{{Short description|2001 single by Puddle of Mudd}} {{About|the song by Puddle of Mudd||Blur (disambiguation){{!}}Blur}} {{Use mdy dates|date=July 2021}} {{Infobox song | name = Blurry | cover = Pomb.jpg | alt = | type = single | artist = Puddle of Mudd | album = Come Clean | released = {{start date|2001|10|16}} | recorded = Late 2000 | studio = | genre = * Post-grunge * alternative rock | length = * 5:04 (album version) * 4:17 (radio and video version) | label = * Flawless * Geffen | writer = * Wes Scantlin * Doug Ardito * Jimmy Allen | producer = * John Kurzweg * Puddle of Mudd | prev_title = Control | prev_year = 2001 | next_title = Drift & Die | next_year = 2002 | misc = {{External music video|{{YouTube|xJJsoquu70o|"Blurry"}} }} }} "'''Blurry'''" is a song by the American rock band Puddle of Mudd. It was released on October 16, 2001, as the second single from the band's debut album ''Come Clean'' (2001). It was 2002's most successful rock song in the United States, topping the ''Billboard'' Mainstream Rock and Modern Rock Tracks charts as well as their year-end listings. "Blurry" also found success outside the US, reaching the top 20 in Ireland, New Zealand, and the United Kingdom.
In 2024, the staff of ''Consequence'' included the song in their list of "50 Kick-Butt Post-Grunge Songs We Can Get Behind".<ref>https://consequence.net/list/best-post-grunge-songs/fuel-shimmer/</ref>
==Background== Puddle of Mudd played small shows in the Kansas City area for most of the 1990s with little mainstream success.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://returnofrock.com/puddle-of-mudd-albums-ranked/|title=Puddle of Mudd Albums Ranked |website= Return of Rock|date=June 4, 2020 |accessdate=December 21, 2022}}</ref> However, singer Wes Scantlin got a demo tape to Limp Bizkit singer Fred Durst when Limp Bizkit were in town on October 12, 1999, on the Family Values Tour, and Durst's label Flawless Records signed him to a recording contract. Unimpressed with Scantlin's bandmates, Flawless Records scrapped them all,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nme.com/news/music/limp-bizkit-136-1389655|title=Flawless Stuff from Fred |website= NME|date=May 16, 2001 |accessdate=December 25, 2022}}</ref> rebuilt the group with musicians Scantlin had never seen before, and flew him out to Los Angeles in late 2000 to record with them. He spent his days fiddling with his acoustic guitar in a hotel room on Hollywood Boulevard, where he reworked a previous Puddle of Mudd song called "Electron Moon" into "Blurry".<ref name="song">{{cite web|url=https://americansongwriter.com/behind-the-song-blurry-by-puddle-of-mudd/|title=Behind the Song : "Blurry" by Puddle of Mudd |last=Bennett|first=Macie|website=American Songwriter|date=February 17, 2021 |accessdate=December 21, 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.songfacts.com/blog/interviews/wes-scantlin-puddle-of-mudd|title=Wes Scantlin of Puddle of Mudd : Songwriter Interviews |last=Prato|first=Greg|website= Songfacts|date=December 19, 2022 |accessdate=December 21, 2022}}</ref>
“’Blurry’ was basically about being flown to freaking Los Angeles and y’know, I didn't have any friends so they had put me into a hotel room,” Scantlin told ''American Songwriter''. “I didn't know anybody at all. And I was just missing my family and son, I missed my grandma and stuff.”<ref name="song" />
