Weightless (All Time Low song)

Last updated

"Weightless"
AllTimeLow-Weightless.jpg
Single by All Time Low
from the album Nothing Personal
ReleasedMarch 24, 2009 (2009-03-24)
Recorded2009
Genre Pop punk [1]
Length3:18
Label Hopeless
Songwriter(s)
All Time Low singles chronology
"Poppin' Champagne"
(2008)
"Weightless"
(2009)
"Damned If I Do Ya (Damned If I Don't)"
(2009)

"Weightless" is a song by American rock band All Time Low and the first and lead single from the group's third studio album Nothing Personal (2009). The single was released through Hopeless Records as a digital download on April 7, 2009, and was released in the UK on August 3, 2009. [2] The song is also available to download on the music video games Rock Band and Guitar Hero 5 . It became the first song by the band to receive radio airplay, exposing the band to a new audience, and helping it peak at No. 104 on the Billboard Hot 100. The song has become a live staple, and is considered to be one of the band's signature songs along with "Dear Maria, Count Me In". In 2014 the song was certified Gold by the RIAA. [3]

Contents

Meaning

Lead vocalist and rhythm guitarist Alex Gaskarth stated in an interview with MTVu that "The whole mentality of the song is like, you feel like you're stuck in this like, negative space and you just want to get out. Summer's rolling up and uh, everybody's finishing up with school and everybody's getting like the exam beatdown".[ citation needed ]

In the Nothing Personal album trailer, Jack Barakat said that the song is about not wanting to grow up and just wanting to be a kid.[ citation needed ]

Music video

The music video for "Weightless" commenced filming on May 20, directed by Matthew Stawski. [4] Fans were invited to go on the set and be a part of the music video. It debuted on MTV, MTV2, mtvU and HITS the day before the album's release, on July 6, 2009. [5] [6] The video opens with Alex Gaskarth being spoken to by some groupies backstage, with text representing his inner monologue, saying things over the girls such as "Only wants your money", "Obsessed", and "Get a restraining order on her." The video continues in this manner with the camera tracking through the venue; situations include Gaskarth backstage being pampered by crew members while text says that lead singers are spoiled, and also for people such as the merchandise seller, the roadies and crew, and various crowd members (including one who thinks "I'd rather be watching Fall Out Boy.") The video also features cameo appearances by Pete Wentz, bassist of Fall Out Boy, and Mark Hoppus, bassist and vocalist of Blink-182 with a joke that Wentz tweets to Hoppus via mobile that All Time Low rips off Fall Out Boy. Hoppus then despairingly thinks to himself that both All Time Low and Fall Out Boy rip off Blink-182. The video ends with the slogan Nothing Personal, which is not only a reference to the album, but is also the theme of the video. [4]

Chart and certifications

Related Research Articles

<i>Enema of the State</i> 1999 studio album by Blink-182

Enema of the State is the third studio album by American rock band Blink-182, released on June 1, 1999, by MCA Records. After a long series of performances at various clubs and festivals and several indie recordings throughout the 1990s, Blink-182 first achieved popularity on the Warped Tour and in Australia following the release of their second album Dude Ranch (1997) and its rock radio hit "Dammit." To record their third album, Blink-182 turned to veteran punk rock producer Jerry Finn, who previously worked on Green Day's breakthrough album Dookie (1994). Enema was the band's first album to feature second drummer Travis Barker, who replaced original drummer Scott Raynor.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Adam's Song</span> 2000 single by Blink-182

"Adam's Song" is a song recorded by the American rock band Blink-182 for their third studio album, Enema of the State (1999). It was released as the third and final single from Enema of the State on March 14, 2000, through MCA Records. "Adam's Song" shares writing credits between the band's guitarist Tom DeLonge and bassist Mark Hoppus, but Hoppus was the primary composer of the song. The track concerns suicide, depression and loneliness. It incorporates a piano in its bridge section and was regarded as one of the most serious songs the band had written to that point.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Rock Show</span> 2001 single by Blink-182

"The Rock Show" is a song by American rock band Blink-182 for the group's fourth studio album, Take Off Your Pants and Jacket (2001). It was released as the lead single from the album on May 7, 2001. The track was composed primarily by bassist Mark Hoppus about meeting a girl at a rock concert. It was inspired by the band's early days touring punk rock clubs, mainly Soma in their hometown of San Diego.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mark Hoppus</span> American musician and record producer

Mark Allan Hoppus is an American musician, songwriter and record producer best known as the bassist and co-lead vocalist for the rock band Blink-182, being the only constant member and the only one to appear on every album. He is also part of pop rock duo Simple Creatures with All Time Low frontman Alex Gaskarth.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">What's My Age Again?</span> 1999 single by Blink-182

