Aerials (song)

"Aerials"
Single by System of a Down
from the album Toxicity
B-side	"Streamline" (Alternate version)
Released	June 11, 2002
Format	CD, Cassette, Vinyl, Airplay
Recorded	February 15, 2001 Cello Studios Hollywood, California
Genre	Heavy metal
Length	3:54 (without hidden track) 6:11 (with hidden track)
Label	American
Writer(s)	Serj Tankian, Daron Malakian
Producer	Rick Rubin, Daron Malakian, Serj Tankian
System of a Down singles chronology
"Toxicity" (2002) "Aerials" (2002) "Innervision" (2002)
Music video "Aerials" on YouTube

"Aerials" is a single by the Alternative band System of a Down. It was released in 2002 from the album Toxicity, which earned the band its second Grammy nomination for Best Hard Rock Performance in 2003. The song hit #1 on both the Billboard Hot Mainstream Rock Tracks and Hot Modern Rock Tracks charts.^[1]

While the album version of "Aerials" is 6:11 minutes long, a hidden track called "Arto" starts at 3:58 seconds. "Aerials" itself ends at 3:54. Serj Tankian plays rhythm guitar when the song is played live.

Contents 1 Music video 2 Cover versions 3 Track listing 3.1 Aerials (UK import) 3.1.1 CD1 3.1.2 CD2 3.2 Aerials (Australian LE) 3.3 Aerials (Maxi-single) 3.4 Aerials (Promo single) 3.5 Aerials (7" single) 4 References

Music video

The music video was directed by Shavo Odadjian and David Slade.

The video starts out in a desolate, desert-like place. The viewpoint then shifts to a circus tent. Inside, the band is getting ready, and being watched by a very abnormal looking young boy. The eyes are pulled back, and the mouth is very small, providing him with a strikingly alien appearance and separating him from everyone else. The band starts playing. It then shifts to the boy surrounded by people in an urban environment flashing gang signs while a large group around him dances. It then shifts back to the band playing inside the tent. Back outside, the boy is walking down the Hollywood Walk of Fame with two women in red dresses. The scene then becomes that of the boy, two different women in similar dresses as the first, and an older man, who seems to be interviewing them, or making an agreement. Exiting the building, paparazzi swarm the boy and begin photographing the boy. People begin interviewing him, but he is never seen to respond. It then cuts back to the band for a short period of time, where after it displays the boy in a photo shoot, being examined with different clothes. The scene continues to cut between the photo shoot and the band, until near the end, where it shows the boy with two women in red dresses, reaching for money that is falling from above. At the end of the song, every scene the boy has been shown in is shown briefly. He then walks to the middle of the circus tent, lays down in the middle, and closes his eyes, as the song ends.

Cover versions

The song was recorded as a cover by melodic death metal band Amon Amarth, and was released as a bonus track to the iTunes edition of their eighth album, Surtur Rising.

Track listing

Aerials (UK import)

CD1

CD2

Aerials (Australian LE)

Aerials (Maxi-single)

Aerials (Promo single)

Aerials (7" single)

References

Preceded by "By the Way" by Red Hot Chili Peppers	Billboard Modern Rock Tracks number-one single October 5–19, 2002	Succeeded by "You Know You're Right" by Nirvana
Preceded by "By the Way" by Red Hot Chili Peppers	Billboard Mainstream Rock Tracks number-one single September 28, 2002	Succeeded by "Never Again" by Nickelback

System of a Down Serj Tankian • Daron Malakian • Shavo Odadjian • John Dolmayan Ontronik "Andy" Khachaturian Studio albums System of a Down • Toxicity • Steal This Album! • Mezmerize • Hypnotize Singles "Sugar" • "Spiders" • "Chop Suey!" • "Toxicity" • "Aerials" • "Chic 'n' Stu" • "Innervision" • "Boom!" • "B.Y.O.B." • "Question!" • "Hypnotize" • "Lonely Day" • "Kill Rock 'n Roll" • "Vicinity of Obscenity" Related System of a Down Reunion Tour Categories Articles Discography • Awards and Nominations • Axis of Justice • Rick Rubin • Cool Gardens • Glaring Through Oblivion · Elect the Dead • Screamers • Serart Artists Scars on Broadway • Achozen • Buckethead & Friends • The F.C.C. • Mt. Helium • VoKee • Indicator • Chameleon Conductor Labels American Recordings • Columbia Records • Velvet Hammer Music and Management Group • Serjical Strike Records System of a Down • Members • Albums • Songs Book:System of a Down · Category:System of a Down · Portal:Heavy metal