The Art of Losing (song) explained

The Art of Losing
Cover:American-HiFi-The-Art-Of-Losing-240493.jpg
Type:single
Artist:American Hi-Fi
Album:The Art of Losing
Released:April 14, 2003
Genre:
  • Pop-punk
  • emo
Length:3:25
Label:Island
Producer:Nick Launay
Prev Title:Another Perfect Day
Prev Year:2001
Next Title:The Breakup Song
Next Year:2003

"The Art of Losing" is the first single from American Hi-Fi's second album The Art of Losing. It has been featured in Freaky Friday, American Wedding, and one episode of Malcolm in the MiddleS4 E13, ‘Stereo Store’. It was also used in trailers for The Perfect Score, Fever Pitch, Hot Rod, Mr. Woodcock, and Speed Racer.

Track listings

US single

  1. "The Art of Losing"
  2. "Flavor of the Weak" (Live)
  3. "When the Breeders Were Big"
  4. "The Art of Losing" (Video)

Japan single

  1. "The Art of Losing"
  2. "Deceiver"
  3. "Flavor of the Weak" (Live)

Content

"The song is about being the underdog, but learning to do things your way...People say, ‘Hey, you could do it this way or that way to be more successful.’ But the song is about telling them, ‘I’ll do it my way."[1]

Music video

The video (directed by Chris Applebaum) features American Hi-Fi visiting the house of a fan in Hays, Kansas, where the band is seen performing the song in the living room, with the house surrounded by hundreds of partying locals.[2] The video was deliberately less slick than the normal polished rock production, filmed with normal fans in a normal town in the 'middle of nowhere'. "It was great because we don't think of ourselves as these f---in' rock star dudes. I don't like there to be a line drawn between the band and the fans" said Jones.

Chart positions

Charts Peak
position
Australia (ARIA Hitseekers)[3] 15
UK Singles (OCC)75
US Billboard Modern Rock Tracks33

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Kagan. Wendy. American Hi-Fi. July 30, 2012.
  2. News: Wiederhorn. Jon. American Hi-Fi Master Art Of Losing, Art Of Partying. https://archive.today/20130129042530/http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1459437/american-hi-fi-ready-new-lp.jhtml. dead. January 29, 2013. July 20, 2012. MTV.com. January 9, 2003.
  3. Web site: ARIA Report: Issue 689. https://webarchive.nla.gov.au/awa/20080222222425/http://pandora.nla.gov.au/pan/23790/20030507-0000/Issue689.pdf. dead. February 22, 2008. ARIA. November 3, 2023.