Freaks (Surf Curse song)

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"Freaks"
Single by Surf Curse
from the album Buds
Written2011
ReleasedMay 15, 2021 (2021-05-15)
Recorded2013
Genre
Length2:27
LabelAtlantic
Surf Curse singles chronology
"Hour of the Wolf"
(2019) 		"Freaks"
(2021) 		"Sugar"
(2022)
Music video
"Freaks" on YouTube

"Freaks" is a song by American surf rock band Surf Curse. It was originally released in 2013, from the band's first studio album Buds. The song was re-released as a single on May 15, 2021, via Atlantic Records.[1] The song later went viral in summer 2021, seeing mass use on social media platforms like Tiktok.[2]

Content[edit]

The band wrote the song in 2011, but in 2020, the song garnered attention due to Internet memes, gaining more than 200,000 views on TikTok and 200 million streams. Responding to the viral memes, the band's guitarist Jacob Rubeck told American Songwriter: "It's a very strange trajectory. It's been a strange wave". He also described "Freaks" as "a pretty depressing song, but there are a lot of depressed people out there, and people who feel alienated".[3]

Adam Schulz, the band's A&R rep at Atlantic, told Los Angeles Times: "When I heard 'Freaks' for the first time, the thing that stood out to me was how exhilarating the song is, that energy is consistent across the band's catalog, and once you watch videos of the band performing live, you realize it translates even better in real life."[4]

Music video[edit]

An accompanying music video was released on August 6, 2021, and directed by the band itself. They talked about the video via TV News Desk: "We never had any intention to make a music video for 'Freaks', but when the opportunity occurred we knew what it needed to be, we had to make a video set in Charles Burns' Black Hole world, which originally inspired the song. We were lucky to cast our friends and put them in this mutant makeup. We were lucky to capture great moments on film and had an opportunity to make an ode to a graphic novel that heavily inspired us."[5]

Charts[edit]

Certifications[edit]

Certifications for "Freaks"
Region Certification Certified units/sales
France (SNEP)[22] Gold 100,000‡
Italy (FIMI)[23] Gold 50,000‡
Poland (ZPAV)[24] Platinum 50,000‡
Spain (PROMUSICAE)[25] Gold 30,000‡
United Kingdom (BPI)[26] Gold 400,000‡
United States (RIAA)[27] Platinum 1,000,000‡

‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Release history[edit]

Release history for "Freaks"
Region Date Format Label Ref.
Various May 15, 2021
Atlantic [28]

References[edit]

  1. ^ "Surf Curse liefern mit "Freaks" den perfekten Soundtrack für die Teenager-Zeit". Warner Music Germany (in German). June 3, 2021. Retrieved October 16, 2021.
  2. ^ Sommerfeld, Seth. "Surf Curse unexpectedly blew up on TikTok, but the band's sonic evolution suggests it's no flash in the pan". Inlander. Retrieved March 24, 2024.
  3. ^ Benitez-Eves, Tina (August 31, 2021). "Surf Curse Continue Connecting to "Freaks" 10 Years Later". American Songwriter. Retrieved October 16, 2021.
  4. ^ Brown, August (July 19, 2021). "These indie-rock lifers went from obscurity to scandal to a major-label deal in 10 months". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved October 16, 2021.
  5. ^ TV News Desk (August 5, 2021). "Surf Curse Debut 'Freaks' Video". Broadwayworld. Retrieved October 16, 2021.
  6. ^ "The ARIA Report: Week Commencing 2 August 2021". The ARIA Report. No. 1639. Australian Recording Industry Association. October 16, 2021. p. 4.
  7. ^ "ČNS IFPI" (in Czech). Hitparáda – Digital Top 100 Oficiální. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: Change the chart to CZ – SINGLES DIGITAL – TOP 100 and insert 202119 into search. Retrieved October 11, 2022.
  8. ^ "Deutsche Single Trend Charts - Category: Single". Deutsche Single Trend Charts. Archived from the original on June 27, 2021. Retrieved November 12, 2021.
  9. ^ "Surf Curse Chart History (Global 200)". Billboard. Retrieved October 16, 2021.
  10. ^ "IFPI Charts Digital Singles Chart (International) Week 35 2021". IFPI Greece. Archived from the original on September 13, 2021. Retrieved October 16, 2021.
  11. ^ "Irish-charts.com – Discography Surf Curse". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved October 16, 2021.
  12. ^ "2021 32-os savaitės klausomiausi (Top 100)" (in Lithuanian). AGATA. August 13, 2021. Retrieved October 16, 2021.
  13. ^ "Surf Curse Chart History (Mexico Airplay)". Billboard. Retrieved October 16, 2021.
  14. ^ "Surf Curse – Freaks". AFP Top 100 Singles. Retrieved October 16, 2021.
  15. ^ "SK - Digital - Top 100 - Surf Curse - Freaks". IFPI Czech Republic. Retrieved October 13, 2022.
  16. ^ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved October 16, 2021.
  17. ^ "Official Independent Singles Chart Top 50". Official Charts Company. Retrieved December 3, 2021.
  18. ^ "Surf Curse Chart History (Bubbling Under Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved October 16, 2021.
  19. ^ "Surf Curse Chart History (Hot Rock & Alternative Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved October 16, 2021.
  20. ^ "Surf Curse Chart History (Rock Airplay)". Billboard. Retrieved October 16, 2021.
  21. ^ "Hot Rock & Alternative Songs – Year-End 2021". Billboard. Retrieved December 2, 2021.
  22. ^ "French single certifications – Surf Curse – Freaks (Remixes)" (in French). Syndicat National de l'Édition Phonographique. Retrieved February 1, 2024.
  23. ^ "Italian single certifications – Surf Curse – Freaks" (in Italian). Federazione Industria Musicale Italiana. Retrieved December 30, 2022.
  24. ^ "OLiS - oficjalna lista wyróżnień" (in Polish). Polish Society of the Phonographic Industry. Retrieved February 22, 2023. Click "TYTUŁ" and enter Freaks in the search box.
  25. ^ "Spanish single certifications – Surf Curse – Freaks". El portal de Música. Productores de Música de España. Retrieved January 14, 2024.
  26. ^ "British single certifications – Surf Curse – Freaks". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved April 15, 2023.
  27. ^ "American single certifications – Surf Curse – Freaks". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved June 15, 2022.
  28. ^ "Freaks - Single by Surf Curse". Retrieved October 16, 2021 – via Apple Music.
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