# This Is a Call

> Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/This_Is_a_Call
> Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/This_Is_a_Call.md
> Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/This_Is_a_Call
> Source revision: 1353712734
> License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/)

1995 single by Foo Fighters

"This Is a Call" Single by Foo Fighters from the album Foo Fighters B-side "Winnebago" "Podunk" Released June 19, 1995 Studio Robert Lang, Seattle Genre Grunge[1] power pop[2] alternative rock[3] Length 3:52 3:45 (live at Downing) Label Roswell Capitol Songwriter Dave Grohl Producers Foo Fighters, Barrett Jones Pat McCarthy, Sylvia Massy (live) Foo Fighters singles chronology "Exhausted" (1995) "This Is a Call" (1995) "I'll Stick Around" (1995)

"**This Is a Call**" is a song by American [rock](/source/Rock_music) band [Foo Fighters](/source/Foo_Fighters), released as the lead single from the band's 1995 [self-titled debut album](/source/Foo_Fighters_(album)). Released in June 1995, it is one of many songs [Dave Grohl](/source/Dave_Grohl) wrote and performed on the album when Foo Fighters was a one-man band.

## Origins

"This Is a Call" is one of the few songs on the Foo Fighters' debut album that does not date from Dave Grohl's days with [Nirvana](/source/Nirvana_(band)). It was a new song written in mid-1994, months after [Kurt Cobain](/source/Kurt_Cobain)'s [death](/source/Suicide_of_Kurt_Cobain). Grohl married his long-time girlfriend Jennifer Youngblood and wrote the song while on [honeymoon](/source/Honeymoon) in [Ireland](/source/Ireland), stating that "In that summer of 1994 I'd travelled a lot; I think I wrote 'This Is A Call' in Ireland. When I got back I booked five days in a recording studio, which seemed like an eternity, and I did the whole first Foo Fighters album in five days".[4]

## Lyrics

[Dave Grohl](/source/Dave_Grohl) said about the song: "The chorus says 'This is a call to all my past resignation'. It's just sort of like a little wave to all the people I ever played music with, people I've been friends with, all my relationships, my family. It's a hello, and in a way a thank you."[5]

"'This Is A Call' just seemed like a nice way to open the album, y'know, 'This is a call to all my past resignations...' I felt like I had nothing to lose, and I didn't necessarily want to be the drummer of Nirvana for the rest of my life without Nirvana. I thought I should try something I'd never done before and I'd never stood up in front of a band and been the lead singer, which was fucking horrifying and still is!"[4]

## Release and reception

On June 19, 1995, "This Is a Call" was serviced to US [alternative radio](/source/Alternative_radio) and was issued commercially in the United Kingdom as a [7-inch single](/source/7-inch_single), [12-inch single](/source/12-inch_single), and [CD single](/source/CD_single).[6][7] The following month, the song debuted at number 12 on the US *[Billboard](/source/Billboard_(magazine))* [Modern Rock Tracks](/source/Modern_Rock_Tracks) chart and rose to a peak of number two the following month.[8][9] The song also charted at number five on the [UK Singles Chart](/source/UK_Singles_Chart).[10]

No music video was made for the song; however, the band played the song live on the *[Late Show with David Letterman](/source/Late_Show_with_David_Letterman)* in mid-1995. It was the band's first national television performance.

## Other versions

- A live version recorded on June 15, 1996, at the [Golden Gate Park](/source/Golden_Gate_Park) as part of the [Tibetan Freedom Concert](/source/Tibetan_Freedom_Concert) was released on the "Free Tibet" DVD.

- Another version recorded at the following year's version of the festival on June 7, 1997, at the [Downing Stadium](/source/Downing_Stadium) was released on the *[Tibetan Freedom Concert](/source/Tibetan_Freedom_Concert_(album))* live album.

## Track listings

**UK 7-inch single; French and Japanese CD single**

1. "This Is a Call"

1. "Winnebago" (Grohl, Turner)

**UK 12-inch and CD single**

1. "This Is a Call"

1. "Winnebago"

1. "Podunk"

**Dutch and Australian CD single; New Zealand cassette single**

1. "This Is a Call"

1. "Winnebago"

1. "Podunk (Cement Mix)"

- "Podunk (Cement Mix)" is seemingly the same mix and version as the standard version of "Podunk". The reason for this is unknown.

