The Impression That I Get


"The Impression That I Get" is a song by American ska punk band the Mighty Mighty Bosstones, released as the lead single from their fifth studio album, Let's Face It, in February 1997. The track reached number one on the US Billboard Modern Rock Tracks chart and number 23 on the Billboard Hot 100 Airplay chart while also charting highly in Australia, Canada, and the United Kingdom. The song was certified gold in the United States and Australia. Chris Applebaum directed the song's music video while Adam Stern produced it.

Background

More than a year before the release of Let's Face It, the song appeared on Safe and Sound: A Benefit in Response to the Brookline Clinic Violence; the album was released in response to the slayings of two abortion clinic workers in two different clinics in Brookline, Massachusetts on December 30, 1994.

Music

Musically, the song is a mix of ska punk, alternative rock, punk rock, and reggae rock.

Live performances

On October 25, 1997, the Mighty Mighty Bosstones performed this song during their debut performance on a season 23 episode of Saturday Night Live hosted by Chris Farley.
In 1998, a live version of this song appeared on Live from the Middle East.

Track listings

US 7-inch single
  1. "The Impression That I Get" – 3:15
  2. "At It Again" – 2:04UK CD 1 and cassette single
  3. "The Impression That I Get" – 3:15
  4. "Is It 2" – 2:53UK CD 2
  5. "The Impression That I Get" – 3:15
  6. "Wake Up Call" – 2:16
  7. "So Many Ways" – 2:38European CD single
  8. "The Impression That I Get" – 3:15
  9. "Desensitized" – 2:04
  10. "Is It" – 2:53
  11. "Storm Hit" – 3:15Australian CD single
  12. "The Impression That I Get" – 3:13
  13. "Is It?" – 2:53
  14. "Storm Hit" – 3:14

Charts

Year-end charts

Chart Position
Australia 54

Usage in media

The song is featured on the soundtrack to the films Step Brothers, Chasing Amy, Fathers' Day, Krippendorf's Tribe, and Digimon: The Movie. The song is featured as a playable track in the North American and European versions of the 2003 video game Donkey Konga, as well as the 2009 video game Band Hero and the 2015 video game Rock Band 4. It is often credited as the origin of the Disney Channel theme, but the jingle was actually composed by Alex Lasarenko. Likewise, there is no official tie between this song and the 1997 rearrangement of the theme from America's Funniest Home Videos, which was assembled by Dan Slider, based on his own previous theme.