"Toxicity"
Cover of the CD 2 UK Import of "Toxicity".
Single by System of a Down
from the album Toxicity
B-side"Storaged"
ReleasedJanuary 22, 2002
Recorded2001
StudioCello Studios, Hollywood
GenreNu metal[1][2]
Length3:39
Label
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)
System of a Down singles chronology
"Chop Suey!"
(2001)		 "Toxicity"
(2002)		 "Aerials"
(2002)
Music video
"Toxicity" on YouTube

"Toxicity" is a single by American heavy metal band System of a Down, released in 2002. It was originally released on the album of the same name. The writing credits for the song are Malakian, Odadjian, Tankian and 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]

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 August 2023, the song has over 800 million views on YouTube.

Track listing

All lyrics are written by Serj Tankian

CD single
No.TitleMusicLength
1."Toxicity"
  • Shavo Odadjian
  • Daron Malakian
3:39
2."X" (Live)Daron Malakian3:02
3."Suggestions" (Live)Daron Malakian2:44
4."Marmalade"Daron Malakian2:59
5."Toxicity" (Video Version)
  • Shavo Odadjian
  • Daron Malakian
3:43

All lyrics are written by Serj Tankian

Australian single
No.TitleMusicLength
1."Toxicity"
  • Shavo Odadjian
  • Daron Malakian
3:39
2."X" (Live)Daron Malakian3:05
3."Suggestions" (Live)Daron Malakian2:44
4."Sugar" (Video Version)
  • Shavo Odadjian
  • Daron Malakian
3:28

All lyrics are written by Serj Tankian

UK CD1
No.TitleMusicLength
1."Toxicity"
  • Shavo Odadjian
  • Daron Malakian
3:42
2."X" (Live)Daron Malakian3:05
3."Suggestions" (Live)Daron Malakian2:44
UK CD2
No.TitleLyricsMusicLength
1."Toxicity"Serj Tankian
  • Shavo Odadjian
  • Daron Malakian
3:41
2."Marmalade"Serj TankianDaron Malakian3:02
3."Metro" (Explicit Version)John CrawfordJohn Crawford3:00

All lyrics are written by Serj Tankian

7" single
No.TitleMusicLength
1."Toxicity"
  • Shavo Odadjian
  • Daron Malakian
3:39
2."Storaged"Daron Malakian1:19

Charts

Chart (2002) Peak
position
Australia (ARIA)[4] 39
Belgium (Ultratip Bubbling Under Flanders)[5] 10
Canada (Nielsen SoundScan)[6] 46
Germany (Official German Charts)[7] 88
Netherlands (Single Top 100)[8] 75
Ireland (IRMA)[9] 47
Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[10] 90
Scotland (OCC)[11] 25
UK Singles (OCC)[12] 25
UK Rock & Metal (OCC)[13] 4
US Billboard Hot 100[14] 70
US Alternative Airplay (Billboard)[15] 3
US Mainstream Rock (Billboard)[16] 10

Certifications

Region CertificationCertified units/sales
Denmark (IFPI Danmark)[17] Gold 45,000‡
Germany (BVMI)[18] Gold 250,000‡
Italy (FIMI)[19] Platinum 50,000‡
United Kingdom (BPI)[20] Silver 200,000‡
United States (RIAA)[21] 3× Platinum 3,000,000‡

‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Notes

  1. ↑ Suzanne-Mayer, Dominick (12 September 2019). "10 Nü-Metal Songs That Don't Totally Suck". Consequence of Sound. Retrieved 1 April 2021.
  2. 1 2 Unterberger, Andrew (September 10, 2004). "Top Ten Nu-Metal Bands". Stylus Magazine. Archived from the original on October 9, 2004. Retrieved September 25, 2014.
  3. ↑ "VH1 40 Greatest Metal Songs". VH1.com. MTV. 4 May 2006. Archived from the original on 13 September 2006. Retrieved 10 September 2006. #14 Toxicity, System of a Down
  4. ↑ "System of a Down – Toxicity". ARIA Top 50 Singles.
  5. ↑ "System of a Down – Toxicity" (in Dutch). Ultratip.
  6. ↑ "Top 50 Singles". Jam!. Archived from the original on April 28, 2002. Retrieved December 2, 2023.
  7. ↑ "System of a Down – Toxicity" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts.
  8. ↑ "System of a Down – Toxicity" (in Dutch). Single Top 100.
  9. ↑ "Irish-charts.com – Discography System of a Down". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved April 23, 2021.
  10. ↑ "System of a Down – Toxicity". Swiss Singles Chart.
  11. ↑ "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved November 13, 2021.
  12. ↑ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company.
  13. ↑ "Official Rock & Metal Singles Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved November 13, 2021.
  14. ↑ "System of a Down Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved April 30, 2021.
  15. ↑ "System of a Down Chart History (Alternative Airplay)". Billboard. Retrieved April 9, 2015.
  16. ↑ "System of a Down Chart History (Mainstream Rock)". Billboard. Retrieved April 3, 2015.
  17. ↑ "Danish single certifications – System of a Down – Toxicity". IFPI Danmark. Retrieved September 8, 2020.
  18. ↑ "Gold-/Platin-Datenbank (System of a Down; 'Toxicity')" (in German). Bundesverband Musikindustrie. Retrieved September 20, 2022.
  19. ↑ "Italian single certifications – System of a Down – Toxicity" (in Italian). Federazione Industria Musicale Italiana. Retrieved September 8, 2020.
  20. ↑ "British single certifications – System of a Down – Toxicity". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved September 8, 2020.
  21. ↑ "American single certifications – System of a Down – Toxicity". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved December 4, 2022.
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