Sugar (System of a Down song)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| "Sugar" | ||
|---|---|---|
 |
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| Single by System of a Down | ||
| from the album System of a Down | ||
| Released | 1998 | |
| Format | CD | |
| Genre | Alternative Metal | |
| Length | 2:33 | |
| Label | American Recordings | |
| Producer(s) | Rick Rubin | |
| System of a Down singles chronology | ||
| Sugar (1998) |
Spiders (1999) |
|
"Sugar" is a single by the Armenian-American alternative metal group System of a Down. It was released as an EP in 1998 and was taken from their self-titled debut album. The track's intense sound and edgy lyrics typify the group's style. All live tracks featured on this release were recorded in New York.
The song was created before System of a Down were even a band. Daron and Shavo fused two riffs they had created to form a simplistic song. Serj then applied the lyrics which he wrote. This song has been played at every single System of a Down concert to the day of writing, usually at the very end.
The music video for Sugar shows the band playing on a stage, with an American flag (which, throughout the song, burns away), intercut with images of public violence, hangings, armies, nuclear footage of the Upshot-Knothole Grable and footage from the German film Metropolis.
The video begins with a reenactment from the 1976 film Network when the newsreporter was going berserk, saying:
- "I wish I could tell you more pertinent news, but we're in a rating system here, and the key factor is 'sensationalism'. They've got you running in circles, 9 to 5, then 5 to 9... you're mine! I tell you what they want you to know, and you consider it the truth. Nobody is opening their eyes! Our global economy is depleting the world of our lives and natural resources! AND ARE YOU HAPPY?! COME ON! I WORK FOR THE SYSTEM!"
It then cuts to the band. It is also noticed that a television screen is shown flickering with the words 'Aspartame Kills!' Aspartame is a sugar substitute found in various carbonated drinks which has been found to induce homicidal tendencies[citation needed] (Hence the name of the song and various violence and Consumerism parodies suggested in the lyrics of 'Sugar' and many other System of a Down songs).
The lyric "I got a gun the other day from Sako" refers to drummer John Dolmayan's drum tech. Sako is also a common Armenian name. SAKO is also a gun manufacturer, making it a triple name check.
[edit] Track Listing
- "Sugar"
- "Sugar" [Clean]
[edit] Credits
- Serj Tankian - lead vocals, keyboard/samples
- Daron Malakian - guitar, backing vocals
- Shavo Odadjian - bass guitar, backing vocals
- John Dolmayan - drums
- Extra piano by Rick Rubin
[edit] External links
| System of a Down |
| Serj Tankian | Daron Malakian | Shavo Odadjian | John Dolmayan |
| Andy Khachaturian |
| Discography |
|---|
| Albums/EPs: Sugar EP | System of a Down | Toxicity | Steal This Album! | Mezmerize | Hypnotize | Lonely Day EP |
| Demos: Untitled 1995 Demo Tape | Demo Tape 1 | Demo Tape 2 | Demo Tape 3 | Demo Tape 4 |
| Singles: "Sugar" | "Spiders" | "War?" | "Prison Song" | "Johnny" | "Chop Suey!" | "Toxicity" | "Aerials" | "Innervision" | "Boom!" | "I-E-A-I-A-I-O" | "B.Y.O.B." | "Cigaro" | "Question!" | "Radio/Video" | "Hypnotize" | "Lonely Day" | "Kill Rock 'N Roll" |
| Related articles |
| Axis of Justice | Cool Gardens | Vartan Malakian | Screamers | Category:System of a Down songs
Bands: Serart Labels: Serjical Strike Records | EatUrMusic |
