Complete Mess

Last updated
"Complete Mess"
Complete Mess 5SOS.jpg
Single by 5 Seconds of Summer
from the album 5SOS5
Released2 March 2022 (2022-03-02)
Studio
  • Rancho V
  • Dragonfly Creek
Genre
Length3:26
Label BMG
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s) Michael Clifford
5 Seconds of Summer singles chronology
"2011"
(2021)		"Complete Mess"
(2022)		"Take My Hand"
(2022)
Music video
"Complete Mess" on YouTube

"Complete Mess" (stylised in all caps) is a song by Australian pop rock band 5 Seconds of Summer. It was released on 2 March 2022 independently in partnership with BMG, as the lead single from their fifth studio album 5SOS5 . [3] [4] The song was written by the band and produced by guitarist Michael Clifford. [5]

Contents

At the APRA Music Awards of 2023, the song was shortlisted for Song of the Year. [6]

Background

The band teased "Complete Mess" in February 2022 sharing snippets of the song on TikTok and Twitter. [7] Upon the release of "Complete Mess", the group also released a statement about the song:

"For this record we realized if you want something done that truly represents how you feel, you’ve got to do it yourselves. We wanted that expansive sound that we naturally gravitate towards when we play together, so we had to learn how to record that. This new music is so authentically us. It’s exactly the kind of music we want to be making right now and it’s a good song to be able to reconnect to our fans after such a long time of not releasing music. We can’t wait for everyone to hear what we’ve been working on." [3]

The song was recorded at Rancho V in Joshua Tree, Clifford's own home studio and Dragonfly Creek in Malibu. The title of the song refers to a fan-favorite t-shirt that lead singer Luke Hemmings used to wear. [8]

MTV describes the song as a "2000s alt-rock with a more mature but quite nostalgic sound," while Rolling Stone calls the song, "an expansive vibe with contemporary pop sensibilities." [1] [3]

Reception

"Complete Mess" was received with positive reviews, most praising the band for their growth and maturity of their sound. Soundigest.com calls it, "a song that's sheer emotional power sends chills down your body." [9] Musictalkers.com praises the instrumental work of the song stating, "the utilization of authentic instruments layered with electronic, booming pop sounds is the contrast that perfectly mirrors 5 Seconds of Summer’s original vision when they first entered the music scene." [10]

Music video

The music video for "Complete Mess" was released on 2 March 2022 and was directed by Lauren Dunn. [11] The video is set in a desert and the quartet can be seen lying on their backs on the sand and walking in separate ways throughout the video. Towards the end, they join together and walk towards a blue orb of light, which represents "the place where all the songs, all the love, and everything comes from in this life," according to drummer Ashton Irwin. He also adds, "I guess the metaphorical sense is that the four of us are in this infinite place of creation, and the dessert represents that." [1]

Personnel

Credits for "Complete Mess" adapted from AllMusic. [12]

Charts

Release history

Release history and formats for "Complete Mess"
RegionDateFormatLabelRef.
Various2 March 2022 BMG [27]
Italy4 March 2022 Contemporary hit radio [28]
United States8 March 2022 [29]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Killer Queen</span> 1974 single by Queen

"Killer Queen" is a song by the British rock band Queen. It was written by lead singer Freddie Mercury and recorded for their third album Sheer Heart Attack in 1974. It reached number two in the UK Singles Chart and became their first US hit, reaching number twelve on the Billboard Hot 100. The song is about a high-class call girl and has been characterised as "Mercury's piano-led paean to a Moët-quaffing courtesan".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">5 Seconds of Summer</span> Australian pop rock band

5 Seconds of Summer, often shortened to 5SOS, are an Australian pop rock band from Sydney, New South Wales, formed in late 2011. The group consists of lead vocalist and rhythm guitarist Luke Hemmings, lead guitarist Michael Clifford, bassist Calum Hood, and drummer Ashton Irwin. Originally beginning their career as YouTube celebrities, they rose to international fame while touring with English-Irish boy band One Direction on their Take Me Home Tour. Since 2014, 5 Seconds of Summer have sold more than 10 million albums, sold over 2 million concert tickets worldwide, and have attained more than 7 billion streams of their songs on music streaming services, making them one of the most successful Australian musical acts in history.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">She Looks So Perfect</span> 2014 single by 5 Seconds of Summer

