Whiskey Hangover
Encyclopedia
"Whiskey Hangover" is a song by American heavy metal
band Godsmack
. Released as a promotional single in 2009, it marked the band's first in the almost two years since the release of "Good Times, Bad Times." The song became a live staple in Godsmack's shows during Crue Fest 2
and was released in promotion of their appearance on the tour. "Whiskey Hangover" reached #1 on the Billboard
Hot Mainstream Rock Tracks.
, was collaborative, stating that all four members of the band wrote the song and Sully came up with the lyrics:
"All four of us were in the room and we wrote that song in like 3 hours. But it took Sully weeks to come up with the lyrics, and he wasn’t even happy with it ‘cause we had to rush it, ‘cause we needed something for this Motley Crue
tour. The 3 of us loved it, but Sully was kind of irritated with it ‘cause he knows it could have been better".
411Mania.com reviewer Mark Ingoldsby gave the song three stars out of five, stating that the single "is a return to the band's well-established sound, this time not veering far from their proven hard rock hit-making formula that was somewhat missing from their last and least-successful album. Powerful, driving guitars rock full blast during the track's intro and chorus, and then take the usual back seat as singer Sully Erna
invokes his trademark Vedder-meets-Staley vocal stylings in the verses".
and Amazon
on June 30.
invokes his trademark Vedder-meets-Staley vocal stylings in the verses". Yet he criticized the single for being unoriginal and "There's nothing new and exciting revealed musically in it." And "it's a bit too familiar and predictable to be anything more than just adequate rock station filler".
" in 2002.
"Whiskey Hangover" also reigns as a record-breaking 17th Top 10 single for the Godsmack, extending
their ownership of the most Top 10 hits in active rock history. The band also has parked a ratified 12 songs in the Top Five more than bands such as Linkin Park
and Metallica
. It is also the band's first single to top twenty hit on the Billboard Heatseekers Songs chart, peaking at #16. The song also peaked at #7 on the Billboard Rock Songs chart.
Heavy metal music
Heavy metal is a genre of rock music that developed in the late 1960s and early 1970s, largely in the Midlands of the United Kingdom and the United States...
band Godsmack
Godsmack
Godsmack is an American heavy metal band from Lawrence, Massachusetts, formed in 1995. The band is composed of founder, frontman and songwriter Sully Erna, guitarist Tony Rombola, bassist Robbie Merrill, and drummer Shannon Larkin...
. Released as a promotional single in 2009, it marked the band's first in the almost two years since the release of "Good Times, Bad Times." The song became a live staple in Godsmack's shows during Crue Fest 2
Crüe Fest 2
Crüe Fest 2 was the second year of the Crüe Fest touring festival, created and headlined by Mötley Crüe. The tour took place over the summer of 2009, and was in the same vein as the first Crüe Fest.-Line up:...
and was released in promotion of their appearance on the tour. "Whiskey Hangover" reached #1 on the 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...
Hot Mainstream Rock Tracks.
Writing
The writing process, according to Shannon LarkinShannon Larkin
Shannon Larkin, born James Shannon Larkin on April 24, 1967 in Chicago, Illinois, is a musician best known for being the drummer of the heavy metal band Godsmack. He replaced the previous drummer Tommy Stewart in June 2002...
, was collaborative, stating that all four members of the band wrote the song and Sully came up with the lyrics:
"All four of us were in the room and we wrote that song in like 3 hours. But it took Sully weeks to come up with the lyrics, and he wasn’t even happy with it ‘cause we had to rush it, ‘cause we needed something for this Motley Crue
Mötley Crüe
Mötley Crüe is an American heavy metal band formed in Los Angeles, California in 1981. The group was founded by bass guitarist Nikki Sixx and drummer Tommy Lee, who were later joined by lead guitarist Mick Mars and lead singer Vince Neil...
tour. The 3 of us loved it, but Sully was kind of irritated with it ‘cause he knows it could have been better".
Sound
Shannon Larkin described the single as a prime example of Godsmack original sound, stating that "Whiskey Hangover is good clue of what the band is going for, it's more simplistic than the last record - less bluesy, more heavy", and a "return to the original sound of the Godsmack and what made the band happen in the first place".411Mania.com reviewer Mark Ingoldsby gave the song three stars out of five, stating that the single "is a return to the band's well-established sound, this time not veering far from their proven hard rock hit-making formula that was somewhat missing from their last and least-successful album. Powerful, driving guitars rock full blast during the track's intro and chorus, and then take the usual back seat as singer Sully Erna
Sully Erna
Salvatore Paul "Sully" Erna , is an American vocalist and primary songwriter for the American heavy metal band, Godsmack. Erna is also a guitarist and drummer, performing these both on albums and during live shows. He has a daughter named Skylar Brooke Erna and an older sister named Maria.-Early...
invokes his trademark Vedder-meets-Staley vocal stylings in the verses".
Release
"Whiskey Hangover" was released on June 9.It was released to promote the band appearance on Crüe Fest 2.Track listing
Digital download
The single became available through iTunesITunes
iTunes is a media player computer program, used for playing, downloading, and organizing digital music and video files on desktop computers. It can also manage contents on iPod, iPhone, iPod Touch and iPad....
and Amazon
Amazon.com
Amazon.com, Inc. is a multinational electronic commerce company headquartered in Seattle, Washington, United States. It is the world's largest online retailer. Amazon has separate websites for the following countries: United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Germany, France, Italy, Spain, Japan, and...
on June 30.
