Original Prankster
"Original Prankster" | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Single by The Offspring | ||||
from the album Conspiracy of One | ||||
B-side | "Come Out Swinging" | |||
Released | October 24, 2000 | |||
Recorded | 2000 | |||
Genre | Pop punk[1] | |||
Length | 3:40 | |||
Label | Columbia[2] | |||
Songwriter(s) | Dexter Holland | |||
Producer(s) | Brendan O'Brien | |||
The Offspring singles chronology | ||||
|
"Original Prankster" is a song by American rock band The Offspring, released from their sixth studio album Conspiracy of One and was released as the first single from the album in October 2000. The song features additional vocals by Redman[4] and is included on the band's 2005 Greatest Hits album.
Prior to the release of Conspiracy of One, The Offspring distributed the track for free as a downloadable MP3 file on their official website.[5] A competition was held, featuring a prize of $1 million (USD) which was awarded to a randomly selected participant who downloaded the song.
"Original Prankster" reached the top 10 in several countries, including Australia, Sweden, and the United Kingdom, and went to the top 10 on the US and Canadian rock charts. The single went Platinum in Australia in 2001, becoming the third song by The Offspring to reach Platinum status in that country after "Pretty Fly (for a White Guy)" and "Why Don't You Get a Job?."[6]
Music video
The song follows the prankster, the subject of the song, through his life, pulling various pranks on his superiors, being motivated by Redman.[4] As a child, he slips his dog's feces into his father's sandwich. In his teen years, he uses a bunsen burner on a perverted science teacher. When sent to the principal's office, he sets up the principal to be photographed in a compromising position with two students. Throughout the video, the band is shown to be playing around the Huntington Beach Pier in their hometown Huntington Beach, California.
Finally, in the present, he switches off the whole city's power supply, though the band still manages to play in the dark and the crowd use flares to light the scene. At the end of the video, lightning strikes the prankster and disintegrates him.
DVD appearances
The music video appears also appears on the Complete Music Video Collection DVD (2005).
Track listing
Version 1
No. | Title | Length |
---|---|---|
1. | "Original Prankster" | 3:40 |
2. | "Come Out Swinging" | 2:47 |
3. | "Staring at the Sun" (Live) | 2:26 |
Australia CD Maxi
No. | Title | Length |
---|---|---|
1. | "Original Prankster" | 3:40 |
2. | "Dammit, I Changed Again" | 2:49 |
3. | "Come Out Swinging" | 2:47 |
4. | "Gone Away" (Live) | 4:19 |
5. | "Staring at the Sun" (Live) | 2:26 |
Promo CD
No. | Title | Length |
---|---|---|
1. | "Original Prankster" (Album version) | 3:40 |
Personnel
The band
- Dexter Holland – Vocals, rhythm guitar
- Noodles – Lead guitar
- Greg K. – Bass
- Ron Welty – Drums
Other personnel
- Produced and mixed by: Brendan O'Brien
- Engineered: Nick DiDia
- Mastered by: Eddy Schreyer
- Track 4 and Track 5 Recorded by: Russ Fowler at Wembley Arena
Charts and certifications
Weekly charts
|
Year-end charts
Certifications
|
In popular culture
The song was featured in Season 3 of The Cleveland Show in the episode "American Prankster".
References
- ^ "22 classic cottage pop-punk songs". AUX.TV. Archived from the original on May 8, 2016. Retrieved April 30, 2016.
{{cite web}}
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suggested) (help) - ^ "Original Prankster". Rate Your Music. Retrieved July 17, 2013.
- ^ a b "Offspring, The – Original Prankster". Discogs. Retrieved July 17, 2013.
- ^ a b "Redman". Internet Movie Database. Retrieved July 17, 2013.
- ^ Menta, Robert (September 26, 2000). "Sony Forces The Offspring to Cancel MP3 Giveaway". MP3 Newswire. Retrieved July 17, 2013.
- ^ "ARIA Charts - Accreditations - 1999 Singles". ARIA. Retrieved 2 May 2018.
- ^ "The Offspring – Original Prankster". ARIA Top 50 Singles.
- ^ "The Offspring – Original Prankster" (in Dutch). Ultratip.
- ^ "The Offspring – Original Prankster" (in French). Ultratop 50.
- ^ "MuchMusic (Canada) Weekly Singles Charts for 2001". Retrieved 2 May 2018.
- ^ "Top RPM Rock/Alternative Tracks: Issue 7280." RPM. Library and Archives Canada.
- ^ "The Offspring: Original Prankster" (in Finnish). Musiikkituottajat.
- ^ "The Offspring – Original Prankster" (in French). Les classement single.
- ^ "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Original Prankster". Irish Singles Chart.
- ^ "The Offspring – Original Prankster". Top Digital Download.
- ^ "The Offspring – Original Prankster" (in Dutch). Single Top 100.
- ^ "The Offspring – Original Prankster". Top 40 Singles.
- ^ "The Offspring – Original Prankster". VG-lista.
- ^ "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company.
- ^ "The Offspring – Original Prankster". Singles Top 100.
- ^ "The Offspring – Original Prankster". Swiss Singles Chart.
- ^ "Offspring: Artist Chart History". Official Charts Company.
- ^ "The Offspring Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard.
- ^ "The Offspring Chart History (Mainstream Rock)". Billboard.
- ^ "The Offspring Chart History (Alternative Airplay)". Billboard.
- ^ "ARIA Charts - End Of Year Charts - Top 100 Singles 2000". ARIA. Retrieved 2 May 2018.
- ^ "ARIA Charts - End Of Year Charts - Top 100 Singles 2001". ARIA. Retrieved 2 May 2018.
- ^ "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2001 Singles" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved 2 May 2018.