Misery (Soul Asylum song)

"Misery"
"Misery"
Single by Soul Asylum
from the album Let Your Dim Light Shine
B-side	"Hope"; "Fearless Leader"; "You'll Live for Now"; "Summer of Drugs";
Released	May 15, 1995
Genre	Alternative rock
Length	4:24
Label	Columbia
Songwriter(s)	Dave Pirner
Producer(s)	Butch Vig, Soul Asylum
Soul Asylum singles chronology

"Misery" is a song by Minneapolis rock band Soul Asylum, released as the lead single from their seventh studio album, Let Your Dim Light Shine (1995). The track was serviced to US alternative radio in May 1995 and was later issued as a commercial single. "Misery" reached number 20 on the US Billboard Hot 100, number one on the Billboard Modern Rock Tracks chart, and number three in Canada.

Music video

The music video for "Misery", directed by Matt Mahurin, features footage of the band performing onstage intercut with shots of a record plant pressing copies of the "Misery" CD single itself.

Track listings

US 7-inch, CD, and cassette single^[2]^[3]^[4]

"Misery"
"Hope"

US and Canadian maxi-CD single^[5]

"Misery" – 4:24
"Hope" – 2:06
"Fearless Leader" – 5:28
"You'll Live for Now" – 3:12
"Summer of Drugs" – 4:06

Australian CD and cassette single^[6]^[7]

"Misery" (edit)
"String of Pearls"
"Misery"

UK 7-inch and cassette single; European CD single^[8]^[9]^[10]

"Misery"
"String of Pearls"

UK CD single^[11]

"Misery"
"String of Pearls"
"Hope"
"I Did My Best"

European maxi-CD single^[12]

"Misery"
"String of Pearls"
"Caged Rat"
"I Did My Best"

Japanese CD single^[13]

"Misery" (edit)
"Summer of Drugs"
"Misery" (live version)

Charts

Weekly charts

Weekly chart performance for "Misery"
Chart (1995)	Peak position
Australia (ARIA)^[14]	22
Canada Top Singles (RPM)^[15]	3
Canada Rock/Alternative (RPM)^[16]	1
Germany (Official German Charts)^[17]	75
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)^[18]	21
Scotland (OCC)^[19]	31
UK Singles (OCC)^[20]	30
US Billboard Hot 100^[21]	20
US Alternative Airplay (Billboard)^[22]	1
US Mainstream Rock (Billboard)^[23]	2
US Pop Airplay (Billboard)^[24]	13

Year-end charts

Year-end chart performance for "Misery"
Chart (1995)	Position
Canada Top Singles (RPM)^[25]	16
Canada Rock/Alternative (RPM)^[26]	3
US Billboard Hot 100^[27]	99

Release history

Region	Date	Format(s)	Label(s)	Ref.
United States	May 15, 1995	Alternative radio	Columbia	^[28]
United States	1995	7-inch vinyl CD cassette
United Kingdom	July 3, 1995	7-inch vinyl CD cassette		^[29]
Japan	August 19, 1995	CD	Sony	^[30]

