{{Infobox song | name = Complete Mess | cover = Complete Mess 5SOS.jpg | alt = | type = single | artist = 5 Seconds of Summer | album = 5SOS5 | released = {{start date|2022|03|02|df=y}} | studio = {{hlist|Rancho V|Dragonfly Creek}} | genre = *Alternative rock<ref name=MTV/> *pop<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/music/pop/10-cool-new-pop-songs-5-seconds-of-summer-nilufer-yanya-sir-sly-1235040484/|title=10 Cool New Pop Songs to Get You Through the Week: 5 Seconds of Summer, Weeekly, Sir Sly & More|magazine=Billboard|date=7 March 2022|access-date=6 October 2022}}</ref> | length = 3:26 | label = BMG | writer = {{hlist|Michael Clifford|Luke Hemmings|Calum Hood|Ashton Irwin}} | producer = Michael Clifford | prev_title = 2011 | prev_year = 2021 | next_title = Take My Hand | next_year = 2022 | misc = {{External music video|type=single|header=Music video|1={{YouTube|GoQ85cs5fk0|"Complete Mess"}}}} }}
"'''Complete Mess'''" (stylised in all caps) is a song by Australian pop rock band 5 Seconds of Summer. It was released on 2 March 2022 independently in partnership with BMG, as the lead single from their fifth studio album ''5SOS5''.<ref name=rolling-stone>{{cite magazine|url=https://au.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/5-seconds-of-summer-new-single-complete-mess-37605/|title=5 Seconds of Summer Return with New Single, 'Complete Mess'|magazine=Rolling Stone|author=Tyler Jenke|date=3 March 2022|access-date=25 September 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bmg.com/us/news/5SOS-Complete-Mess.html|title=5 Seconds of Summer unleash new single 'Complete Mess'|date=2 March 2022|access-date=25 September 2022}}</ref> The song was written by the band and produced by guitarist Michael Clifford.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://readdork.com/news/5-seconds-of-summer-new-single-complete-mess-video/|title=5 Seconds of Summer have dropped their new single 'Complete Mess' – watch|author=Stephen Ackroyd|date=2 March 2022|access-date=24 September 2022}}</ref>
At the APRA Music Awards of 2023, the song was shortlisted for Song of the Year.<ref name="SotYshortlist">{{cite web |url=https://www.abc.net.au/triplej/news/2023-apra-song-of-the-year-nominees-announced/101888132 |title=These 20 songs are up for 2023 APRA Song Of The Year |website=Australian Broadcasting Corporation |date=25 January 2023 |access-date=28 January 2023 }}</ref>
==Background== The band teased "Complete Mess" in February 2022 sharing snippets of the song on TikTok and Twitter.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://readdork.com/news/5-seconds-of-summer-teasing-complete-mess/|title=5 Seconds of Summer are teasing more of their new track, 'Complete Mess'|author=Stephen Ackroyd|date=28 February 2022|access-date=25 September 2022}}</ref> Upon the release of "Complete Mess", the group also released a statement about the song: {{blockquote|"For this record we realized if you want something done that truly represents how you feel, you’ve got to do it yourselves. We wanted that expansive sound that we naturally gravitate towards when we play together, so we had to learn how to record that. This new music is so authentically us. It’s exactly the kind of music we want to be making right now and it’s a good song to be able to reconnect to our fans after such a long time of not releasing music. We can’t wait for everyone to hear what we’ve been working on."<ref name=rolling-stone/>}}
The song was recorded at Rancho V in Joshua Tree, Clifford's own home studio and Dragonfly Creek in Malibu. The title of the song refers to a fan-favorite t-shirt that lead singer Luke Hemmings used to wear.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://kiisfm.iheart.com/content/2022-03-02-5-seconds-of-summer-return-with-new-song-complete-mess/|title=5 Seconds Of Summer Return With New Song 'Complete Mess'|website=KiisFM|author=Taylor Fields|date=2 March 2022|access-date=25 September 2022}}</ref>
''MTV'' describes the song as a "2000s alt-rock with a more mature but quite nostalgic sound," while ''Rolling Stone'' calls the song, "an expansive vibe with contemporary pop sensibilities."<ref name=MTV>{{cite web|url=https://www.mtv.com/news/4xe5f6/5-seconds-of-summer-the-method-interview|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220826170745/https://www.mtv.com/news/4xe5f6/5-seconds-of-summer-the-method-interview|url-status=dead|archive-date=August 26, 2022|title=How 5 Seconds Of Summer Created A 'Complete Mess' On '5SOS5'|website=MTV|author=Athena Serrano|date=26 August 2022|access-date=25 September 2022}}</ref><ref name=rolling-stone/>
==Composition== The track runs at 81 beats per minute and is in the key of D Mixolydian, using a I-v-IV-I chord progression in the verses and a I-v-♭VII-I progression for the chorus. The band's vocals span from F♯3 to A4.
