I'm Not Okay (I Promise)
"I'm Not Okay (I Promise)" | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Single by My Chemical Romance | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
from the album Three Cheers for Sweet Revenge | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Released |
September 13, 2004 (see release history) | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Format | 7" vinyl,[1] CD,[2] Digital download, DVD[3] | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Recorded | 2004 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Genre | Pop punk,[4] emo[5] | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Length | 3:08[1] | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Label | Reprise,[1] Eyeball | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Writer(s) | My Chemical Romance | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Producer(s) | Howard Benson[1] | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Certification | Gold (U.S.) | |||||||||||||||||||||||
My Chemical Romance singles chronology | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
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"I'm Not Okay (I Promise)" is the first single and fifth track from My Chemical Romance's second studio album, Three Cheers for Sweet Revenge. "I'm Not Okay (I Promise)" was released to radio on September 28, 2004.[6]
Reception and accolades
It reached #86 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100,[7][8] and, in March 2005, #19 on the UK Singles Chart. The song also helped expand the band's fan base, and has been certified gold status by the RIAA.[9] It was nominated for the Kerrang! Award for Best Single.[10] The cover art was redone in live action on the inside of the band's DVD Life on the Murder Scene.
Music videos
The first music video version for the song features a montage of concert footage and the band's ordinary life in New Jersey. It was produced by Rafaela Monfradini and Greg Kaplan, who was also the director. It also features pictures of brothers, bassist Mikey Way and lead singer Gerard Way, when they were little kids and teenagers.
The second version music video depicts life inside a fictional American high school in the form of a mock movie trailer. The band appears as a group of outcast students who are repeatedly harassed by another group who are portrayed as popular kids. The band members then attempt to take on the popular kids and ultimately have a showdown in a hallway, with the band members armed with croquet mallets and the popular kids with lacrosse and hockey gear. It also has some clips expressing some emotions and clips of the band playing in a garage. The music video was directed by Marc Webb,[3] and parts of it were filmed at Alexander Hamilton High School and Loyola High School in Los Angeles during August 2004.[9] Greg Kaplan and Rafaelia Monfradini produced the video.[9] The video started production on August 13, 2004.[11]
This version of the video was also named #1 on Fuse's 25 Greatest Videos Countdown, beating out other videos such as "Basket Case" by Green Day and "Smells Like Teen Spirit" by Nirvana.
Covers version
Matt Pond PA recorded a cover of the song for Engine Room Recordings' compilation album Guilt by Association Vol. 2, which was released in November 2008.[12]
Track listings
- All songs written by My Chemical Romance.
US promotional DVD
No. | Title | Length |
---|---|---|
1. | "I'm Not Okay (I Promise)" |
UK promotional CD
No. | Title | Length |
---|---|---|
1. | "I'm Not Okay (I Promise)" (radio edit) | 3:08 |
UK CD1 and 7" vinyl
No. | Title | Length |
---|---|---|
1. | "I'm Not Okay (I Promise)" | 3:09 |
2. | "Bury Me in Black" (demo) | 2:39 |
UK CD2
No. | Title | Length |
---|---|---|
