Jerk (song)

"Jerk" is a song by Canadian singer-songwriter Kim Stockwood, released in 1996 as the third single from her debut album, Bonavista. Stockwood wrote the song after Bonavista was released in 1995, but the album was re-released in 1996 with "Jerk" as the third track. The song became Stockwood's most successful hit in Canada, climbing to number three on the RPM Top Singles chart. It also found success in Iceland and New Zealand, reaching numbers 33 and 23 respectively.

"Jerk"
Single by Kim Stockwood
from the album Bonavista
ReleasedSummer 1996
FormatCD single, cassette single
Recorded1996
GenrePop rock
Length4:06
Label
Songwriter(s)
  • Kim Stockwood
  • Naoise Sheridan
Producer(s)Michael Phillip Wojewoda
Kim Stockwood singles chronology
"Enough Love"
(1995)		 "Jerk"
(1996)		 "You Won't Remember This"
(1996)

Background

Stockwood wrote the song with Naoise Sheridan seven months after the release of Bonavista in summer 1995. By that point, the two had worked out the melody of the song, but were having trouble coming up with a suitable chorus. "...I tried to jam so many words in that chorus. It was just so ridiculous, nothing suited it," Stockwood claimed.[1] She believed she had to wait for it to come to her. Eventually, Stockwood came up with the chorus, but she felt skeptical about singing the immature-sounding lyrics "You jerk / You jerk / You are such a jerk". After she sang the song a few times, however, she began to enjoy the refrain, citing the purging of emotions. She then performed the song for her A&R representative, who demanded a re-release of Bonavista so the song could appear on the album, as well as her eventual fourth single "You Won't Remember This".[1]

The album was re-released in 1996 with "Jerk" and "You Won't Remember This" on the track list while "Half the Man" and "Strong as I Should Be" were absent.[2] This re-release occurred while fellow Canadian rock musical Alanis Morissette was prevailing the music charts with her album Jagged Little Pill, but Stockwood did not think too much of the situation, saying, "'Is "Jerk" actually going to get on the radio? Come on.' But then, I’m going, 'Hey, Alanis says the f-word in hers.' ... and I’m like, 'Hey! Maybe I have a shot!'"[1]

Track listing

CD/maxi single[3]

  1. "Jerk" – 4:06
  2. "Compassion" – 4:05
  3. "Be Where You Are" – 5:12

US cassette single[4]

  1. "Jerk" – 4:13
  2. "Enough Love" – 3:31

Charts

References
  1. Warner, Andrea (31 August 2016). "Kim Stockwood reveals the stories behind her 2 biggest hits, 'Jerk' and 'Enough Love'". Retrieved 11 April 2018.
  2. "Kim Stockwood – Bonavista Overview". AllMusic. Retrieved 19 June 2018.
  3. "Charts.nz – Kim Stockwood – Jerk". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved 11 April 2018.
  4. "Kim Stockwood – Jerk/Enough Love Overview". AllMusic. Retrieved 12 April 2019.
  5. "Top RPM Singles: Issue 9529." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 11 April 2018.
  6. "Top RPM Adult Contemporary: Issue 9631." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 11 April 2018.
  7. "Íslenski Listinn Topp 40 (19.12. – 25.12. '96)". Dagblaðið Vísir (in Icelandic). 20 December 1996. Retrieved 2 October 2019.
  8. "RPM Year End Top 100 Hit Tracks". RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 11 April 2018.
  9. "RPM Year End Top 100 Adult Contemporary Tracks". RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 11 April 2018.
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