"Duality"
Single by Slipknot
from the album Vol. 3: (The Subliminal Verses)
B-side"Don't Get Close"
ReleasedMay 4, 2004
Recorded2003
Genre
Length
  • 4:12 (album version)
  • 3:33 (radio edit)
LabelRoadrunner
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)Rick Rubin
Slipknot singles chronology
"My Plague"
(2002)		 "Duality"
(2004)		 "Vermilion"
(2004)
Music video
"Duality" on YouTube

"Duality" is a song by American heavy metal band Slipknot. It was released on May 4, 2004, as the first single from the band's third album, Vol. 3: (The Subliminal Verses). A music video was made for the song, which was listed as Roadrunner's greatest video of all-time.[4][5]

Musical structure

The album version of "Duality" is four minutes and twelve seconds long, and the radio edited version is three minutes and thirty-three seconds long.[6] The song opens with lead vocalist Corey Taylor softly saying "I push my fingers into my...",[7] leading up to guitarist Mick Thomson playing a riff accompanied by Craig Jones' keyboards while Taylor finishes the sentence with "...eyes", in a much more intense voice.[7] The song is played in drop B tuning (to which most of Slipknot's songs are tuned) and features a nu metal style.[8]

Unlike many previous Slipknot singles, "Duality", like most of the songs on Vol. 3, does not have profanity. Thomson explained in a 2008 interview that vocalist Taylor was relying on explicit content in the lyrics, and wanted to try something "different".[9] This was echoed by Jim Root in a 2011 interview. AllMusic said that "Duality"'s lyrics "aren't unique" to Slipknot but described it as "otherwise strong".[7] Stylus Magazine said "Duality" had a "grindcore riff".[10] Q wrote that the song "blow[s] the competition away".[11]

Release and reception

"Duality" was originally released as a CD single on May 4, 2004.[12][13] On May 25, 2004, the single was released on 7-inch red vinyl to coincide with the release of the album.[14] There is also a 7-inch picture disc release which includes the same track listing.

"Duality" reached band records of number five and six in the Hot Mainstream Rock Tracks and Hot Modern Rock Tracks charts (although on the former chart, the record has since been broken by "Dead Memories" and eventually "Snuff").[15] In the UK Singles Chart, the song reached number 15.[16] The song also charted on the Bubbling Under Hot 100 chart at number six (their second highest-charting song on the chart, behind "Psychosocial"). To promote the single, the band also made an appearance on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno.

The song is included in the video games Madden NFL 10, the introduction theme in the 2004 PlayStation 2 game ATV Offroad Fury 3, as a downloadable content for the Rock Band series that was released on December 8, 2009, and the debut trailer for Nail'd. It is also included in the game Guitar Hero Live.

In the 2004 Metal Edge Readers' Choice Awards, the song was voted "Song of the Year" and "Music Video of the Year".[17] In 2020, Kerrang and Louder Sound ranked the song number five and number three, respectively, on their lists of the greatest Slipknot songs.[18][19] Jack Osbourne ranked the song number two on his list of "101 Adrenaline Rock Songs", with "Smells Like Teen Spirit" by Nirvana beating it to the number one spot.

Music video

The music video, directed by Mark Klasfeld and Tony Petrossian, cost between $300,000 and $500,000 and was recorded on March 27, 2004.[20] It was shot in Des Moines, Iowa, at a fan's house that was due for renovation, and features the band performing inside the house surrounded by dozens of fans both inside and outside the house, which gets destroyed in the process as the fans crash through the windows and walls. In the aftermath, the family asked the band to replace an extensive list of objects and fittings that were damaged or destroyed during the shoot.[21] Roadrunner Records provided the family with roughly $50,000 as compensation. Prior to filming, the production told the crowd only to act wild but not destroy the house; this rule was left unheeded. Midway through the shooting, the band and fans were asked to avoid jumping around too much, as it would have resulted in either the floor caving in or the entire house collapsing. Fans were also told to take extreme caution around Craig Jones as the nails in his mask may injure them. It was revealed later that the band had performed the song several times while the crowd vandalized the house, and the resulting footage was edited to produce the video.

