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Mess of Me
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Wikipedia article
"'Mess of Me'" is a song written and recorded by the alternative rock band Switchfoot and was the lead single from their seventh studio album, 'Hello Hurricane.' It was shipped to Modern Rock/Alternative, Mainstream rock, and Active rock radio formats, while a music video was sent to all applicable outlets.[http://wereawakening.blogspot.com/2009/08/switchfoot-sets-pre-sale-and-radio.html Switchfoot sets pre-sale and radio release date!] - Published August 20, 2009 (retrieved August 20, 2009)
Song history
The song was initially called "I Saw Satan Fall Like Lightning," a track Switchfoot demoed during pre-production sessions for 'Hello Hurricane' with Charlie Peacock.[http://jesusfreakhideout.com/interviews/Switchfoot2010.asp Switchfoot weathers the storm] - Published January 12, 2010 (retrieved March 16, 2010) It had a more funk feel and had a different sound, though the opening riff was preserved all the way until the final version of the song.[http://jesusfreakhideout.com/interviews/Switchfoot2010.asp Switchfoot weathers the storm] - Published January 12, 2010 (retrieved March 16, 2010) This early demo version has since made its way onto the bonus disc, 'Building a Hurricane.'
The song was first performed live at the Big Ticket Festival in Michigan on June 18, 2009,[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NxJRAH5zMww **New** Switchfoot - Mess of Me] and has since become a regular in Switchfoot's live setlist throughout the 2009 summer festival touring season and beyond.
It was first hinted that the song was going to be the single when Jon Foreman introduced it before playing it live at Kings Fest in Virginia on July 10, 2009, saying "as far as I'm concerned," the song was to be the lead single.[https://archive.today/20110716172456/http://community.switchfoot.com/community/index.php?s=&showtopic=7796&view=findpost&p=352863 Switchfoot Community - First Hello Hurricane Single?][https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AxmRrwzJRSA Mess Of Me (Live) - Switchfoot @ Kings Fest, VA] On July 13, it was confirmed on [http://www.switchfoot.com switchfoot.com].
Later, on August 5, Jon Foreman and Tim Foreman took the song to producer Rob Cavallo, "working just a touch more" on it.[http://daily-foot.blogspot.com/2009/08/los-angeles-california.html los angeles, california.] - Published August 5, 2009 (retrieved August 23, 2009)[https://twitter.com/jonathanforeman/status/3152599379 Twitter] The album track was mixed by Chris Lord-Alge.[http://www.landofbrokenhearts.org/index.php?subaction=showcomments&id=1252078818&archive=&start_from=&ucat=& Mike Elizondo Interview]
Narrated in first person, the song describes the "mess" that imperfect people make of their lives, and a desire "spend the rest of my life alive" (as stated in the chorus). It describes how mistakes are constantly being made, and that the problems in one's life cannot be fixed by drugs or other material things but only oneself. It expresses a desire to improve and become a better person despite the shortfalls that are being made continually.
It also implies a protest against society's obsession with the pharmaceutical industry, which according to Forman has become the new way to "attain never-ending, everlasting, abundant life."[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lVXpY5r3lBY Switchfoot - mess of me]
The song's main riff and drums bring an overall more aggressive sound, much like their earlier heavier songs from other albums. It features distorted guitar riffs and heavy drums accompanying often-distorted vocals, with its bridge featuring a drum solo. The song is in the key of e minor.
Release
While "Mess of Me" was scheduled to be released to radio on September 29,[http://www.allaccess.com/site/myallaccess/inbox/messages/eweekly/alternative/2009-9-22.html Alternative eWeekly/Add Board Alert -- All Access and Mediabase] - Published September 22, 2009 (retrieved September 22, 2009) the single had already made its way onto rock radio stations throughout the country well in advance. It was first heard on Atlanta's 99X rock station.[http://wereawakening.blogspot.com/2009/08/switchfoots-single-mess-of-me-debuts-at.html Switchfoot's single "Mess of Me" Debuts at RADIO? Pre-orders details and stuffs] - Published August 26, 2009 (retrieved August 27, 2009)
On September 1, Switchfoot announced that they would be hiding copies of the new single around the world.[https://twitter.com/switchfoot/status/3701501814 Twitter] The first copy was hidden at Moonlight Beach in San Diego, CA under a palm tree. The band asked fans to make copies of the disks they found, and hide those copies elsewhere. Fans were also encouraged to hide the single online as well.[http://wereawakening.blogspot.com/2009/09/mess-of-me-hunt.html The "Mess of Me" Hunt] - Published September 2, 2009 (retrieved September 2, 2009) The single has since spread from coast to coast and overseas.[http://blogs.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=blog.view&friendId=4441967&blogId=508463280 Switchfoot Myspace Blogs] - Published September 2, 2009 (retrieved September 2, 2009)
Later, the single was officially released and impacted to radio stations on September 29,[http://www.allaccess.com/site/myallaccess/inbox/messages/eweekly/alternative/2009-9-22.html Alternative eWeekly/Add Board Alert -- All Access and Mediabase] - Published September 22, 2009 (retrieved September 22, 2009) and a purchasable digital download of the song was made available the same day on all the major digital outlets.[http://wereawakening.blogspot.com/2009/09/switchfoot-hello-hurricane-switchfoot.html "Mess of Me" purchasable single? "Always" single? Switchfoot, Hello Hurricane, Switchfoot, Hello Hurricane Tour, Switchfoot, Hello Hurricane!] - Published September 24, 2009 (retrieved September 24, 2009) It went on to become their highest-charting song on the Billboard Modern Rock charts since "Dare You to Move" peaked at No. 9 in 2004. The song remained on the charts for 21 weeks before falling off.
