Psycho (song)

This article documents a current single. Information is likely to change as the song remains on the charts.

"Psycho"
Single by Puddle of Mudd from the album Famous
Released	October 2, 2007
Format	CD Single
Genre	Alternative Rock
Length	3:30
Label	Interscope Records
Writer	Wes Scantlin
Puddle of Mudd singles chronology
Famous (2007) Psycho (2007) Radiate (2008)

"Psycho" is the second single by post-grunge group Puddle of Mudd off of their album Famous. It was officially released on October 2, 2007, but was available for digital download on iTunes on September 18, 2007. The song is about wondering if oneself has a split personality and is a "psycho", as lead singer Wes Scantlin sings "maybe I'm the one who is the schizophrenic psycho".

Music video

The music video was shot at the famed Bates Motel, and premiered on Google! music on October 8, 2007. The video is an homage to various "classic" horror movies, and incorporates several characters and elements from those movies. The video starts with a full moon, while lead singer Wes Scantlin is driving a car at night with a group of cheerleaders and jocks, parodying the typical teenage victims in horror movies. As they're driving a man jumps out of the woods onto the road, and they hit him. Upon further inspection it is seen that the man is Michael Myers from the Halloween movies. As the group gathers around him to see if he's alright, Leatherface from the The Texas Chainsaw Massacre movies jumps out and grabs two of the girls, taking them back into the woods without the rest of them knowing. Michael Myers then proceeds to get up, revealing he was only pretending to be hurt, and begins chasing the group with a cleaver. The remaining members of the group runs from the killers until they come to The Bates Motel from the movie Psycho. They run to one of the rooms, taking refuge in it, while in the process disrupting a couple who happen to be Kid Rock and Pamela Anderson making cameos in the video. In the room, on the bedside table, Wes picks up a note that says, "I know what you did last album." Referencing I Know What You Did Last Summer. Then one of the girls decides to take a shower. The silhouette of a man is seen through the shower curtain with a knife, he opens the curtain to the shower, with the girl proceeding to scream, mimicking the famous shower scene from Psycho. It is then shown that it is just one of the jocks with a banana, playing a prank on the girl. Wes and the jock (played by Doug Ardito) laugh, and throw a banana peel into the shower. The girl doesn't see it, and slips on it, banging her head against the wall and killing her in the process. The group seeing this, flees the room, except for one who is shown being sucked into a static TV, somewhat parodying The Ring. Wes and his girlfriend run in a different direction then the others, but both groups make their way towards the famous Bates house. The group of remaining jocks and cheerleaders climb the stairs to the house, but are met by a girl playing Paris Hilton (a possible reference to The Stepford Wives) at the top, who kicks them down the stairs. Wes and his girlfriend enter the Bates house, only to see an old woman sitting in a chair. The woman is revealed to be Wes himself, dressed up as an old lady, again referencing the ending to Psycho. Wes is then shown realizing "maybe I'm the one who is the schizophrenic psycho." Scenes of the band playing are also shown throughout the video. DIRECTED BY: The Goetz Brothers, Kevin and Michael

Chart performance

The song debuted on Mainstream Rock Tracks at #32, and has so far reached #5, becoming their eighth top ten single on the chart. It also debuted on Modern Rock Tracks at #38, where it has so far reached #24.