Bodies (Drowning Pool song)
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| "Bodies" | ||||
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| Single by Drowning Pool | ||||
| from the album Sinner | ||||
| Released | May 14, 2001 | |||
| Format | CD | |||
| Recorded | January–April, 2001 | |||
| Genre | Nu metal, alternative metal, heavy metal | |||
| Length | 3:24 | |||
| Label | Wind-Up Records | |||
| Writer(s) | Drowning Pool | |||
| Drowning Pool singles chronology | ||||
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"Bodies" is a song by American alternative metal band Drowning Pool and the lead single from their debut album Sinner. Released in May 2001, the song is Drowning Pool's most popular single and has been featured in various films, TV programs, and advertising since its release. The song remained Drowning Pool's highest charting single until "37 Stitches" premiered in fall of 2008. It was also the pay per view theme song for SummerSlam in 2001, as well of ECW brand in 2006 to early 2008 and its exclusive PPV.
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[edit] Overview
Musically, "Bodies" has an anthemic, repetitive chorus of "Let the bodies hit the floor!" Its lyrics build by gradually counting up from one to four, shouting the number each time, until reaching its aggressive chorus. Clean vocals in the song's bridge administer a contrast from the many shouted and harshly screamed vocals. The guitar structure of "Bodies" also features heavy use of the wah pedal.
Drowning Pool frontman Dave Williams stated on Uranium that the song is about being in a mosh pit but that it has clearly been misinterpreted. Williams elaborated in a 2001 interview:
- "CJ came up with the riff, and I thought that was cool and I said, 'Let the bodies hit the floor,' and they looked at me and said, 'That’s pretty cool.' We just built it around that hook and the rest fell in place. It’s about my perspective when I look out and see the pit. It’s about forgetting everything that has happened to you that week, leave your bullshit at the door and get it all out. But you have to have respect for the others in the pit. If you push them down, you have to pick them back up. I’m not going to get behind the violence thing, it is violent, but there is a certain amount of respect and a code."
This song was also on a compilation album released by footwear company Journeys, along with the song "Start the Commotion" by The Wiseguys.
This song was used by WWE personnel Stephanie McMahon during The Invasion. It was also used as the theme song for Ohio Valley Wrestling. Similarly it was used as a entrance song by the former UFC Interim Heavyweight Champion, Shane Carwin.
The song is also featured in the video game, Guitar Hero: Warriors of Rock.
[edit] Music video
Much like the song's radio success, the "Bodies" music video found significant airplay on various music channels in 2001. Directed by Glen Bennett, it has the band performing in what appears to be a mental institution, with Williams screaming the lyrics into the ear of a man strapped to a chair. Clips from the video were later used in the title animation for the music program Uranium. ITS was finished in late 2000.
[edit] Criticism and controversy
The song has garnered some unwanted publicity, due to the misinterpretation of the lyrics. More recently, the song was linked to the 2011 Arizona shooting of Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords.[citation needed] Soon after the shooting, the band issued a statement concerning the link: "We were devastated this weekend to learn of the tragic events that occurred in Arizona and that our music has been misinterpreted. 'Bodies' was written about the brotherhood of the moshpit and was never about violence." The band also added: "For someone to put out a video misinterpreting a song about a moshpit as fuel for a violent act shows just how sick they really are. We support those who do what they can to keep America safe. Our hearts go out to the victims and their families of this terrible tragedy".
The song was used by interrogators at the Guantanamo Bay detention camps in 2003. "Bodies" was repeatedly played over a 10 days period during interrogation of Mohamedou Ould Slahi while he was "exposed to variable lighting patterns" at the same time.[1][2]
[edit] Track listing
All songs written and composed by Drowning Pool.
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Bodies" | 3:24 |
| 2. | "Bodies" (Live at Ozzfest, 2000) | 3:28 |
| 3. | "Sermon" (Total Rock Session, London) | 4:38 |
| 4. | "Bodies" (Video) |
[edit] US chart positions
| Chart (2010) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| U.S. Billboard Hot 100 | 119 |
| U.S. Billboard Hot Mainstream Rock Tracks | 6 |
| U.S. Modern Rock Tracks | 12 |
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- ^ "Musicians Protest Use of Music at Gitmo". CBS News. 2009-10-22. http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2009/10/22/politics/main5409256.shtml.
- ^ "Welcome to". Michaelmoore.com. http://www.michaelmoore.com/words/latest-news/rem-and-pearl-jam-campaign-close-guantanamo-bay. Retrieved 2012-01-09.
[edit] External links
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