"Here's to the Zeros" is a song recorded by Canadian pop-rock group Marianas Trench. It is their second single from their EP Something Old / Something New and was released on December 25, 2014 in Canada and the US.[1] It was released outside of Canada and the US on December 29, 2014.[2] The song peaked at number 57 on the Canadian Hot 100 chart and was certified platinum in 2023.[3][4]
Background and composition
"Here's to the Zeros" was originally intended to be released in their fourth album Astoria[5] until Josh Ramsay confirmed on Twitter that the album would contain brand new songs and the track wouldn't appear on the album as it did not fit the tone.[6] Ramsay spoke about the meaning behind the song on how it isn't possible to live a "perfect clean pop image."
"I came up with the lyrical concept right after attending the Grammy's for co-writing 'Call Me Maybe.' I felt a ton of internal and external pressure to come up with something as big. I felt like the industry was pushing for everyone to be these clean-cut pop types with no edge. I knew I would never be able to be that, so I decided to write something that went the exact opposite way. I open the song talking about getting arrested for drugs in high school and go from there, embracing all of my downfalls and, in fact, celebrating them. Besides, all those downfalls led me to exactly where I am today. No one can live up to the perfect clean pop image, nor should they have to."[7]
Critical reception
In 2015, the song was nominated for the MMVA Fan Fave Video.[8]
Music video
The music video premiered on March 5, 2015 and was directed by Kyle Davison and Josh Ramsay.[9] It features the band parodying Sesame Street and spoofing the TV show Mister Rogers' Neighborhood.[7]
