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Lump (song)

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"Lump"
Single by the Presidents of the United States of America
from the album The Presidents of the United States of America
ReleasedAugust 8, 1995 (1995-08-08)
StudioEgg (Brooklyn)
Genre
Length
  • 2:12
LabelColumbia
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)
The Presidents of the United States of America singles chronology
"Kitty"
(1995) 		"Lump"
(1995) 		"Peaches"
(1996)
Music video
"Lump" on YouTube

"Lump" is a song by alternative rock band the Presidents of the United States of America. It was released in August 1995 by Columbia Records and included on their album The Presidents of the United States of America (1995). The song reached number one on the US Billboard Modern Rock Tracks chart the same year. Composer Chris Ballew said that the lyrics combined his own history of having a benign tumor in the head with a vision he had of a woman in a swamp, while employing the word "lump" because Ballew was fond of it.[1] The musical part was described by Ballew as him "trying to write a Buzzcocks song". Ballew considers it his favorite composition.[2] The music video for the song was directed by Roman Coppola. "Lump" has been covered or remade by several artists, including the Johnstones and "Weird Al" Yankovic.

Musical style

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Musically, Lump is a grunge,[3][4] pop-punk,[5][6] alternative rock,[7][8] post-grunge,[7] and pop rock[9] song.

Critical reception

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Andrew Mueller from Melody Maker said, "'Lump' is a frantically grinning, gurning, hyperactive lurch that evokes nothing more than visions of retribution involving a plank with a nail through one end."[10] Pan-European magazine Music & Media wrote, "Taken from the band's debut album, 'Lump' clocks in at just over two minutes. And it's so cool you could play it twice in place of those dismal four-minute rock operas churned out by other US-rockers. Full points to Chris Ballew's tongue-in cheek vocals–one of the best things to happen to alternative rock this year."[8] Mark Beaumont from NME remarked "the hook-smattered stoopidity" of tunes like 'Lump'.[11] He also named it Single of the Week, praising it as "pure, perfect, dumbass hedonistic pop."[12] David Sinclair from The Times commented, "An intriguing amalgamation of Nirvana-influenced riffs and Weezer-ish harmony vocals, it is a post-grunge formula served up with lashings of oddball humour in place of the usual angst: Lump sat alone in a boggy marsh/Totally motionless except for her heart/Mud flowed up into Lump's pyjamas/She totally confused all the passing piranhas."[13]

Music video

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The accompanying music video for "Lump", directed by American filmmaker Roman Coppola, takes place in a "boggy marsh" (as the lyrics state). The video shows the band singing in a swamp as well as on the stern of a large barge in Elliott Bay interspersed with a silhouette scene of the band performing.

Another video was also made for the song. This version, commonly referred to as "Lump 2", was considered too disturbing and dark to be aired on MTV (reflecting the band's grunge and post-grunge origins). It features the band performing on a dark stage while various people lip sync the lines "She's lump!" during the chorus. This version can be found on "Ten Year Super Bonus Special Anniversary Edition" of the Presidents of the United States of America's debut album, and on their YouTube channel.

In 2023, both versions were re-uploaded to YouTube in high-definition, as well as the other videos from the debut album.[14][15]

Track listings and formats

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Credits and personnel

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Credits and personnel are adapted from the "Lump" US promo CD liner notes.[22]

Charts

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Certifications

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Region Certification Certified units/sales
Australia (ARIA)[40] Gold 35,000^
United Kingdom (BPI)[43] Silver 200,000‡

^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.
‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Release history

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Region Date Format(s) Label(s) Ref.
Australia August 8, 1995 CD Columbia [23]
United Kingdom December 25, 1995
  • 7-inch vinyl
  • CD
  • cassette
 [44]

Parodies and covers

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  • "Weird Al" Yankovic released a parody version of the song known as "Gump", a joking tribute to Forrest Gump. Notably, the last line of this parody, "and that's all I have to say about that" would later be used by the Presidents of the United States of America in their subsequent live performances of the song. Yankovic would later return the favor by covering "Peaches" on The Unfortunate Return of the Ridiculously Self-Indulgent, Ill-Advised Vanity Tour with a special appearance by Ballew.
  • Comedian Brian Posehn recorded a skit for his 2020 comedy metal album Grandpa Metal called "My Phone Call with Weird Al", featuring Yankovic, which references both "Lump" and "Gump", in which Posehn is trying to get Yankovic's permission to record a parody called "Trump" about president of the United States of America Donald Trump, and Yankovic unsuccessfully tries to inform Posehn that "Gump" is a parody of the Presidents of the United States of America song "Lump".
  • ApologetiX also recorded a parody entitled "Plump", describing King Eglon and his rule over Israel.
  • Canadian ska punk band the Johnstones covered "Lump" on their 2008 EP SEX.
  • The Blackout also covered "Lump" and it features on the end of the group's album, Hope, released in 2011.

