Song · Fountains of Wayne
“Denise” by Fountains of Wayne
From the album Utopia Parkway (1999)
“Denise” by Fountains of Wayne appears on 3 radio countdowns from 3 stations between 1999 and 2022. It was first released in 1999 on the album Utopia Parkway. Its best result is #79 on the 91X Top 91 Songs of 1999. In the combined RockLists rankings it is the #386 alternative song of 1999.
"Denise" was the first taste of Utopia Parkway, Fountains of Wayne's second album, out as its lead single in March 1999. Chris Collingwood and Adam Schlesinger wrote and produced it, and it's power pop with rock 'n' roll grease in the gears: a tale spun around a cold-hearted travel agent that doubles as a tip of the cap to Weezer.
Collingwood has admitted the finished take isn't his favorite. Schlesinger's demo carried the same words over a gentler melody, and he liked that one better. AllMusic's Michael Frey still picked it as a standout on the album, crediting the band with making humor and hooks add up to more than a novelty. At home it only got as far as 34 on the Alternative Airplay chart, but it reached 57 in the UK.
Written with AI assistance from RockLists chart data, MusicBrainz and Wikipedia.
RockLists rankings
Alternative & Modern Rock
Indie & Adult Alternative
All Rock Formats
Year-end countdowns
| Year | # | Station | Countdown | of |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1999 | 79 | 91X San Diego, CA / Tijuana | 91X Top 91 Songs of 1999 | 91 |
All-time and decade countdowns
| Year | # | Station | Countdown | of |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 512 | 90.9 The Bridge | 90.9 The Bridge Top 909 Songs of the '90s | 908 |
| 2022 | 598 | The Colorado Sound | The Colorado Sound Top 900 Songs of the '90s | 900 |
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