References

^ "The 95 Best Alternative Rock Songs of 1995". Spin. August 6, 2015. p. 3. Retrieved September 18, 2020.
^ Misery (US 7-inch single vinyl disc). Columbia Records. 1995. 38 77959. {{cite AV media notes}}: Unknown parameter |people= ignored (help)
^ Misery (US CD single liner notes). Columbia Records. 1995. 38K 77959. {{cite AV media notes}}: Unknown parameter |people= ignored (help)
^ Misery (US cassette single sleeve). Columbia Records. 1995. 38T 77959. {{cite AV media notes}}: Unknown parameter |people= ignored (help)
^ Misery (US & Canadian maxi-CD single disc notes). Columbia Records. 1995. 44K 77960. {{cite AV media notes}}: Unknown parameter |people= ignored (help)
^ Misery (Australian CD single liner notes). Columbia Records. 1995. 662060 2. {{cite AV media notes}}: Unknown parameter |people= ignored (help)
^ Misery (Australian cassette single sleeve). Columbia Records. 1995. 662060 8. {{cite AV media notes}}: Unknown parameter |people= ignored (help)
^ Misery (UK 7-inch single sleeve). Columbia Records. 1995. 662109 7. {{cite AV media notes}}: Unknown parameter |people= ignored (help)
^ Misery (UK cassette single sleeve). Columbia Records. 1995. 662109 4. {{cite AV media notes}}: Unknown parameter |people= ignored (help)
^ Misery (European CD single liner notes). Columbia Records. 1995. COL 661499 1. {{cite AV media notes}}: Unknown parameter |people= ignored (help)
^ Misery (UK CD single liner notes). Columbia Records. 1995. 662109 2. {{cite AV media notes}}: Unknown parameter |people= ignored (help)
^ Misery (European maxi-CD single liner notes). Columbia Records. 1995. COL 661499 2. {{cite AV media notes}}: Unknown parameter |people= ignored (help)
^ Misery (Japanese CD single liner notes). Sony Music Entertainment Japan. 1995. SRCS-7717. {{cite AV media notes}}: Unknown parameter |people= ignored (help)
^ "Soul Asylum – Misery". ARIA Top 50 Singles. Retrieved December 28, 2021.
^ "Top RPM Singles: Issue 9016." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved August 28, 2020.
^ "Top RPM Rock/Alternative Tracks: Issue 9205." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved August 28, 2020.
^ "Soul Asylum – Misery" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved December 28, 2021.
^ "Soul Asylum – Misery". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved December 28, 2021.
^ "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved December 28, 2021.
^ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved December 28, 2021.
^ "Soul Asylum Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved August 28, 2020.
^ "Soul Asylum Chart History (Alternative Airplay)". Billboard. Retrieved August 28, 2020.
^ "Soul Asylum Chart History (Mainstream Rock)". Billboard. Retrieved August 28, 2020.
^ "Soul Asylum Chart History (Pop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved August 28, 2020.
^ "RPM Top 100 Hit Tracks of 1995". RPM. Retrieved May 7, 2023 – via Library and Archives Canada.
^ "RPM Top 50 Alternative Tracks of 1995". RPM. Retrieved May 7, 2023 – via Library and Archives Canada.
^ "Billboard Top 100 – 1995". Archived from the original on August 15, 2009. Retrieved August 27, 2010.
^ "New Music for May". Radio & Records. No. 1092. April 28, 1995. p. 70.
^ "New Releases: Singles". Music Week. July 1, 1995. p. 31.
^ "ミザリー | ソウル・アサイラム" [Misery | Soul Asylum] (in Japanese). Oricon. Retrieved February 25, 2024.

External links

"Misery" official music video on YouTube

[1] "The 95 Best Alternative Rock Songs of 1995". Spin. August 6, 2015. p. 3. Retrieved September 18, 2020.

[2] Misery (US 7-inch single vinyl disc). Columbia Records. 1995. 38 77959. {{cite AV media notes}}: Unknown parameter |people= ignored (help)

[3] Misery (US CD single liner notes). Columbia Records. 1995. 38K 77959. {{cite AV media notes}}: Unknown parameter |people= ignored (help)

[4] Misery (US cassette single sleeve). Columbia Records. 1995. 38T 77959. {{cite AV media notes}}: Unknown parameter |people= ignored (help)

[5] Misery (US & Canadian maxi-CD single disc notes). Columbia Records. 1995. 44K 77960. {{cite AV media notes}}: Unknown parameter |people= ignored (help)

[6] Misery (Australian CD single liner notes). Columbia Records. 1995. 662060 2. {{cite AV media notes}}: Unknown parameter |people= ignored (help)

[7] Misery (Australian cassette single sleeve). Columbia Records. 1995. 662060 8. {{cite AV media notes}}: Unknown parameter |people= ignored (help)

[8] Misery (UK 7-inch single sleeve). Columbia Records. 1995. 662109 7. {{cite AV media notes}}: Unknown parameter |people= ignored (help)

[9] Misery (UK cassette single sleeve). Columbia Records. 1995. 662109 4. {{cite AV media notes}}: Unknown parameter |people= ignored (help)