"What's My Age Again?" is a song by American rock band Blink-182. It was released in April 1999 as the lead single from the group's third studio album, Enema of the State (1999), released through MCA Records. "What's My Age Again?" shares writing credits between the band's guitarist Tom DeLonge and bassist Mark Hoppus, but Hoppus was the primary composer of the song. It was the band's first single to feature drummer Travis Barker. A mid-tempo pop punk song, "What's My Age Again?" is memorable for its distinctive, arpeggiated guitar intro.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Always (Blink-182 song)</span> 2004 single by Blink-182

"Always" is a song by American rock band Blink-182, released on November 15, 2004 as the fourth and final single from the group's self-titled fifth studio album. The song was the lowest charting single from the album, but the song's music video received extensive play on music video channels. Like much of the album, the song shows the band's 1980s influences, with the multiple-layered, heavily effected guitars and new wave synthesizers.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">All the Small Things</span> 1999 single by Blink-182

"All the Small Things" is a song by American rock band Blink-182. It was the second single and eighth track released from the band's third album, Enema of the State (1999). The track was composed primarily by guitarist and vocalist Tom DeLonge as an ode to his then girlfriend. Recorded in Los Angeles with producer Jerry Finn, the song was created with the intention of shipping it to radio, as the trio felt they needed a single "really catchy and basic."

<span class="mw-page-title-main">All Time Low</span> American rock band

All Time Low is an American rock band from Towson, Maryland, formed in 2003. Consisting of lead vocalist/rhythm guitarist Alex Gaskarth, lead guitarist Jack Barakat, bassist/backing vocalist Zack Merrick, and drummer Rian Dawson, the band took its name from lyrics in the song "Head on Collision" by New Found Glory. The band has consistently done year-long tours, has headlined numerous tours, and has appeared at music festivals including Warped Tour, Reading and Leeds, and Soundwave.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Blink-182</span> American rock band

Blink-182 is an American rock band formed in Poway, California in 1992. Their current lineup consists of bassist/vocalist Mark Hoppus, guitarist/vocalist Tom DeLonge, and drummer Travis Barker. Though their sound has diversified throughout their career, their musical style, described as pop punk, blends catchy pop melodies with fast-paced punk rock. Their lyrics center on relationships, adolescent frustration, and maturity—or lack thereof. The group emerged from a suburban, Southern California skate-punk scene and gained notoriety for high-energy live shows and irreverent humor.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">I'm Like a Lawyer with the Way I'm Always Trying to Get You Off (Me & You)</span> 2007 single by Fall Out Boy

"I'm Like a Lawyer with the Way I'm Always Trying to Get You Off ", or for short "I'm Like a Lawyer... ", is a song by American rock band Fall Out Boy, and is the fifth and last single from their third studio album, Infinity on High (2007).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">I Don't Care (Fall Out Boy song)</span> 2008 single by Fall Out Boy

"I Don't Care" is a song by American rock band Fall Out Boy and the lead single from the group's fourth studio album Folie à Deux in 2008. It was first available for listening on the band's website and mozes.com on September 3, 2008. The song impacted radio on September 16. It is its album's best known song, being certified platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), denoting shipments of one million units, with over 500,000 sales in its first four months alone. In the United States, the song reached No. 21 on the Billboard Hot 100, placing lower than the No. 2 lead single, "This Ain't a Scene, It's an Arms Race", of the band's previous 2007 album Infinity on High. It received radio play at Modern Rock and Pop stations, charting at No. 21 on Billboard's Hot Modern Rock Tracks and No. 22 on Pop Songs.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">America's Suitehearts</span> 2008 single by Fall Out Boy

"America's Suitehearts" is a song by American rock band Fall Out Boy and the second single taken from their fourth studio album, Folie à Deux (2008). Initially released to iTunes in promotion before the album's release, "America's Suitehearts" was later serviced to radio on January 20, 2009. A demo/snippet titled "America's Sweethearts" was included on the band's mixtape, Welcome to the New Administration, as part of their viral campaign in promotion of their record. The music video was unveiled at 3PM on January 1, 2009 on The N. Bassist/lyricist Pete Wentz commented that the song was about society's fixation with celebrities. The music was composed by vocalist/guitarist Patrick Stump.

