Irresistible (Fall Out Boy song) explained

Irresistible
Cover:FallOutBoyIrresistable.jpg
Border:yes
Caption:Remix single
Type:single
Artist:Fall Out Boy
Album:American Beauty/American Psycho
Released:
  • February 19, 2015
  • October 16, 2015
Recorded:2014
Length:3:26
Prev Title:Uma Thurman
Prev Year:2015
Next Title:Ghostbusters (I'm Not Afraid)
Irresistible
Year:2015
Next Year:2016

"Irresistible" is a song written and recorded by the American rock band Fall Out Boy from their sixth studio album, American Beauty/American Psycho (2015). Initially released as the second promotional single from the album on January 5, 2015, it debuted at No. 77 in the US and No. 70 in the UK. In February 2015, it was released as the band's third UK single, and a music video was released on February 19.[1]

A remix version featuring Demi Lovato, was released on October 16, 2015 (same day as her fifth studio album Confident) and peaked at No. 48 on the Billboard Hot 100. On October 30, another remix version, featuring vocals by Migos and production by Zaytoven, was included in the remixed album Make America Psycho Again.[2]

Background

The song is the first track on Fall Out Boy's sixth studio album American Beauty/American Psycho, and it runs a length of three minutes and twenty seconds.[3] The song was written by Fall Out Boy and produced by Butch Walker and Jake Sinclair. Bassist Pete Wentz compared the mood of the song to a scene in the biopic Sid and Nancy.[4] "When I think of "Irresistible", it brings this image to my head, whether it's fictional or real, of Sid and Nancy in an alley, garbage raining down on them in an eternal spiral of romance and poison. Sometimes it's hard not to love what can hurt us the most."[5]

Release and commercial performance

The song was released as a promotional digital download online on January 5, 2015, 15 days before the album's official US release on January 20. The day of the digital release, it reached the top of the iTunes download chart,[6] which helped it debut and peak at No. 77 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart and No. 70 on the UK Singles Chart on the strength of digital downloads. In mid-February it was released as a UK single, following "Centuries" and "American Beauty/American Psycho" in the region. In the issue dated 27 October 2015, "Irresistible" re-entered the Billboard Hot 100 chart at No. 98 following its release as a US single, with a remix featuring Demi Lovato. It has since reached No. 48 given the single release.[7] The song was used by WWE for their Extreme Rules PPV event and it is also featured in the promotional spots for the miniseries Heroes Reborn. As of February 25, Irresistible has sold over 500,000 copies in the US.

Critical reception

"Irresistible" has received positive reviews from music critics, with many commenting on the anthemic nature of the song. MTV wrote positively of the song, calling it a "frantic twist of desperation, confidence and sadism with a chugging guitar, anthemic trombones and a shout-it-at-the-top-of-your-lungs chorus. Idolator commented that the song was "stadium-rocking" and full of "horn-and-synth glory". Rolling Stone complimented the song as well, stating that it is "an arena-pop anthem about deadly love."[8] Spin described the song as a "booming, brass-backed anthem."[9] Music Times called the song reminiscent of "My Songs Know What You Did in the Dark (Light Em Up)".[10]

Music videos

A music video was released on February 19, 2015, to accompany the UK single release. It was directed by Scantron and Mel Soria.[11] With the video's editing resembling that of a VHS recording with "cheesy" editing, it features the band members wearing "embarrassing" sports fashion as they challenge professional basketball players into a basketball game.[11] The struggling band is severely defeated in the match. There are several times when the members of the band almost score, and audience members cheer for them and display signs such as "Not bad Joe" and other similar slogans. Finally, the band scores once in the end.[11] The end of the video includes a clip of the short film Bedussey from Clandestine Industries Presents: Release the Bats, stylistically the previous layer of the VHS tape which Irresistible taped over. The music video references Patrick Stump's hand being chopped off in the video for "The Phoenix".

