Quarantine

Album: single release only (2020)
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Songfacts®:

  • Recorded amid the coronavirus outbreak, this two-minute punk track finds blink-182 profanely lamenting how we've all been hit hard by the time spent in isolation and social distancing.
  • Drummer Travis Barker first mentioned this song while speaking with Spin magazine in May 2020 when he said the band would drop it within a fortnight. However, the standalone single's release was delayed and it wasn't issued until August 7, 2020.
  • The song explores the boredom while quarantining and pokes fun at the national hysteria surrounding the pandemic.

    We don't need social distance, we don't need old people
    So throw the shop doors open and save our economy
    We don't need ICU beds or PPE


    Said vocalist Mark Hoppus: "This song is about the sadness, confusion, anger and frustration we are all experiencing right now. I hope that everybody is safe and that we can get through this very soon. Can't wait to see you all on the other side."

    Drummer Travis Barker added: "Mark sounds more pissed off than I've ever heard him, and I really like it."
  • Mark Hoppus' angsty vocal is matched on the fast-paced punk number by Barker's frazzled drums. Said Barker: "The song was inspired by the quarantine and the crappy punk rock music we have loved to play since day one. All the drums are one take and I even sang some backup vocals."
  • Korean-American producer Brian Lee helped Hoppus and Barker to write the quarantine anthem. Lee is best known for his work with pop artists such as Fifth Harmony ("Work from Home") Camila Cabello ("Havana") and Post Malone ("Goodbyes").
  • The song's music video features raw footage of the band shot on iPhones.

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