On February 16, 2010, the music video debuted at No. 2 on Fuse TV's No. 1 Countdown in the Viewer's Choice category[http://wereawakening.blogspot.com/2010/02/breaking-switchfoots-mess-of-me-debuts.html BREAKING: Switchfoot's "Mess of Me" debuts at #2 on FUSE TV's No. 1 Countdown!] - Published February 16, 2010 (retrieved February 16, 2010) and No. 8 on the Alternative countdown the next day.[http://wereawakening.blogspot.com/2010/02/mess-of-me-no-8-on-fuse-tv-alternative.html "Mess of Me" no. 8 on FUSE TV Alternative Countdown; Chicago Show recap] - Published February 17, 2010 (retrieved February 23, 2010)
Versions
The album was available in several versions/mixes.
*The first one, as released on the band's YouTube page and during the "Mess of Me" hunt, was mixed by Chris Lord-Alge and features a denser, fuller mix, with noticeable echoing of vocals and instrumentation in the pre-chorus and following the chorus. This was the mix that was sent to radio stations.
*The second version, as released on iTunes, features more prominent vocals and more prominent drums in the pre-chorus, specifically. This would go on to be the album cut.
*A third one, that comes with the iTunes preorder of 'Hello Hurricane', is an acoustic version of the song.
Live performances
Switchfoot performed the song several times on late night television. The band performed the song on 'Jimmy Kimmel Live!' November 12,[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ct2RRJj17WU Switchfoot Perform "Mess of Me"] - Published November 13, 2009 (retrieved November 13, 2009) 'The Tonight Show with Conan O'Brien' on December 2,[http://wereawakening.blogspot.com/2009/12/switchfoot-on-tonight-show-with-conan.html Switchfoot on the Tonight Show with Conan O'Brien tonight!] - Published December 2, 2009 (retrieved December 18, 2009) 'Late Night with Jimmy Fallon' on January 20,[http://wereawakening.blogspot.com/2010/01/breaking-watch-switchfoots-performance.html BREAKING: Watch Switchfoot's Performance of "Mess of Me" on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon!] - Published January 21, 2010 (retrieved January 22, 2010) and 'The Tonight Show with Jay Leno' on March 17, 2010.[http://wereawakening.blogspot.com/2010/03/breaking-switchfoot-performs-on-tonight.html BREAKING: Switchfoot Performs on "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno" March 17th] - Published March 9, 2010 (retrieved March 18, 2010)
Music videos
Switchfoot released the first music video for the song on September 9, 2009 to YouTube.[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y9lg7Utdnyk "Mess Of Me" by Switchfoot, new single from new album "Hello Hurricane", out November 10] It featured live footage taken from their summer Crazy Making Tour. Fans were actively encouraged to promote and spread the video, and it garnered several top honors on the site.[http://wereawakening.blogspot.com/2009/09/mess-of-me-starting-to-spread.html "Mess of Me" starting to spread; Switchfoot debuts "Free" live] - Published September 10, 2009 (retrieved September 12, 2009)
A second music video, the official version, features some of the same clips from the first cut, but had some newer, more refined shots and was more cinematic in nature. It was released to YouTube November 3, 2009. On February 2, Fuse TV added the video to their rotation and No. 1 Countdown voting list,[http://wereawakening.blogspot.com/2010/02/breaking-fuse-adds-mess-of-me-by.html BREAKING: FUSE ADDS "Mess of Me" by Switchfoot to rotation!] - Published February 2, 2010 (retrieved March 8, 2010) with MTV2 adding it to their rotation on February 22.
Charts
Awards
In 2010, the song was nominated for a Dove Award for Rock Recorded Song of the Year at the 41st GMA Dove Awards.[http://blogs.tennessean.com/tunein/2010/02/18/41st-annual-gma-dove-awards-nominees-announced/ 41st Annual GMA Dove Awards nominees announced] on The Tennessean (February 18, 2010)
References
Category:2009 singles
Category:Switchfoot songs
Category:Songs written by Jon Foreman
Category:Songs written by Tim Foreman
Category:2009 songs
Category:Song recordings produced by Mike Elizondo
Category:Song recordings produced by Rob Cavallo
Category:Atlantic Records singles
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