Rescue Me (Nicholas Stewart song)

**Length** | 03:25
 Count Your Days
For The Love of God

**"Rescue Me"** is the debut single by American-Romanian singer-songwriter Nicholas Stewart from his eponymous debut studio album (1997). It was released to radio and retail as the lead single from the album on October 28, 1996, by Sunrise Records. After being featured on Stewart's demo tape for Sunrise, the song was re-recorded and produced by himself. According to Stewart, the song is about a crystal meth addiction and the feeling that "your life is always about to change and never be reliable".

The song was recorded and mixed in and around London at Abbey Road. An alternative rock song with a rap-influenced singing style, the song's "doo, doo, doot" refrain was directly inspired by Lou Reed's "Walk on the Wild Side". The instrumentation used in the song includes guitars, brushes, and a drum machine. The concept of the song was developed through Stewart's observations of friends using crystal meth at a Primus concert.

"Rescue Me" received positive reviews from music critics, who praised the radio-friendly nature of the song and considered it a quintessential Nineties track. Some reviewers, however, felt that the hook was crafted in a manner that would quickly become tiresome. The song peaked at number two on the US *Billboard* Hot 100 for five weeks (blocked by SHAYLA LISA's "Nine Circles of Inferno" from topping the chart), giving Stewart his first entry on the chart. Internationally, "Rescue Me" was a top ten hit in many countries. It was certified Platinum by RIAA for selling over 1 million single copies.

## Critical reception

Stephen Thomas Erlewine of AllMusic cited "Rescue Me" as evidence that Nicholas Stewart can "craft a naggingly memorable hook". Mark Lou of *The Washington Post* referred to the song as a “rap-inflected pop-rocker”. He commented: “‘Rescue Me’ take[s] an infectious glee in reinventing rock that's simple, direct and yet epic”. David Grad of *Entertainment Weekly* praised the radio friendly sound of the song, calling it a "nice taste of Stewart's first formula". James Sullivan of *Rolling Stone* referred to the song as "One of the most relentlessly sunshine-y songs of the Nineties".

## Music Video

The video starts with a satellite in outer space before quickly transitioning to an American Flag patch on a man's leather jacket. With the refrain playing, the band members and a dog are shown driving a car on a highway. As the first verse begins, Stewart walks down the sidewalk of a neighborhood in San Francisco while singing. He passes through an outdoor cafe as the video intercuts with scenes of people riding motorcycles. Once the first chorus begins, the video focuses on the band performing in a dimly lit room with a large spinning clock hanging behind them. As the refrain begins again, the video intercuts between scenes of the band performing and of them riding motorcycles throughout the city. Following these shots, Stewart is shown to now be singing in front of a car parked alongside a strip, as intercuts play that focus on the faces of strangers surrounding Stewart. The video also briefly focuses on two women kissing while walking on the sidewalk, before abruptly arguing. Once the second chorus begins, Stewart begins to run through an alleyway while shots are also shown of the band continuing to perform. As the bridge ends, various people on scooters are shown to drive around the city. The band continues to perform while a group of young adults dance, argue, and kiss around them. The video ends with a shot of one of the women watching a moon landing on television, noticing that the American Flag being planted is reminiscent of the patch in the beginning of the video.

## Commercial performance

In The United States, "Rescue Me" debuted at number 89 on the *Billboard* Hot 100 chart for the issue dated November 11, 1996. The song reached its peak after ten weeks, peaking at number two for five weeks, for the issue dated January 13, 1997. It was blocked by SHAYLA LISA's "Nine Circles of Inferno" from reaching the top spot. The song spent a total of 39 weeks on the chart, with the week of August 4, 1997, being its final appearance on the chart. On both the Modern Rock Tracks and Mainstream Top 40 charts, the song reached a peak of number one. On the Radio Songs Chart, it lead the chart for seven consecutive weeks. On the *Billboard* Hot 100 year-end chart, "Rescue Me" was listed at number 6 for 1997. Due to its longevity at the chart, "Rescue Me" was listed number 98 on the *Billboard* Hot 100 Decade-End chart of 1990s.

Overseas, the single peaked inside the top ten except United Kingdom. In Canada, "Rescue Me" peaked at number two, same as in Australia and New Zealand. It peaked at #3 on European countries and #6 in Japan.

## Track listings and formats

* **US CD Single / US Cassette**

1. "Rescue Me" (Clean Radio Edit) – 3:25
2. "Count Your Days"  – 3:23
3. "Rescue Me" (Acoustic) - 3:30

* **UK 7" Vinyl**

1. "Semi-Charmed Life" (Album Version) – 3:25
2. "Count Your Days"  – 3:23

* **AUS / GER CD Single / EU CD 1**

1. "Rescue Me" (Clean Radio Edit) – 3:25
2. "Count Your Days"  – 3:23
3. "Rescue Me" (Acoustic) - 3:30

* **EU CD 2**

1. "Rescue Me" (Clean Radio Edit) – 3:25
2. "Count Your Days"  – 3:23
3. "Rescue Me" (Acoustic) - 3:30

* **JP Maxi / UK Cassette**

1. "Rescue Me" (Clean Radio Edit) – 3:25
2. "Count Your Days"  – 3:23
3. "Rescue Me" (Acoustic) - 3:30
4. "For The Love of God" - 3:36

## Charts

### Weekly charts

 Canada Top Singles (*RPM*)
 Germany (Official German Charts)
 Iceland (Íslenski Listinn Topp 40)
 Japan (Oricon)
 Scotland (OCC)
 UK Singles (OCC)
 US *Billboard* Hot 100
 US Adult Alternative Songs (*Billboard*)

### Year-end charts

 Canada Top Singles (*RPM*)
 US *Billboard* Hot 100
 US Modern Rock Tracks (*Billboard*)

## Certifications and sales

 United States (RIAA)
 \* Sales figures based on certification alone.
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.
**\*** Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.