Asshole (song)
Encyclopedia
"Asshole" is a song by Denis Leary
, released as the only single from his album No Cure for Cancer
. The song became a minor hit, thanks in part to the video, which gained airplay on MTV
and MuchMusic
in a censored form.
The song was very popular in Australia, and was voted No. 1 in a major Australia
n youth radio poll (the Triple J Hottest 100
) as well as reaching No. 2 in the singles chart in that country. In the end of year chart for 1994, the song was placed at No. 26.
Its appearance in the Hottest 100 for 1993 is of particular significance, as this was the first year in the history of the annual poll that votes could only be cast for songs released during the relevant year. The song uses samples from Dolly Parton
's "Old Flames Can't Hold a Candle to You
".
The chorus of the song is often used in The Howard Stern Show. On the Australian TV show The Chaser's War on Everything
, it was parodied with a song called "Ass Sol", making fun of Sol Trujillo, the controversial American CEO of Australian telecommunications provider Telstra
.
This song made MuchMusic
's "50 Most Controversial Videos of All Time" and reached spot #37 for its profanity, making fun of handicapped people, and threatening to destroy the environment. The word "asshole
" is said at least 28 times, according to MuchMusic
's Devon Soltendieck
. The word "fuck" is said 4 times and also "piss" is used three times. "Goddamn" is also uttered. A censored video for the song was made, which bleeps out some words. However the word "asshole" is still present and uncensored.
The song was adapted by Leary for use in a Holsten
Pils advertisement on British TV which was against drunk driving. Leary appeared in the advert which is about a man who drinks and drives with his family in the car.
Denis Leary
Denis Colin Leary is an Irish-American actor, comedian, writer and director. Leary is known for his biting, fast paced comedic style and chain smoking...
, released as the only single from his album No Cure for Cancer
No Cure for Cancer
No Cure for Cancer is one of Denis Leary's standup routines from the early 1990s. It was made into a television special, a book, and a compact disc, all with the same title...
. The song became a minor hit, thanks in part to the video, which gained airplay on MTV
MTV
MTV, formerly an initialism of Music Television, is an American network based in New York City that launched on August 1, 1981. The original purpose of the channel was to play music videos guided by on-air hosts known as VJs....
and MuchMusic
MuchMusic
MuchMusic is a Canadian English language Category A specialty channel owned by Bell Media. MuchMusic is dedicated to music-related programs, pop and youth culture.-History:...
in a censored form.
The song was very popular in Australia, and was voted No. 1 in a major Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
n youth radio poll (the Triple J Hottest 100
Triple J Hottest 100
The Triple J Hottest 100 is an annual music poll, based on the votes of national Australian radio station Triple J listeners, in order to determine their favourite song of the year. Voting is conducted by the internet and begins roughly two weeks prior to the new year for the previous year's songs...
) as well as reaching No. 2 in the singles chart in that country. In the end of year chart for 1994, the song was placed at No. 26.
Its appearance in the Hottest 100 for 1993 is of particular significance, as this was the first year in the history of the annual poll that votes could only be cast for songs released during the relevant year. The song uses samples from Dolly Parton
Dolly Parton
Dolly Rebecca Parton is an American singer-songwriter, author, multi-instrumentalist, actress and philanthropist, best known for her work in country music. Dolly Parton has appeared in movies like 9 to 5, The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas, Steel Magnolias and Straight Talk...
's "Old Flames Can't Hold a Candle to You
Old Flames Can't Hold a Candle to You
"Old Flames Can't Hold a Candle to You" was a country song written by Pebe Sebert and Hugh Moffatt. It provided a #14 U.S. country hit for Joe Sun in 1978, and a #86 hit for Brian Collins the same year. It was later covered by Dolly Parton, who took it to the top of the U.S. country charts in...
".
The chorus of the song is often used in The Howard Stern Show. On the Australian TV show The Chaser's War on Everything
The Chaser's War on Everything
The Chaser's War on Everything is an Australian television satirical comedy series broadcast on the Australian Broadcasting Corporation television station ABC1. It has won an AFI Award. The cast perform sketches mocking social and political issues, and often feature comedic publicity stunts...
, it was parodied with a song called "Ass Sol", making fun of Sol Trujillo, the controversial American CEO of Australian telecommunications provider Telstra
Telstra
Telstra Corporation Limited is an Australian telecommunications and media company, building and operating telecommunications networks and marketing voice, mobile, internet access and pay television products and services....
.
This song made MuchMusic
MuchMusic
MuchMusic is a Canadian English language Category A specialty channel owned by Bell Media. MuchMusic is dedicated to music-related programs, pop and youth culture.-History:...
's "50 Most Controversial Videos of All Time" and reached spot #37 for its profanity, making fun of handicapped people, and threatening to destroy the environment. The word "asshole
Asshole
The word asshole, a variant of arsehole, which is still prevalent in British and Australian English, is a term used pejoratively to describe the anus.-History:...
" is said at least 28 times, according to MuchMusic
MuchMusic
MuchMusic is a Canadian English language Category A specialty channel owned by Bell Media. MuchMusic is dedicated to music-related programs, pop and youth culture.-History:...
's Devon Soltendieck
Devon Soltendieck
Devon Soltendieck is a former MuchMusic VJ from the city of Dorval, on the island of Montreal. He has been an anchor and reporter on CP24 since early 2010.-Early Life:...
. The word "fuck" is said 4 times and also "piss" is used three times. "Goddamn" is also uttered. A censored video for the song was made, which bleeps out some words. However the word "asshole" is still present and uncensored.
The song was adapted by Leary for use in a Holsten
Holsten
Holsten Brewery is a brewing company founded in 1879 in what is now Hamburg's Altona-Nord quarter. The group now has seven breweries in Germany. Its nationally distributed premium brand is the pale lager Holsten Pilsener...
Pils advertisement on British TV which was against drunk driving. Leary appeared in the advert which is about a man who drinks and drives with his family in the car.