Berzerk (song)

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
"Berzerk"
Single by Eminem
from the album The Marshall Mathers LP 2
Released August 27, 2013 (2013-08-27)
Format Digital download
Genre Hip hop
Length 3:58
Label
Writer(s)
Producer(s) Rick Rubin
Eminem singles chronology

"C'mon Let Me Ride"
(2012)		 "Berzerk"
(2013)		 "Survival"
(2013)

Music video
"Berzerk" on YouTube
Music sample
Eminem - "Berzerk"

"Berzerk" is a song by American rapper Eminem, and produced by Rick Rubin. The song, released on August 27, 2013, is the first single from Eminem's eighth studio album The Marshall Mathers LP 2. The song samples Billy Squier's "The Stroke", as well as the Beastie Boys' "The New Style" and "Fight for Your Right", both songs taken from their 1986 debut album Licensed to Ill, which Rubin had also produced. The song was heavily downloaded in its first week of release, resulting in the song debuting at number three on the US Billboard Hot 100.

Composition

Rick Rubin produced "Berzerk".

The song, produced by Rick Rubin, samples Billy Squier's "The Stroke", as well as the Beastie Boys' "The New Style" and "Fight for Your Right",[1][2] both songs taken from their 1986 debut album Licensed to Ill, which Rubin had also produced.[2]

The song starts with a "blast of static, hard guitar and Em roaring out of the gate sounding like the long-lost, fourth Beastie Boy", according to Yahoo! Music critic Craig Rosen.[2] According to Rosen, the song samples the Beastie Boys as they exclaim "Kick it!" in "The New Style" and borrows power chords from Squier's "The Stroke".[2] However, Rolling Stone's Eric R. Danton claims that the "Kick it!" sample is from another part of the album, where Ad-Rock introduces "(You Gotta) Fight for Your Right (To Party!)".[3] According to Billboard's Lars Brandle, the song is "a punchy, guitar-and-beats driven song which channels Joan Jett & the Blackhearts' I Love Rock 'n' Roll and Licensed to Ill-era Beastie Boys."[4]

Release and promotion

"Berzerk" originally premiered on August 26, on SiriusXM channel, Shade 45.[1] The Marshall Mathers LP 2, a sequel to Eminem's acclaimed studio effort The Marshall Mathers LP, was revealed during MTV Video Music Awards on August 25, 2013 with two previews of "Berzerk" via Beats By Dr. Dre commercials.[5] Some critics describe Eminem's return in these commercials as the highlight of the show.[2] The video that accompanied the song featured a boombox prominently.[2] The song is the featured song for the 2013 season of Saturday Night Football, debuting with the September 7 Michigan–Notre Dame football rivalry game.[6]

Music video

During the halftime at the September 7, 2013 Michigan–Notre Dame football game, Eminem premiered a preview of the music video for "Berzerk". Then the video was premiered two days later on September 9, via VEVO. The video was filmed in Brooklyn, New York and directed by Syndrome.[7] It features cameo appearances from fellow American rappers Kendrick Lamar and Kid Rock[8][9] (both of whom Eminem mentions in the song's lyrics) in addition to Shady Records labelmates Slaughterhouse, Mr. Porter, Yelawolf and The Alchemist, the song's producer Rick Rubin and Eminem's manager Paul Rosenberg. The video also features short clips of backyard wrestling as well as short clips of the official music video of Billy Squier's "The Stroke", which is heavily sampled in the song.[10]

Commercial performance

"Berzerk" sold 362,000 downloads in its first week in the US, debuting at number three on the Billboard Hot 100 becoming Eminem's 15th Top 10 hit on the Hot 100.[11] The song has peaked at number two on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart.[12] When the R&B component of the chart is removed, the song debuted at number one on the Rap Songs chart.[11] "Berzerk"'s debut is just below the debut of the lead single for Recovery, "Not Afraid", which sold 379,000 copies in its first week.[13] It has sold over a million copies in the US as of October 2013.[14]

In Canada, the song debuted at number two with 50,000 downloads sold, which more than doubled the 24,000 downloads sold in the debut week of "Not Afraid".[15] It was Eminem's best one week download total ever in the country, until it was surpassed by the 54,000 downloads sold for Eminem's later single, "The Monster".[16] The song was certified Double Platinum in Digital downloads in Canada on November 1, 2013.[17]

