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"Abuse Me"
Single by Silverchair
from the album Freak Show
B-side	"Undecided"
Released	April 1997
Recorded	1996
Genre	Grunge
Length	4:05
Label	Murmur
Songwriter(s)	Daniel Johns
Producer(s)	Nick Launay
Silverchair singles chronology
"Freak" (1997) "Abuse Me" (1997) "Cemetery" (1997)

"Abuse Me" is a song by the Australian rock band Silverchair. It was released as the second single from their 1997 album, Freak Show. In the United States, Sony chose "Abuse Me" as the first single from Freak Show despite protests by the band's manager. "Freak" was the Australian lead single and the preferred lead single from the album. It was also released on their The Best of Volume 1. The single peaked at number four on both the Billboard Modern Rock Tracks and Mainstream Rock Tracks charts, making it their second biggest hit in the United States (after "Tomorrow").

The single contained the B-side "Undecided", (not to be confused with "Undecided" from Frogstomp) a Masters Apprentices cover, which featured Deniz Tek of Radio Birdman playing lead guitar. Also included on the single was a remix of "Freak", produced by Paul Mac, marking the first time that Daniel Johns and Paul Mac worked together.

Background

Johns said about the song: "With 'Abuse Me', I just wanted to get all the feelings off my chest, the feelings I'd had when I read all the negative commentary. The song is basically saying, 'Say what you like. We don't give a fuck what you think. We're just playing our music'." Johns also said that "every song I've ever heard sounds like another song I've heard".

Track listing

Australian CD single (MATTCD049)/limited 7-inch (MATTV049)

1. "Abuse Me"
2. "Undecided"
3. "Freak (Remix for Us Rejects)"

• The song "Undecided" is not the Silverchair original song included in the Frogstomp album. This song was originally by The Masters Apprentices.
  • The limited 7-inch edition is now deleted and rare.

UK CD1 (6643681)

1. "Abuse Me"
2. "Freak (Remix for Us Rejects)"

UK CD2 (6647905)

1. "Abuse Me"
2. "Surfin' Bird"
3. "Slab" (Nicklaunoise Mix)

• Contains fold-out poster.

European CD single (6647902)

1. "Abuse Me"
2. "Freak (Remix for Us Rejects)"
3. "Blind"

US promo CD (ESK9310)

1. "Abuse Me"

• This promo version has the same cover of the "Freak" single.

Charts

Certifications

References

1. "Billboard". 22 February 1997.
2. "Silverchair – Abuse Me". ARIA Top 50 Singles.
3. "Top RPM Singles: Issue 3176." RPM. Library and Archives Canada.
4. "Top RPM Rock/Alternative Tracks: Issue 8115." RPM. Library and Archives Canada.
5. "Silverchair – Abuse Me". Top 40 Singles.
6. "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company.
7. "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company.
8. "Silverchair Chart History (Alternative Airplay)". Billboard.
9. "Silverchair Chart History (Mainstream Rock)". Billboard.
10. "Silverchair Chart History (Radio Songs)". Billboard.
11. "Pop/Alternative Top 20" (PDF). Radio & Records. No. 1573. 7 March 1997. p. 38. Retrieved 15 October 2020.
12. "ARIA Charts - End Of Year Charts - Top 100 Singles 1997". ARIA. Retrieved 13 April 2018.
13. "RPM '97 Year End Top 100 Hit Tracks". RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 13 April 2018.
14. "RPM '97 Year End Top 50 Alternative Tracks". RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 13 April 2018.
15. "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 1997 Singles" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association.

External links

• Silverchair – Abuse Me on YouTube

• 1997 singles
• 1997 songs
• Silverchair songs
• Song recordings produced by Nick Launay
• Songs written by Daniel Johns
• Murmur (record label) singles