Toxicity (song)

"Toxicity"
Song by System of a Down
from the album Toxicity
ReleasedJanuary 22, 2002
Recorded2001
GenreNu metal
Length3:39
LabelAmerican, Columbia
Songwriter(s)Daron Malakian, Shavo Odadjian, Serj Tankian
Producer(s)Daron Malakian, Rick Rubin, Serj Tankian

"Toxicity" is the second single off of American rock band System of a Down's second studio album Toxicity. The song was released on January 22, 2002.

The song was able to make it to #3 on the Alternative Airplay, #10 on the Mainstream Rock, and #70 on the Billboard Hot 100 charts. The song was certified Platinum by the Federazione Industria Musicale Italiana (FIMI) was also certified 3× Platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). VH1 ranked the song #14 on their list of 40 Greatest Metal Songs.

The song was first going to be called "Version 7.0". Odadjian said in an interview: "I called it 'Version 7.0.' At the time, AOL was around, and it was at Version 5.0. I was like, 'When this song comes out, it'll be on Version 7.0, and we'd be telling the future.'"

During their 2005 Download Festival performance, songwriter Daron Malakian said that the song was about having attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) before playing it.

A music video for the song was released. It was directed by Marcos Siega and Shavo Odadjian. In the video, the video swaps between the band playing in a white room and playing on a stage. Footage of homeless people and prostitutes, are shown over the bodies of the band. The band eats sunflower seeds together while sitting on a couch. The stage sinks and a crowd emerges around where the band is playing where they start a moshpit.

References

  1. ↑ "System of a Down - Alternative Airplay Chart History". Billboard. Retrieved September 25, 2023.
  2. ↑ "System of a Down - Mainstream Rock Chart History". Billboard. Retrieved September 25, 2023.
  3. ↑ "System of a Down - Hot 100 Chart History". Billboard. Retrieved September 25, 2023.
  4. ↑ "System of a Down – Toxicity". Federazione Industria Musicale Italiana. Archived from the original on December 27, 2022. Retrieved September 25, 2023.
  5. ↑ "System of a Down – Toxicity". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved September 25, 2023.
  6. ↑ "VH1 40 Greatest Metal Songs". VH1. Retrieved September 25, 2023.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link)
  7. ↑ ""The Truth Doesn't Recognize Retreat": The Oral History of System of a Down's 'Toxicity'". The Ringer. Retrieved September 25, 2023.
  8. ↑ "How Do You Own Disorder?: "Toxicity" From The Eyes Of An ADHD Person". Medium. Retrieved September 25, 2023.
  9. ↑ "The 10 most viewed System Of A Down videos on YouTube". Louder. Retrieved September 25, 2023.

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