## Personnel

- [Dave Grohl](/source/Dave_Grohl) – guitars, vocals, bass, drums

## Charts

Weekly charts Chart (1995) Peak position Australia (ARIA)[11] 9 Australia Alternative Singles (ARIA)[12] 1 Canada Top Singles (RPM)[13] 29 Canada Rock/Alternative (RPM)[14] 1 European Hot 100 Singles (Music & Media)[15] 14 European Hit Radio Top 40 (Music & Media)[16] 37 Iceland (Íslenski Listinn Topp 40)[17] 14 Ireland (IRMA)[18] 16 Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[19] 38 Netherlands (Single Top 100)[20] 32 New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[21] 11 Scotland Singles (OCC)[22] 7 UK Singles (OCC)[10] 5 US Radio Songs (Billboard)[23] 35 US Alternative Airplay (Billboard)[9] 2 US Mainstream Rock (Billboard)[24] 6 Year-end charts Chart (1995) Position Australia (ARIA)[25] 95 US Modern Rock Tracks (Billboard)[26] 24

## Certifications

Region Certification Certified units/sales Australia (ARIA)[27] Gold 35,000‡ United Kingdom (BPI)[28] Sales since 2005 Silver 200,000‡ ‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

## References

1. **[^](#cite_ref-1)** Partridge, Kenneth (July 4, 2015). ["Foo Fighters' Self-Titled Debut at 20: Classic Track-by-Track Album Review"](https://www.billboard.com/music/rock/foo-fighters-self-titled-debut-at-20-6620072/). *[Billboard](/source/Billboard_(magazine))*. Retrieved February 21, 2022.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-2)** Guarino, Mark (October 18, 2014). ["REVIEW: Foo Fighters at Cubby Bear a back-to-roots moment for Dave Grohl"](https://chicago.suntimes.com/2014/10/18/18427613/review-foo-fighters-at-cubby-bear-a-back-to-roots-moment-for-dave-grohl). *[Chicago Sun-Times](/source/Chicago_Sun-Times)*. Retrieved January 31, 2017.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-Bradley_2014_3-0)** Bradley, Larry (November 4, 2014). "The 1990s: Foo Fighters - "This is a Call". [*The Alternative Jukebox*](https://books.google.com/books?id=w_phoAEACAAJ). [Cassell](/source/Cassell_(publisher)). p. 204. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-1-84403-789-6](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-1-84403-789-6).

