Hit That

"Hit That"
"Hit That"
Single by the Offspring
from the album Splinter
B-side	"Da Hui"
Released	November 19, 2003
Genre	Pop-punk
Length	2:48
Label	Columbia
Songwriter	Dexter Holland
Producer	Brendan O'Brien
The Offspring singles chronology
European version
Import cover

"Hit That" is a song by American rock band the Offspring, included as the fourth track on the band's seventh studio album, Splinter (2003), and was released as its first single. The song also appears as the 13th track on their Greatest Hits (2005). "Hit That" was released to US rock radio on November 3, 2003.

Upon its release, "Hit That" reached the top 20 on the Australian ARIA Singles Chart and on the UK Singles Chart, as well as No. 64 on the US Billboard Hot 100. The song also topped the Billboard Modern Rock Tracks chart; this was the first time an Offspring song would reach No. 1 on that chart since their breakthrough single "Come Out and Play" was released a decade earlier in 1994.

Composition

The song's lyrics, as put by Dexter Holland, are "about the consequences of promiscuity or the idea that no matter what the consequences might be, people are going to be out there doing it with each other", discussing how it results in teenage pregnancy and dysfunctional families.^[3]

Holland detailed:

"It's about taking responsibility. A generation ago, people were talking about the disintegration of the family because everyone was getting divorced, and how it was taking such a terrible toll on society. Well, you look around nowadays, and it's disintegrated so much more. Joe Blow has got three different kids by three different girls and vice versa, and it's happening more and more. And ultimately the kids are the ones who suffer from that. But when you get down to it, people are gonna hook up, so there's nothing you can do about it."^[4]

Music video

The music video for the song, directed by John Williams and David Lea, tried to reflect the irresponsible male of the lyrics not in a literal way, but by telling the story of a dog that turns out to be an amoral force of mayhem, and needed to be caught and neutered to stop its destructive nature.

The video combines live-action footage and computer-generated effects, with Williams and Lea playing the part of the dog's owner, a blue man lip-syncing the song's lyrics by wearing gloves and a mask, onto which digital eyes and mouth were superimposed, by creating what Williams described as "a character you can't peg as either completely real or completely computer-generated". To create the same effect on the dog, there was an attempt at making a Great Dane wear a mask, but the dog did not like it, so instead an illuminated muzzle was worn that gave reference for the eventually superimposed animated head.

A first draft had caricatures of The Offspring's members through the video, but the band denied that, wanting to avoid something resembling a typical performance video.^[3]

The video appears on the Complete Music Video Collection DVD, released in 2005.

Track listing

European CD maxi
No.	Title	Length
1.	"Hit That"	2:48
2.	"Da Hui"	1:32
3.	"Hit That" (USC Marching Band)

UK CD maxi
No.	Title	Length
1.	"Hit That"	2:48
2.	"The Kids Aren't Alright" (BBC Radio 1 Session)	4:16
3.	"Long Way Home" (Live)	2:34
4.	"Hit That" (USC Marching Band)	1:51
5.	"Hit That" (Video CD Extra)

Limited edition 7-inch picture disc
No.	Title	Length
1.	"Hit That"	2:48
2.	"(Can't Get My) Head Around You" (Live)

Germany limited edition 3-inch CD
No.	Title	Length
1.	"Hit That"	2:48
2.	"Hit That" (USC Marching Band)	1:51

