The Motivation Proclamation Explained

The Motivation Proclamation
Cover:MotivationProclamationcover.jpg
Type:single
Album:Good Charlotte
B-Side:
  • "If You Leave"
  • "Let Me Go"
Artist:Good Charlotte
Studio:Encore (Los Angeles)
Length:3:36
Label:Epic
Producer:Don Gilmore
Prev Title:Little Things
Prev Year:2000
Next Title:Festival Song
Next Year:2001

"The Motivation Proclamation" is a song by American rock band Good Charlotte. Vocalist Benji Madden and lead guitarist Joel Madden wrote the song while Don Gilmore produced it. The track, whose lyrics talking about moving on from distressing routines, was included on the band's self-titled debut album (2000).

Although "The Motivation Proclamation'" received some airplay in the United States, it was not released as a single there. Epic Records instead issued a CD single on August 6, 2001, in Australia and New Zealand. While the song stalled at number 67 in Australia, it became a top-30 hit in New Zealand, where it peaked at number 28. A music video directed by Marc Webb was made for the song, featuring the band waking up and performing the song together.

Background and release

According to guitarist Billy Martin, "The Motivation Proclamation" is about "breaking out of a cycle if you're depressed on something... getting over it and going on".[1] In the United States, the song began receiving airplay as an album cut in January and February 2001, but it did not appear on any Billboard rankings.[2] [3] In Australia and New Zealand, a CD single was issued. In the former country, the song was released on August 6, 2001, and debuted at number 78 on the ARIA Singles Chart the following week.[4] [5] It spent two more weeks on the chart before dropping out.[6] After Good Charlotte entered the top 100 on the ARIA Albums Chart, the song re-entered the top 100 at number 67, its peak, in mid-October. In New Zealand, the track entered the RIANZ Singles Chart at number 44 on September 6, 2001, and peaked at number 28 on October 21, 2001, spending 15 weeks in the top 50.

Music video

Marc Webb directed the song's music video.[7] In the clip, the band members are initially asleep. As the song progresses, each member wakes up and begins to play their instrument in the same room. Throughout the video, shots of a television airing American-Canadian adult animated sitcom Undergrads are sporadically shown.[8] The video was added to the playlists of MTV and MTV2 in March 2001.[9] [10]

Track listing

Australian and New Zealand CD single[11]

  1. "The Motivation Proclamation"
  2. "If You Leave"
  3. "Let Me Go"

Credits and personnel

Credits are lifted from the Australian CD single liner notes and the Good Charlotte album booklet.[11] [12]

Studios

Personnel

Notes and References

  1. Good Charlotte 2003, event occurs at 13:49–55
  2. Alternative Airplay: Most Added. Radio & Records. 1387. 112. February 2, 2001.
  3. Web site: Good Charlotte Chart History. Billboard. October 1, 2021.
  4. Web site: The ARIA Report: New Releases Singles – Week Commencing 6th August 2001. ARIA. 25. August 6, 2001. dead. https://webarchive.nla.gov.au/awa/20020220130000/http://pandora.nla.gov.au/pan/23790/20020221-0000/www.aria.com.au/issue597.pdf. February 20, 2002. October 1, 2021.
  5. Web site: ARIA Top 100 Singles - Week Commencing 13th August 2001. ARIA. 3. August 13, 2001. dead. https://webarchive.nla.gov.au/awa/20020220130000/http://pandora.nla.gov.au/pan/23790/20020221-0000/www.aria.com.au/issue598.pdf. February 20, 2002. October 1, 2021.
  6. Web site: ARIA Top 100 Singles - Week Commencing 3rd September 2001. ARIA. 4. September 3, 2001. dead. https://webarchive.nla.gov.au/awa/20150824225100/http://pandora.nla.gov.au/pan/23790/20150825-0851/issue601.PDF. August 24, 2015. October 1, 2021.
  7. Video Collection. Good Charlotte. 2003. US DVD liner notes. Epic Records, Daylight Records. EPC 201883 9.
  8. Good Charlotte 2003, event occurs at 14:04, 14:08–12, 15:26–41
  9. The Clip List. Billboard. 113. 12. 68. March 24, 2001.
  10. Video Monitor. Billboard. 113. 13. 81. March 31, 2001.
  11. The Motivation Proclamation. Good Charlotte. 2001. Australian & New Zealand CD single liner notes. Epic Records. 671309.2.
  12. Good Charlotte. Good Charlotte (album). Good Charlotte. 2000. US CD album booklet. Epic Records. EK 61452.