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-fooarchive.com_4-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-fooarchive.com_4-1) ["Foo Fighters: Kerrang! June '06"](http://www.fooarchive.com/features/kerrangjune06.htm). *www.fooarchive.com*.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-fooarch_5-0)** ["Foo Fighters : Dave Grohl's Guide To Every Song"](http://www.fooarchive.com/headwires/selftitled.htm). *www.fooarchive.com*.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-6)** "New Music for June". *[Radio & Records](/source/Radio_%26_Records)*. No. 1096. May 26, 1995. p. 78.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-7)** "New Releases: Singles". *[Music Week](/source/Music_Week)*. June 17, 1995. p. 31.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-8)** ["Alternative Airplay"](https://www.billboard.com/charts/alternative-airplay/1995-07-08/). *[Billboard](/source/Billboard_(magazine))*. July 8, 1995. Retrieved May 3, 2023.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-usmr_9-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-usmr_9-1) "[Foo Fighters Chart History (Alternative Airplay)](https://www.billboard.com/artist/Foo-Fighters/chart-history/MRT)". *[Billboard](/source/Billboard_(magazine))*. Retrieved November 13, 2016.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-uk_10-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-uk_10-1) "[Foo Fighters Songs and Albums | Full Official Chart History](https://www.officialcharts.com/artist/27860/Foo-Fighters)". [Official Charts Company](/source/Official_Charts_Company). Retrieved May 3, 2023.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-sc_Australia_Foo_Fighters_11-0)** "[Foo Fighters – This Is a Call](https://australian-charts.com/showitem.asp?interpret=Foo+Fighters&titel=This+Is+a+Call&cat=s)". [ARIA Top 50 Singles](/source/ARIA_Charts). Retrieved November 13, 2016.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-12)** ["ARIA Alternative Charts Top 20"](https://i.postimg.cc/wM1VCMJj/ARIA-Alternative-Charts-Top-20-6th-August-1995.jpg). *[ARIA Report](/source/ARIA_Report)*. No. 286. August 6, 1995. p. 12. Retrieved November 27, 2021.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-sc_Canadatopsingles_13-0)** "[Top RPM Singles: Image 2768](https://www.bac-lac.gc.ca/eng/discover/films-videos-sound-recordings/rpm/Pages/image.aspx?Image=nlc008388.2768&URLjpg=http%3a%2f%2fwww.collectionscanada.gc.ca%2fobj%2f028020%2ff4%2fnlc008388.2768.gif&Ecopy=nlc008388.2768)". *[RPM](/source/RPM_(magazine))*. [Library and Archives Canada](/source/Library_and_Archives_Canada). Retrieved November 13, 2016.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-sc_Canadarock_14-0)** "[Top RPM Rock/Alternative Tracks: Image 8516](https://www.bac-lac.gc.ca/eng/discover/films-videos-sound-recordings/rpm/Pages/image.aspx?Image=nlc008388.8516&URLjpg=http%3a%2f%2fwww.collectionscanada.gc.ca%2fobj%2f028020%2ff4%2fnlc008388.8516.gif&Ecopy=nlc008388.8516)". *[RPM](/source/RPM_(magazine))*. [Library and Archives Canada](/source/Library_and_Archives_Canada). Retrieved November 13, 2016.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-15)** ["Eurochart Hot 100 Singles"](https://www.worldradiohistory.com/hd2/IDX-UK/Music/Archive-Music-Media-IDX/IDX/90s/95/MM-1995-07-08-OCR-Page-0012.pdf) (PDF). *[Music & Media](/source/Music_%26_Media)*. July 8, 1995. p. 12. Retrieved July 28, 2018.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-16)** ["M & M Charts Airplay EHR Top 40"](https://www.worldradiohistory.com/hd2/IDX-UK/Music/Archive-Music-Media-IDX/IDX/90s/95/MM-1995-07-22-OCR-Page-0021.pdf) (PDF). *[Music & Media](/source/Music_%26_Media)*. Music & Media. July 22, 1995. p. 21. Retrieved February 10, 2019.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-17)** ["Íslenski Listinn Topp 40 (23.9 '95 – 29.9 '95)"](https://timarit.is/page/2931409?iabr=on#page/n19/mode/2up). *[Dagblaðið Vísir](/source/DV_(newspaper))* (in Icelandic). September 23, 1995. p. 20. Retrieved October 6, 2019.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-sc_Ireland2_Foo_Fighters_18-0)** "[The Irish Charts – Search Results – Foo Fighters](http://irishcharts.ie/search/placement?page=1&search_type=artist&placement=Foo%20Fighters)". [Irish Singles Chart](/source/Irish_Singles_Chart). Retrieved November 13, 2016.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-sc_Dutch40_Foo_Fighters_19-0)** "[Nederlandse Top 40 – Foo Fighters](https://www.top40.nl/top40-artiesten/Foo-Fighters)" (in Dutch). [Dutch Top 40](/source/Dutch_Top_40). Retrieved November 13, 2016.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-sc_Dutch100_Foo_Fighters_20-0)** "[Foo Fighters – This Is a Call](https://dutchcharts.nl/showitem.asp?interpret=Foo+Fighters&titel=This+Is+a+Call&cat=s)" (in Dutch). [Single Top 100](/source/Dutch_Single_Top_100). Retrieved November 13, 2016.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-sc_New_Zealand_Foo_Fighters_21-0)** "[Foo Fighters – This Is a Call](https://charts.nz/showitem.asp?interpret=Foo+Fighters&titel=This+Is+a+Call&cat=s)". [Top 40 Singles](/source/Official_Aotearoa_Music_Charts). Retrieved November 13, 2016.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-sc_Scotland_22-0)** "[Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart on 1/7/1995 – Top 100](https://www.officialcharts.com/charts/scottish-singles-chart/19950701/41/)". [Official Charts Company](/source/Official_Charts_Company). Retrieved May 3, 2023.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-sc_Billboardradiosongs_Foo_Fighters_23-0)** "[Foo Fighters Chart History (Radio Songs)](https://www.billboard.com/artist/Foo-Fighters/chart-history/HSB)". *[Billboard](/source/Billboard_(magazine))*. Retrieved November 13, 2016.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-sc_Billboardmainstreamrock_Foo_Fighters_24-0)** "[Foo Fighters Chart History (Mainstream Rock)](https://www.billboard.com/artist/Foo-Fighters/chart-history/RTT)". *[Billboard](/source/Billboard_(magazine))*. Retrieved November 13, 2016.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-25)** ["The ARIA Australian Top 100 Singles 1995"](http://i.imgur.com/aBqgAcE.jpg). [ARIA](/source/Australian_Recording_Industry_Association). Retrieved January 27, 2019.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-26)** "The Year in Music: Hot Modern Rock Tracks". *Billboard*. Vol. 107, no. 51. December 23, 1995. p. YE-77.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-AustraliaFoo_FightersThis_Is_a_CallsingleCertRef_27-0)** ["ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2023 Singles"](https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fo/orr9fphn3kyhykimwm11l/AExzyTkHniRw2CkE2G9HX6Y/2023%20Accreds.pdf?rlkey=b5et6u9n5p7f3gkxgmqhivbyf) (PDF). [Australian Recording Industry Association](/source/Australian_Recording_Industry_Association). Retrieved November 16, 2023.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-United_KingdomFoo_FightersThis_Is_A_CallsingleCertRef_28-0)** ["British single certifications – Foo Fighters – This Is A Call"](https://www.bpi.co.uk/page/certified-awards). [British Phonographic Industry](/source/British_Phonographic_Industry). Retrieved July 13, 2025. *Select*singles*in the Formats field.* *Type*This Is A Call Foo Fighters*in the "Search:" field.*

