"Aerials" | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Single by System of a Down | ||||
from the album Toxicity | ||||
B-side | "Snowblind" | |||
Released | June 11, 2002 | |||
Recorded | 2001 | |||
Studio | Cello (Hollywood) | |||
Genre | ||||
Length |
| |||
Label | ||||
Songwriter(s) | ||||
Producer(s) |
| |||
System of a Down singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
Music video | ||||
"Aerials" on YouTube |
"Aerials" is a song by American heavy metal band System of a Down. It was released in 2002 as the third single from their second album Toxicity, which earned the band its second Grammy Award nomination for Best Hard Rock Performance in 2003.
The song hit number one on both the Billboard Alternative Songs and Mainstream Rock chart. It was System of a Down's first number-one hit.[3]
Music video
The music video was directed by Shavo Odadjian and David Slade. The video features an alien-like, disfigured boy who is accompanied by people in various settings. The video was shot in Hollywood, Los Angeles.
As of August 2023, the song has over 420 million views on YouTube.
Reception
"Aerials" is widely considered one of the band's best songs. Loudwire and Kerrang both ranked the song number three on their lists of the greatest System of a Down songs.[4][5]
Track listing
No. | Title | Lyrics | Music | Length |
---|---|---|---|---|
1. | "Aerials" |
| Daron Malakian | 3:57 |
2. | "Toxicity" (Live) | Serj Tankian |
| 3:38 |
3. | "Sugar" (Live) | Serj Tankian |
| 4:10 |
4. | "P.L.U.C.K." (Live) | Serj Tankian | Daron Malakian | 4:09 |
5. | "Aerials" (Live Video/DVD Version) |
| Daron Malakian |
No. | Title | Lyrics | Music | Length |
---|---|---|---|---|
1. | "Aerials" |
| Daron Malakian | 3:57 |
2. | "Toxicity" (Live Version) | Serj Tankian |
| 3:38 |
3. | "P.L.U.C.K." (Live) | Serj Tankian | Daron Malakian | 4:09 |
No. | Title | Lyrics | Music | Length |
---|---|---|---|---|
1. | "Aerials" |
| Daron Malakian | 3:57 |
2. | "Toxicity" (Live) | Serj Tankian |
| 3:38 |
3. | "P.L.U.C.K." (Live) | Serj Tankian | Daron Malakian | 4:09 |
4. | "Aerials" (Video) |
| Daron Malakian |
No. | Title | Lyrics | Music | Length |
---|---|---|---|---|
1. | "Aerials" |
| Daron Malakian | 3:57 |
2. | "Streamline" (Alternate Version (from The Scorpion King soundtrack)) | Serj Tankian | Daron Malakian | 3:38 |
3. | "Sugar" (Live) | Serj Tankian |
| 4:10 |
No. | Title | Lyrics | Music | Length |
---|---|---|---|---|
1. | "Aerials" |
| Daron Malakian | 3:57 |
2. | "Snowblind" (Album Version) |
| 4:40 |
Charts
Chart (2002) | Peak position |
---|---|
Australia (ARIA)[6] | 36 |
Canada (Nielsen SoundScan)[7] | 67 |
Germany (Official German Charts)[8] | 80 |
Ireland (IRMA)[9] | 35 |
Scotland (OCC)[10] | 35 |
UK Singles (OCC)[11] | 34 |
UK Rock & Metal (OCC)[12] | 3 |
US Billboard Hot 100[13] | 55 |
US Alternative Airplay (Billboard)[14] | 1 |
US Mainstream Rock (Billboard)[15] | 1 |
Certifications
Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
---|---|---|
United Kingdom (BPI)[16] | Silver | 200,000‡ |
United States (RIAA)[17] | 2× Platinum | 2,000,000‡ |
‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone. |
References
- ↑ Grierson, Tim. "Top 10 Essential Alt-Metal Songs". About.com. Archived from the original on March 3, 2016. Retrieved December 26, 2018.
- 1 2 "Top 10 System of a Down Songs". WatchMojo. Retrieved 2023-07-31.
- ↑ Billboard.com
- ↑ Kaufman, Spencer (August 21, 2012). "10 Best System of a Down Songs". Loudwire. Retrieved April 10, 2022.
- ↑ Law, Sam (November 6, 2020). "The 20 greatest System Of A Down songs – ranked". Kerrang. Retrieved April 10, 2022.
- ↑ "System of a Down – Aerials". ARIA Top 50 Singles.
- ↑ "Top 100 Singles". Jam!. Archived from the original on January 16, 2003. Retrieved December 12, 2023.
- ↑ "System of a Down – Aerials" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts.
- ↑ "Chart Track: Week 29, 2002". Irish Singles Chart.
- ↑ "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved November 13, 2021.
- ↑ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company.
- ↑ "Official Rock & Metal Singles Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved November 13, 2021.
- ↑ "System of a Down Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved April 30, 2021.
- ↑ "System of a Down Chart History (Alternative Airplay)". Billboard. Retrieved April 9, 2015.
- ↑ "System of a Down Chart History (Mainstream Rock)". Billboard. Retrieved April 3, 2015.
- ↑ "British single certifications – System of a Down – Aerials". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved July 29, 2022.
- ↑ "American single certifications – System of a Down – Aerials". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved December 4, 2022.