The song debuted at number one on the UK R&B Chart[18] and was replaced on the chart by his single "Rap God".[19]

Critical reception

Will Hermers of Rolling Stone gave the song 4 out of 5 stars, highlighting its goal to "celebrate old-school hip-hop".[20] Robert Copsey of Digital Spy gave the song 4 out of 5 stars, stating the song "harks back" to Eminem's "Slim Shady days". Copsey compared the song to Beastie Boys circa 1986, although the song as "inimitable" and "unmistakably Eminem".[21] Vh1 India gave the song 8/10 concluding, "Whether you shudder under 'Berzerk's' cacophonous assault or wear its raps like an emblem — it's 2013, and Eminem still got your attention."[22]

Awards and nominations

Year Ceremony Award Result
2014 Grammy Awards (56th) Best Rap Performance Nominated

Track listing

  • Digital download[23]
  1. "Berzerk" – 3:58

Charts and certifications

Weekly charts

Chart (2013) Peak
position
scope=rowAustralia (ARIA)[ 1] 5
scope=rowAustria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)[ 1] 22
scope=rowBelgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[ 1] 44
scope=rowBelgium (Ultratop 50 Wallonia)[ 1] 42
scope=rowCanada (Canadian Hot 100)[ 1] 2
scope=rowCzech Republic (IFPI)[ 1] 49
scope=rowDenmark (Tracklisten)[ 1] 15
scope=rowFrance (SNEP)[ 1] 10
scope=rowGermany (Media Control AG)[ 1] 10
Greece Digital Songs (Billboard)[24] 7
scope=rowHungary (Single Top 20)[ 1] 17
scope=rowIreland (IRMA)[ 1] 16
Italy (FIMI)[25] 25
scope=rowNetherlands (Mega Single Top 100)[ 1] 52
scope=rowNew Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[ 1] 12
scope=rowScotland (Official Charts Company)[ 1] 3
South Korea (GAON)[26] 1
scope=rowSpain (PROMUSICAE)[ 1] 46
scope=rowSweden (Sverigetopplistan)[ 1] 56
scope=rowSwitzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[ 1] 9
scope=rowUK Singles (Official Charts Company)[ 1] 2
scope=rowUK R&B (Official Charts Company)[ 1] 1
scope=rowUS Billboard Hot 100[ 1] 3
scope=rowUS Mainstream Top 40 (Billboard)[ 1] 18
scope=rowUS Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard)[ 1] 2

Year-end charts

Chart (2013) Position
Australia (ARIA)[27] 82
Canada (Canadian Hot 100)[28] 60
US Billboard Hot 100[29] 67
US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard)[30] 18
US Rap Songs (Billboard)[31] 14

Certifications

Region Certification Sales/shipments
Australia (ARIA)[32] Platinum 70,000^
Canada (Music Canada)[33] 2× Platinum 160,000^

*sales figures based on certification alone
^shipments figures based on certification alone

Radio and release history

Region Date Format Label
Italy[34] August 27, 2013 (2013-08-27) Contemporary hit radio Universal Music
United States[23] Digital download Shady, Aftermath, Interscope
September 3, 2013 (2013-09-03) Contemporary hit radio[35]
United Kingdom[36] October 6, 2013 (2013-10-06) Digital download