Critical
411Mania.com reviewer Mark Ingoldsby gave the song three stars out of five, stating that the single "is a return to the band's well-established sound, this time not veering far from their proven hard rock hit-making formula that was somewhat missing from their last and least-successful album. Powerful, driving guitars rock full blast during the track's intro and chorus, and then take the usual back seat as singer Sully ErnaSully Erna
Salvatore Paul "Sully" Erna , is an American vocalist and primary songwriter for the American heavy metal band, Godsmack. Erna is also a guitarist and drummer, performing these both on albums and during live shows. He has a daughter named Skylar Brooke Erna and an older sister named Maria.-Early...
invokes his trademark Vedder-meets-Staley vocal stylings in the verses". Yet he criticized the single for being unoriginal and "There's nothing new and exciting revealed musically in it." And "it's a bit too familiar and predictable to be anything more than just adequate rock station filler".
Commercial
Due to its heavy rotation on radio stations across the country, "Whiskey Hangover" became Godsmack's fifth number one hit on the Billboard Hot Mainstream Rock Tracks chart, in September 2009. It is also their second non-album single to reach number one on that chart since the release of "I Stand AloneI Stand Alone (song)
"I Stand Alone" is a song by American heavy metal band Godsmack. It served as a single from the Scorpion King soundtrack on March 5, 2002. It would reappear on Godsmack's third studio album, Faceless, the following year....
" in 2002.
"Whiskey Hangover" also reigns as a record-breaking 17th Top 10 single for the Godsmack, extending
their ownership of the most Top 10 hits in active rock history. The band also has parked a ratified 12 songs in the Top Five more than bands such as Linkin Park
Linkin Park
Linkin Park is an American rock band from Agoura Hills, California. Formed in 1996, the band rose to international fame with their debut album, Hybrid Theory, which was certified Diamond by the RIAA in 2005 and multi-platinum in several other countries...
and Metallica
Metallica
Metallica is an American heavy metal band from Los Angeles, California. Formed in 1981 when James Hetfield responded to an advertisement that drummer Lars Ulrich had posted in a local newspaper. The current line-up features long-time lead guitarist Kirk Hammett and bassist Robert Trujillo ...
. It is also the band's first single to top twenty hit on the Billboard Heatseekers Songs chart, peaking at #16. The song also peaked at #7 on the Billboard Rock Songs chart.
Chart positions
| Chart (2009) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Billboard Mainstream Rock Songs | 1 |
| Billboard Alternative Songs | 20 |
| Billboard Rock Songs Rock Songs Rock Songs is a chart published weekly by Billboard magazine which ranks the airplay of songs on alternative, mainstream rock and triple A radio stations. The first chart was published in the issue dated June 20, 2009. "Know Your Enemy" by Green Day was the first number-one song. The Rock Songs... |
7 |
| Billboard Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles The Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles is a chart published weekly by Billboard magazine in the United States. It lists the top 25 singles below number 100 that have not yet charted on the Billboard Hot 100. Sometimes, however, singles halt their progress on this chart, and never appear on the Hot 100... |
2 |
| Billboard Heatseekers Songs | 16 |
- "Whiskey Hangover" had a three-week run at number one on the Billboard Hot Mainstream Rock Tracks chart.
Personnel
- Sully ErnaSully ErnaSalvatore Paul "Sully" Erna , is an American vocalist and primary songwriter for the American heavy metal band, Godsmack. Erna is also a guitarist and drummer, performing these both on albums and during live shows. He has a daughter named Skylar Brooke Erna and an older sister named Maria.-Early...
- Vocals, ProducerRecord producerA record producer is an individual working within the music industry, whose job is to oversee and manage the recording of an artist's music... - Tony RombolaTony RombolaTony Rombola is an American musician who has been the lead guitarist for the Boston-based heavy metal band Godsmack since the mid-1990s...
- Lead guitarLead guitarLead guitar is a guitar part which plays melody lines, instrumental fill passages, guitar solos, and occasionally, some riffs within a song structure... - Robbie MerrillRobbie MerrillRobbie Merrill is an American bass guitar player, best known for his work with the heavy metal band Godsmack....
- BassBass guitarThe bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick.... - Shannon LarkinShannon LarkinShannon Larkin, born James Shannon Larkin on April 24, 1967 in Chicago, Illinois, is a musician best known for being the drummer of the heavy metal band Godsmack. He replaced the previous drummer Tommy Stewart in June 2002...
- DrumsDrum kitA drum kit is a collection of drums, cymbals and often other percussion instruments, such as cowbells, wood blocks, triangles, chimes, or tambourines, arranged for convenient playing by a single person .... - John KurzwegJohn KurzwegJohn Kurzweg is an American record producer and musician who first became known for his work with successful post-grunge band Creed in the late 1990s and early 2000s. Three of Creed's records, which Kurzweg produced, were certified multi-platinum and helped Creed achieve worldwide popularity...
- ProducerRecord producerA record producer is an individual working within the music industry, whose job is to oversee and manage the recording of an artist's music...