Personnel

The Offspring

Dexter Holland – vocals, guitar
Noodles – guitar
Greg K. – bass

Additional musicians

Josh Freese – drums
Ronnie King – keyboards

Charts

Weekly charts

Chart (2004)	Peak position
Australia (ARIA)^[5]	13
Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)^[6]	21
Belgium (Ultratip Bubbling Under Wallonia)^[7]	16
CIS Airplay (TopHit)^[8]	66
Croatia (HRT)^[9]	10
Czech Republic (IFPI)^[10]	9
European Singles Sales (Billboard)^[11]	17
Finland (Suomen virallinen lista)^[12]	13
France (SNEP)^[13]	32
Germany (GfK)^[14]	31
Ireland (IRMA)^[15]	33
Italy (FIMI)^[16]	19
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40 Tipparade)^[17]	2
Netherlands (Single Top 100)^[18]	60
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)^[19]	24
Paraguay (Notimex)^[20]	4
Scotland (OCC)^[21]	8
Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)^[22]	57
UK Singles (OCC)^[23]	11
UK Rock & Metal (OCC)^[24]	1
US Billboard Hot 100^[25]	64
US Alternative Airplay (Billboard)^[26]	1
US Mainstream Rock (Billboard)^[27]	6

Year-end charts

Chart (2004)	Position
US Mainstream Rock Tracks (Billboard)^[28]	24
US Modern Rock Tracks (Billboard)^[29]	14

Release history

Region	Date	Format(s)	Label(s)	Ref(s).
United States	November 3, 2003	Mainstream rock active rock alternative radio	Columbia	^[30]^[31]
Japan	November 19, 2003	CD	Sony	^[32]
Australia	November 24, 2003		Columbia	^[33]
Denmark	January 12, 2004			^[34]
United Kingdom	January 19, 2004	7-inch vinyl CD		^[35]
United States	January 19, 2004	Contemporary hit radio		^[36]

References

^ Haukland, Stein (June 22, 2004). "The Offspring". Ink 19. Retrieved August 4, 2025.
^ "Press Release – January 2004". Southerntracks.com. Archived from the original on April 11, 2013. Retrieved July 19, 2013.
^ ^a ^b D'Angelo, Joe (February 12, 2004). "Lens Recap: The Story Behind The Offspring's 'Hit That'". MTV News. Archived from the original on November 7, 2012. Retrieved June 3, 2011.
^ Guns N' Roses' Chinese Democracy Snatched By Offspring
^ "The Offspring – Hit That". ARIA Top 50 Singles.
^ "The Offspring – Hit That" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40.
^ "The Offspring – Hit That" (in French). Ultratip. Retrieved December 15, 2018.
^ The Offspring — Hit That. TopHit. Retrieved October 9, 2024.
^ "Top Lista Hrvatskog Radija". Croatian Radiotelevision. Archived from the original on February 5, 2004. Retrieved April 14, 2023.
^ "Rádio 2004" (in Czech). IFPI. Archived from the original on April 5, 2004. Retrieved August 19, 2020.
^ "Eurocharts" (PDF). Billboard. February 7, 2004. Retrieved August 17, 2023.
^ "The Offspring: Hit That" (in Finnish). Musiikkituottajat.
^ "The Offspring – Hit That" (in French). Le classement de singles.
^ "The Offspring – Hit That" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved December 15, 2018.
^ "Irish-charts.com – Discography The Offspring". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved December 20, 2023.
^ "The Offspring – Hit That". Top Digital Download.
^ "Tipparade-lijst van week 9, 2004" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved March 26, 2023.
^ "The Offspring – Hit That" (in Dutch). Single Top 100.
^ "The Offspring – Hit That". Top 40 Singles.
^ "Paulina Rubio y Alex Ubago, en primeros lugares" (in Spanish). El Universal (Mexico) . April 25, 2004. Archived from the original on May 1, 2023. Retrieved May 4, 2023.
^ "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved December 15, 2018.
^ "The Offspring – Hit That". Swiss Singles Chart.
^ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved December 15, 2018.
^ "Official Rock & Metal Singles Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved December 15, 2018.
^ "The Offspring Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard.
^ "The Offspring Chart History (Alternative Airplay)". Billboard.
^ "The Offspring Chart History (Mainstream Rock)". Billboard.
^ "2004 Year End Charts: Hot Mainstream Rock Tracks Titles". Billboard. December 25, 2004. Archived from the original on May 7, 2005. Retrieved March 3, 2025.
^ "Year in Music & Touring: Hot Modern Rock Tracks". Billboard. Vol. 116, no. 52. December 25, 2004. p. YE-70.
^ "FMQB Airplay Archive: Modern Rock". Friday Morning Quarterback Album Report, Incorporated. Archived from the original on September 21, 2013. Retrieved October 30, 2016.
^ "Going for Adds". Radio & Records. No. 1528. October 31, 2003. p. 20.
^ "ヒット!ザット | オフスプリング" [Hit! That | Offspring] (in Japanese). Oricon. Retrieved February 11, 2024.
^ "The ARIA Report: New Releases Singles – Week Commencing 24th November 2003" (PDF). ARIA. November 24, 2003. p. 25. Archived from the original (PDF) on February 22, 2008. Retrieved November 12, 2023.
^ "Uge 1–7" [Week 1–7] (PDF) (in Danish). Sony Music Denmark. p. 8. Archived from the original (PDF) on November 22, 2004. Retrieved November 12, 2023.
^ "New Releases: Singles". Music Week. January 17, 2004. p. 33.
^ "Going for Adds". Radio & Records. No. 1538. January 16, 2004. p. 24.

