Released August 21, 1996 Recorded 1995 Length 3:04 | Format CD Genre Ska punk
punk rock Label Trauma
Interscope | |
 | ||
"Excuse Me Mr." is a song recorded by American rock band No Doubt. It was released as the fourth single from their third studio album, Tragic Kingdom (1995). The single was made available as a CD single on August 21, 1996 through Trauma and Interscope. The song's lyrics describe a woman who is repeatedly trying to express her love for a man who isn't noticing her. It was later featured on No Doubt's greatest hits album, The Singles 1992-2003 (2003).
Contents
The song was received well, with some appreciating the lyrics and fast production. Commercially, the song was unsuccessful, peaking in only three countries. A music video for the song was produced by Sophie Muller and released in early 1997; it features Stefani mimicking silent films, and also performing the track in a dimly-lit room. It was later featured on No Doubt's greatest hits album, The Singles 1992-2003 (2003).
Background
The song was originally composed on the acoustic guitar, and two versions were recorded: one with country and folk influence, one with punk rock influence. Producer Matthew Wilder preferred the former, and the other, which the band preferred, was lost in a studio accident; the studio pressed No Doubt to use the folk version on Tragic Kingdom, but the band refused to record "Spiderwebs", another single from the album, unless they could re-record the punk version of "Excuse Me Mr.". The folk version remains unreleased.
Composition
"Excuse Me Mr." was written by Gwen Stefani and Tom Dumont while production was done by Wilder.
Chart performance
"Excuse Me Mr." was commercially unsuccessful, peaking in only three countries. In the United States, the single failed to enter the Billboard Hot 100, but peaked on the Alternative Songs component chart at number seventeen. It lasted eleven weeks on RPM' Rock/Alternative chart, where it peaked at number twelve on the week ending March 31, 1997. In New Zealand, the song was very successful, where it lasted a total of six weeks and peaked at position eleven.
Music video
The music video was directed by long-time collaborator Sophie Muller. It was released in early 1997, after filming of the video concluded in January of the same year. It features Gwen Stefani trying to stay in front of the camera as it moves from person to person. A 40-second portion in the middle of the video resembles silent films, with Gwen Stefani tying herself to rail tracks in front of an oncoming train (a la Pearl White) and with Tom Dumont, Tony Kanal, and Adrian Young dressed as hobos.
Live performances
The band performed the song alongside "Don't Speak" in Saturday Night Live in December 1996.