"Can't Stand Me Now" is the first single from English

rock Rock most often refers to: * Rock (geology), a naturally occurring solid aggregate of minerals or mineraloids * Rock music, a genre of popular music Rock or Rocks may also refer to: Places United Kingdom * Rock, Caerphilly, a location in Wales ...

band

the Libertines The Libertines are an English rock band, formed in London in 1997 by frontmen Carl Barât (vocals/guitar) and Pete Doherty (vocals/guitar). The band, centred on the songwriting partnership of Barât and Doherty, has also included John Hassall ...

' self-titled second album. The song was their biggest hit, and peaking at number two on the

UK Singles Chart The UK Singles Chart (currently titled Official Singles Chart, with the upper section more commonly known as the Official UK Top 40) is compiled by the Official Charts Company (OCC), on behalf of the British record industry, listing the top-s ...

and number 28 on the Irish Singles Chart. In the United Kingdom, it is their second highest-selling single after "

Don't Look Back into the Sun "Don't Look Back into the Sun" is a song released by the Libertines as their fourth single. ''NME'' magazine awarded it single of the week upon its release. "Don't Look Back into the Sun" was released as a single only, therefore not appearing on ...

History

The song was written by

Carl Barât Carl Ashley Raphael Barât (; born 6 June 1978) is a British musician and actor, best known for being the co-frontman with Pete Doherty of the garage rock band The Libertines. He was the frontman and lead guitarist of Dirty Pretty Things, and ...

and Pete Doherty with

Mark Keds Mark Myers (28 October 1970 – 11 January 2021), better known as Mark Keds, was an English singer, songwriter and guitarist, from Twickenham, London, best known for leading the bands Senseless Things and Deadcuts. ''Kerrang!'' hailed him as a " ...

(also known as Mark Myers and credited on this track as Mark Hammerton) who was previously in a number of bands including

Senseless Things Senseless Things were an English pop punk band, formed in 1986 in London. The band released four studio albums and achieved two UK Top 20 hit singles before splitting up in 1995. Senseless Things reformed in 2017 to play several gigs including S ...

the Wildhearts The Wildhearts are an English rock band, formed in 1989 in Newcastle upon Tyne. The band's sound is a mixture of hard rock and melodic pop music, often described in the music press as combining influences as diverse as the Beatles and 1980s- ...

and Jolt. The song is autobiographical, documenting the breakdown of Doherty and Barât's relationship which led to the ultimate split of the band later in the same year.

Release

The song received some exposure in the United States; WFNX in

Boston Boston (), officially the City of Boston, is the state capital and most populous city of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, as well as the cultural and financial center of the New England region of the United States. It is the 24th- mo ...

debuted the song by playing it twice back-to-back before its official radio airplay release. The promotional video for the song was filmed at one of the band's gigs at the

Kentish Town Forum The O Forum Kentish Town is a concert venue in Kentish Town, London, England owned by MAMA Group, MAMA & Company, and originally built in 1934. History The venue was built in 1934 and was originally used as an art deco cinema. After the cine ...

at the end of 2003 and was directed by ex-

The Jesus and Mary Chain The Jesus and Mary Chain are a Scottish alternative rock band formed in East Kilbride in 1983. The band revolves around the songwriting partnership of brothers Jim and William Reid. After signing to independent label Creation Records, they re ...

bassist

Douglas Hart Douglas Alexander Hart (born 2 May 1965) is a British musician and music video director. Career Hart was the first bassist and founding member of the Scottish band The Jesus and Mary Chain, and played with the group from 1984 to 1991. He is n ...

Reception

In May 2007, ''

NME ''New Musical Express'' (''NME'') is a British music, film, gaming, and culture website and brand. Founded as a newspaper in 1952, with the publication being referred to as a 'rock inkie', the NME would become a magazine that ended up as a f ...

'' placed "Can't Stand Me Now" at number 13 in its list of the "50 Greatest Indie Anthems Ever". ''NME'' also named the song as the best track of 2004. In October 2011, ''NME'' placed it at number 26 on its list "150 Best Tracks of the Past 15 Years".

Cover artwork

The cover art features an orange X and yellow background (CD 1) / blue X and green brushed background (CD 2) cover art by Sophie Thunder. The CD is a black disc with the orange X graphic (CD 1) / white disc with the blue X graphic (CD 2) from cover art, track listing and Rough Trade logo in orange / blue, and black on white / white on black 'THE LIBERTINES' logo. The back cover is a silhouette, black-and-white photograph by Sophie Thunder of Pete and Carl standing in front of a window smoking a cigarette.

Track listings

UK 7-inch single :A. "Can't Stand Me Now" (Doherty, Barât, Richard Hammerton) :B. "(I've Got) Sweets" (Doherty, Barât) UK CD single # "Can't Stand Me Now" (Doherty, Barât, Hammerton) # "Never Never" (Doherty, Barât) US CD single # "Can't Stand Me Now" (Doherty, Barât, Hammerton) # "Never Never" (Doherty, Barât) # "All at Sea" (Doherty) US maxi-CD single # "Can't Stand Me Now" (Doherty, Barât, Hammerton) # "Cyclops" (Doherty, Barât, Peter Wolfe) # "Dilly Boys" (Doherty, Barât) European maxi-CD single # "Can't Stand Me Now" (Doherty, Barât, Hammerton) # "Cyclops" (Doherty, Barât, Wolfe) # "Dilly Boys" (Doherty, Barât) # "Can't Stand Me Now" (video)

Charts

Weekly charts

Year-end charts

Certifications

References

{{Authority control 2004 songs 2004 singles The Libertines songs Rough Trade Records singles Songs written by Carl Barât Songs written by Pete Doherty Song recordings produced by Mick Jones (The Clash) UK Independent Singles Chart number-one singles