Asshole (song)
| "Asshole" | |
|---|---|
| Single by Denis Leary | |
| from the album No Cure for Cancer | |
| Released | 1993 |
| Recorded | 1993 |
| Genre | Comedy rock |
| Length | 4:26 |
"Asshole" is a song by Denis Leary, released as the only single from his album No Cure for Cancer. The song became a minor hit, thanks in part to the video, which gained airplay on MTV and MuchMusic in a censored form. The song was very popular in Australia, and was voted No. 1 in a major Australian youth radio poll (the Triple J Hottest 100)[1] as well as reaching No. 2 in the singles chart in that country. In the end of year chart for 1994, the song was placed at No. 26.[2]
Its appearance in the Hottest 100 for 1993 is of particular significance, as this was the first year in the history of the annual poll that votes could only be cast for songs released during the relevant year. The song uses samples from Dolly Parton's "Old Flames Can't Hold a Candle to You".[3]
The chorus of the song is often used in The Howard Stern Show. On the Australian TV show The Chaser's War on Everything, it was parodied with a song called "Ass Sol", making fun of Sol Trujillo, the controversial American CEO of Australian telecommunications provider Telstra.
This song made MuchMusic's "50 Most Controversial Videos of All Time" and reached spot #37 for its profanity, making fun of handicapped people, and threatening to destroy the environment. The word "asshole" is said at least 28 times, according to MuchMusic's Devon Soltendieck. The word "fuck" is said 4 times and also "piss" is used three times. "Goddamn" is also uttered. A censored video for the song was made, which bleeps out some words. However the word "asshole" is still present and uncensored.
The song was adapted by Leary for use in a Holsten Pils advertisement on British TV which was against drunk driving. Leary appeared in the advert which is about a man who drinks and drives with his family in the car.
[edit] References
- ^ Hottest 100 | History | 1993
- ^ ARIA Charts - End of Year Charts - Top 50 Singles 1994
- ^ "Asshole by Dennis Leary". Songfacts.com. http://www.songfacts.com/detail.php?id=15352. Retrieved May 17, 2010.
| Preceded by NA NA |
Triple J Hottest 100 Winner 1993 |
Succeeded by The Cranberries Zombie |
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