External links

"Hit That" Official music video on YouTube

[1] Haukland, Stein (June 22, 2004). "The Offspring". Ink 19. Retrieved August 4, 2025.

[2] "Press Release – January 2004". Southerntracks.com. Archived from the original on April 11, 2013. Retrieved July 19, 2013.

[lens-3] D'Angelo, Joe (February 12, 2004). "Lens Recap: The Story Behind The Offspring's 'Hit That'". MTV News. Archived from the original on November 7, 2012. Retrieved June 3, 2011.

[4] Guns N' Roses' Chinese Democracy Snatched By Offspring

[sc_Australia_The_Offspring-5] "The Offspring – Hit That". ARIA Top 50 Singles.

[sc_Austria_The_Offspring-6] "The Offspring – Hit That" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40.

[sc_Wallonia_Tip_The_Offspring-7] "The Offspring – Hit That" (in French). Ultratip. Retrieved December 15, 2018.

[CIS-8] The Offspring — Hit That. TopHit. Retrieved October 9, 2024.

[9] "Top Lista Hrvatskog Radija". Croatian Radiotelevision. Archived from the original on February 5, 2004. Retrieved April 14, 2023.

[10] "Rádio 2004" (in Czech). IFPI. Archived from the original on April 5, 2004. Retrieved August 19, 2020.

[11] "Eurocharts" (PDF). Billboard. February 7, 2004. Retrieved August 17, 2023.

[sc_Finland_The_Offspring-12] "The Offspring: Hit That" (in Finnish). Musiikkituottajat.

[sc_France_The_Offspring-13] "The Offspring – Hit That" (in French). Le classement de singles.

[sc_Germany_The_Offspring-14] "The Offspring – Hit That" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved December 15, 2018.

[sc_Ireland3_The_Offspring-15] "Irish-charts.com – Discography The Offspring". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved December 20, 2023.

[sc_Italy_The_Offspring-16] "The Offspring – Hit That". Top Digital Download.

[17] "Tipparade-lijst van week 9, 2004" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved March 26, 2023.

[sc_Dutch100_The_Offspring-18] "The Offspring – Hit That" (in Dutch). Single Top 100.

[sc_New_Zealand_The_Offspring-19] "The Offspring – Hit That". Top 40 Singles.

[20] "Paulina Rubio y Alex Ubago, en primeros lugares" (in Spanish). El Universal (Mexico) . April 25, 2004. Archived from the original on May 1, 2023. Retrieved May 4, 2023.

[sc_Scotland_-21] "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved December 15, 2018.

[sc_Switzerland_The_Offspring-22] "The Offspring – Hit That". Swiss Singles Chart.

[sc_UK_-23] "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved December 15, 2018.

[sc_UKrock_-24] "Official Rock & Metal Singles Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved December 15, 2018.

[sc_Billboardhot100_The_Offspring-25] "The Offspring Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard.