Shawn Crahan recalls that the band "asked our real fans to be in the video and people came from all over", adding that "it meant so much to us. We weren't really supposed to destroy that house – but we did it anyway. Another plus for that song is that I get to beat the fuck out of my keg. What else could you want?"[22] One of the fans was a teenage British national who used some of his savings and his grandmother's money to travel to Iowa from England for the shoot and was accommodated by Corey Taylor after being denied a check-in at a local hotel due to his age. Two incidents occurred during the filming; two fans were injured by broken glass but were treated on the scene by paramedics stationed during filming and a doctor who lived in the neighborhood where the shoot occurred, while a group of youths were arrested by police present during filming for using baseball bats to vandalize a Mercury Sable rented by the band's record label to bring fans to the shoot's location.

As of September 2023, the music video for "Duality" has over 380 million views on YouTube.[23]

The music video is also available on the CD single and the DVD Voliminal: Inside the Nine, released in 2006.

Track listing

All songs written by Slipknot.

CD single
No.TitleLength
1."Duality" (Single version)3:33
2."Don't Get Close"3:45
3."Disasterpiece" (Live)5:23
  • include music video "Duality" on some versions
7" vinyl / EU cardboard sleeve CD single
No.TitleLength
1."Duality" (Single version)3:33
2."Don't Get Close"3:45
US promo CD
No.TitleLength
1."Duality" (Edit)3:33
2."Duality" (Album version)4:12
EU promo CD
No.TitleLength
1."Duality" (Edit)3:33

Release history

Year Type Label Catalog Ref
2004 12-inch Roadrunner 3988-7 [24]
2004 7-inch Roadrunner 13984-7 [24]
2004 LP Roadrunner RR 3988 [24]
2004 CD Roadrunner 3988-0 [24]
2004 CD Universal 6139883 [25]

Charts

Chart (2004) Peak
position
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[26] 7
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Wallonia)[27] 37
France (SNEP)[28] 74
Germany (Official German Charts)[29] 38
Hungary (Single Top 40)[30] 6
Ireland (IRMA)[31] 43
Italy (FIMI)[32] 27
Netherlands (Single Top 100)[33] 63
Scotland (OCC)[34] 16
Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)[35] 35
Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[36] 87
UK Rock & Metal (OCC)[37] 1
UK Singles (OCC)[38] 15
US Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles (Billboard)[39] 6
US Mainstream Rock (Billboard)[40] 5
US Alternative Airplay (Billboard)[41] 6

Certifications

Region CertificationCertified units/sales
Denmark (IFPI Danmark)[42] Gold 45,000‡
Portugal (AFP)[43] Platinum 40,000‡
United Kingdom (BPI)[44] Platinum 600,000‡

‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Covers

In 2012, New Zealand band I Am Giant covered the song as an acoustic sounding single.

In 2014, as part of their album, Just The Tip..., comedy rock lounge act The Lounge Kittens covered the song.

In 2016, the British rock band Asking Alexandria covered the song for the compilation album Decades of Destruction.

In 2018, the German rapper Alligatoah covered the song for the cover album Fremde Zungen.

