Complete Mess

Album: 5SOS5 (2022)
Charted: 85
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • Here, Luke Hemmings, Michael Clifford, and Calum Hood trade off vocals about the worthwhile chaos of a relationship.

    Caught up in Heaven, but your Heaven ain't the same
    But I've never been a saint, have I?
    Oh, you make me complete
    You make me complete
    You make me a complete mess


    The title refers to a favorite tee-shirt of Luke Hemmings he wore during the band's early years touring. It read: "YOU COMPLETE MEss."
  • Created during a writing trip in Joshua Tree, the four band members wrote "Complete Mess" with Michael Clifford taking on production duties. The anthemic pop track is the first song entirely written and produced by the Australian quartet. "For this record we realized if you want something done that truly represents how you feel, you've got to do it yourselves," 5 Seconds of Summer explained. "We wanted that expansive sound that we naturally gravitate towards when we play together, so we had to learn how to record that."

    The band added the song is authentically them and "exactly the kind of music we want to be making right now."
  • Photographer and director Lauren Dunn (Ingrid Andress' "Lady Like," Lauren Jauregui's "More Than That") shot the video. The ethereal, dreamlike visual shows the four band members wandering through a desert.
  • 5 Seconds of Summer released "Complete Mess" as the lead single from 5SOS5. The record debuted on top of the UK albums chart, earning the Aussie band their third UK #1 album after Sounds Good Feels Good (from 2015) and CALM (2020).

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

Bob Daisley

Bob DaisleySongwriter Interviews

Bob was the bass player and lyricist for the first two Ozzy Osbourne albums. Here's how he wrote songs like "Crazy Train" and "Mr. Crowley" with Ozzy and Randy Rhoads.

David Bowie Leads the Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Long-Haired Men

David Bowie Leads the Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Long-Haired MenSong Writing

Bowie's "activist" days of 1964 led to Ziggy Stardust.

Al Jourgensen of Ministry

Al Jourgensen of MinistrySongwriter Interviews

In the name of song explanation, Al talks about scoring heroin for William Burroughs, and that's not even the most shocking story in this one.

Linda Perry

Linda PerrySongwriter Interviews

Songwriting Hall of Famer Linda Perry talks about her songs "What's Up" and "Beautiful," her songwriting process, and her move into film music.

Danny Clinch: The Art of Rock Photography

Danny Clinch: The Art of Rock PhotographySong Writing

One of rock's top photographers talks about artistry in photography, raising funds for a documentary, and enjoying a County Fair with Tom Waits.

Boy Bands

Boy BandsFact or Fiction

From NKOTB to 1D, how well do you know your boy bands?