Sweetness (Jimmy Eat World song) explained

Sweetness
Cover:	Sweetness (Jiimmy Eat World single - cover art).jpg
Type:	single
Artist:	Jimmy Eat World
Album:	Bleed American
Released:	June 3, 2002
Genre:	Emo^[1] post-hardcore^[2]
Length:	3:40
Label:	DreamWorks
Prev Title:	Last Christmas
Prev Year:	2001
Next Title:	A Praise Chorus
Next Year:	2002

"Sweetness" is a song by American rock band Jimmy Eat World. It was released in June 2002 as the third single from their 2001 album, Bleed American. It was originally written soon after the band finished recording Clarity but before the label had finally decided to release the album. However, "Lucky Denver Mint" became a surprise radio hit off of Clarity before the album was even released, driving the label to release Clarity before "Sweetness" could ever be added to its tracklisting.^[3] The band also played the song live many times during the Clarity tour, and a demo recording of it was included on the 2007 re-issue of Clarity.

Critical reception

Like the rest of Bleed American, "Sweetness" was generally well received by critics. Punknews.org stated that "'Sweetness' is so unbelievably catchy, I'm having trouble coming up with an analogy to get it across."^[4]

Music video

The video for "Sweetness", directed by Tim Hope, depicts the band performing the song in a bedroom while apparently recording a demo cassette. Compositing and various forms of animation (including stop-motion, rotoscoping, and computer animation) were used to add surreal elements throughout the video, as well as to show the band performing in different locations: a bar, a concert, and a recording studio.

Track listing

UK 7" vinyl

1. "Sweetness" (3:40)
2. "Clarity" (live) (4:24)

UK CD1

1. "Sweetness" (3:40)
2. "Blister" (live) (5:52)
3. "Your New Aesthetic" (live) (2:46)

UK CD2

1. Sweetness
2. "A Praise Chorus" (live) (4:05)
3. "Lucky Denver Mint" (live) (3:11)
4. "Sweetness" (video)

Australian single (2002)

1. "Sweetness" (3:41)
2. "If You Don't, Don't" (live La Scala 10 November 2001) (4:29)
3. "Lucky Denver Mint" (live La Scala 10 November 2001) (3:12)
4. "Sweetness" (*.mov video) (3:59)
5. "Goodbye Sky Harbor" (*.mov video) (live La Scala 10 November 2001) (3:29)

Personnel

Personnel adapted from CD booklet^[5]

• Jim Adkinsvocals, lead guitar, percussion
• Tom Lintonrhythm guitar
• Rick Burchbass guitar
• Zach Linddrums

In popular culture

The song was also featured on the soundtrack for the EA Sports video game NHL 2003.^{[6] [7]}

Starting during the 2017–18 NHL season, the Florida Panthers used "Sweetness" as their goal song up until the conclusion of the 2021-22 NHL season. From the 2021-22 NHL season, the Anaheim Ducks have used the song after a home win.

The song is also available as a downloadable song in the music/rhythm game Rock Band 2.

Notes and References

1. Web site: The 100 Greatest Emo Songs of All Time . Vulture.com . . Ian Cohen . David Anthony . Nina Corcoran . Emma Garland . Brad Nelson . February 13, 2020 . February 15, 2020.
2. Web site: The Best Jimmy Eat World Songs, Ranked. Uproxx. Cohen, Ian. February 16, 2021. July 20, 2021. July 21, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210721121828/https://uproxx.com/indie/jimmy-eat-world-best-songs-ranked/. live.
3. Web site: 2019. Jimmy Eat World – 'Sweetness' Song Stories. NME.
4. Web site: Jimmy Eat World - Bleed American . Paul . Aubin . July 7, 2001 . Punknews.org . February 19, 2024 . live . April 14, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230414021432/https://www.punknews.org/review/328/jimmy-eat-world-bleed-american.
5. Bleed American . Jimmy Eat World. 2001. CD booklet . DreamWorks/Geffen Records/UM^e/Interscope.
6. https://www.sputnikmusic.com/review/11365/Jimmy-Eat-World-Bleed-American/ Jimmy Eat World - Bleed American (staff review)
7. http://games.easports.com/platforms/games/nhl2003/nhltrax.jsp?article_id=nhltrax THE SOUNDS OF NHL 2003