<i>Nothing Personal</i> (All Time Low album) 2009 studio album by All Time Low

Nothing Personal is the third studio album by American rock band All Time Low. As early as May 2008, the band began writing for their third album, and by November revealed they would be recording in the winter. The band began pre-production in early January 2009 and started recording later in the month, which lasted until March. Half of the album's songs were produced by Matt Squire with Butch Walker, David Bendeth and S*A*M and Sluggo each producing a few songs. Tom Lord-Alge mixed the majority of the album. "Weightless" was made available for streaming in March, and released as a single in April. A support slot for Fall Out Boy and an appearance at the Bamboozle festival followed.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Damned If I Do Ya (Damned If I Don't)</span> 2009 single by All Time Low

"Damned If I Do Ya " is a song by American rock band All Time Low and is the second single taken from their third studio album, Nothing Personal (2009). It was released by Hopeless Records as a digital download on June 16, 2009. It became All Time Low's first US Billboard Hot 100 charting song, debuting and peaking at No. 67, and was their only song to chart until "Monsters" in early 2021.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Up All Night (Blink-182 song)</span> 2011 single by Blink-182

"Up All Night" is a song by American rock band Blink-182, released on July 14, 2011 as the lead single from the group's sixth studio album, Neighborhoods (2011). The song was the band's first single following a four-year hiatus. It was the first song the trio created upon their reformation in February 2009. Although the band wanted to release the track as a digital single in July 2009, they quickly decided it was too ambitious to complete before their fall reunion tour. The track generally grew heavier over the course of two-year recording process.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">All Time Low discography</span>

American pop punk band All Time Low has released nine studio albums, six EPs, two live albums, twenty-eight singles and thirty-eight music videos.

<i>Dirty Work</i> (All Time Low album) 2011 studio album by All Time Low

Dirty Work is the fourth studio album by American rock band All Time Low. Following the success of Nothing Personal, the band signed to major label Interscope Records in late 2009. After spending sometime writing material in Los Angeles, the band started recording with Mike Green in March 2010. Over the following months the band recorded songs with John Fields, Butch Walker, Matt Squire, David Kahne and U4L. In between sessions, the band embarked on the Bamboozle Roadshow tour. Neal Avron mixed the majority of the album's recordings while Green, Mark Trombino and Chris Lord-Alge each mixed a song. Vocalist/guitarist Alex Gaskarth co-wrote the album's songs with a variety of people, including those who produced a few of the songs. While recording, the album was planned for release in 2010. It was delayed to January 2011, and then to spring. Further recording sessions then took place in November 2010, as well as in January 2011.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mark Hoppus production discography</span>

This is the production discography by Mark Hoppus, an American musician and record producer. It includes a list of various guest appearances, songs produced, co-produced, written and remixed by year, artist, album and title. This does not include his work with his main projects, including Blink-182, +44, and Simple Creatures.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Alex Gaskarth</span> American guitarist

Alexander William Gaskarth is an English-born American singer and songwriter. He is best known as the lead vocalist, rhythm guitarist, and primary songwriter for the American rock band All Time Low since its formation in 2003.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Simple Creatures</span> American pop rock band

Simple Creatures is an American pop rock duo that was formed by vocalist, bassist, and keyboardist Mark Hoppus of Blink-182 and vocalist, guitarist, and keyboardist Alex Gaskarth of All Time Low. Based in Los Angeles, the duo released their first EP, Strange Love, on March 29, 2019. Their second EP, Everything Opposite, was released on October 11, 2019.

References

  1. Pauker, Lance (January 22, 2014). "49 Phenomenally Angsty Pop-Punk Songs From The 2000s You Forgot Existed". Thought Catalog. The Thought & Expression Co. Archived from the original on October 10, 2014. Retrieved March 13, 2016.
  2. "All Time Low Confirm UK Release Details for 'Nothing Personal'". Rocklouder. Retrieved July 2, 2009.
  3. "All Time Low's "Weightless" officially certified Gold". Alternative Press . November 15, 2014.
  4. 1 2 "New Video: All Time Low, 'Weightless'". MTV Buzzworthy Blog. Retrieved July 7, 2009.
  5. "All Time Low streaming Nothing Personal on MTV.com". Alternative Punk. Retrieved July 2, 2009.
  6. "MTV.Com to Premiere All Time Low's New Album, Nothing Personal". Altsounds. Retrieved July 2, 2009.
  7. "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved December 15, 2021.
  8. "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved December 15, 2021.
  9. "Official Independent Singles Chart Top 50". Official Charts Company. Retrieved December 15, 2021.
  10. "All Time Low Chart History (Bubbling Under Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved November 20, 2014.
  11. "British single certifications – All Time Low – Weightless". British Phonographic Industry.
  12. "American single certifications – All Time Low – Weightless". Recording Industry Association of America.