Blink-182 may not have invented pop-punk, but they certainly perfected it and rose some major chart success along the way. These 10 legendary songs, however, never ascended to No. 1.
Since breaking out in the ’90s, the group has strung together an incredible body of work. Platinum albums, sold out tours, MTV dominance and a worldwide legion of fans all stand as proof of Blink’s continued popularity.
The band’s staying power has also allowed it to weather several storms — including multiple hiatuses and lineup changes. Along the way, Blink scored a bevy of hits at radio, five of which reached No. 1 on Billboard‘s Alternative Airplay chart. But what about their awesome tunes that didn’t quite make it to the top?
Below, we’ve rounded up 10 Blink-182 classics that never reached No. 1. It includes many beloved tracks, including what is arguably the band’s best-known song.
“Dammit”
With its emphatic power chords and iconic declaration (“Well I guess this is growing up”), “Dammit” is perhaps the best-known song in Blink-182’s entire catalog. While the 1997 single received heavy airplay on radio and MTV, helping launch the band to massive mainstream stardom, it only peaked at No. 11 on the alternative chart.
While “Dammit” foreshadowed Blink-182’s future popularity, the same can’t be said for alternative artists who were enjoying even bigger success at the time. We’re looking at you, Fastball, Marcy Playground and Eve 6.
“What’s My Age Again?”
Another of Blink’s most famous tunes, “What’s May Age Again?” was one of the biggest hits of 1999. Its popularity helped launch Enema of the State to multi-platinum sales, while the nudity-embracing music video for “What’s My Age Again?” was all over MTV.
So what kept the song from reaching No.1? Red Hot Chili Peppers’ “Scar Tissue,” which was just a little more dominant in the summer of ‘99, spending 16 consecutive weeks at the top of the alternative chart.
“Adam’s Song”
Nobody saw “Adam’s Song” coming.
With this track, Blink-182 suddenly showcased songwriting depth that fans had never heard before. The same guys who delivered the bratily crude “Dysentery Gary” elsewhere on Enema of the State, expertly tackled the heavy topics of suicide and depression, without abandoning any of the catchiness that had endeared them to fans worldwide.
“Adam’s Song” marked an important artistic step for the group and was well received by audiences and critics alike. Still, it stalled out at No. 2 on the Alternative chart, blocked by yet another Chili Peppers hit, “Otherside.”
“Man Overboard”
Blink’s formula of combining serious subjects within their pop punk sheen continued with their 2000 single “Man Overboard.”
The tune’s lyrics were inspired by the band’s original drummer, Scott Raynor, who was forced out of the band in 1998 due to his alcohol abuse.
“Man Overboard” continued Blink-182’s hot streak, reaching No. 2 on the alternative chart. This time Blink were blocked from the top spot by Fuel’s anthemic hit “Hemorrhage (In My Hands).”
“The Rock Show”
When Blink-182’s manager Rick DeVoe heard an early version of the band’s 2001 album Take Off Your Pants and Jacket, he suggested it lacked any upbeat hits. Outraged, Tom DeLonge and Mark Hoppus each stormed off and wrote intentionally pop-leaning tunes.
Hoppus’ was “The Rock Show,” an effervescent boy-meets-girl punk jaunt that soon garnered heavy radio airplay.
It made it all the way to No 2., but “It’s Been a While” by Staind dominated the chart for 16 weeks in 2001, keeping “The Rock Show” from reaching No. 1.
“First Date”
Remember how we said Tom DeLonge was also pissed about their manager’s comment? Well, his response came in the form of “First Date.” Inspired by his awkward early dates with Jennifer Jenkins (who DeLonge married in 2001), the song chronicled the nervous excitement of young love.
It spent seven weeks in the alternative top 10, peaking at No. 6.
“Stay Together for the Kids”
Blink once again hit a raw emotional cord with “Stay Together for the Kids,” which was released as a single in early 2002. The song was delivered from the perspective of a teen who was witnessing the dramatic deterioration of his parents’ marriage, leading to divorce. It was a subject matter that hit close to home for both Hoppus and DeLonge, both of whom were raised in a broken home.
“Stay Together for the Kids” resonated with fans, eventually peaking at No. 7 on the alternative chart.
“Feeling This”
With its propulsive energy and captivating vocal harmonies, “Feeling This” is one of the most distinctive singles in Blink-182’s arsenal. The lead single from their 2003 self-titled album was released that October and quickly moved up the alternative chart.
It peaked at No. 2 but never reached No 1, held back by Linkin Park‘s “Numb,” which spent 12 consecutive weeks in the top spot.
“M + M’s”
Unlike many of the other songs on this list, we totally understand why “M+M’s” never made it to No. 1. This was the first official single from a then-unknown band, with lyrics that referenced masturbation and suicide — not exactly the kind of thing radio programers are in a hurry to play.
Still, “M+M’s” earned Blink their first real attention, earning its place as a fan favorite that remains a staple of their live setlists.
“Down”
Moody but catchy, poignant yet powerful, the 2004 single “Down” featured every hallmark of a classic Blink-182 track.
It peaked at No. 10 before dropping off of the alternative chart. Interestingly, it would take seven years before Blink scored another Top 10 hit, 2011’s “Up All Night.”
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Gallery Credit: Loudwire Staff
