"Sugar" is a song by American heavy metal band System of a Down. It was released as the band's first single on May 24, 1998, and as an EP on May 26, 1999. The song was taken from their debut studio album, System of a Down (1998).
The song propelled the band into the front of the then current metal scene, giving them the opportunity to open for Slayer and later Metallica on their Summer Sanitarium Tour, get second stage at Ozzfest, and getting them their first headlining tour. The video for the song was often played on MTV after release.
Music and lyrics "Sugar" has been described as "a spazzy, jazz-spattered noise rock freak-out". The song features rapped verses from lead singer Serj Tankian, along with death metal growls and shrieks, the latter two being signatures of the band's early sound. The verses of the song feature guitarist Daron Malakian on backing vocals. Later in the band's career, he would move on to be more of a co-lead vocalist (although he sang on demos of "Roulette" and "DAM"). The ending of the song features the band speeding up from the original tempo.
Lyrically, "Sugar" is about the world's overuse and reliance on drugs and other substances, as well as the predatory state of media and news.
Music video The music video for "Sugar" shows the band playing on a stage, with an American flag intercut with images of public violence, hangings from the Holocaust, armies, footage of the Upshot-Knothole Grable nuclear test and footage from the German film Metropolis. The video was directed by Nathan Cox.
The video, along with the band's next single "Spiders", would be MTV mainstays for a long time to come, much to the surprise of the band.
Reception The song was well received by critics and fans alike. It is regarded to be the best song from this album, and one of the band's best overall.
Track listing
Personnel
System of a Down Serj Tankian – lead vocals Daron Malakian – guitars, background vocals Shavo Odadjian – bass John Dolmayan – drums
Production Produced by Rick Rubin with System of a Down Mixed by D. Sardy Engineered by Sylvia Massy Engineer/assistant engineer: Greg Fidelman Additional recording/finishing Touches: D. Sardy Assistant engineers: Sam Storey, Nick Raskulinecz Assistant mixdown engineers: James Saez, Greg Gordon, Andy Haller Second assistant mixdown engineer: Bryan Davis Recorded at Sound City, Van Nuys, California Vocals and additional recordings at Akademie Mathematique of Philosophical Sound Research, Hollywood, California Mixed at Record Plant Studios, Hollywood, California & Hollywood Sound, California Mastered by Vlado Meller at Sony Studios, New York City Live Tracks Produced by D. Sardy Live Tracks Mixed by D. Sardy Live Tracks Engineered by Doug Henderson Live Tracks Recorded at Irving Plaza, New York City, New York
Charts Chart (1998–99) Peakposition UK Singles (OCC) 136
Certifications
References