1. | "I'm Not Okay (I Promise)" | 3:09 |
2. | "Bury Me in Black" (demo) | 2:37 |
3. | "You Know What They Do to Guys Like Us in Prison" (live) | 2:51 |
4. | "I'm Not Okay (I Promise)" (video) |
UK and Australian CD
No. | Title | Length |
---|---|---|
1. | "I'm Not Okay (I Promise)" | 3:09 |
2. | "Bury Me in Black" (demo) | 2:39 |
3. | "You Know What They Do to Guys Like Us in Prison" (live) | 2:51 |
UK re-release CD1 and iTunes single
No. | Title | Length |
---|---|---|
1. | "I'm Not Okay (I Promise)" | 3:07 |
2. | "You Know What They Do to Guys Like Us in Prison" (live from BBC Radio 1 Lock Up session) | 3:30 |
UK re-release CD2
No. | Title | Length |
---|---|---|
1. | "I'm Not Okay (I Promise)" | 3:09 |
2. | "You Know What They Do to Guys Like Us in Prison" (live from BBC Radio 1 Lock Up session) | 3:30 |
3. | "I'm Not Okay (I Promise)" (live from MTV $2 Bill) | 3:24 |
Charts
Chart (2004) | Peak position |
---|---|
Australian Singles Chart[13][14] | 65 |
European Hot 100 Singles[15] | 67 |
New Zealand Singles Chart[16] | 38 |
Scottish Singles Chart[17] | 23 |
UK Singles Chart[9][18] | 19 |
U.S. Billboard Hot 100[7] | 86 |
U.S. Billboard Modern Rock Tracks[7] | 4 |
U.S. Billboard Pop 100[7] | 64 |
Personnel
- Gerard Way - vocals
- Ray Toro - lead guitar, backing vocals
- Frank Iero - rhythm guitar, backing vocals
- Mikey Way - bass guitar
- Matt Pelissier - drums
- Produced by Howard Benson
- Mixed by Richard Costey and Simon Askew
- Engineered and recorded by Dan Wise
- Written by My Chemical Romance
Release history
Region | Date | Label | Format | Catalogue |
---|---|---|---|---|
United States | September 12, 2004 | Warner Reprise, Eyeball | DVD | PRODVD101434 |
United Kingdom | Reprise, Eyeball | CD | PRO15076 | |
September 13, 2004 | W653CD, 9362427522 | |||
March 7, 2005 | 7" vinyl | W666, 5439160527 | ||
March 7, 2005 | CD | W666CD1, 5439160522 | ||
W666CD2, 9362427962 | ||||
Australia | March 28, 2005 | 9362427522 | ||
United Kingdom | November 7, 2005 | W692CD1, 5439158692 | ||
W692CD2, 9362428672 |
References
- 1 2 3 4 5 http://www.discogs.com/My-Chemical-Romance-Im-Not-Okay-I-Promise/release/2001493
- ↑ http://www.discogs.com/My-Chemical-Romance-Im-Not-Okay-I-Promise/release/1189493
- 1 2 http://www.discogs.com/My-Chemical-Romance-Im-Not-Okay-I-Promise/release/2478185
- ↑ Ashley Burns. "'Middle School' Is A Mash-Up Of Every Pop Punk Song You Won't Admit You Once Loved". UPROXX. Retrieved May 4, 2015.
- ↑ "Top 100 Emo Songs of All Time". The Boston Phoenix. Retrieved May 4, 2015.
- ↑ "FMQB Airplay Archive: Modern Rock". Friday Morning Quarterback Album Report, Incorporated. Retrieved October 30, 2016.
- 1 2 3 4 "My Chemical Romance - Awards". Allmusic.
- ↑ "My Chemical Romance - Chart History". Billboard.
- 1 2 3 4 5 http://my-chemical-romance-frenchteam.com/en/ok.php
- ↑ "Green Day and System of a Down Tops the Kerrang! Awards 2005 Nominations". Entertainment News Staff. Retrieved 12 December 2011.
- ↑ May Death Never Stop You | "I'm Not Okay" (I Promise) [Version 2] [Video Version], retrieved 2015-10-08
- ↑ Matthew Solarski (19 November 2008). "My Brightest Diamond, Frightened Rabbit Do Covers". Pitchfork. Retrieved 2009-06-11.
- ↑ "Australian Single Charts Search for My Chemical Romance". Hung Medien. Retrieved 2010-09-05.
- ↑ "ARIA report (Australian Record Industry Association)". Australian Recording Industry Association via Pandora Archive. Retrieved 2010-09-24.
- ↑ "Top 100 Music Hits, Top 100 Music Charts, Top 100 Songs & The Hot 100". Billboard.com. Retrieved 2012-02-24.
- ↑ "New Zealand Single Charts Search for My Chemical Romance". Hung Medien. Retrieved 2010-10-08.
- ↑ http://www.officialcharts.com/charts/scottish-singles-chart/20050313/41/
- ↑ http://www.zobbel.de/cluk/CLUK_M.HTM