Desperate Measures (song)

Last updated
"Desperate Measures"
Desperate Measures MTrench.jpeg
Single by Marianas Trench
from the album Ever After
ReleasedJuly 4, 2012 (2012-07-04)
Genre Power pop
Length3:45
Label 604
Songwriter(s) Josh Ramsay
Producer(s) Josh Ramsay
Marianas Trench singles chronology
"Fallout"
(2011)		"Desperate Measures"
(2012)		"Stutter"
(2012)
Music video
"Desperate Measures" on YouTube

"Desperate Measures" is a song by Canadian pop rock band Marianas Trench. It was released on July 4, 2012, as the third single from their third studio album Ever After . [1] The song peaked on the Canadian Hot 100 chart at number 20 on the week of August 11, 2012, and was certified triple platinum in Canada in March 2023. [2] [3]

Contents

Background

The track was written and produced by Josh Ramsay. [4] MTV described "Desperate Measures" as a power pop song. [5] The song earned 2 nominations at the 2013 MuchMusic Video Awards for "Video of the Year" and "Pop Video of the Year". [6] They also performed the song at the award show. The performance was choreographed by Nicole Arbour. [7]

In 2025, this song was used on the eighth episode of the fifth season of Canada's Drag Race as a lip sync battle between Makayla Couture and Perla. [8]

Awards and nominations

Awards and nominations for "Desperate Measures"
YearOrganizationAwardResultRef(s)
2013 MuchMusic Video Awards Video of the YearNominated [9]
Pop Video of the YearWon [10]
2014 SOCAN Awards Pop/Rock Music AwardWon [11]

Music video

The music video for "Desperate Measures" was released on July 4, 2012. [12] It was directed by Kyle Davison and it is the follow-up from the "Fallout" music video of a five-video storyline accompanying the backstory of their album Ever After . [13] The storyline finds the band under a spell and is being controlled by a woman who created voodoo dolls of the band. The video makes references to Risky Business and features an interpretation of Toy Story . Towards the end of the video, the group manages to break the spell and escape, amidst of a flash mob. [5] [14]

Charts

Certifications

Certifications and sales for "Desperate Measures"
RegionCertification Certified units/sales
Canada (Music Canada) [3] 3× Platinum240,000‡

‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

References

  1. ↑ "Desperate Measures - Single by Marianas Trench". Apple Music . Retrieved February 26, 2022.
  2. 1 2 "Marianas Trench Chart History (Canadian Hot 100)". Billboard . Archived from the original on November 18, 2021. Retrieved February 23, 2022.
  3. 1 2 "Canadian single certifications – Marianas Trench – Desperate Measures". Music Canada.
  4. ↑ Ever After (booklet). Marianas Trench. 604. 2011. 25396 02412.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  5. 1 2 "New Video: Marianas Trench, Desperate Measures". MTV . Archived from the original on November 23, 2017. Retrieved March 22, 2022.
  6. ↑ Karen Bliss (May 22, 2013). "Marianas Trench, Drake Lead 2013 MuchMusic Video Awards Nominations". Billboard . Retrieved August 6, 2025.
  7. ↑ "MMVAs 2013: The best and worst moments at this year's ceremony, from Drake's surprise appearance to the Desperate Measures of Marianas Trench". National Post . 17 June 2013. Retrieved March 22, 2022.
  8. ↑ Kevin O'Keeffe (January 10, 2025). "'Canada's Drag Race' Season 5, Episode 8 recap: Watch what happens". Extra Magazine. Retrieved August 6, 2025.
  9. ↑ "Marianas Trench lead the 2013 MMVAs with six nominations". MuchMusic . May 21, 2013. Archived from the original on July 10, 2013. Retrieved March 22, 2022.
  10. ↑ "And The 2013 MMVA Winners Are..." Fuse . June 17, 2013. Archived from the original on June 22, 2013. Retrieved February 26, 2022.
  11. ↑ "SOCAN Awards Search". Society of Composers, Authors and Music Publishers of Canada . Retrieved August 7, 2025. Click "Award Winner" and enter "Marianas Trench" in the search box.
  12. ↑ "Marianas Trench release "Desperate Measures" music video". Alternative Press . 4 July 2012. Retrieved February 27, 2022.
  13. ↑ "Marianas Trench "Desperate Measures" BTS". YouTube . Retrieved February 27, 2022.
  14. ↑ Nadine Cheung (July 6, 2012). "Marianas Trench Get Dolled Up in 'Desperate Measures' Video". PopCrush . Retrieved August 6, 2025.
  15. ↑ "Marianas Trench Chart History (Canada CHR/Top 40)". Billboard . Archived from the original on February 13, 2022. Retrieved February 23, 2022.
  16. ↑ "Marianas Trench Chart History (Canada Hot AC)". Billboard . Archived from the original on February 13, 2022. Retrieved February 23, 2022.
  17. ↑ "Canadian Hot 100 - 2012 Year End Chart". Billboard. Retrieved February 23, 2022.
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