Misery (Soul Asylum song)

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“Misery”
Single by Soul Asylum from the album Let Your Dim Light Shine
Released	1995
Format	Cassette, CD
Recorded	1995
Genre	Alternative rock
Length	4:24
Label	Columbia
Writer(s)	Dave Pirner
Producer	Butch Vig & Soul Asylum
Soul Asylum singles chronology
"Summer of Drugs" (1994) "Misery" (1995) "Just Like Anyone" (1995)

"Misery" is a 1995 song performed by the Minneapolis rock band Soul Asylum. Although Let Your Dim Light Shine critically suffered in comparison to its predecessor, Grave Dancers Union, "Misery" managed to hit number 20 on The Billboard Hot 100 and number one on the US Modern Rock Tracks chart.

Contents 1 Track listing 2 Lyrics 3 Music Video 4 Trivia

[edit] Track listing

1. "Misery" - 4:24

[edit] Lyrics

Some people have speculated that the song itself is referring to the fact that the record companies like to make "Misery" (aka alternate rock songs with dark lyrics). This theory states that Soul Asylum and its members are criticizing this idea. (In support of this idea, many people point out in the video, a CD manufacturer is shown making "Misery".)

[edit] Music Video

The music video for "Misery" features footage of the band performing onstage intercut with film of what appears to be the making of the "Misery" CD single itself.

[edit] Trivia

• The song was later parodied by "Weird Al" Yankovic on his 1996 album Bad Hair Day. Yankovic's parody was entitled Syndicated Inc. and it dealt with a man and his family who constantly watch syndicated TV.
• The song "Misery" was played during the closing montage and part of the credits for the movie Clerks II.

Preceded by "Good" by Better than Ezra

Billboard Modern Rock Tracks number-one single June 3, 1995 - June 17, 1995

Succeeded by "Hold Me, Thrill Me, Kiss Me, Kill Me" by U2

v • d • e Soul Asylum Dave Pirner – Dan Murphy – Tommy Stinson – George McKelvey – Michael Bland – Karl Mueller Former members Pat Morley – Grant Young – Sterling Campbell – Ian Mussington Albums Say What You Will, Clarence...Karl Sold the Truck (1984) – Made To Be Broken (1986) – Time's Incinerator (1986) – While You Were Out (1986) – Hang Time (1988) – Clam Dip & Other Delights (1989) – And the Horse They Rode in On (1990) – Grave Dancers Union (1992) – Let Your Dim Light Shine (1995) – Candy from a Stranger (1998) – The Silver Lining (2006) Compilations Black Gold: The Best of Soul Asylum (2000) – Closer to the Stars: Best of the Twin/Tone Years (2006) Welcome To The Minority – The A&M Years 1988-1991 (2007) Live and other projects After the Flood: Live from the Grand Forks Prom, June 28, 1997 (2004) Related articles Black Gold – Runaway Train – Misery – Faces & Names (2002) – Golden Smog