"She Looks So Perfect" is a song by Australian pop rock band 5 Seconds of Summer, taken from their self-titled debut album, 5 Seconds of Summer (2014). The song was digitally released in Australia on 23 February 2014 and in Europe on 23 March 2014 through Capitol Records and Hi or Hey Records, as their debut single with a major record label. The accompanying music video was released on 24 February 2014. The song peaked at number one in Australia, New Zealand, Ireland and the United Kingdom. It was certified triple platinum by the Australian Recording Industry Association for selling 210,000 copies. The song also won "Song of the Year" at the ARIA Music Awards in 2014. Ed Sheeran covered the song on Capital FM.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">5 Seconds of Summer discography</span>

Australian pop rock band 5 Seconds of Summer have released five studio albums, two live albums, seven extended plays, 26 singles, four promotional singles, and 25 music videos. All four of their studio albums debuted at number one in Australia and all have debuted at number one, within the top three, and within top 10 on a multitude of charts in many other countries. According to Billboard, since 2014, 5 Seconds of Summer have sold more than ten million albums, sold over two million concert tickets worldwide, and the band's songs streams surpass seven billion, making them one of Australia's most successful musical exports in history.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">She's Kinda Hot</span> 2015 single by 5 Seconds of Summer

"She's Kinda Hot" is a song by Australian pop rock band 5 Seconds of Summer. The song is the first single from the band's second album Sounds Good Feels Good. The pop punk and pop rock song was co-written by band members Ashton Irwin and Michael Clifford, alongside Benji and Joel Madden of Good Charlotte and produced by John Feldmann. It was released worldwide on 17 July 2015. The music video was released on 5 August 2015 and has more than 50 million views as of 7 August 2018.

<i>Sounds Good Feels Good</i> 2015 studio album by 5 Seconds of Summer

Sounds Good Feels Good is the second studio album by Australian pop rock band 5 Seconds of Summer. It was released on 23 October 2015 through the labels Hi or Hey and Capitol Records. In support of the album, the band embarked on the Sounds Live Feels Live World Tour.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jet Black Heart</span> 2015 single by 5 Seconds of Summer

"Jet Black Heart" is a song by Australian pop rock band 5 Seconds of Summer from their second studio album, Sounds Good Feels Good. It was written by Calum Hood, Michael Clifford, David Hodges and Jon Green, and produced by David Hodges. It was released on 13 December 2015 as the album's third and final single. It charted in eight countries and won a Verano MTV Award and a Teen Choice Award. The music video was released on 17 December via YouTube and has since gained more than 30 million views. The song's title was based upon the popular band "Joan Jet and the black hearts."

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dean Lewis</span> Australian singer-songwriter

Dean Lewis Grant Loaney is an Australian pop singer-songwriter. He is best known for his 2016 single "Waves", which was certified 7× platinum in Australia in 2019, and his 2018 single "Be Alright", which reached number one in Australia and was certified platinum within four weeks of release, eventually reaching 11× platinum in Australia and multi-platinum worldwide, including double platinum in the United States.

<i>Youngblood</i> (5 Seconds of Summer album) 2018 studio album by 5 Seconds of Summer

Youngblood is the third studio album by Australian pop rock band 5 Seconds of Summer. The album was initially set to be released on 22 June 2018, but was later brought forward to 15 June. Four singles were released in support of the album: "Want You Back", "Youngblood", "Valentine" and "Lie to Me". The album was released to positive reviews, with critics praising the lyrical maturity and the sound change from their previous work. In support of the album, the band embarked on the Meet You There Tour.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Youngblood (5 Seconds of Summer song)</span> 2018 single by 5 Seconds of Summer

