"Hey Jealousy" is a song by the Gin Blossoms

Gin Blossoms

Gin Blossoms is an American pop rock band formed in 1987, in Tempe, Arizona. They took their name from a photo of W.C. Fields which bore the caption "W.C. Fields with gin blossoms", referring to what appeared to be the actor's gin-ravaged nose, but was actually a skin condition known as rosacea...

. The song was included in the group's debut album Dusted

Dusted (album)

Dusted is the first album by Alternative rock band the Gin Blossoms. It was released through San Jacinto Records, a small independent label as a 12-song tape and record in 1989....

(1989), and then was re-recorded on their breakthrough 1992 album New Miserable Experience

New Miserable Experience

New Miserable Experience is the breakthrough album by pop-rock band the Gin Blossoms, released on August 4, 1992. The album was released to little fanfare and relatively lackluster reviews. However, nearly a year after its release, lead single "Hey Jealousy" ascended into the top 40, with "Found...

. It was written by lead guitarist Doug Hopkins

Doug Hopkins

Douglas "Doug" Hopkins was an American musician and songwriter from Tempe, Arizona. He co-founded the Gin Blossoms, a popular modern rock band of the early 1990s, with Richard Taylor...

, who was fired from the band shortly after the recording of the second album. It became their first Billboard

Billboard (magazine)

Billboard is a weekly American magazine devoted to the music industry, and is one of the oldest trade magazines in the world. It maintains several internationally recognized music charts that track the most popular songs and albums in various categories on a weekly basis...

Top-40 single in 1993, reaching number 25 on the Billboard Hot 100

Billboard Hot 100

The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday...

 and number 24 on the UK Singles Chart

UK Singles Chart

The UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ...

.

"Hey Jealousy" was used in Beverly Hills 90210, Season 4, 'Windstruck'.

Lyrics

As one critic notes, the lyrics of the song reflect Hopkins' "constantly self-medicating in the face of depression." However, even though the lyrics "hopefulness shriveled into empty promise", the performance of the song "is emotionally detached from Hopkins' afflictions" and presents a "sunny soundtrack" for his depression.

The lyrics originally contained the line "you can trust me not to drink", referring to Hopkins' addiction, but this was changed by the band.

Critical reception

Initially largely unnoticed due to its placement on the unsuccessful Dusted, "Hey Jealousy" enjoyed success upon the release of New Miserable Experience. A review by Rolling Stone

Rolling Stone

Rolling Stone is a US-based magazine devoted to music, liberal politics, and popular culture that is published every two weeks. Rolling Stone was founded in San Francisco in 1967 by Jann Wenner and music critic Ralph J...

called the song "manna

Manna

Manna or Manna wa Salwa , sometimes or archaically spelled mana, is the name of an edible substance that God provided for the Israelites during their travels in the desert according to the Bible.It was said to be sweet to the taste, like honey....

 for radio", highlighting "the ease with which this quintet casts hooks". Allmusic staff writer Rick Anderson stated that "'Hey Jealousy' and 'Until I Fall Away' are the two songs that leave the deepest impression".

Peak positions

Year	Chart	Peak position
1993	Mainstream Rock Tracks Mainstream Rock Tracks Hot Mainstream Rock Tracks is a ranking in Billboard magazine of the most-played songs on mainstream rock radio stations, a category that includes stations that play primarily rock music. Modern rock tracks are counted in the Alternative Songs chart.This chart began with the March 21, 1981, issue...	4
1993	Billboard Hot 100 Billboard Hot 100 The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday...	25
1993	Top 40 Mainstream	20

End of year charts

End of year chart (1993)	Position
U.S. Billboard Hot 100	95

Track listing

1. "Hey Jealousy" – 3:56
2. "Cajun Song" – 2:56
3. "Just South of Nowhere" – 3:26
4. "Angels Tonight" – 3:34