==Composition== "Blurry" is a post-grunge<ref>{{cite web |url=https://consequence.net/aux-out/in-defense-of-post-grunge-music/ |title=In Defense of Post-Grunge Music |work=Consequence of Sound |last=Geffen |first=Sasha |date=October 7, 2013 |access-date=September 21, 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://consequence.net/list/best-post-grunge-songs/|title=50 Best Post-Grunge Songs|last=Graves|first=Wren|website=Consequence|date=May 20, 2024|access-date=April 1, 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|URL=https://numetalagenda.com/feature/the-15-greatest-and-10-worst-post-grunge-songs-of-all-time/|title=The 15 Greatest (and 10 Worst) Post-Grunge Songs of All Time|date=April 11, 2024|website=Nu Metal Agenda|access-date=December 26, 2025}}</ref> and alternative rock<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://consequence.net/2017/07/ranking-every-alternative-rock-hit-from-worst-to-best/5/|title=Ranking: Every Alternative Rock No. 1 Hit from Worst to Best|last=Cosores|first=Philip|magazine=Consequence of Sound|date=July 4, 2017|access-date=September 3, 2020|page=5}}</ref> song, written in the key of E{{flat}} minor with a moderately slow tempo of 78 beats per minute. The song follows a chord progression of C{{flat}}–D{{flat}}–E{{flat}}m, and the vocals in the song span from D{{flat}}<sub>3</sub> to A{{flat}}<sub>4</sub>.<ref>{{Cite web|title = Blurry|url = http://www.musicnotes.com/sheetmusic/mtd.asp?ppn=MN0042251|website = www.musicnotes.com| date=May 21, 2002 |access-date = January 2, 2016}}</ref>
==Commercial performance== "Blurry" is Puddle of Mudd's most successful song, reaching the number-one spot on the ''Billboard'' Hot Mainstream Rock Tracks and Hot Modern Rock Tracks charts for 10 and nine weeks, respectively. This soon propelled the single to mainstream success, reaching the number five spot on both the ''Billboard'' Hot 100 Airplay<ref>{{cite magazine|url=http://www.billboard.com/charts/2002-05-25/radio-songs |title=Top 100 Music Hits, Top 100 Music Charts, Top 100 Songs & The Hot 100 |magazine=Billboard.com |access-date=August 20, 2011}}</ref> and ''Billboard'' Hot 100<ref>Whitburn, Joel (2004). ''The Billboard Book of Top 40 Hits'', 8th Edition (Billboard Publications), page 510.</ref> and number three on the Pop Songs chart. "Blurry" was the eighth-most played song on radio in Canada in 2002.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.canoe.com/JamMusicCharts/100_2002.html|title=Top 100 top played radio tracks in Canada in 2002|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20041123064030/http://www.canoe.com/JamMusicCharts/100_2002.html|access-date=April 11, 2020|archive-date=November 23, 2004}}</ref> The song is also the band's highest selling U.S. single ever, with sales of 753,000 copies, as of 2010.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://new.music.yahoo.com/blogs/chart_watch/60011/chart-watch-extra-top-20-songs-in-digital-history/ |title=Chart Watch Extra: Top 20 Songs In Digital History – Chart Watch |publisher=New.music.yahoo.com |date=August 6, 2010 |access-date=August 20, 2011}}</ref> Additionally, the song's writers, Wes Scantlin, Doug Ardito, and Jimmy Allen, won ASCAP (American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers) Song of the Year and Pop Song of the Year for this tune.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ascap.com/playback/2003/fall/popaward.html |title="Elvis Costello Receives Founders Award at 20th Annual Pop Music Awards" American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers Retrieved June 16, 2011 |publisher=Ascap.com |access-date=August 20, 2011}}</ref> "Blurry" also won two ''Billboard'' Awards in 2002, for Modern Rock Track of the Year and Rock Track of the Year. It also received the Kerrang! Award for Best Single. "Blurry" reached number eight on the UK Singles Chart on its release there in June 2002, becoming the band's highest-charting single in the United Kingdom.
==Music video== The video was directed by Limp Bizkit vocalist Fred Durst. The video shows Scantlin playing with his son Jordan, interspersed with shots of the band playing in a garage. Towards the end of the video, a man and a woman (presumably Jordan's mother and stepfather) are shown driving away with Jordan in the back seat as Wes watches sadly.