==Reception== "Complete Mess" was received with positive reviews, most praising the band for their growth and maturity of their sound. ''Soundigest.com'' calls it, "a song that's sheer emotional power sends chills down your body."<ref>{{cite web|url=https://soundigest.com/2022/03/09/5sos-complete-mess/|title=5 Seconds of Summer Drops "Complete Mess" Their Dreamy Single From Their Upcoming 5th Studio Album|author=Kelsey Sullivan|date=9 March 2022|access-date=25 September 2022}}</ref> ''Musictalkers.com'' praises the instrumental work of the song stating, "the utilization of authentic instruments layered with electronic, booming pop sounds is the contrast that perfectly mirrors 5 Seconds of Summer’s original vision when they first entered the music scene."<ref>{{cite web|url=https://musictalkers.com/latest-news/8332-review-complete-mess-%E2%80%93-5-seconds-of-summer|title=Review: Complete Mess − 5 Seconds of Summer|author=Nicholas Gaudet|date=13 April 2022|access-date=25 September 2022}}</ref>
==Music video== The music video for "Complete Mess" was released on 2 March 2022 and was directed by Lauren Dunn.<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/music/pop/5-seconds-of-summer-complete-mess-watch-1235038354/|title=5 Seconds of Summer Are a 'Complete Mess' on Anthemic Single: Watch|magazine=Billboard|author=Glenn Rowley|date=2 March 2022|access-date=25 September 2022}}</ref> The video is set in a desert and the quartet can be seen lying on their backs on the sand and walking in separate ways throughout the video. Towards the end, they join together and walk towards a blue orb of light, which represents "the place where all the songs, all the love, and everything comes from in this life," according to drummer Ashton Irwin. He also adds, "I guess the metaphorical sense is that the four of us are in this infinite place of creation, and the dessert represents that."<ref name=MTV/>
==Personnel== Credits for "Complete Mess" adapted from AllMusic.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/complete-mess-mw0003681103/credits|title=Complete Mess - 5SOS Credits|website=AllMusic|access-date=24 September 2022}}</ref>
{{col-begin}} {{col-2}} '''Musicians''' *Luke Hemmings – rhythm guitar, keyboards, vocals, composer *Michael Clifford – lead guitar, vocals, composer, producer *Calum Hood – bass, keyboards, vocals, composer *Ashton Irwin – drums, keyboards, backing vocals, composer {{col-2}}
'''Production''' *Neal Avron – engineering *Chris Gehringer – engineering *Jacob Munk – engineering *Tim Nelson – producer *Scott Skrzynski – mixing assistant {{col-end}}
==Charts== {{col-begin}} {{col-2}}
===Weekly charts=== {| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center" |+Weekly chart performance for "Complete Mess" ! scope="col"| Chart (2022) ! scope="col"| Peak<br />position |- ! scope="row"| Australia Independent Singles (AIR)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://air.org.au/chart/independent-label-singles-11-apr-2022/|title=Singles Chart (Independent Labels) 11 April 2022|website= Australian Independent Record Labels Association|date=11 April 2022|access-date=24 September 2022}}</ref> | 2 |- ! scope="row" | Brazil (Pop Internacional)<ref>{{cite web|title=Top 10 Pop Internacional: 23/05/2022 - 13 27/05/2022|url=https://charts.crowley.com.br/tpopinternacional.html|access-date=3 May 2022|publisher=Crowley Broadcast Analysis|language=pt-BR|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220502031217/https://charts.crowley.com.br/tpopinternacional.html|archive-date=2 May 2022}}</ref> | 5 |- {{single