v t e Foo Fighters Dave Grohl Nate Mendel Pat Smear Chris Shiflett Rami Jaffee Ilan Rubin William Goldsmith Franz Stahl Taylor Hawkins Josh Freese Studio albums Foo Fighters The Colour and the Shape There Is Nothing Left to Lose One by One In Your Honor Echoes, Silence, Patience & Grace Wasting Light Sonic Highways Concrete and Gold Medicine at Midnight But Here We Are Your Favorite Toy EPs Five Songs and a Cover Songs from the Laundry Room Saint Cecilia Foo Files Live albums Skin and Bones Compilations Greatest Hits Medium Rare The Essential Foo Fighters Videos Everywhere but Home Skin and Bones Live at Wembley Stadium Singles "Exhausted" "This Is a Call" "I'll Stick Around" "For All the Cows" "Big Me" "Alone + Easy Target" "Monkey Wrench" "Everlong" "My Hero" "Walking After You" "Learn to Fly" "Stacked Actors" "Generator" "Breakout" "Next Year" "The One" "All My Life" "Times Like These" "Low" "Have It All" "Best of You" "DOA" "Resolve" "No Way Back"/"Cold Day in the Sun" "Miracle" "The Pretender" "Long Road to Ruin" "Cheer Up, Boys (Your Make Up Is Running)" "Let It Die" "Wheels" "Rope" "White Limo" "Walk" "Arlandria" "These Days" "Bridge Burning" "Something from Nothing" "The Feast and the Famine" "Congregation" "What Did I Do? / God as My Witness" "Outside" "Saint Cecilia" "Run" "The Sky Is a Neighborhood" "The Line" "Shame Shame" "No Son of Mine" "Waiting on a War" "Making a Fire" "Love Dies Young" "Rescued" "Under You" "Show Me How" "The Teacher" "The Glass" "Today's Song" "Asking for a Friend" "Your Favorite Toy" "Caught in the Echo" "Of All People" Other songs "Friend of a Friend" "Marigold" "I Am a River" "Spit Shine" Concert tours Wasting Light Tour Sonic Highways World Tour Concrete and Gold Tour Everything or Nothing at All Tour Take Cover Tour Associated acts Nirvana Late! Tenacious D Sunny Day Real Estate Germs Scream Probot Killing Joke Queens of the Stone Age Viva Death Nine Inch Nails Taylor Hawkins and the Coattail Riders The Fire Theft Jackson United Me First and the Gimme Gimmes No Use for a Name Them Crooked Vultures The Birds of Satan The Wallflowers Films Back and Forth Sonic Highways Studio 666 Related Discography Songs Awards and nominations Members 24 Hours of Foo Roswell Records Hail Satin Dream Widow Category

Authority control databases MusicBrainz work MusicBrainz release group

---
Adapted from the Wikipedia article [This Is a Call](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/This_Is_a_Call) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/This_Is_a_Call?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.