"What a Waster" is the debut single by English rock 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 ...

. The song received little airplay because it contains frequent profanity. "What a Waster" was initially left off the UK edition of the band's debut album ''

Up the Bracket ''Up the Bracket'' is the debut album by English indie rock band The Libertines, released in October 2002. It reached #35 in the UK Albums Chart. The album was part of a resurgence for the British indie/alternative scene and received widespread ...

'' but was later included as the 13th track on a subsequent re-issue. The song was used in the film '' The Football Factory''.

Reception

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 ...

'' included the song at number 96 in their list of 500 Greatest Songs of All Time, writing that the song "subscribed to all the classic pop single rules: under three minutes, catchy-as-hell, five chords max and instantly banned by broadcasters the world over."

Track listing

All songs written by

Pete Doherty Peter Doherty (born 12 March 1979) is an English musician, songwriter, actor, poet, writer, and artist. He is best known for being co-frontman of The Libertines, which he formed with Carl Barât in 1997. His other musical projects are indie b ...

and

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 ...

. ;7" # "What a Waster" – 2:58 # "I Get Along" – 2:53 ;CD # "What a Waster" – 2:58 # "I Get Along" – 2:53 # "Mayday" – 1:03

Chart performance

References

{{Authority control 2002 songs 2002 debut singles The Libertines songs Rough Trade Records singles