Chop Suey!
| Chop Suey! | |
|---|---|
| System of a Down | |
| publication | August 13, 2001 |
| length | 3:30 |
| Genre (s) | Alternative metal |
| Author (s) | Serj Tankian , Daron Malakian |
| Label | American Recordings |
| album | Toxicity |
| Cover version | |
| 2002 | Richard Cheese |
Chop Suey! is a song by the American alternative metal band System of a Down . It was the first single from their second album Toxicity and was released in August 2001. With it, the band was nominated for a Grammy ( Best Metal Performance ) for the first time . The working title of the song was "Suicide" - according to the band members, however, the title change was not due to pressure from the record company. The words "We're rolling 'Suicide'" can still be heard softly in the opening seconds - although this intro is not heard with every edition of the album. The name " Chop Suey " originally referred to a Chinese-American dish.
Video
The video, directed by Marcos Siega , consists of recordings of two live concerts in which all band members except Tankian appeared bare-chested. One scene briefly shows Tankian eating Chop Suey with some fans - the only reference to the eponymous dish in the video as well as in the song. During the video shoot, use was also made of the Snorricam technique , in which the camera is attached to the actor with a harness. Through this technique, it appears as if the background is moving while the person appears to be standing still. Furthermore, there is a short reference to Charles Manson in the video , where Serj Tankian mimes the American criminal in a short video shot. In the same year, ATWA , a song named after Charles Manson's environmental organization, made a reference to Manson, who was imprisoned for life.
Trivia
The text passages “Why have you forsaken me?” (“Why did you leave me?”) And “Father, into your hands I commend my spirit” (“Father, I put my spirit in your hands”) refer to the Death of Jesus on the cross - these are two of the seven last words that according to the New Testament he spoke before he died. However, the content of the song itself is not religious. "Chop Suey!" Was on one after the terrorist attacks of 11 September 2001 by the Radio composite Clear Channel Communications published list of 166 songs , including a recommendation for the time being not to send them more.
Track List (Single)
- Chop Suey! (Text: Serj Tankian & Daron Malakian / Music: Tankian) - 3:31
- Johnny (Text & Music: Tankian) - 2:07
- Sugar (Live) (Text: Tankian / Music: Shavo Odadjian & Malakian) - 2:28
- Was? (Live) (Text: Tankian / Music: Malakian) - 2:48
Chart placements
| country | Highest position | Chart entry | Weeks in charts |
|---|---|---|---|
| Australia | 14th | February 3, 2002 | 11 weeks |
| Belgium | 18th | January 26, 2002 | 9 weeks |
| Netherlands | 25th | November 10, 2001 | 1 - 3 weeks |
| United Kingdom | 17th | November 3, 2001 | 6 weeks |
| United States | 76 | January 5, 2002 | 20 weeks |
Individual evidence
- ↑ via Facebook post from Daron Malakian regarding Charles Manson's death. In: Rolling Stone ; accessed on February 18, 2019
- ↑ Chop Suey! in the Australian charts. australian-charts.com; Retrieved March 25, 2009
- ↑ Chop Suey! in the Belgian charts. ultratop.be; Retrieved March 25, 2009
- ↑ Chop Suey! in the Dutch charts. dutchcharts.nl; Retrieved March 25, 2009
- ↑ Chop Suey! in the Official UK Charts (English)
- ↑ Chop Suey! on the Billboard charts. billboard.com; Retrieved March 25, 2009