Asshole (song)

This article is about the Denis Leary song. For the song by Eminem, see The Marshall Mathers LP 2. For other songs, see Asshole (disambiguation).
"Asshole"
Single by Denis Leary
from the album No Cure for Cancer
Released1993
GenreComedy rock
Length4:26
LabelA&M
Songwriter(s)

"Asshole" is a song by American comedian Denis Leary, released as the only single from his album No Cure for Cancer in 1993.

Background

In a 2008 appearance on The Opie and Anthony Show, comedian Louis CK claimed that Leary stole his "I'm an asshole" routine, which was then expanded upon and turned into a hit song by Leary.[1] On a later episode of the same show, Leary challenged this assertion by claiming that he (Leary) co-wrote the song with Chris Phillips.[2]

Reception

In North America, the music video for "Asshole" received airplay on MTV and MuchMusic in a censored form. In Australia, the song became a hit; it reached No. 2 on the ARIA Singles Chart,[3] ended 1994 as Australia's 26th most successful single,[4] earned a Platinum sales certification,[4] and was voted No. 1 on the Triple J Hottest 100 poll of 1993.[5] The song also found some success in New Zealand, where it peaked at No. 22 on the RIANZ Singles Chart,[6] and in the United Kingdom, reaching No. 58 on the UK Singles Chart in January 1996.[7]

Later version

On August 3, 2016, Leary appeared on the US talk show The Late Late Show with James Corden, during which he performed an updated version of the song in character as Bill Clinton, in duet with James Corden playing a caricature of US Presidential candidate Hillary Clinton and criticizing rival candidate Donald Trump. For broadcast, the "-hole" part of the title was bleeped, a fact that is discussed by Leary and Corden during the song.[8]

Charts

Certifications

Region Certification Certified units/sales
Australia (ARIA)[4] Platinum 70,000^

^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

References

  1. ^ "Denis Leary ripped off "I'm An Asshole" from Louis CK". Retrieved Oct 12, 2022 – via www.youtube.com.
  2. ^ "Denis Leary responds to Louis CK claiming he stole "I'm An Asshole" from him". Retrieved Oct 12, 2022 – via www.youtube.com.
  3. ^ a b "Denis Leary – Asshole". ARIA Top 50 Singles. Retrieved June 13, 2020.
  4. ^ a b c d "1994 ARIA Singles Chart". ARIA. Retrieved June 13, 2020.
  5. ^ "Hottest 100 | History | 1993". Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Archived from the original on December 3, 2014. Retrieved February 16, 2009.
  6. ^ a b "Denis Leary – Asshole". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved June 13, 2020.
  7. ^ a b "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved June 13, 2020.
  8. ^ Ledbetter, Carly (August 5, 2016). "Denis Leary And James Corden Perform New 'I Hate Donald Trump' Anthem as The Clintons". Huffington Post. Retrieved October 22, 2016.
  9. ^ "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved June 13, 2020.