==Accolades== {| class="wikitable" |+ Accolades for "Blurry" ! Publication ! Region ! Accolade ! Year ! Rank |- | ''AOL Radio'' | United States | "Top Alternative Songs of the Decade – 2000s"<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.aolradioblog.com/2009/12/11/top-alternative-songs-of-the-decade-2000s/|archive-url=https://archive.today/20121208211222/http://www.aolradioblog.com/2009/12/11/top-alternative-songs-of-the-decade-2000s/|url-status=usurped|archive-date=December 8, 2012|title=Top Alternative Songs of the Decade – 2000s – AOL Radio Blog|last=Dickinson|first=Boonsri|publisher=AOL Radio|date=December 7, 2009|access-date=February 4, 2010}}</ref> | 2009 | style="text-align:center;"|3 |}
==Track listings== {{col-begin}} {{col-2}} '''Australian CD single'''<ref>{{cite AV media notes|title=Blurry|others=Puddle of Mudd|year=2002|type=Australian CD single liner notes|publisher=Flawless Records, Geffen Records|id=497 698-2}}</ref> # "Blurry" (radio edit) # "Abrasive" # "Nobody Told Me"
'''European CD single'''<ref>{{cite AV media notes|title=Blurry|others=Puddle of Mudd|year=2002|type=European CD single liner notes|publisher=Flawless Records, Geffen Records|id=497 709-2}}</ref> # "Blurry" (album version) # "All I Ask For"
'''UK cassette single'''<ref>{{cite AV media notes|title=Blurry|others=Puddle of Mudd|year=2002|type=UK cassette single sleeve|publisher=Flawless Records, Geffen Records|id=497 735-4}}</ref> # "Blurry" # "All I Ask For" (demo) {{col-2}} '''UK CD1'''<ref>{{cite AV media notes|title=Blurry|others=Puddle of Mudd|year=2002|type=UK CD1 liner notes|publisher=Flawless Records, Geffen Records|id=497 734-2}}</ref> # "Blurry" # "All I Ask For" (demo) # "Out of My Head" (live) # "Blurry" (video)
'''UK CD2'''<ref>{{cite AV media notes|title=Blurry|others=Puddle of Mudd|year=2002|type=UK CD2 liner notes|publisher=Flawless Records, Geffen Records|id=497 735-2}}</ref> # "Blurry" # "Control" (live) # "Bring Me Down" (live) {{col-end}}
==Charts== {{col-begin}} {{col-2}}
===Weekly charts=== {|class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center" |+Weekly chart performance for "Blurry" !Chart (2001–2002) !Peak<br/>position |- {{single chart|Australiapandora|52|url=https://webarchive.nla.gov.au/awa/20020423140000/http://pandora.nla.gov.au/pan/23790/20020424-0000/www.aria.com.au/Issue632.pdf|rowheader=true|access-date=September 22, 2020}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}} |- !scope="row"|Canada Radio (Nielsen BDS)<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.athleticscanada.com:80/JamMusicCharts/BDS_1.html|title=The Hits Charts (Airplay): Top 100 Singles|publisher=Jam!|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20020419104146/http://www.athleticscanada.com:80/JamMusicCharts/BDS_1.html|archive-date=April 19, 2002|date=April 18, 2002|url-status=dead|access-date=September 5, 2024}}</ref> |2 |- !scope="row"|Canada CHR (Nielsen BDS)<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.crosscanadacountdown.com/pdfs/2002.pdf|title=Canadian Top 20 in 2002|website=Cross Canada Countdown|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050407223203/http://www.crosscanadacountdown.com/pdfs/2002.pdf|archive-date=April 7, 2005|access-date=November 10, 2023}}</ref> |8 |- !scope="row"|Europe (Eurochart Hot 100)<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-and-Media/00s/2002/MM-2002-06-22.pdf|title=Eurochart Hot 100 Singles|magazine=Music & Media|volume=20|issue=26|page=14|date=June 22, 