[10] Misery (European CD single liner notes). Columbia Records. 1995. COL 661499 1. {{cite AV media notes}}: Unknown parameter |people= ignored (help)

[11] Misery (UK CD single liner notes). Columbia Records. 1995. 662109 2. {{cite AV media notes}}: Unknown parameter |people= ignored (help)

[12] Misery (European maxi-CD single liner notes). Columbia Records. 1995. COL 661499 2. {{cite AV media notes}}: Unknown parameter |people= ignored (help)

[13] Misery (Japanese CD single liner notes). Sony Music Entertainment Japan. 1995. SRCS-7717. {{cite AV media notes}}: Unknown parameter |people= ignored (help)

[sc_Australia_Soul_Asylum-14] "Soul Asylum – Misery". ARIA Top 50 Singles. Retrieved December 28, 2021.

[sc_Canadatopsingles_-15] "Top RPM Singles: Issue 9016." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved August 28, 2020.

[sc_Canadarock_-16] "Top RPM Rock/Alternative Tracks: Issue 9205." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved August 28, 2020.

[sc_Germany_Soul_Asylum-17] "Soul Asylum – Misery" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved December 28, 2021.

[sc_New_Zealand_Soul_Asylum-18] "Soul Asylum – Misery". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved December 28, 2021.

[sc_Scotland_-19] "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved December 28, 2021.

[sc_UK_-20] "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved December 28, 2021.

[sc_Billboardhot100_Soul_Asylum-21] "Soul Asylum Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved August 28, 2020.

[sc_Billboardalternativesongs_Soul_Asylum-22] "Soul Asylum Chart History (Alternative Airplay)". Billboard. Retrieved August 28, 2020.

[sc_Billboardmainstreamrock_Soul_Asylum-23] "Soul Asylum Chart History (Mainstream Rock)". Billboard. Retrieved August 28, 2020.

[sc_Billboardpopsongs_Soul_Asylum-24] "Soul Asylum Chart History (Pop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved August 28, 2020.

[25] "RPM Top 100 Hit Tracks of 1995". RPM. Retrieved May 7, 2023 – via Library and Archives Canada.

[26] "RPM Top 50 Alternative Tracks of 1995". RPM. Retrieved May 7, 2023 – via Library and Archives Canada.

[27] "Billboard Top 100 – 1995". Archived from the original on August 15, 2009. Retrieved August 27, 2010.

[28] "New Music for May". Radio & Records. No. 1092. April 28, 1995. p. 70.

[29] "New Releases: Singles". Music Week. July 1, 1995. p. 31.

[30] "ミザリー | ソウル・アサイラム" [Misery | Soul Asylum] (in Japanese). Oricon. Retrieved February 25, 2024.

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v t e Soul Asylum
Dave Pirner Michael Bland Winston Roye Ryan Smith Dan Murphy Karl Mueller Pat Morley Grant Young Sterling Campbell Joey Huffman Ian Mussington Tommy Stinson George Scot McKelvey Pete Donnelly Justin Sharbono
Studio albums	Say What You Will, Clarence... Karl Sold the Truck (1984) Made to Be Broken (1986) While You Were Out (1986) Hang Time (1988) And the Horse They Rode In On (1990) Grave Dancers Union (1992) Let Your Dim Light Shine (1995) Candy from a Stranger (1998) The Silver Lining (2006) Delayed Reaction (2012) Change of Fortune (2016) Hurry Up and Wait (2020)
Other albums	Time's Incinerator (1986) Clam Dip & Other Delights (1989) Black Gold: The Best of Soul Asylum (2000) After the Flood: Live from the Grand Forks Prom, June 28, 1997 (2004) Closer to the Stars: Best of the Twin/Tone Years (2006) Welcome to the Minority – The A&M Years 1988–1991 (2007) Playlist: The Very Best of Soul Asylum (2011)
Singles	"Somebody to Shove" "Black Gold" "Runaway Train" "Sexual Healing" "Misery" "Just Like Anyone"
Related articles	Discography Golden Smog Faces & Names (2002)