Underclass Hero (song)
Encyclopedia
"Underclass Hero" is the first single from Sum 41
's fourth studio album Underclass Hero. It was officially released on May 15, 2007. The song in its entirety was leaked on April 23 from a 91X podcast interview with Deryck Whibley
.
It was confirmed on Sum 41's official site that this would be the opening track for the album.
It is currently available to listen to on the band's MySpace
page. The song is also available on iTunes and other digital music suppliers as a digital single, both in Canada and The United States. Additionally, the song is featured in the EA Sports
game Madden 08 and Sony's NBA 08
.
as a theme of "us against them," similar to their previous lyrics. Although "Underclass Hero" is written from a different angle, the song refers prominently to society and the struggle of "high-class versus the underclass" instead of "youth against adults" as in All Killer No Filler. The song also features the more classic punk-rock themes of anti-establishment.
This is the theme song for MTV's Crash My School. The song´s intro is often compared to be similar to the band´s previous single Handle This
, but with certain modifications in the notes and tuning.
symbol. The video was released on May 31, 2007 on Total Request Live
at MTV
for its worldwide launch. The video was co-directed by Marc Klasfeld
and Sum 41 drummer, Steve Jocz
. This is the band's first video without former guitarist Dave Baksh
, who left the band the year prior.
that originated from Chuck
and was released as a bonus track, titled "Subject to Change".
Sum 41
Sum 41 is a Canadian rock band from Ajax, Ontario. The band was formed in 1996 and currently consists of members Deryck Whibley , Tom Thacker , Jason McCaslin and Steve Jocz .In 1999, the band signed an international record deal with Island Records...
's fourth studio album Underclass Hero. It was officially released on May 15, 2007. The song in its entirety was leaked on April 23 from a 91X podcast interview with Deryck Whibley
Deryck Whibley
Deryck Jason Whibley is a Canadian musician and producer, best known for his work as the guitarist, lead vocalist, songwriter and producer of the Juno Award-winning rock band Sum 41. Whibley married fellow singer Avril Lavigne in 2006. The couple occasionally performed together, and they have...
.
It was confirmed on Sum 41's official site that this would be the opening track for the album.
It is currently available to listen to on the band's MySpace
MySpace
Myspace is a social networking service owned by Specific Media LLC and pop star Justin Timberlake. Myspace launched in August 2003 and is headquartered in Beverly Hills, California. In August 2011, Myspace had 33.1 million unique U.S. visitors....
page. The song is also available on iTunes and other digital music suppliers as a digital single, both in Canada and The United States. Additionally, the song is featured in the EA Sports
EA Sports
EA Sports is a brand of Electronic Arts that creates and develops sports video games. Formerly a marketing gimmick of Electronic Arts, in which they tried to mimic real-life sports networks by calling themselves "EA Sports Network" with pictures or endorsements of real commentators such as John...
game Madden 08 and Sony's NBA 08
NBA 08
NBA 08 is a NBA basketball simulation developed by SCE San Diego Studio and published by Sony Computer Entertainment. It was released on October 2, 2007 for PlayStation 3, PlayStation Portable, and PlayStation 2...
.
Overview
"Underclass Hero" was written by Deryck WhibleyDeryck Whibley
Deryck Jason Whibley is a Canadian musician and producer, best known for his work as the guitarist, lead vocalist, songwriter and producer of the Juno Award-winning rock band Sum 41. Whibley married fellow singer Avril Lavigne in 2006. The couple occasionally performed together, and they have...
as a theme of "us against them," similar to their previous lyrics. Although "Underclass Hero" is written from a different angle, the song refers prominently to society and the struggle of "high-class versus the underclass" instead of "youth against adults" as in All Killer No Filler. The song also features the more classic punk-rock themes of anti-establishment.
This is the theme song for MTV's Crash My School. The song´s intro is often compared to be similar to the band´s previous single Handle This
Handle This
"Handle This" is the fourth and final single from the album All Killer No Filler by the Canadian punk rock band Sum 41. The single was only released in Germany and included the title song and live versions of "Motivation" and "Makes No Difference" as back-up tracks, on the CD single...
, but with certain modifications in the notes and tuning.
Music video
Sum 41's video for “Underclass Hero” was premiered May 29, 2007 on their official website. It features the band playing behind a large group of teenagers, fireworks, a marching-band and bonfire, supposedly a pre-high school pep rally for a football game with a mascot, which represented the anarchyAnarchy
Anarchy , has more than one colloquial definition. In the United States, the term "anarchy" typically is meant to refer to a society which lacks publicly recognized government or violently enforced political authority...
symbol. The video was released on May 31, 2007 on Total Request Live
Total Request Live
Total Request Live is a television series on MTV that featured popular music videos. TRL was MTV's prime outlet for music videos as the network continues to concentrate on reality-based programming. In addition to music videos, TRL featured daily guests...
at 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....
for its worldwide launch. The video was co-directed by Marc Klasfeld
Marc Klasfeld
Marc Klasfeld is an American music video director. He has directed over two hundred music videos for artists such as Katy Perry, Jay-Z, Kid Rock, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Nelly, Foo Fighters, Jewel, Sum 41, Avril Lavigne and many others with multiple MTV award wins and nominations...
and Sum 41 drummer, Steve Jocz
Steve Jocz
Stephen Martin "Steve" Jocz was born on July 23, 1981, and is best known as the drummer for Canadian punk band Sum 41.-Early life:...
. This is the band's first video without former guitarist Dave Baksh
Dave Baksh
David Nizam "Brownsound" Baksh is a Canadian guitarist, singer and producer of Indo-Guyanese descent, best known as the ex-lead guitarist of punk band Sum 41, but has since became a singer/guitarist in his own heavy metal/reggae project Brown Brigade...
, who left the band the year prior.
Subject to Change
It also should be noted that the chorus of "Underclass Hero" is a remake of the chorus from the unfinished version of No ReasonNo Reason
"No Reason" is the title of a song recorded by Canadian punk rock group Sum 41. It was released in February 2005 as a radio single only at the same time as Some Say but as opposed to that song, it was released in Europe and the USA only and received much radio airplay, reaching number 16 on the...
that originated from Chuck
Chuck (album)
Chuck is the third studio album from Canadian rock band Sum 41. The album was released on October 12, 2004. It is the band's last album to feature lead guitarist Dave Baksh...
and was released as a bonus track, titled "Subject to Change".
Charts
| Chart (2007) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| U.S. Pop 100 Pop 100 The Pop 100 was a songs chart that debuted in February 2005 and was released weekly by Billboard magazine in the United States until its discontinuation in 2009... |
86 |
| U.S. Modern Rock Tracks Modern Rock Tracks Alternative Songs is a music chart in the United States that has appeared in Billboard magazine since September 10, 1988. It lists the 40 most-played songs on modern rock radio stations, most of which are alternative rock songs... |
34 |
| U.S. 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... |
116 |
| Canadian Hot 100 Canadian Hot 100 The Canadian Hot 100 is a music singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine which ranks songs in Canada. The chart debuted in the Billboard issue dated June 16, 2007 and was made available for the first time via their online services on June 7, 2007... |
33 |
| 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 ... |
188 |
CD Single
- "Underclass Hero" - 3:16
- "This Is Goodbye" - 2:27
- "March of the Dogs" - 3:10
- Road to Ruin #4 - webisode
- Underclass Hero - video