Format CD, cassette, DVD Length 2:58 | Recorded 2000 Label Island | |
Released April 22, 2001 USA
October 1, 2001 UK Genre Pop punk, skate punk, rapcore | ||
"Fat Lip" is a song by Canadian rock band Sum 41. It is the fourth track on their 2001 album All Killer No Filler and was released as the lead single in April 2001. It is the band's most successful single to date, topping the Billboard Modern Rock Tracks chart. It peaked at number 66 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart and at number 8 on the UK Singles Chart.
Contents
Musical style
The uptempo song was described as pop punk skate punk, rap rock and hip hop, with Deryck Whibley, Dave Baksh and Steve Jocz sharing vocals. "The verses are really about what we do: growing up in the suburbs, going to parties and hanging out with our friends, and causing trouble. A lot of people say they relate to it," said Whibley. The song gets its name from the slang term for a swollen lip as a result of being punched in the face.
Music video
The song topped MTV's Total Request Live and MuchMusic's MuchMusic Countdown in the summer of 2001. In the original Canadian version, the music video combines with "Pain for Pleasure", a very short Iron Maiden-esque song that is the only metal song found on the album. The video was ranked at #75 on "MuchMusic's 100 Best Videos". In the beginning of the music video, the band does an a cappella of the first verse of "What We're All About", which would be their future single.
Live performances
The song was performed on Saturday Night Live on October 6, 2001, hosted by Seann William Scott.
Reception
The song has been generally well-received, with critics praising the song's unique style. Rolling Stone magazine described the sound of the song "as if Sum 41 went from Blink-182 to Beastie Boys to Black Sabbath, all in one song." The song is considered one of the band's signature songs.
Track listing
- "Fat Lip" (3:04)
- "Makes No Difference" (3:12)
- "What I Believe" (2:52)
- "Machine Gun" (2:30)
EU Import:
- "Fat Lip"
- "T.H.T. (Tables Have Turned)"
- "Makes No Difference"
- "What I Believe"
- "Machine Gun"