2002|access-date=July 23, 2020}}</ref> |30 |- !scope="row"|European Radio Top 50 (''Music & Media'')<ref>{{cite magazine |url= https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-and-Media/00s/2002/MM-2002-06-01.pdf |title=European Radio Top 50 |magazine=Music & Media |volume=16|issue=12|date=June 29, 2002|page=17|oclc=29800226 |access-date=April 30, 2023 |via=World Radio History}}</ref> |41 |- {{single chart|France|74|artist=Puddle of Mudd|song=Blurry|rowheader=true}} |- {{single chart|Germany|44|artist=Puddle of Mudd|song=Blurry|songid=5180|rowheader=true|accessdate=November 24, 2018}} |- {{single chart|Ireland2|18|artist=Puddle of Mudd|song=Blurry|rowheader=true|accessdate=March 18, 2018}} |- {{single chart|Italy|37|artist=Puddle of Mudd|song=Blurry|rowheader=true|accessdate=March 18, 2018}} |- !scope="row"|Netherlands (Dutch Top 40 Tipparade)<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.top40.nl/tipparade/2002/week-26|title=Tipparade-lijst van week 26, 2002|lang=dutch| publisher=Dutch Top 40|access-date=March 17, 2023}}</ref> |15 |- {{single chart|Dutch100|98|artist=Puddle of Mudd|song=Blurry|rowheader=true}} |- {{single chart|New Zealand|9|artist=Puddle of Mudd|song=Blurry|rowheader=true}} |- {{single chart|Scotland|7|date=20020615|artist=Puddle of Mudd|song=Blurry|rowheader=true|accessdate=March 18, 2018}} |- {{single chart|Switzerland|72|artist=Puddle of Mudd|song=Blurry|rowheader=true}} |- {{single chart|UK|8|date=20020615|artist=Puddle of Mudd|song=Blurry|rowheader=true|accessdate=March 18, 2018}} |- {{single chart|UKindie|12|date=20020518|artist=Puddle of Mudd|song=Blurry|rowheader=true|accessdate=November 24, 2018}} |- {{single chart|UKrock|1|date=20020615|artist=Puddle of Mudd|song=Blurry|rowheader=true|accessdate=November 24, 2018}} |- {{single chart|Billboardhot100|5|artist=Puddle of Mudd|rowheader=true|accessdate=March 18, 2018}} |- {{single chart|Billboardadultpopsongs|6|artist=Puddle of Mudd|rowheader=true|accessdate=March 18, 2018}} |- {{single chart|Billboardalternativesongs|1|artist=Puddle of Mudd|rowheader=true|accessdate=March 18, 2018}} |- {{single chart|Billboardmainstreamrock|1|artist=Puddle of Mudd|rowheader=true|accessdate=March 18, 2018}} |- {{single chart|Billboardpopsongs|3|artist=Puddle of Mudd|rowheader=true|accessdate=March 18, 2018}} |- !scope="row"|US Top 40 Tracks (''Billboard'')<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/artist/puddle-of-mudd-mn0000307102/awards|title=Puddle of Mudd Awards|publisher=AllMusic|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160501050136/https://www.allmusic.com/artist/puddle-of-mudd-mn0000307102/awards|archive-date=May 1, 2016|access-date=June 1, 2021}}</ref> |6 |} {{col-2}}
===Year-end charts=== {|class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center" |+Year-end chart performance for "Blurry" !Chart (2002) !Position |- !scope="row"|Canada Radio (Nielsen BDS)<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.jamshowbiz.com/JamMusicCharts/100_2002.html|title=Top 100 top played radio tracks in Canada in 2002|publisher=Jam!