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Gleckman, Alexander (2013-08-26). "Listen: Eminem "Berzerk" (Prod. By Rick Rubin)". Complex. Retrieved 2013-08-27. 
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 Rosen, Craig (2013-08-27). "Shady’s Back — Eminem Goes ‘Berzerk’ Sampling the Beasties and Billy Squier". Yahoo! Music. Retrieved 2013-08-29. 
  3. ↑ Danton, Eric R. (2013-08-27). "Eminem Goes Old-School in New Song 'Berzerk': Rapper's single samples Billy Squier, Beastie Boys". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 2013-08-29. 
  4. ↑ Brandle, Lars (2013-08-26). "Eminem Goes 'Berzerk' For New Single: Listen". Billboard. Retrieved 2013-08-29. 
  5. ↑ Coulehan, Erin (August 25, 2013). "Eminem Announces New Album 'MMLP2'". Rolling Stone. Wenner Media LLC. Retrieved August 26, 2013. 
  6. ↑ Humes, Michael (2013-09-05). "Saturday Night Football Goes "Berzerk" with Eminem". ESPN. Retrieved 2013-09-06. 
  7. ↑ Eminem, Explains Berzerk | Complex
  8. ↑ "Eminem "Berzerk" Music Video Preview". Complex. Retrieved 2013-09-08. 
  9. ↑ Eminem Takes It Back with 'Berzerk' - Video | Rolling Stone
  10. ↑ Gil Kaufman (2013-09-09). "Eminem Ropes In Detroit Homey Kid Rock For 'Berzerk' Video". Retrieved 2013-09-10. 
  11. ↑ 11.0 11.1 "Katy Perry Dethrones Robin Thicke Atop Hot 100". Billboard. 2013-09-04. 
  12. ↑ Eminem - Chart history | Billboard
  13. ↑ "Eminem's 'Berzerk' Selling Strong, Heading for Big Debut". Billboard. 2013-08-30. Retrieved 2013-09-08. 
  14. ↑ Grein, Paul. "Week Ending Oct. 6, 2013. Songs: Adele Reaches A Milestone". Yahoo. Retrieved October 9, 2013. 
  15. ↑ "AVENGED SEVENFOLD SCORES FIRST NUMBER ONE ALBUM". Retrieved 2013-09-15. 
  16. ↑ "ARCADE FIRE SCORES THIRD CHART-TOPPING ALBUM Arcade". Retrieved 2013-11-08. 
  17. ↑ "Gold Platinum Database: Eminem - Berzerk". Music Canada. Retrieved November 1, 2013. 
  18. ↑ "2013-10-19 Top 40 R&B Singles Archive". Official Charts. 2013-10-19. Retrieved 2014-01-10. 
  19. ↑ "2013-10-26 Top 40 R&B Singles Archive". Official Charts. 2013-10-26. Retrieved 2014-01-10. 
  20. ↑ "Eminem's "Berzerk" review on Rolling Stone". Rolling Stone. 2013-09-10. 
  21. ↑ Published Monday, Sep 2 2013, 7:36am EDT (2013-09-02). "Eminem: 'Berzerk' - Single review - Music Singles Review - Digital Spy". Digitalspy.ca. Retrieved 2013-09-08. 
  22. ↑ Berzerk | Vh1 India
  23. ↑ 23.0 23.1 "Berzerk – Single by Eminem". iTunes Store (US). Apple. August 27, 2013. Retrieved September 8, 2013. 
  24. ↑ "Greece Digital Songs: September 14, 2013". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved September 15, 2013. (subscription required (help)). 
  25. ↑ "Classifica settimanale WK 35 (dal 26-08-2013 al 01-09-2013)" (in Italian). Federazione Industria Musicale Italiana. Retrieved September 15, 2013. 
  26. ↑ "South Korea Gaon International Chart (Gaon Chart". Gaon Chart. Retrieved August 31, 2013. 
  27. ↑ "ARIA Charts – End Of Year Charts – Top 100 Singles 2013". Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved January 7, 2013. 
  28. ↑ "Best of 2013: Canadian Hot 100". publisher=Prometheus Gobal Media. Retrieved December 13, 2013. 
  29. ↑ "Best of 2013 - Hot 100 Songs". Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved December 13, 2013. 
  30. ↑ "2013 Year End Charts — R&B/Hip-Hop Songs". Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved December 13, 2013. 
  31. ↑ "2013 Year End Charts — Rap Songs". Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved December 13, 2013. 
  32. ↑ "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2013 Singles". Australian Recording Industry Association. 
  33. ↑ "Canadian single certifications – Eminem – Berzerk". Music Canada. 
  34. ↑ "Eminem – Berzerk (Universal)" (in Italian). Radio Airplay SRL. August 27, 2013. Retrieved September 14, 2013. 
  35. ↑ "CHR – Available for Airplay". FMQB. September 3, 2013. Archived from the original on August 28, 2013. Retrieved August 31, 2013. 
  36. ↑ Corner, Lewis (September 11, 2013). "Eminem: 'Berzerk' – Music video". Digital Spy. Hearst Magazines UK. Retrieved October 15, 2013. 
Eminem singles discography
  • D12 singles discography
  • Bad Meets Evil discography
The Slim Shady EP
The Slim Shady LP
The Marshall Mathers LP
The Eminem Show
8 Mile soundtrack
Encore
Curtain Call: The Hits
Eminem Presents: The Re-Up
Relapse/Refill
Recovery
The Marshall Mathers LP 2
Collaborations
Other songs
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