"Youngblood" is a song recorded by Australian pop rock band 5 Seconds of Summer. It was written by Calum Hood, Ali Tamposi, Andrew Watt, Ashton Irwin and Luke Hemmings with production handled by Andrew Watt and Louis Bell. The song was released via Capitol Records on 12 April 2018, as the second single from their third studio album of the same name.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Easier (5 Seconds of Summer song)</span> 2019 single by 5 Seconds of Summer

"Easier" is a song by Australian pop rock band 5 Seconds of Summer, released on 23 May 2019 through Interscope Records as both the lead single from their fourth studio album Calm (2020) and their first release through the label. Billboard magazine included the song on their 100 Best Songs of 2019 list at number 79. At the 2019 ARIA Music Awards, the song earned them a nomination for the ARIA Award for Best Group.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Teeth (5 Seconds of Summer song)</span> 2019 single by 5 Seconds of Summer

"Teeth" is a song by Australian pop rock band 5 Seconds of Summer, released on 21 August 2019 as the second single from the band's fourth studio album Calm. It also appears on the third season soundtrack of the Netflix series 13 Reasons Why. Written by band members Luke Hemmings and Ashton Irwin with Ali Tamposi, and produced by Andrew Watt and Louis Bell, the track features guitar from Tom Morello of Rage Against the Machine, and its music video was released the same day. The track's instrumental samples "So What", an unreleased song by late American rapper Juice Wrld and also produced by Bell and Watt, which was recorded in 2018 during the sessions for Wrld on Drugs, Juice Wrld's collaborative mixtape with American rapper Future.

<i>Calm</i> (album) 2020 studio album by 5 Seconds of Summer

Calm is the fourth studio album by Australian pop rock band 5 Seconds of Summer, released on 27 March 2020. The album was a commercial success and received positive reviews from critics who praised the band's lyrical growth and maturity. Due to a shipping error, approximately 11,000 copies of the album were released early in the US, subsequently causing the album to chart a week before it was due.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Old Me (5 Seconds of Summer song)</span> 2020 single by 5 Seconds of Summer

"Old Me" is a song by Australian pop rock band 5 Seconds of Summer, released on 21 February 2020 originally as the first promotional single from the band's fourth studio album Calm, before being released to radio on 6 March 2020 as the album's fourth single. The song was written by Luke Hemmings, Ashton Irwin, Alexandra Tamposi, Andrew Wotman, William Walsh, Louis Bell, Brian Lee and Andre Proctor.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wildflower (5 Seconds of Summer song)</span> 2020 single by 5 Seconds of Summer

"Wildflower" is a song by Australian pop rock band 5 Seconds of Summer, released on 25 March 2020 as the second promotional single from their fourth studio album Calm, before being released as the album's fifth single to radio on 17 April 2020.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Take My Hand (5 Seconds of Summer song)</span> 2022 single by 5 Seconds of Summer

"Take My Hand" is a song by Australian pop rock band 5 Seconds of Summer. It was released on 1 April 2022 as the second single from their fifth studio album 5SOS5.

<i>5SOS5</i> 2022 studio album by 5 Seconds of Summer

5SOS5 is the fifth studio album by Australian pop rock band 5 Seconds of Summer, released on 23 September 2022 through BMG Rights Management. It was preceded by the release of the singles "Complete Mess", "Take My Hand", "Me Myself & I", "Blender", "Bad Omens" and "Older". The track list was revealed on 10 May 2022, while the album was announced alongside the release of "Me Myself & I" on 11 May 2022.

"Blender" is a song by Australian pop rock band 5 Seconds of Summer. It was released on 13 July 2022 as the fourth single from their fifth studio album 5SOS5.

"Me Myself & I" is a song by Australian pop rock band 5 Seconds of Summer. It was released on 11 May 2022 as the third single from their fifth studio album 5SOS5.

