Big Me

"Big Me" is the fourth single by Foo Fighters from their self-titled debut album.^[6] Released in March 1996, the song became a crossover hit for the band on pop radio, when it reached #13 on the Billboard Hot 100 Airplay.^[7]

"Big Me"
Single by Foo Fighters
from the album Foo Fighters
Released	March 25, 1996[1]
Recorded	1994–1995
Studio	Robert Lang, Seattle
Genre	Alternative rock[2] power pop[3] pop rock[4] jangle pop[5]
Length	2:13
Label	Roswell/Capitol
Songwriter(s)	Dave Grohl
Producer(s)	Barrett Jones Dave Grohl
Foo Fighters singles chronology
"For All the Cows" (1995) "Big Me" (1996) "Alone + Easy Target" (1996)
Music video
"Big Me" on YouTube

Background

"Big Me" was written and performed entirely by Dave Grohl, who at the time was the sole member of Foo Fighters.^[8] The song originated during Grohl's time with Nirvana, and was played during their final studio session, which also produced the band's last recorded song, "You Know You're Right".^[9] A version of "Big Me" from this era was later released on the Foo Fighters EP Songs from the Laundry Room.^[10]

Music video

The song became well known for its music video, which parodies Mentos advertisements, turning them into commercials for "Footos," with the "Freshmaker" slogan being rendered as "The Fresh Fighter".^[11] The concept came from director Jesse Peretz, who had originally pitched the idea to another band, and the Foo Fighters accepted the concept because, according to Dave Grohl, "We had some difficulty finding a treatment that would suit the song, which is this short, tongue-in-cheek, ridiculously candy-coated pop tune. We didn't want to make this big, pretentious portrait video. We wanted to make fun of ourselves and the song." The video, which was entirely filmed on location in Sydney Central Business District, McMahons Point, Kirribilli, North Sydney, New South Wales, Australia,^[12] debuted on MTV on February 14, 1996, and quickly became a Buzz Bin clip.^[13] It was eventually nominated for 5 MTV Video Music Awards at the 1996 MTV Video Music Awards, winning only "Best Group Video".

The video's success led to many fans throwing Mentos at the band whenever they played the song live.^[14] For an extended period of time, the band did not play the song live due to this, as Grohl cited: "We did stop playing that song for a while because, honestly, it's like being stoned. Those little … things are like pebbles – they hurt." The band only started to change its mind after Weezer started performing "Big Me" during the Foozer tour both bands did together.^[15][16]

2019 Record Store Day re-release

The "Big Me" single was re-released on a 3-inch vinyl for Record Store Day on April 13, 2019.^[17] The single is one of several 3-inch Record Store Day re-issues that is playable on special miniature record players.^[17]

Singles

CD single

1. "Big Me"
2. "Floaty (BBC Evening Session Recording 23 November 1995)"
3. "Gas Chamber (BBC Evening Session Recording 23 November 1995)" (Angry Samoans cover)
4. "Alone + Easy Target (BBC Evening Session Recording 23 November 1995)"

7" White Vinyl

1. "Big Me"
2. "Floaty (BBC Evening Sessions Recording 23 November 1995)
3. "Gas Chamber (BBC Evening Sessions Recording 23 November 1995) (Angry Samoans cover)

Maxi CD single

1. "Big Me"
2. "Winnebago"
3. "How I Miss You" (features Dave Grohl's sister Lisa on bass^[14] and Mike Nelson on drums)
4. "Podunk"
5. "Ozone" (Ace Frehley cover)
6. "For All the Cows" (live at the Reading Festival, August 26, 1995)
7. "Wattershed" (live at the Reading Festival, August 26, 1995)

3” Record Store Day 2019 Exclusive Single

1. “Big Me”

Charts

Weekly charts Chart (1996) Peak position Australia (ARIA)[18] 65 Australia Alternative Singles (ARIA)[19] 17 Canada Top Singles (RPM)[20] 15 Canada Rock/Alternative (RPM)[21] 5 European Hot 100 Singles (Music & Media)[22] 58 European Hit Radio Top 40 (Music & Media)[23] 27 Iceland (Íslenski Listinn Topp 40)[24] 18 Ireland (IRMA)[25] 27 Quebec Airplay (ADISQ)[26] 25 UK Singles (OCC)[27] 19 UK Rock & Metal (OCC)[28] 1 US Radio Songs (Billboard)[29] 13 US Adult Alternative Songs (Billboard)[30] 9 US Alternative Airplay (Billboard)[31] 3 US Adult Pop Airplay (Billboard)[32] 23 US Pop Airplay (Billboard)[33] 11 US Mainstream Rock (Billboard)[34] 18

Year-end charts Chart (1996) Peak position US Alternative (Radio & Records)[35] 14 US Modern Rock (Billboard)[36] 17 US Mainstream Top 40 (Billboard)[37] 63 US Mainstream Rock (Billboard)[38] 79

Certifications

Region	Certification	Certified units/sales
Australia (ARIA)[39]	Gold	35,000‡
New Zealand (RMNZ)[40]	Gold	15,000‡
United Kingdom (BPI)[41] Sales since 2005	Silver	200,000‡
‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Awards

Year	Award	Results
1996	MTV Award for Best Group Video	Won