References

  1. ↑ Unterberger, Andrew (September 10, 2004). "Top Ten Nu-Metal Bands". Stylus Magazine Rap Metal. Archived from the original on October 9, 2004. Retrieved October 15, 2014.
  2. ↑ Chesler, Josh (May 18, 2015). "10 Nu-metal Songs That Actually Don't Suck". Phoenix New Times. Retrieved March 13, 2016.
  3. ↑ Olivier, Bobby (August 6, 2019). "The 10 Best Slipknot Songs: Critic's Picks". Billboard. Retrieved May 15, 2021.
  4. ↑ Guyre, Jen (April 30, 2010). "The Ten Greatest Music Videos in Roadrunner History". Roadrunner. Retrieved December 19, 2011
  5. ↑ Blabbermouth (April 30, 2010). "The Ten Greatest Music Videos In ROADRUNNER History: Part 2". BLABBERMOUTH.NET. Retrieved February 16, 2022.
  6. ↑ Duality. AllMusic. Retrieved March 5, 2010
  7. 1 2 3 Loftus, John. Vol. 3: The Subliminal Verses Overview. Allmusic. Retrieved March 5, 2010
  8. ↑ Unterberger, Andrew (September 10, 2004). "Top Ten Nu-Metal Bands". Stylus Magazine. Archived from the original on October 9, 2004. Retrieved September 25, 2014.
  9. ↑ Thomson, Mick. "NAMM 2008 Report". On Track Magazine. Archived from the original on December 16, 2008. Retrieved March 5, 2010.
  10. ↑ "Slipknot - Vol. 3: The Subliminal Verses - Review". Stylus Magazine. May 28, 2004. Archived from the original on April 3, 2008. Retrieved April 6, 2010.
  11. ↑ "Volume 3: The Subliminal Verses". Q: 124. July 2004.
  12. ↑ "Slipknot Set First Single Off New Album". Blabbermouth.net. March 6, 2004. Archived from the original on March 13, 2005. Retrieved March 6, 2008.
  13. ↑ Strong, Martin C.; John Peel (October 2006). The Essential Rock Discography: Complete Discographies Listing Every Track Recorded by More Than 1,200 Artists. Canongate U.S. p. 982. ISBN 1-84195-860-3.
  14. ↑ "Slipknot To Release 'Duality' Seven-Inch Vinyl Single". Blabbermouth.net. May 24, 2004. Archived from the original on June 7, 2011. Retrieved March 6, 2008.
  15. ↑ "Artist Chart History - Slipknot". Billboard. Retrieved September 5, 2008.
  16. ↑ "The Official Charts Company - Slipknot". Official Charts Company. Retrieved September 5, 2008.
  17. ↑ Metal Edge, June 2005
  18. ↑ Law, Sam (March 27, 2020). "The 20 greatest Slipknot songs – ranked". Kerrang. Retrieved April 10, 2022.
  19. ↑ Chillingworth, Alec (December 22, 2020). "The Top 50 best Slipknot songs ever". Louder Sound. Retrieved April 10, 2022.
  20. ↑ "Report: Slipknot's 'Duality' Video Cost Nearly Half A Million To Produce". Blabbermouth.net. April 2, 2004. Retrieved September 28, 2022.
  21. ↑ "For The Record: Quick News On Maroon 5, The Roots And Dave Chappelle, Slipknot, Morrissey, Velvet Underground & More". MTV. March 31, 2004. Retrieved March 6, 2008.
  22. ↑ Bryant, Tom (July 14, 2012). "Hell unleashed". Kerrang #1423. p. 24.
  23. ↑ Slipknot (October 27, 2009). "Slipknot - Duality [OFFICIAL VIDEO] [HD]". YouTube. Retrieved March 18, 2023.
  24. 1 2 3 4 allmusic ((( Duality > Overview ))). Allmusic. Retrieved May 8, 2010
  25. ↑ allmusic ((( Duality [Import CD] > Overview ))). Allmusic. Retrieved May 8, 2010
  26. ↑ "Slipknot – Duality" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved April 15, 2021.
  27. ↑ "Slipknot – Duality" (in French). Ultratop 50. Retrieved April 15, 2021.
  28. ↑ "Slipknot – Duality" (in French). Les classement single. Retrieved April 15, 2021.
  29. ↑ "Slipknot – Duality" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved April 15, 2021.
  30. ↑ "Archívum – Slágerlisták – MAHASZ" (in Hungarian). Single (track) Top 40 lista. Magyar Hanglemezkiadók Szövetsége. Retrieved May 31, 2019.
  31. ↑ "Chart Track: Week 25, 2004". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved April 15, 2021.
  32. ↑ "Slipknot – Duality". Top Digital Download. Retrieved April 15, 2021.
  33. ↑ "Slipknot – Duality" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved April 15, 2021.
  34. ↑ "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved April 15, 2021.
  35. ↑ "Slipknot – Duality". Singles Top 100. Retrieved April 15, 2021.
  36. ↑ "Slipknot – Duality". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved April 15, 2021.
  37. ↑ "Official Rock & Metal Singles Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved April 15, 2021.
  38. ↑ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved April 15, 2021.
  39. ↑ "Slipknot Chart History (Bubbling Under Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved April 15, 2021.
  40. ↑ "Slipknot Chart History (Mainstream Rock)". Billboard. Retrieved April 15, 2021.
  41. ↑ "Slipknot Chart History (Alternative Airplay)". Billboard. Retrieved April 15, 2021.
  42. ↑ "Danish single certifications – Slipknot – Duality". IFPI Danmark. Retrieved September 22, 2023.
  43. ↑ "Portuguese single certifications – Slipknot – Duality" (PDF) (in Portuguese). Associação Fonográfica Portuguesa. Retrieved February 7, 2023.
  44. ↑ "British single certifications – Slipknot – Duality". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved July 19, 2022.
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