|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040812022009/http://www.jamshowbiz.com/JamMusicCharts/100_2002.html|archive-date=August 12, 2004|access-date=March 21, 2022}}</ref> |8 |- !scope="row"|UK Singles (OCC)<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ukchartsplus.co.uk/ChartsPlusYE2002.pdf|title=The Official UK Singles Chart 2002|work=UKChartsPlus|access-date=November 24, 2018}}</ref> |136 |- !scope="row"|US ''Billboard'' Hot 100<ref>{{cite magazine|magazine=Billboard|title=The Year in Music 2002: Hot 100 Singles & Tracks|date=December 28, 2002|volume=114|issue=52|url={{Google books|RA0EAAAAMBAJ|pg=RA1-PA15|plainurl=yes}}|page=YE-38|issn=0006-2510|access-date=June 8, 2020}}</ref> |10 |- !scope="row"|US Adult Top 40 (''Billboard'')<ref name="YE-97">{{cite magazine|magazine=Billboard|title=The Year in Music 2002: Top 40|date=December 28, 2002|volume=114|issue=52|url={{Google books|RA0EAAAAMBAJ|pg=RA1-PA39-IA35|plainurl=yes}}|page=YE-97|issn=0006-2510|access-date=June 8, 2020}}</ref> |14 |- !scope="row"|US Mainstream Rock Tracks (''Billboard'')<ref name="YE-87">{{cite magazine|magazine=Billboard|title=The Year in Music 2002: Mainstream and Modern Rock|date=December 28, 2002|volume=114|issue=52|url={{Google books|RA0EAAAAMBAJ|pg=RA1-PA39-IA25|plainurl=yes}}|page=YE-87|issn=0006-2510|access-date=June 8, 2020}}</ref> |1 |- !scope="row"|US Mainstream Top 40 (''Billboard'')<ref>{{cite magazine|title=Most-Played Mainstream Top 40 Songs of 2002|magazine=Airplay Monitor|volume=10|issue=51|page=12|date=December 20, 2002}}</ref> |14 |- !scope="row"|US Modern Rock Tracks (''Billboard'')<ref name="YE-87"/> |1 |- !scope="row"|US Top 40 Tracks (''Billboard'')<ref name="YE-97"/> |18 |}
=== Decade-end charts === {| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center" |+Decade-end chart performance for "Blurry" |- ! scope="col"| Chart (2000–2009) ! scope="col"| Peak<br />position |- ! scope="row"| US Hot Alternative Songs (''Billboard'')<ref name="decade-end">{{cite magazine|url=https://www.worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Billboard/00s/2009/BB-2009-12-19.pdf|title=The Decade In Music - Charts|via=World Radio History|magazine=Billboard|pages=161–162|date=December 19, 2009|access-date=March 11, 2026}}</ref> | 7 |- ! scope="row"| US Hot Rock Songs (''Billboard'')<ref name="decade-end"/> | 4 |} {{col-end}}
==Certifications== {{Certification Table Top|caption=Certifications and sales for "Blurry"}} {{Certification Table Entry|region=New Zealand|type=single|artist=Puddle of Mudd|title=Blurry|award=Platinum|relyear=2002|certyear=2023|source=radioscope|access-date=January 9, 2025}} {{Certification Table Entry|region=United Kingdom|type=single|artist=Puddle of Mudd|title=Blurry|award=Gold|relyear=2002|certyear=2023|id=14098-1737-1|access-date=June 30, 2023}} {{Certification Table Bottom|nosales=true|noshipments=true|streaming=true}}
==Release history== {|class="wikitable plainrowheaders" |+Release dates and formats for "Blurry" !scope="col"|Region !scope="col"|Date !scope="col"|Format(s) !scope="col"|Label(s) !scope="col"|{{abbr|Ref.|Reference}} |- !scope="row"|United States |October 16, 2001 |{{hlist|Mainstream rock|active rock|alternative radio}} |rowspan="3"|{{hlist|Flawless|Geffen}} |align="center"|<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-RandR/2000s/2001/RR-2001-10-12.pdf|title=Going for Adds|magazine=Radio & Records|issue=1423|pages=95, 99, 107|date=October 12, 2001|access-date=April 28, 2021}}</ref> |- !scope="row"|Australia |April 1, 2002 |CD |align="center"|<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.aria.com.au/Issue631.pdf|archive-url=https://webarchive.nla.gov.au/awa/20020423140000/http://pandora.nla.gov.au/pan/23790/20020424-0000/www.aria.com.au/Issue631.pdf|url-status=dead|archive-date=2002-04-23|title=The ARIA Report: New Releases Singles – Week Commencing 1st April 2002|publisher=ARIA|page=26|date=April 1, 2002|access-date=April 28, 2021}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref> |- !scope="row"|United Kingdom |June 3, 2002 |{{hlist|CD|cassette}} |align="center"|<ref>{{cite magazine|title=In-Store Next Week (from 3/6/02)|magazine=Music Week|page=11|date=June 1, 2002}}</ref> |}
