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Psychosocial (song)

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"Psychosocial"
Single by Slipknot
from the album All Hope Is Gone
B-side"All Hope Is Gone"
ReleasedJuly 7, 2008 (2008-07-07)
RecordedFebruary–June 2008
StudioSound Farm (Jamaica, Iowa)
Genre
Length
  • 4:44 (album version)
  • 3:57 (radio edit)
LabelRoadrunner
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)Dave Fortman
Slipknot singles chronology
"All Hope Is Gone"
(2008) 		"Psychosocial"
(2008) 		"Dead Memories"
(2008)
Alternative cover
7" vinyl cover
Music video
"Psychosocial" on YouTube

"Psychosocial" is a song by American heavy metal band Slipknot. Released as the second single from the band's fourth studio album, All Hope Is Gone (2008). The song entered airplay on June 26, 2008 and was originally planned for release as a digital single on July 1 but was delayed and released on July 7.[4][5] Slipknot performed "Psychosocial" live for the first time on July 9, 2008, at the White River Amphitheatre in Auburn, Washington.[6] In 2008, the song was featured on the soundtrack to Marvel's Punisher: War Zone.[7]

"Psychosocial", along with two other Slipknot songs, "Duality" and "Sulfur," was released as downloadable content for Rock Band and Rock Band 2 on December 8, 2009.[8] It is also featured as a playable track in Guitar Hero: Warriors of Rock.

Background

[edit]

"That song has got a lot of, I would say, social anxiety. It's got a real good tempo. It's really fun and it's different… Most of the stuff that we have is different." – Shawn Crahan, The Pulse of Radio[9]

"This is another me-and-Paul [Gray, bassist] creation. It was similar to 'Duality', in that I had mixed feelings about whether it was a good song… Then we got together and started working on it as a team and it just came together. A lot of bands, who I won't name, have ripped this song off. I guess you know you've done something good if everyone rips you off." – Joey Jordison[10]

"I was writing lyrics when Paul and Joey played this to me. I looked at the sheet I'd been working on and at the bottom was the chorus for 'Psychosocial' already… This song was meant to be." – Corey Taylor[10]

"I had to ask Corey what 'Psychosocial' meant. He wouldn't tell me." – Shawn Crahan[10]

Rolling Stone praised the song, saying it "slows down the tempo to bludgeon with a steady, pounding groove instead of all-out thrash in a manner reminiscent of the band's more slow-burning but still malicious second album, Iowa." They explained, "That track is capped off with a time-signature shattering guitar/drum breakdown that will leave the best air-instrumentalists stumped".[11]

Reception and awards

[edit]

In 2020, Kerrang and Louder Sound ranked the song number nine and number four, respectively, on their lists of the greatest Slipknot songs.[12][13] The song was also nominated for 'Best Metal Performance' for the 51st Grammy Awards,[14] but lost to Metallica's "My Apocalypse", and was nominated for the Kerrang! Award for Best Single.[15]

Music video

[edit]

The music video for "Psychosocial" was shot at Sound Farm studios in Jamaica, Iowa on June 30, 2008.[16] The shoot was delayed due to an unrelated head injury sustained by turntablist Sid Wilson before the shoot, who was subsequently hospitalized.[17] On July 18, 2008 the video premiered on MTV's FNMTV show,[18] hosted by Pete Wentz. The video, which was directed by Paul Brown,[19] was shot using high-end cameras which shoot 1,000 frames per second and are contrasted with traditional 35 mm hand crank camera equipment.[16] Percussionist Shawn Crahan explained; "we have the most extreme on both ends, with nothing in the middle. That's what the video is, and nobody does that. There's an art form behind it."[16]

During an interview with Kerrang!, guitarist Jim Root revealed that the video features the burning of the purgatory masks adorned by the band members in the splash teaser photos shown on Slipknot's website, reportedly because the masks represent the band's ego.[20]

There are two versions of the video. One uses the album version of the song, whilst the other uses a much shorter version of the song; excluding the "Limits of the Dead!" lines. The video was nominated to Best Rock Video at the VMA's 2008.[21] On YouTube the video of the song had gained over 22 million views, before it was removed in December due to a dispute between Roadrunner Records' distributor, Warner Music Group, and YouTube.[22]

As of November 2024, the music video for "Psychosocial" has over 550 million views on YouTube.[23]

Track listing

[edit]

All lyrics and music composed by Slipknot.

US Promo CD
  1. "Psychosocial" (edit) – 3:57
  2. "Psychosocial" (album version) – 4:42
7" vinyl / Limited edition CD
  1. "Psychosocial" – 4:43
  2. "All Hope Is Gone" – 4:44
Digital download
  1. "Psychosocial" – 4:44
Germany and Japan Promo CD
  1. "Psychosocial" (edit) – 3:57
  2. "All Hope Is Gone" – 4:44
  3. "Psychosocial" (album version) – 4:43
Digital download (Live)
  1. "Psychosocial" (live) – 4:36

Personnel

[edit]

Slipknot

[edit]

Production

[edit]

Charts

[edit]
Chart performance for "Psychosocial"
Chart (2008–09) Peak
position
Australia (ARIA)[24] 84
Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)[25] 65
Canada (Canadian Hot 100)[26] 75
Finland (Suomen virallinen lista)[27] 23
France (SNEP)[28] 100
Germany (GfK)[29] 31
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[30] 35
Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)[31] 28
UK Singles (OCC)[32] 67
UK Rock & Metal (OCC)[33] 17
US Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles (Billboard)[34] 2
US Digital Song Sales (Billboard)[35] 66
US Mainstream Rock (Billboard)[36] 7
US Alternative Airplay (Billboard)[37] 20