References

  1. 1 2 3 Athena Serrano (26 August 2022). "How 5 Seconds Of Summer Created A 'Complete Mess' On '5SOS5'". MTV . Retrieved 25 September 2022.
  2. ↑ "10 Cool New Pop Songs to Get You Through the Week: 5 Seconds of Summer, Weeekly, Sir Sly & More". Billboard . 7 March 2022. Retrieved 6 October 2022.
  3. 1 2 3 Tyler Jenke (3 March 2022). "5 Seconds of Summer Return with New Single, 'Complete Mess'". Rolling Stone . Retrieved 25 September 2022.
  4. ↑ "5 Seconds of Summer unleash new single 'Complete Mess'". 2 March 2022. Retrieved 25 September 2022.
  5. ↑ Stephen Ackroyd (2 March 2022). "5 Seconds of Summer have dropped their new single 'Complete Mess' – watch" . Retrieved 24 September 2022.
  6. ↑ "These 20 songs are up for 2023 APRA Song Of The Year". Australian Broadcasting Corporation . 25 January 2023. Retrieved 28 January 2023.
  7. ↑ Stephen Ackroyd (28 February 2022). "5 Seconds of Summer are teasing more of their new track, 'Complete Mess'" . Retrieved 25 September 2022.
  8. ↑ Taylor Fields (2 March 2022). "5 Seconds Of Summer Return With New Song 'Complete Mess'". KiisFM . Retrieved 25 September 2022.
  9. ↑ Kelsey Sullivan (9 March 2022). "5 Seconds of Summer Drops "Complete Mess" Their Dreamy Single From Their Upcoming 5th Studio Album" . Retrieved 25 September 2022.
  10. ↑ Nicholas Gaudet (13 April 2022). "Review: Complete Mess − 5 Seconds of Summer" . Retrieved 25 September 2022.
  11. ↑ Glenn Rowley (2 March 2022). "5 Seconds of Summer Are a 'Complete Mess' on Anthemic Single: Watch". Billboard . Retrieved 25 September 2022.
  12. ↑ "Complete Mess - 5SOS Credits". AllMusic . Retrieved 24 September 2022.
  13. ↑ "Singles Chart (Independent Labels) 11 April 2022". Australian Independent Record Labels Association. 11 April 2022. Retrieved 24 September 2022.
  14. ↑ "Top 10 Pop Internacional: 23/05/2022 - 13 27/05/2022" (in Brazilian Portuguese). Crowley Broadcast Analysis. Archived from the original on 2 May 2022. Retrieved 3 May 2022.
  15. ↑ "5 Seconds of Summer Chart History (Canada CHR/Top 40)". Billboard. Retrieved 24 September 2022.
  16. ↑ "5 Seconds of Summer Chart History (Canada Hot AC)". Billboard. Retrieved 24 September 2022.
  17. ↑ "5 Seconds of Summer Chart History (Mexico Ingles Airplay)". Billboard . Retrieved 24 September 2022.
  18. ↑ "Nederlandse Top 40 – week 22, 2022" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved 1 December 2022.
  19. ↑ "5 Seconds of Summer – Complete Mess" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved 24 September 2022.
  20. ↑ "NZ Hot Singles Chart". Recorded Music NZ. 14 March 2022. Retrieved 24 September 2022.
  21. ↑ "Official Singles Downloads Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 24 September 2022.
  22. ↑ "5 Seconds of Summer Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved 24 September 2022.
  23. ↑ "5 Seconds of Summer Chart History (Adult Pop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved 24 September 2022.
  24. ↑ "5 Seconds of Summer Chart History (Pop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved 24 September 2022.
  25. ↑ "Top 100-Jaaroverzicht van 2022" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40 . Retrieved 3 January 2023.
  26. ↑ "Adult Pop Airplay Songs – Year-End 2022". Billboard. Retrieved 2 December 2022.
  27. ↑ "Complete Mess - Single by 5 Seconds of Summer". Apple Music . Retrieved 24 September 2022.
  28. ↑ "5 Seconds of Summer - Radio Date". EarOne. 4 March 2022. Retrieved 24 September 2022.
  29. ↑ "Mainstream Pop Future Releases". All Access. Archived from the original on 28 February 2022. Retrieved 24 September 2022.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.