June 23, 2010.
2. Ryan, Chris (June 21, 2010). "Song You Need To Know: Maroon 5, 'Misery'". MTV Buzzworthy. MTV. Retrieved June 23, 2010.
3. Anderson, Sara D. (June 21, 2010). "Maroon 5, 'Misery' – New Song". AOL Radio Blog. AOL Radio. Retrieved June 23, 2010.
4. Misery by Maroon 5 Songfacts Songfacts Retrieved 2011-01-21
5. Late Show with David Letterman Episode #18.9 IMDB Retrieved 2011-01-21
6. Jimmy Kimmel Live! Episode #9.15 IMDB Retrieved 2011-01-21
7. Lamb, Bill (August 12, 2010)Maroon 5 Misery – Review of the single Misery by Maroon 5 About.com Retrieved 2011-01-18
8. Wieselman, Jarett (June 21, 2010). "New Maroon 5 single delivers anything but 'Misery'". Pop Wrap. Retrieved June 23, 2010.
9. Hoard, Chrestean (May 27, 2010), "Maroon 5's Swiss Beats". Rolling Stone. (1105):30
10. Dolan, Jon (June 28, 2010). "Misery" by Maroon 5 – Rolling Stone Music – Music Reviews". Retrieved July 24, 2010.
11. "Maroon 5 Get Violent In 'Misery' Video – Music, Celebrity, Artist News". MTV. May 18, 2010. Retrieved 2010-10-22.
12. Montgomery, James; Marino, Kelly (June 21, 2010). "Maroon 5 Get Violent In 'Misery' Video". MTV News. Retrieved June 23, 2010.
13. Pittman, Sarah Marie (June 28, 2010). "Maroon 5 Going All Over This Fall". Pollstar. Retrieved June 30, 2010.
14. Levine explains Misery music video MTV News Retrieved 2011-01-21
15. Adam Levine Gets His Butt Kicked In Maroon 5’s “Misery” Video Idolator Retrieved 2011-01-21
16. Nominations list for the 53rd annual Grammy awards USA Today Retrieved 2011-01-21
17. "Australian-charts.com – Maroon 5 – Misery". ARIA Top 50 Singles.
18. "Austriancharts.at – Maroon 5 – Misery" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40.
19. "Ultratop.be – Maroon 5 – Misery" (in Dutch). Ultratip.
20. "Ultratop.be – Maroon 5 – Misery" (in French). Ultratop 50.
21. "Maroon 5 – Chart history" Canadian Hot 100 for Maroon 5.
22. "Danishcharts.com – Maroon 5 – Misery". Tracklisten.
23. "lescharts.com – Les charts français" (in French). Les classement de telechargement single.
24. "Musicline.de – Maroon 5 Single-Chartverfolgung" (in German). Media Control Charts. PhonoNet GmbH.
25. "Archívum – Slágerlisták – MAHASZ" (in Hungarian). Rádiós Top 40 játszási lista. Magyar Hanglemezkiadók Szövetsége.
26. "Chart Track: Week 37, 2010". Irish Singles Chart.
27. "Maroon 5 – Misery Media Forest". Israeli Airplay Chart. Media Forest.
28. "Italiancharts.com – Maroon 5 – Misery". Top Digital Download.
29. "Maroon 5 – Chart history" Japan Hot 100 for Maroon 5.
30. "GAON Music Charts". Gaonchart.co.kr. Retrieved 2010-10-22.
31. "Nederlandse Top 40 – Maroon 5 search results" (in Dutch) Dutch Top 40.
32. "Charts.org.nz – Maroon 5 – Misery". Top 40 Singles.
33. "Promusicae (Week: January 1, 2010)" (PDF). Retrieved July 13, 2010.
34. "Swisscharts.com – Maroon 5 – Misery". Swiss Singles Chart.
35. "25, 2010/ Archive Chart: September 25, 2010" UK Singles Chart.
36. "Maroon 5 – Chart history" Billboard Hot 100 for Maroon 5.
37. "Maroon 5 – Chart history" Billboard Adult Alternative Songs for Maroon 5.
38. "Maroon 5 – Chart history" Billboard Adult Contemporary for Maroon 5.
39. "Maroon 5 – Chart history" Billboard Adult Pop Songs for Maroon 5.
40. "Maroon 5 – Chart history" Billboard Hot Dance Club Songs for Maroon 5.
41. "Maroon 5 – Chart history" Billboard Pop Songs for Maroon 5.
42. "Pop Rock". Record Report. September 11, 2010. Archived from the original on September 11, 2010.
43. "Charts Year End: Canadian Hot 100". Billboard. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. Retrieved 2010-05-02.
44. "MAHASZ Rádiós TOP 100 2010". Mahasz (in Hungarian). Retrieved March 10, 2011.
45. "レコード協会調べ 2009年12月16日～2010年12月14日「着うたフル(R)」 2010年有料音楽配信「年間チャート」（通称：レコ協チャート）" [Record Association Analysis: December 16, 2009 – December 14, 2010 Full-length Cellphone Download 2010 paid digital sales "Yearly Chart" (Abbreviated: RIAJ Chart)] (PDF). RIAJ. December 20, 2010. Retrieved December 22, 2010.
46. "Hot 100 Songs". Billboard. 2010.
47. "Best of 2010 - Adult Contemporary Songs". Billboard.com. Retrieved 2012-12-14.
48. "Best of 2010 - Adult Pop Songs". Billboard.com. Retrieved 2012-12-14.
49. "Best of 2010 - Pop Songs". Billboard.com. Retrieved 2012-12-14.
50. "MAHASZ Rádiós TOP 100 2011". Mahasz (in Hungarian). Retrieved February 23, 2012.
51. "Best of 2012 - Adult Contemporary Songs". Billboard.com. Retrieved 2012-12-14.
52. "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2014 Singles". Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved June 21, 2014.
53. "Canadian single certifications – Maroon 5 – Misery". Music Canada. Retrieved May 24, 2014.
54. "American single certifications – Maroon 5 – Misery". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved August 19, 2014. If necessary, click Advanced, then click Format, then select Single, then click SEARCH
55. Trust, Gary (June 15, 2014). "Ask Billboard: MAGIC!'s 'Rude' Revives Reggae". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media.
56. "iTunes United States". Itunes.apple.com. June 22, 2010. Retrieved 2010-10-22.
57. "All Access". All Access. Retrieved 2010-10-22.
58. "iTunes Australia". Itunes.apple.com. June 22, 2010. Retrieved 2010-10-22.
59. "Amazon.fr". Amazon.fr. January 1, 1970. Retrieved 2010-10-22.

External links

• Lyrics of this song at MetroLyrics