chart|Billboardcanadachrtop40|29|artist=5 Seconds of Summer|rowheader=true|access-date=24 September 2022}} |- {{single chart|Billboardcanadahotac|33|artist=5 Seconds of Summer|rowheader=true|access-date=24 September 2022}} |- ! scope="row"| Mexico Ingles Airplay (''Billboard'')<ref>{{Cite magazine|url= https://www.billboard.com/artist/5-seconds-of-summer/chart-history/min/|title=5 Seconds of Summer Chart History (Mexico Ingles Airplay)|magazine=Billboard|access-date=24 September 2022}}</ref> | 14 |- {{single chart|Dutch40|11|year=2022|week=22|rowheader=true|access-date=1 December 2022}} |- {{single chart|Dutch100|71|artist=5 Seconds of Summer|song=Complete Mess|rowheader=true|access-date=24 September 2022}} |- ! scope="row"| New Zealand Hot Singles (RMNZ)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://aotearoamusiccharts.co.nz/archive/hot-singles/2022-03-11|title=NZ Hot Singles Chart|publisher=Recorded Music NZ|date=14 March 2022|access-date=24 September 2022}}</ref> | 12 |- {{single chart|UKdownload|53|date=20220311|rowheader=true|accessdate=24 September 2022}} |- {{single chart|Billboardhot100|85|artist=5 Seconds of Summer|rowheader=true|access-date=24 September 2022}} |- {{single chart|Billboardadultpopsongs|11|artist=5 Seconds of Summer|rowheader=true|accessdate=24 September 2022}} |- {{single chart|Billboardpopsongs|19|artist=5 Seconds of Summer|rowheader=true|accessdate=24 September 2022}} |} {{col-2}}
===Year-end charts=== {| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center" |+ 2022 year-end chart performance for "Complete Mess" ! scope="col"| Chart (2022) ! scope="col"| Position |- ! scope="row"| Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.top40.nl/bijzondere-lijsten/top-100-jaaroverzichten/2022|title=Top 100-Jaaroverzicht van 2022|publisher=Dutch Top 40|language=nl|access-date=3 January 2023}}</ref> | 70 |- ! scope="row"| US Adult Top 40 (''Billboard'')<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/2022/adult-pop-songs/|title=Adult Pop Airplay Songs – Year-End 2022|magazine=Billboard|access-date=2 December 2022}}</ref> | 48 |} {{col-end}}
==Release history== {| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" |+ Release history and formats for "Complete Mess" ! scope="col"| Region ! scope="col"| Date ! scope="col"| Format ! scope="col"| Label ! scope="col"| {{abbr|Ref.|Reference}} |- ! scope="row"| Various | 2 March 2022 | {{hlist|Digital download|streaming}} | rowspan="3"| BMG |<ref>{{cite web|url=https://music.apple.com/us/album/complete-mess-single/1610328928|title=Complete Mess - Single by 5 Seconds of Summer|website=Apple Music|accessdate=24 September 2022}}</ref> |- ! scope="row"| Italy | 4 March 2022 | rowspan="2"| Contemporary hit radio | <ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.earone.it/radio_date/search/artist/history/5%20Seconds%20of%20Summer/|title=5 Seconds of Summer - Radio Date|website=EarOne|date=4 March 2022|access-date=24 September 2022}}</ref> |- ! scope="row"| United States | 8 March 2022 | <ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.allaccess.com/top40-mainstream/future-releases|title=Mainstream Pop Future Releases|publisher=All Access|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20220228183545/https://www.allaccess.com/top40-mainstream/future-releases|archivedate=28 February 2022|access-date=24 September 2022}}</ref> |}
==References== {{reflist}}
{{5 Seconds of Summer}}
{{Authority control}}
Category:2022 singles Category:2022 songs Category:2020s ballads Category:5 Seconds of Summer songs Category:Rock ballads Category:Pop ballads