See also

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References

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  1. ^ BROOKS WHITNEY (May 10, 1996). "Weird Lyrics Come Naturally To The Presidents". Chicago Tribune. Archived from the original on August 11, 2014.
  2. ^ "Interview with Chris Ballew of The Presidents of the United States of America". Archived from the original on April 2, 2015. Retrieved August 6, 2014.
  3. ^ Loftus, Johnny. "The Presidents of the United States of America - The Presidents of the United States of America | Songs, Reviews, Credits". AllMusic. Retrieved May 14, 2021.
  4. ^ Childers, Chad. "50 ESSENTIAL GRUNGE ERA VIDEOS". Loudwire. Retrieved January 23, 2022.
  5. ^ Sendra, Tim. "Non Stop '90s Rock". AllMusic. Retrieved January 22, 2022.
  6. ^ Elbel, Jeff (June 30, 2008). "The Presidents of the United States of America: Dischord (Issue 12)". Paste. Retrieved January 22, 2022.
  7. ^ a b "The 95 Best Alternative Rock Songs of 1995". Spin. August 6, 2015. p. 2. Retrieved May 14, 2021.
  8. ^ a b "New Releases: Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 12, no. 41. October 14, 1995. p. 12. Retrieved May 19, 2021.
  9. ^ West, Danny (March 16, 2023). "75 Best One Hit Wonders Ever". Music Industry How To. Retrieved May 31, 2023.
  10. ^ Mueller, Andrew (January 13, 1996). "Singles". Melody Maker. p. 28. Retrieved May 9, 2024.
  11. ^ Beaumont, Mark (November 4, 1995). "Long Play". NME. p. 48. Retrieved March 17, 2024.
  12. ^ Beaumont, Mark (December 16, 1995). "Singles". NME. p. 34. Retrieved May 9, 2024.
  13. ^ Sinclair, David (December 30, 1995). "Pop Single; Recordings". The Times.
  14. ^ The Presidents of the United States of America - Lump (Version A) (Official HD Music Video), retrieved May 5, 2023
  15. ^ The Presidents of the United States of America - Lump (Version B) (Official HD Video), retrieved May 5, 2023
  16. ^ Lump (European maxi-single liner notes). The Presidents of the United States of America. Columbia Records. 1995. 662496 2.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  17. ^ Lump (Australian CD single liner notes). The Presidents of the United States of America. Columbia Records. 1995. 662481 2.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  18. ^ Lump (UK 7-inch vinyl liner notes). The Presidents of the United States of America. Columbia Records. 1995. 662496 7.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  19. ^ Lump (UK cassette liner notes). The Presidents of the United States of America. Columbia Records. 1995. 662496 4.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  20. ^ Lump (European CD single liner notes). The Presidents of the United States of America. Columbia Records. 1995. 662496 1.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  21. ^ Lump (Dutch 12-inch vinyl liner notes). The Presidents of the United States of America. Columbia Records. 1995. 662496 6.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  22. ^ Lump (US promo CD liner notes). The Presidents of the United States of America. Columbia Records. 1995. CSK 7225.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  23. ^ a b "The Presidents of the United States of America – Lump". ARIA Top 50 Singles.
  24. ^ "The Presidents of the United States of America – Lump" (in French). Ultratop 50.
  25. ^ "Top RPM Singles: Issue 2851." RPM. Library and Archives Canada.
  26. ^ "Top RPM Rock/Alternative Tracks: Issue 2766." RPM. Library and Archives Canada.
  27. ^ "Eurochart Hot 100 Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 13, no. 3. January 20, 1996. p. 13. Retrieved August 9, 2020.
  28. ^ "The Presidents of the United States of America – Lump" (in French). Les classement single.
  29. ^ "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Lump". Irish Singles Chart.
  30. ^ "The Presidents of the United States of America – Lump" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved July 18, 2021.
  31. ^ "The Presidents of the United States of America – Lump" (in Dutch). MegaCharts. Retrieved July 18, 2021.
  32. ^ "The Presidents of the United States of America – Lump". Top 40 Singles.
  33. ^ "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company.
  34. ^ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company.
  35. ^ "Hot 100 Airplay - October 28, 1995" (PDF). Billboard. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. Retrieved May 15, 2021.
  36. ^ "Album Rock Tracks" (PDF). Billboard. November 4, 1995. Retrieved May 15, 2021.
  37. ^ "Modern Rock Tracks" (PDF). Billboard. October 21, 1995. Retrieved May 15, 2021.
  38. ^ "The Presidents of the United States of America Chart History (Pop Songs)". Billboard. Archived from the original on August 12, 2019. Retrieved May 16, 2021.
  39. ^ "Tops de L'année | Top Singles 1995" (in French). SNEP. Retrieved August 9, 2020.
  40. ^ a b "The ARIA Australian Top 100 Singles 1996". ARIA. Archived from the original on November 2, 2015. Retrieved August 12, 2019 – via Imgur.
  41. ^ "End of Year Charts 1996". Recorded Music NZ. Retrieved August 12, 2019.
  42. ^ "Airplay Monitor Best of '96: Modern Rock Tracks" (PDF). Airplay Monitor. Vol. 4, no. 53. December 27, 1996. p. 24. Retrieved December 25, 2023.
  43. ^ "British single certifications – Presidents of the United States of America – Lump". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved August 9, 2024.
  44. ^ "New Releases: Singles". Music Week. December 23, 1995. p. 32.
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