Shame Shame Explained

Shame Shame
Cover:	Foo Fighters - Shame Shame - single cover art.jpg
Type:	single
Artist:	Foo Fighters
Album:	Medicine at Midnight
Recorded:	2019–2020
Studio:	Unnamed house in Encino, Los Angeles
Label:	RCA
Producer:	Foo Fighters Greg Kurstin
Prev Title:	The Line
Prev Year:	2018
Next Title:	No Son of Mine
Next Year:	2021

"Shame Shame" is a song by American rock band Foo Fighters. The song is from the band's tenth studio album, Medicine at Midnight. It was released as the album's first single on November 7, 2020.^[1]

Background

Foo Fighters' singer and guitarist Dave Grohl has stated that "Shame Shame" is unlike anything Foo Fighters have ever done before and that the song allowed them to "move into another territory" with their sound on their new album, Medicine at Midnight.^[2]

According to the band's bassist Nate Mendel, "Shame Shame" started off as a "just a bunch of clicks from Dave" and originally didn't involve any bass line until he ended up recording extra parts for the song that were ultimately included.^[3]

Live performances

Foo Fighters performed "Shame Shame" live for the first time on Saturday Night Live on November 7, 2020.^{[4] [1]} On September 12, 2021 the band performed the song in a medley at 2021 MTV Video Music Awards at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, when they won the award for Global Icon.^{[5] [6]}

Music video

The music video was directed by Paola Kudacki and features Sofia Boutella. Grohl has stated that it was inspired by an unsettling dream he had as a teenager that he had remembered all his life and said that the video was darker than anything they had done before.^[7]

Reception

With 9.3 million audience impressions for "Shame Shame", Foo Fighters took back the record of most number 1's on the Billboard Rock Airplay chart, which also marked the fastest rise to the top of the chart in four years.^[8]

Personnel

Credits adapted from Tidal.^[9]

Foo Fighters

• Dave Grohl – lead vocals, guitar, producer
• Taylor Hawkins – drums, producer
• Rami Jaffee – keyboards, piano, producer
• Nate Mendel – bass guitar, producer
• Chris Shiflett – guitar, producer
• Pat Smear – guitar, producer

Additional musicians

• Samantha Sidley – background vocals
• Violet Grohl – background vocals
• Barbara Gruska – background vocals
• Laura Mace – background vocals
• Inara George – background vocals
• Omar Hakim – percussion
• Jacob Braun - cello
• Greg Kurstin - strings
• Alma Fernandez - viola
• Charlie Bisharat – violin
• Songa Lee – violin

Technical

• Greg Kurstin – producer
• Randy Merrill – mastering engineer
• Mark "Spike" Stent – mixing engineer
• Darrell Thorp – engineer
• Matt Wolach – assistant engineer
• Alex Pasco – assistant engineer

Charts

Weekly charts

Weekly chart performance for "Shame Shame"

Chart (2020)	Peak position
Australia Digital Tracks (ARIA)^[10]	40
Canada All-format Airplay (Billboard)^[11]	43
Canada Hot Digital Songs (Billboard)^[12]	23
Czech Republic Modern Rock (IFPI)^[13]	2
New Zealand Hot Singles (RMNZ)^[14]	9
Wales (OCC)^[15]	37

Year-end charts

Chart (2021)! scope="col"

Position
US Hot Rock & Alternative Songs (Billboard)^[16]	61
US Rock Airplay (Billboard)^[17]	6

Awards

Year	Award	Results
2021	MTV Video Music Award for Best Rock Video
2021	MTV Video Music Award for Best Choreography
2021	MTV Video Music Award for Best Cinematography

Notes and References

1. Kreps . Daniel. Foo Fighters Debut 'Shame Shame' on 'SNL,' Announce New Album. Rolling Stone. November 11, 2020. November 8, 2020.
2. Web site: Dowd . Rachael . November 9, 2020 . Here's How Foo Fighters' New Single is Unlike Anything They've Done Before . . November 11, 2020.
3. https://tonedeaf.thebrag.com/chris-shiflett-nate-mendel-foo-fighters-new-single-shame-shame/ Chris Shiflett and Nate Mendel tells us how Foo Fighters' unexpectedly funky new single 'Shame Shame' happened
4. Foo Fighters Debut New Song 'Shame Shame' on 'Saturday Night Live,' Announce Upcoming Album Billboard. Billboard. Eldridge Industries. Chan. Anna. November 8, 2020. November 22, 2020.
5. News: Savage . Mark . September 13, 2021 . MTV Awards 2021: More sparks fly on red carpet than on stage . . November 11, 2021.
6. Legaspi . Althea . September 12, 2021 . Foo Fighters Bring Us Back to the '90s With 'Everlong', 'Learn To Fly' at the 2021 VMAs . . November 11, 2021.
7. Web site: Reilly . Nick . November 10, 2020 . Dave Grohl on Foo Fighters' 'Shame Shame' video: "It's darker than anything we've ever done" . . November 11, 2020.
8. Rutherford . Kevin . November 17, 2020 . Foo Fighters Take Back Record for Most Rock Airplay No. 1s With 'Shame Shame' . . November 18, 2020.
9. Web site: Credits / Medicine at Midnight / Foo Fighters . March 30, 2022 . Tidal.
10. News: November 16, 2020 . ARIA Digital Tracks . ARIA Report . . November 21, 2020.
11. Canada All Format (Foo Fighters) . . December 2, 2020.
12. Foo Fighters - Hot Canadian Digital Song Sales . . November 17, 2020.
13. Web site: CZ - Radio - Top 20 Modern Rock - Foo Fighters - Rescued. IFPI Czech Republic. June 6, 2023. Czech.
14. Web site: NZ Hot Singles Chart. Recorded Music NZ. February 15, 2021. February 13, 2021.
15. News: November 21, 2020 . Official Welsh Singles Chart - November 21, 2020 . . 1004 . . 15 . November 24, 2020.
16. Hot Rock & Alternative Songs – Year-End 2021. Billboard. December 2, 2021.
17. Rock Airplay Songs – Year-End 2021. Billboard. December 2, 2021.