An Honest Mistake

"An Honest Mistake"
Single by the Bravery
from the album The Bravery
B-side	"Hot Pursuit" "Hey Sunshiney Day" "Unconditional"
Released	January 31, 2005 (2005-01-31)
Recorded	2004
Length	3:39
Label	Island
Songwriter(s)	Sam Endicott
Producer(s)	Sam Endicott
The Bravery singles chronology
"An Honest Mistake" (2005) "Fearless" (2005)

"An Honest Mistake" is a song by American rock band the Bravery. It was released as their debut single and the lead single from their self-titled studio album on January 31, 2005. The song peaked at number seven on the UK Singles Chart and number 33 on the Irish Singles Chart.

Critical reception

AllMusic writer MacKenzie Wilson said that the song "saunters like classic New Order with its dark-hued mechanical energy."^[1] Lost At Sea's Sarah Peters put the track alongside "Public Service Announcement" for showing the band's honed-in musicianship and knowledge of new wave, saying that when they "hit the airwaves, there shouldn't be too many listeners impressed by the band's amount of study - why analyze and appreciate when you could just dance?"^[2] Adam Moerder of Pitchfork Media found the track to be one of the few standouts on the record, calling it "one of the few sassy moments on the album, with Endicott mockingly singing in falsetto "Don't look at me that way/ It was an honest mistake."^[3]

Music video

The video for "An Honest Mistake" was directed by Michael "Mike" Palmieri (Foo Fighters, The Strokes) and features the band performing the song apparently surrounded by a Rube Goldberg machine. The chain starts with several strings of dominoes and includes many other objects, such as light bulbs, eggs, and an aquarium. Different parts of the action are shown from multiple views, often showing it one way, switching to another angle, then switching back to the original view. Eventually a flaming arrow shoots toward a target, but misses to the right.^[4]

Track listings

UK 7-inch single (9880264)[5] A. "An Honest Mistake" – 3:40 B. "Hot Pursuit" (duet version) – 3:04 UK CD single (9880300)[6] "An Honest Mistake" – 3:39 "Hey Sunshiney Day" – 2:27 UK DVD single (9880301)[7] "An Honest Mistake" (video) "Unconditional" (video) The making of "Unconditional"

Australian CD single (9881709)[8] "An Honest Mistake" "Hey Sunshiney Day" "No Breaks" "An Honest Mistake" (video)

Charts

Weekly charts Chart (2005) Peak position Australia (ARIA)[9] 87 Ireland (IRMA)[10] 33 Scotland (OCC)[11] 6 UK Singles (OCC)[12] 7 US Billboard Hot 100[13] 97 US Alternative Airplay (Billboard)[14] 12

Year-end charts Chart (2005) Position UK Singles (OCC)[15] 138 US Modern Rock Tracks (Billboard)[16] 31

Release history

Region	Date	Format(s)	Label(s)	Ref.
United States	January 31, 2005	Modern rock radio	Island	[17]
United Kingdom	February 28, 2005	7-inch vinyl CD	Loog	[18]
Australia	May 9, 2005	CD	Island	[19]
United States	June 20, 2005	Contemporary hit radio		[20]

References

1. Wilson, MacKenzie. "The Bravery – The Bravery". AllMusic. Retrieved October 28, 2016.
2. Peters, Sarah (April 12, 2005). "The Bravery – The Bravery (Island Records)". Lost At Sea. Retrieved October 28, 2016.
3. Moerder, Adam (April 19, 2005). "The Bravery: The Bravery". Pitchfork Media. Retrieved October 28, 2016.
4. "The Bravery - An Honest Mistake". YouTube. June 16, 2009. Archived from the original on 2021-12-21. Retrieved August 2, 2015.
5. An Honest Mistake (UK 7-inch single sleeve). The Bravery. Loog Records. 2005. 9880264.
6. An Honest Mistake (UK CD single liner notes). The Bravery. Loog Records. 2005. 9880300.
7. An Honest Mistake (UK DVD single liner notes). The Bravery. Loog Records. 2005. 9880301.
8. An Honest Mistake (Australian CD single liner notes). The Bravery. Island Records. 2005. 9881709.
9. "Issue 794" ARIA Top 100 Singles. National Library of Australia. Retrieved September 24, 2020.
10. "Irish-charts.com – Discography The Bravery". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved January 20, 2020.
11. "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved August 27, 2016.
12. "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved August 27, 2016.
13. "The Bravery Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved August 27, 2016.
14. "Alternative Airplay". Billboard. July 9, 2005. Retrieved August 10, 2023.
15. "The Official UK Singles Chart 2005" (PDF). UKChartsPlus. Retrieved September 4, 2018.
16. "2005 The Year in Charts: Top Modern Rock Songs". Billboard Radio Monitor. Vol. 13, no. 50. December 16, 2005. p. 52.
17. "FMQB Airplay Archive: Modern Rock". FMQB. Archived from the original on March 22, 2013. Retrieved August 10, 2023.
18. "Key Releases: Singles". Music Week. February 26, 2005. p. 17.
19. "The ARIA Report: New Releases Singles – Week Commencing 9th May 2005" (PDF). ARIA. May 9, 2005. p. 28. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2005-05-19. Retrieved June 24, 2021.
20. "Going for Adds" (PDF). Radio & Records. No. 1611. June 17, 2005. p. 21. Retrieved June 24, 2021.

External links

• "An Honest Mistake" at Discogs (list of releases)