Certifications

[edit]
Region Certification Certified units/sales
Canada (Music Canada)[38] 2× Platinum 160,000‡
Denmark (IFPI Danmark)[39] Gold 45,000‡
Portugal (AFP)[40] Gold 10,000‡
United Kingdom (BPI)[41] Platinum 600,000‡

‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Dionne, Zach (February 11, 2015). "The 19 best Nu-Metal hits of All Time". Fuse. Archived from the original on February 12, 2015. Retrieved June 25, 2021.
  2. ^ Sikes Howe, Brian (March 16, 2023). "10 BEST NU-METAL PARTY SONGS OF ALL TIME". Revolver. Retrieved March 18, 2023.
  3. ^ Grierson, Tim. "Top 10 Essential Alt-Metal Songs". About.com. Archived from the original on March 3, 2016. Retrieved December 26, 2018.
  4. ^ "Psychosocial single". Roadrunner Records. 2008-07-01. Archived from the original on 2008-07-05. Retrieved 2008-07-01.
  5. ^ "SLIPKNOT To Release Free Single On Friday". Blabbermouth.net. 2008-06-18. Retrieved 2008-06-18.
  6. ^ "Slipknot Performs 'Psychosocial' Live". Ultimate Guitar Archive. Archived from the original on 2008-07-13. Retrieved 2008-07-13.
  7. ^ "New Rob Zombie song featured on 'Punisher: War Zone' soundtrack". Blabbermouth.net. Roadrunner. 2008-10-20. Retrieved 2008-10-22.
  8. ^ "The Music // Rock Band". Harmonix. Archived from the original on 2008-12-04. Retrieved 2010-10-18.
  9. ^ "Slipknot Percussionist Talks About New Single 'Psychosocial'". Blabbermouth.net. 2008-06-19. Archived from the original on 2008-07-03. Retrieved 2008-06-20.
  10. ^ a b c Bryant, Tom (14 July 2012). "Hell unleashed". Kerrang #1423. p. 25.
  11. ^ Chris Steffen (June 8, 2008). "New Slipknot Album: A First Listen to "All Hope Is Gone"". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on June 22, 2008. Retrieved January 26, 2015.
  12. ^ Law, Sam (March 27, 2020). "The 20 greatest Slipknot songs – ranked". Kerrang. Retrieved April 10, 2022.
  13. ^ Chillingworth, Alec (December 22, 2020). "The Top 50 best Slipknot songs ever". Louder Sound. Retrieved April 10, 2022.
  14. ^ "51st Grammy Awards Nominees". CBS. Retrieved 2008-12-04.
  15. ^ "Grammy 2009 Winners List". MTV. 2009-02-08. Archived from the original on February 15, 2009. Retrieved 2012-02-06.
  16. ^ a b c Harris, Chris (2008-07-17). "Slipknot's Clown On 'Psychosocial' Video: 'Our Goal Has Always Been To Infect'". MTV. Archived from the original on August 28, 2008. Retrieved 2008-07-18.
  17. ^ "Slipknot DJ injured!". Kerrang!. 2008-07-01. Archived from the original on 2008-07-03. Retrieved 2008-07-01.
  18. ^ "And the Slipknot news keeps coming". Roadrunner Records. 2008-07-02. Retrieved 2008-07-02.
  19. ^ "Slipknot shoot new video for Psychosocial". Kerrang!. Emap. 2008-07-12. p. 08.
  20. ^ Slipknot video interview!. Kerrang!. Archived from the original on 2008-07-03. 2008-07-01
  21. ^ Slipknot – Psychosocial (Album Edit Video) on YouTube
  22. ^ "Warner Music, YouTube in contract dispute". MarketWatch. 2008-12-21. Retrieved 2009-02-14.
  23. ^ Slipknot (October 29, 2009). "Slipknot - Psychosocial [OFFICIAL VIDEO] [HD]". YouTube. Retrieved November 22, 2024.
  24. ^ Ryan, Gavin (2011). Australia's Music Charts 1988–2010 (PDF ed.). Mt Martha, Victoria, Australia: Moonlight Publishing. p. 256.
  25. ^ "Slipknot – Psychosocial" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved April 15, 2021.
  26. ^ "Slipknot Chart History (Canadian Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved April 15, 2021.
  27. ^ "Slipknot: Psychosocial" (in Finnish). Musiikkituottajat. Retrieved November 25, 2022.
  28. ^ "Slipknot – Psychosocial" (in French). Les classement single. Retrieved April 15, 2021.
  29. ^ "Slipknot – Psychosocial" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved April 15, 2021.
  30. ^ "Slipknot – Psychosocial". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved April 15, 2021.
  31. ^ "Slipknot – Psychosocial". Singles Top 100. Retrieved April 15, 2021.
  32. ^ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved April 15, 2021.
  33. ^ "Official Rock & Metal Singles Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. 4 January 2009. Retrieved 19 August 2021.
  34. ^ "Slipknot Chart History (Bubbling Under Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved April 15, 2021.
  35. ^ "Slipknot Chart History (Digital Song Sales)". Billboard. Retrieved April 15, 2021.
  36. ^ "Slipknot Chart History (Mainstream Rock)". Billboard. Retrieved April 15, 2021.
  37. ^ "Slipknot Chart History (Alternative Airplay)". Billboard. Retrieved April 15, 2021.
  38. ^ "Canadian single certifications – Slipknot – Psychosocial". Music Canada. Retrieved November 21, 2021.
  39. ^ "Danish single certifications – Slipknot – Psychosocial". IFPI Danmark. Retrieved August 20, 2024.
  40. ^ "Portuguese single certifications – Slipknot – Psychosocial" (PDF) (in Portuguese). Associação Fonográfica Portuguesa. Retrieved February 7, 2023.
  41. ^ "British single certifications – Slipknot – Psychosocial". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 14 June 2024.
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