[sc_Billboardalternativesongs_The_Offspring-26] "The Offspring Chart History (Alternative Airplay)". Billboard.

[sc_Billboardmainstreamrock_The_Offspring-27] "The Offspring Chart History (Mainstream Rock)". Billboard.

[28] "2004 Year End Charts: Hot Mainstream Rock Tracks Titles". Billboard. December 25, 2004. Archived from the original on May 7, 2005. Retrieved March 3, 2025.

[29] "Year in Music & Touring: Hot Modern Rock Tracks". Billboard. Vol. 116, no. 52. December 25, 2004. p. YE-70.

[30] "FMQB Airplay Archive: Modern Rock". Friday Morning Quarterback Album Report, Incorporated. Archived from the original on September 21, 2013. Retrieved October 30, 2016.

[31] "Going for Adds". Radio & Records. No. 1528. October 31, 2003. p. 20.

[32] "ヒット!ザット | オフスプリング" [Hit! That | Offspring] (in Japanese). Oricon. Retrieved February 11, 2024.

[33] "The ARIA Report: New Releases Singles – Week Commencing 24th November 2003" (PDF). ARIA. November 24, 2003. p. 25. Archived from the original (PDF) on February 22, 2008. Retrieved November 12, 2023.

[34] "Uge 1–7" [Week 1–7] (PDF) (in Danish). Sony Music Denmark. p. 8. Archived from the original (PDF) on November 22, 2004. Retrieved November 12, 2023.

[35] "New Releases: Singles". Music Week. January 17, 2004. p. 33.

[36] "Going for Adds". Radio & Records. No. 1538. January 16, 2004. p. 24.

[1]

[2]

[3]

[4]

[5]

[6]

[7]

[8]

[9]

[10]

[11]

[12]

[13]

[14]

[15]

[16]

[17]

[18]

[19]

[20]

[21]

[22]

[23]

[24]

[25]

[26]

[27]

[28]

[29]

[30]

[31]

[32]

[33]

[34]

[35]

[36]

v t e The Offspring
Dexter Holland Noodles Todd Morse Jonah Nimoy Brandon Pertzborn Greg K. James Lilja Ron Welty Atom Willard Pete Parada
Studio albums	The Offspring Ignition Smash Ixnay on the Hombre Americana Conspiracy of One Splinter Rise and Fall, Rage and Grace Days Go By Let the Bad Times Roll Supercharged
Compilations	Collection Greatest Hits Happy Hour!
EPs	Baghdad Club Me Summer Nationals
Singles	"I'll Be Waiting" "Come Out and Play" "Self Esteem" "Gotta Get Away" "Smash It Up" "All I Want" "Gone Away" "The Meaning of Life" "I Choose" "Pretty Fly (For a White Guy)" "Why Don't You Get a Job?" "The Kids Aren't Alright" "She's Got Issues" "Original Prankster" "Want You Bad" "Million Miles Away" "Defy You" "Hit That" "(Can't Get My) Head Around You" "Spare Me the Details" "Can't Repeat" "Hammerhead" "You're Gonna Go Far, Kid" "Kristy, Are You Doing Okay?" "Half-Truism" "Days Go By" "Cruising California (Bumpin' in My Trunk)" "Turning into You" "Coming for You" "Let the Bad Times Roll"
Video albums	Americana Huck It Complete Music Video Collection
Tours	Warped Tour Smash: 20th Anniversary Tour World Tour 2017
Related articles	Discography List of songs Awards Nitro Records
Related bands	Angels & Airwaves Face to Face Saves the Day Steady Ground
Category Commons

Hit That

Hub talks

Hit That

Hit That

Hit That

Hub overview

Add your contribution

Inside this hub

Media Collections

Timelines

Articles

Notes collections

Notes

Days in Chronicle

Root Wikipedia Article

Hit That

Composition

Music video

Track listing

Personnel

The Offspring

Additional musicians

Charts

Weekly charts

Year-end charts

Release history

References

External links

Add your contribution

Related Hubs

Hit That

Hub talks

Welcome to #editors!