"Panic Switch"
Single by Silversun Pickups
from the album Swoon
ReleasedMarch 17, 2009
Genre
Length5:44 (album version)
4:14 (radio edit)
LabelDangerbird
Songwriter(s)
  • Brian Aubert
  • Christopher Guanlao
  • Joe Lester
  • Nikki Monninger
Producer(s)Dave Cooley
Silversun Pickups singles chronology
"Little Lover's So Polite"
(2008)		 "Panic Switch"
(2009)		 "Substitution"
(2009)
Music video
"Panic Switch" on YouTube

"Panic Switch" is a song by the American alternative rock band Silversun Pickups. It was the first single released from the group's second album, Swoon (2009), on March 17, 2009. The song reached number one on the Billboard Alternative Songs chart, becoming their first number-one single on any Billboard chart.[2] "Panic Switch" was the first song by an independent artist to reach number one on the chart in 11 years.[3] After a one-week stay at number one, it spent 11 weeks at number two behind Linkin Park's "New Divide". It is also their first Hot 100 entry, peaking at number 92.

Background

When asked about the song, singer Brian Aubert told MTV that the song was added late to the album, almost as an afterthought. It is meant to represent a nervous breakdown, which is a major theme of the album.[4]

Reception

The song was ranked at no. 45 on Consequence of Sound's Every Alternative Rock No. 1 Hit from Worst to Best.[5]

Use in other media

The song appeared in the trailer for Sucker Punch[6][7] and in the Honda Stage video package during the 2016 NHL Winter Classic.

In 2012, Mitt Romney's presidential campaign received a cease and desist request from Silversun Pickups, who alleged illegal use of their song at a campaign event set-up in North Carolina. Romney's spokeswoman, Amanda Henneberg, stated that playing the song before the event began was covered under the campaign's regular blanket license and would not play it again.[8]

It is featured in Fortnite's Rock & Royale radio station in-game.

Chart performance

Weekly charts

Weekly chart performance for "Panic Switch"
Chart (2009–2010) Peak
position
Czech Republic Modern Rock (IFPI)[9] 18
German Singles Chart[10] 73
US Billboard Hot 100[11] 92
US Alternative Airplay (Billboard)[12] 1
US Mainstream Rock (Billboard)[13] 38

Year-end charts

Year-end chart performance for "Panic Switch"
Chart (2009) Position
US Hot Rock Songs (Billboard)[14] 5
US Alternative Songs (Billboard)[15] 3

Certifications

Certifications for "Panic Switch"
Region CertificationCertified units/sales
United States (RIAA)[16] Gold 500,000‡

‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

References

  1. ↑ Matera, Joe (July 21, 2009). "Silversun Pickups: 'We Like When The Guitar Is Used As A Texture'". Ultimate-Guitar.com. Retrieved May 4, 2019.
  2. ↑ "Artist Chart History - Silversun Pickups - Singles". Billboard. Retrieved May 22, 2009.
  3. ↑ "Silversun Pickups Hit #1 With Lead Single "Panic Switch"". Dangerbird Records. Archived from the original on June 27, 2009. Retrieved November 21, 2009.
  4. ↑ Montgomery, James (March 5, 2009). "Exclusive: Silversun Pickups Preview A Pair Of Swoon Songs". MTV. Retrieved March 31, 2009.
  5. ↑ Philip Cosores and COS Staff (July 4, 2017). "Ranking: Every Alternative Rock No. 1 Hit from Worst to Best (Page 17)". Consequence of Sound. Retrieved March 23, 2020.
  6. ↑ Spicer, Nathan (27 March 2011). "20 Great Songs from Movie Trailers". Paste Magazine Blog. Retrieved 23 September 2016.
  7. ↑ "Silversun Pickups "Panic Switch" Featured in Sucker Punch Movie Trailer « Dangerbird Records". dangerbirdrecords.com. Archived from the original on 2013-04-11. Retrieved 2014-06-17.
  8. ↑ "Trending: Band demands that Romney campaign stop using its song". CNN. Retrieved 16 August 2012.
  9. ↑ "CZ - Radio - Top 20 Modern Rock - Panic Switc - Silversun Pickups" (in Czech). IFPI Czech Republic. Retrieved June 21, 2023.
  10. ↑ ":: mtv.de | charts". www.mtv.de. Archived from the original on 2007-12-02.
  11. ↑ "Silversun Pickups Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved 7 August 2017.
  12. ↑ "Silversun Pickups Chart History (Alternative Airplay)". Billboard. Retrieved 7 August 2017.
  13. ↑ "Silversun Pickups Chart History (Mainstream Rock)". Billboard. Retrieved 7 August 2017.
  14. ↑ "Hot Rock Songs – Year-End 2009". Billboard. 2 January 2013. Retrieved September 6, 2018.
  15. ↑ "Alternative Songs – Year-End 2009". Billboard. 2 January 2013. Retrieved September 6, 2018.
  16. ↑ "American single certifications – Silversun Pickups – Panic Switch". Recording Industry Association of America.
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