The remix version, featuring Demi Lovato, was directed by Brendan Walter.[12] The video starring Doug the Pug and references their previous videos, "Centuries", "Sugar, We're Goin Down", "Dance, Dance", "Uma Thurman" and the official video of "Irresistible".[13]

A third video was released on January 5, 2016 for the version featuring Lovato. The video references the NSYNC music video for "It's Gonna Be Me" where the band members are dolls in a toy store. The Fall Out Boy dolls are rejected but form their own band. The video is directed by Wayne Isham and features cameo appearances by NSYNC members Chris Kirkpatrick and Joey Fatone.

Track listing

  1. "Irresistible" – 3:25

Charts

Weekly charts

Chart (2015–16)Peak
position
Australia (ARIA)[15] 104
Israel (Media Forest TV Airplay)[16] 2

Year-end charts

Chart (2015)Position
US Hot Rock Songs (Billboard)[17] 25
Chart (2016)Position
US Hot Rock Songs (Billboard)[18] 14

Release history

Promotional single

Official single

RegionDateFormatLabelNotes
United KingdomFebruary 19, 2015Island
United StatesOctober 16, 2015Demi Lovato remix

Notes and References

  1. http://falloutboy.com/post/111537087322/i-didnt-come-for-a-fight-but-ill-fight-till-the I didn't come for a fight but I'll fight till the
  2. Web site: Make America Psycho Again by Fall Out Boy. iTunes. 14 October 2015.
  3. Web site: iTunes - Music - American Beauty / American Psycho by Fall Out Boy. iTunes. December 16, 2014.
  4. Web site: Fall Out Boy's Sadistic New Song Is "Irresistible". https://web.archive.org/web/20150108054104/http://www.mtv.com/news/2039475/fall-out-boy-irresistible/. dead. January 8, 2015. MTV. Lindner. Emilee. January 5, 2015. January 5, 2015.
  5. Web site: Fall Out Boy Unveil New Song "Irresistible" from Forthcoming Album. Digital Spy. Davidson. Amy. January 5, 2015. January 5, 2015.
  6. Web site: Fall Out Boy's New Song "Irresistible": Listen to the Current Top Download on iTunes. Idolator. Daw. Robbie. January 5, 2015. January 6, 2015.
  7. Music: Top 100 Songs Billboard Hot 100 Chart. Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. 4 November 2015. The Week Of: November 7, 2015.
  8. Hear Fall Out Boy's "Irresistible" New Song. Rolling Stone. Reed. Ryan. January 5, 2015. January 9, 2015.
  9. Web site: Hear Fall Out Boy's Horn-Laden 'Irresistible'. Spin. January 5, 2015. January 9, 2015.
  10. Web site: Fall Out Boy Shares New Song 'Irresistible' from Upcoming Album 'American Beauty/American Psycho'. Music Times. January 9, 2015.
  11. http://www.directlyrics.com/fall-out-boy-irresistible-music-video-premiere-news.html Fall Out Boy – "Irresistible" (Music Video Premiere!)
  12. Web site: Irresistible (Official Video) - Fall Out Boy. Vevo. December 12, 2014.
  13. Web site: Fall Out Boy — cuttlefish-prince: Fall Out Boy Pug Parallels. June 30, 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20151222122432/http://falloutboy.com/post/131312401827/cuttlefish-prince-fall-out-boy-pug-parallels. December 22, 2015. dead.
  14. Web site: Irresistible (feat. Demi Lovato) – Single by Fall Out Boy. iTunes. 12 December 2014.
  15. Web site: australian-charts.com - ARIA Chartifacts 5-January-2015. Hung Medien. January 18, 2015.
  16. Web site: מדיה פורסט - לדעת שאתה באוויר. Mediaforest.biz. January 17, 2016. February 20, 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20170316183730/http://www.mediaforest.biz/WeeklyCharts/#/international_tab3. March 16, 2017. dead.
  17. Hot Rock Songs – Year-End 2015. Billboard. May 23, 2020.
  18. Hot Rock Songs – Year-End 2016. Billboard. May 23, 2020.