music.wikisort.org - Composition

"Toxicity" is a single by Armenian-American heavy metal band System of a Down, released in 2002. It was originally released on the album of the same name. The writing credit for the song is Malakian/Odadjian/Tankian/Dolmayan. It is known for its dynamic chorus, aggressive vocals, and prominent drum beat. The song is predominantly in 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]

"Toxicity"
Cover of the CD 2 UK Import of "Toxicity".
Single by System of a Down
from the album Toxicity
B-side	"Storaged"
Released	January 22, 2002
Studio	Cello Studios, Hollywood
Genre	Nu metal[1][2]
Length	3:39
Label	American
Songwriter(s)	Daron Malakian Shavo Odadjian Serj Tankian
Producer(s)	Daron Malakian Rick Rubin Serj Tankian
System of a Down singles chronology
"Chop Suey!" (2001) "Toxicity" (2002) "Aerials" (2002)
Music video
"Toxicity" on YouTube

Awards

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

Music video

The video was directed by Marcos Siega and Shavo Odadjian. The beginning of the video shows the Hollywood Walk of Fame then cuts to the band. Daron Malakian can be seen wearing a Los Angeles Kings jersey with his last name on the back most of the time in the video. A closeup from behind John Dolmayan's drum kit reveals a double bass pedal attachment even though he doesn't use it during the song. During the verses, a projector shows homeless people lined against the streets. After the second chorus, Daron is seen playing the fast riff in fast motion while the band freezes and a crowd slowly appears. The rest of the band resumes as they all come in. The crowd sings along with the band as well as forming a circle pit both in the light and in the dark with glow-sticks. Similar to a scene in the last video where the band was literally eating "chop suey", this time they are eating seeds, corresponding with the lyrics "Eating seeds as a pastime activity". The final shot of the video is of the Milky Way.

As of November 2022, the song has 711 million views on YouTube.

Track listing

Charts

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

Certifications

Region	Certification	Certified units/sales
Denmark (IFPI Danmark)[16]	Gold	45,000
Germany (BVMI)[17]	Gold	250,000
Italy (FIMI)[18]	Platinum	50,000
United Kingdom (BPI)[19]	Silver	200,000
Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Notes

На других языках

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- [en] Toxicity (song)

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[es] Toxicity (canción)

«Toxicity» —en español: «Toxicidad»— es una canción de la banda de rock, System of a Down. Se encuentra en el segundo álbum del grupo, titulado con el mismo nombre, lanzado como su segundo sencillo oficial.

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[ru] Toxicity (песня)

Toxicity — второй сингл американской рок-группы System of a Down, вышедший в 2001 году. С альбома с одноименным названием. Слова написаны Сержом Танкяном, Дароном Малакяном и Шаво Одаджяном. Эта песня никогда не добивалась таких же успехов, как "Chop Suey!" или "B.Y.O.B.", но Toxicity все же остаётся одной из самых популярных песен System of a Down среди её фанатов. Она известна своим динамичным припевом, агрессивным вокалом, и знаменитым барабанным битом. Песня заняла 14 место в VH1's 40 Greatest Metal Songs.[3]

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