Toxicity (song)

Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
"Toxicity"
Cover of the CD 2 UK Import of "Toxicity".
Single by System of a Down
from the album Toxicity
B-side"Storaged"
ReleasedJanuary 22, 2002
Recorded2001
StudioCello Studios, Hollywood
GenreNu metal[1][2]
Length3:39
Label
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)
System of a Down singles chronology
"
Chop Suey!
"
(2001) 		"Toxicity"
(2002) 		"Aerials"
(2002)
Music video
"Toxicity" on
YouTube

"Toxicity" is a

triple meter, alternating between 6
4, 12
8 and 4
4 time. The guitar during the verse plays in 6
4 using a 2+2+2 phrasing while the heavy part ("somewhere between the sacred silence and sleep") makes use of a hemiola with the guitar switching to a 3+3+3+3 pattern while the drums remain in compound duple meter until the bridge. The song was ranked number 14 on VH1's 40 Greatest Metal Songs,[3] and was called a nu metal classic by Stylus Magazine.[2]

Awards

  • The song made number 53 on the Y2KROQ Top 200 Songs of the Century.

Music video

The video was directed by

pastime activity". The video ends with a shot of the Milky Way
.

Track listing

All lyrics are written by Serj Tankian

CD single
No.TitleMusicLength
1."Toxicity"
  • Shavo Odadjian
  • Daron Malakian
3:39
2."X" (Live)Daron Malakian3:02
3."Suggestions" (Live)Daron Malakian2:44
4."Marmalade"Daron Malakian2:59
5."Toxicity" (Video Version)
  • Shavo Odadjian
  • Daron Malakian
3:43

All lyrics are written by Serj Tankian

Australian single
No.TitleMusicLength
1."Toxicity"
  • Shavo Odadjian
  • Daron Malakian
3:39
2."X" (Live)Daron Malakian3:05
3."Suggestions" (Live)Daron Malakian2:44
4."Sugar" (Video Version)
  • Shavo Odadjian
  • Daron Malakian
3:28

All lyrics are written by Serj Tankian

UK CD1
No.TitleMusicLength
1."Toxicity"
  • Shavo Odadjian
  • Daron Malakian
3:42
2."X" (Live)Daron Malakian3:05
3."Suggestions" (Live)Daron Malakian2:44
UK CD2
No.TitleLyricsMusicLength
1."Toxicity"Serj Tankian
  • Shavo Odadjian
  • Daron Malakian
3:41
2."Marmalade"Serj TankianDaron Malakian3:02
3."Metro" (Explicit Version)John CrawfordJohn Crawford3:00

All lyrics are written by Serj Tankian

7" single
No.TitleMusicLength
1."Toxicity"
  • Shavo Odadjian
  • Daron Malakian
3:39
2."Storaged"Daron Malakian1:19

Charts

Chart (2002) Peak
position
Australia (ARIA)[4] 39
Belgium (Ultratip Bubbling Under Flanders)[5] 10
Canada (Nielsen SoundScan)[6] 46
Germany (Official German Charts)[7] 88
Netherlands (Single Top 100)[8] 75
Ireland (IRMA)[9] 47
Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[10] 90
Scotland (OCC)[11] 25
UK Singles (OCC)[12]
 25
UK Rock & Metal (OCC)[13]
 4
US Billboard Hot 100[14] 70
US Alternative Airplay (Billboard)[15] 3
US Mainstream Rock (Billboard)[16] 10

Certifications

Region Certification Certified units/sales
Denmark (IFPI Danmark)[17] Gold 45,000‡
Germany (BVMI)[18] Gold 250,000‡
Italy (FIMI)[19] Platinum 50,000‡
Spain (PROMUSICAE)[20] Gold 30,000‡
United Kingdom (BPI)[21] Silver 200,000‡
United States (RIAA)[22] 3× Platinum 3,000,000‡

‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Notes

  1. Consequence of Sound
    . Retrieved 1 April 2021.
  2. ^ a b Unterberger, Andrew (September 10, 2004). "Top Ten Nu-Metal Bands". Stylus Magazine. Archived from the original on October 9, 2004. Retrieved September 25, 2014.
  3. ^ "VH1 40 Greatest Metal Songs". VH1.com. MTV. 4 May 2006. Archived from the original on 13 September 2006. Retrieved 10 September 2006. #14 Toxicity, System of a Down
  4. ^ "System of a Down – Toxicity". ARIA Top 50 Singles.
  5. Ultratip
    .
  6. ^ "Top 50 Singles". Jam!. Archived from the original on April 28, 2002. Retrieved December 2, 2023.
  7. ^ "System of a Down – Toxicity" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts.
  8. ^ "System of a Down – Toxicity" (in Dutch). Single Top 100.
  9. ^ "Irish-charts.com – Discography System of a Down". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved April 23, 2021.
  10. ^ "System of a Down – Toxicity". Swiss Singles Chart.
  11. ^ "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved November 13, 2021.
  12. ^ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company.
  13. ^ "Official Rock & Metal Singles Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved November 13, 2021.
  14. ^ "System of a Down Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved April 30, 2021.
  15. ^ "System of a Down Chart History (Alternative Airplay)". Billboard. Retrieved April 9, 2015.
  16. ^ "System of a Down Chart History (Mainstream Rock)". Billboard. Retrieved April 3, 2015.
  17. ^ "Danish single certifications – System of a Down – Toxicity". IFPI Danmark. Retrieved September 8, 2020.
  18. ^ "Gold-/Platin-Datenbank (System of a Down; 'Toxicity')" (in German). Bundesverband Musikindustrie. Retrieved September 20, 2022.
  19. ^ "Italian single certifications – System of a Down – Toxicity" (in Italian). Federazione Industria Musicale Italiana. Retrieved September 8, 2020.
  20. ^ "System of a Down - Toxicity". El portal de Música. Productores de Música de España. Retrieved February 21, 2024.
  21. ^ "British single certifications – System of a Down – Toxicity". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved September 8, 2020.
  22. ^ "American single certifications – System of a Down – Toxicity". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved December 4, 2022.
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