==Covers== * P.M. Dawn appeared on NBC's ''Hit Me, Baby, One More Time'', performing "Set Adrift on Memory Bliss", and covered Puddle of Mudd's "Blurry". Despite the fact that Prince Be was still suffering the effects of this stroke, they beat Animotion, Missing Persons, Juice Newton and Shannon to claim the $20,000 charitable prize, which they contributed to the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, as Prince Be was a diabetic. In June 2019, P.M. Dawn collaborated with musician Tommy Marz on a studio version of Blurry dedicated to the memory of Attrell Cordes<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nationalrockreview.com/artist-news/tommy-marz-drops-new-single-featuring-p-m-dawn/ |title=Tommy Marz Drops New Single Featuring P.M. Dawn |date=June 21, 2019 |access-date=July 1, 2019 |work=National Rock Review }}</ref> * On May 21, 2021, country rock singer-songwriter Hardy released a cover of "Blurry" with an accompanying music video on YouTube.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cmt.com/news/1834103/hardy-dives-into-his-rock-loving-roots-with-cover-of-puddle-of-mudds-blurry/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210522020634/http://www.cmt.com/news/1834103/hardy-dives-into-his-rock-loving-roots-with-cover-of-puddle-of-mudds-blurry/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=May 22, 2021 |title= HARDY Dives Into His Rock-Loving Roots With Cover Of Puddle Of Mudd's "Blurry" |date=May 21, 2021 |work=CMT}}</ref>
==Uses in media== * This song is used as the title theme for the video game ''Ace Combat 5: The Unsung War''.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.gamespot.com/articles/ace-combat-5-lands-in-puddle-of-mudd/1100-6110753/ | title=Ace Combat 5 lands in Puddle of Mudd }}</ref> * This song is used in the trailer for the 2003 film ''A Man Apart''.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nxv0VLPy2_o |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211213/Nxv0VLPy2_o |archive-date=2021-12-13 |url-status=live| title=Trailer of ''A Man Apart'' | publisher=YouTube | access-date=July 22, 2013}}{{cbignore}}</ref> * On June 21, 2011, this song was released as downloadable content for the rhythm game ''Rock Band 3''.<ref>{{cite web|title=Blurry in Rock Band 3 DLC list|url=http://www.rockband.com/songs/finder#-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/blurry/|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110810191304/http://www.rockband.com/songs/finder#-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/blurry/|archive-date=August 10, 2011}}</ref> * The song is used in the American television show ''The Secret Life of the American Teenager'' in the series finale.
==References== {{Reflist}}
{{Puddle of Mudd}} {{Billboard Music Award for Top Rock Song|state=collapsed}} {{Kerrang! Award for Best Single}} {{Authority control}}
Category:2000 songs Category:2001 singles Category:Puddle of Mudd songs Category:Geffen Records singles Category:Music videos directed by Fred Durst Category:Rock ballads Category:2000s ballads Category:Songs about parenthood Category:Songs written by Wes Scantlin Category:Songs written by Doug Ardito Category:Songs written by Jimmy Allen (musician)