"Original Prankster" is a song by American rock band the Offspring. It is featured as the third track from their sixth studio album, Conspiracy of One, and was released to radio as its first single on October 10, 2000. The song features additional vocals by Redman and is included on the band's 2005 Greatest Hits album.
Prior to the release of Conspiracy of One, the Offspring distributed the track for free as a downloadable MP3 file on their official website. A competition was held, featuring a prize of $1 million (USD), which was awarded to a randomly selected participant who downloaded the song.
"Original Prankster" reached the top 10 in several countries, including Australia, Sweden, and the United Kingdom, and went to the top 10 on the US and Canadian rock charts. The single went Platinum in Australia in 2001, becoming the third song by the Offspring to reach platinum status in that country after "Pretty Fly (for a White Guy)" and "Why Don't You Get a Job?."
Music video The song follows the prankster, the subject of the song, through his life, pulling various pranks on his superiors, being motivated by Redman as a spiritual guide. As a child, he slips his dog's feces into his father's sandwich. In his teen years, he uses a bunsen burner on a perverted science teacher. When sent to the principal's office, he sets up the principal to be photographed in a compromising position with two students. Throughout the video, the band is shown to be playing around the Venice Fishing Pier in Venice, Los Angeles.
Finally, in the present, he switches off the whole city's power supply, though the band still manages to play in the dark and the crowd use flares to light the scene. At the end of the video, lightning strikes the prankster and disintegrates him.
Track listings Version 1
Australia CD Maxi
Personnel The Offspring Dexter Holland – vocals, guitar Noodles – guitar Greg K. – bass Ron Welty – drums
Additional musicians Redman – additional vocals
Charts
Weekly charts +Chart (2000–2001)PeakpositionCanada (Nielsen Soundscan)29El Salvador (El Siglo de Torreón)3Europe (Eurochart Hot 100)14European Radio Top 50 (Music & Media)22Iceland (Íslenski Listinn Topp 40)19Italy Airplay (Music & Media)11Portugal (AFP)6Quebec (ADISQ)3Spain Airplay (Music & Media)11
Year-end charts +Chart (2000)PositionAustralia (ARIA)93Italy (Musica e dischi)100Sweden (Hitlistan)52UK Singles (OCC)194US Mainstream Rock Tracks (Billboard)98US Modern Rock Tracks (Billboard)72 +Chart (2001)PositionAustralia (ARIA)68Canada (Nielsen SoundScan)193US Mainstream Rock Tracks (Billboard)47US Modern Rock Tracks (Billboard)60
Certifications
Release history +RegionDateFormat(s)Label(s)United StatesOctober 10, 2000ColumbiaJapanOctober 25, 2000CDEpicEuropeOctober 30, 2000CDEpicUnited KingdomNovember 6, 2000ColumbiaUnited StatesNovember 14, 2000Contemporary hit radioNew ZealandNovember 27, 2000CD
References