Burning in the Skies
{{Use mdy dates|date=August 2019}}
{{Infobox song
| name = Burning in the Skies
| cover = Linkin Park Burning in the Skies single cover.jpg
| alt =
| type = single
| artist = Linkin Park
| album = A Thousand Suns
| B-side = {{flatlist|
- "Blackout" (Live)
- "When They Come for Me" (Live)
}}
| released = {{Start date|2011|03|21}}
| studio =
| venue =
| genre = Alternative rock{{Cite web|url=http://www.immortalreviews.com/home/2017/5/18/the-end-of-humanity-is-foretold-in-linkin-parks-a-thousand-suns|title=The End Of Humanity Is Foretold In Linkin Park's "A Thousand Suns"|publisher=Immortal Reviews|last=Yadav|first=Dylan|date=May 18, 2017|access-date=December 1, 2021}}
| length = {{plainlist|
- {{Duration|m=4|s=13}} (album version)
- {{Duration|m=4|s=01}} (radio edit)
}}
| label = Warner Bros.
| writer = Linkin Park
| producer = {{flatlist|
}}
| prev_title = Waiting for the End
| prev_year = 2010
| next_title = Iridescent
| next_year = 2011
| misc = {{External music video|{{YouTube|kh_YCSW5lPc|"Burning in the Skies"}}}}
}}
"Burning in the Skies" is a song by American rock band Linkin Park. It was announced as the band's third single from their fourth studio album, A Thousand Suns, on January 20, 2011, and it was released on March 21.{{cite web|url=http://www.femalefirst.co.uk/music/rockmusic/Linkin+Park-14805.html|title=Linkin Park Announce Their New Single 'Burning In The Skies'|access-date=2011-01-22}}
A music video for the single was directed by Joe Hahn, Linkin Park's turntablist. It was released in the United States to the Nielsen BDS adult contemporary indicator chart by February 2011, although it was clarified by vocalist Mike Shinoda that it is an international-only single,{{Cite web |url=http://mikeshinoda.com/2011/02/24/burning-in-the-skies-video-premiere-2/ |title=Burning In The Skies Video Premiere|access-date=2011-06-10 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120101185424/http://mikeshinoda.com/2011/02/24/burning-in-the-skies-video-premiere-2/ |archive-date=2012-01-01 |url-status=dead }} hence not charting in any Billboard charts.
"Burning in the Skies" (along with five other songs from A Thousand Suns) is featured in the "Linkin Park Track Pack" as downloadable content for the rhythm video game Guitar Hero: Warriors of Rock. The track pack was released on October 19, 2010.
Music video
Filming for the music video occurred from January 17 through 19, 2011, with Joe Hahn and lead vocalist Mike Shinoda tweeting about filming the video.[https://twitter.com/joehahnLP/status/26774154636173312 Joe Hahn Tweet][https://twitter.com/m_shinoda/status/27570152237178881 Mike Shinoda Tweet]
The international music video was directed by Joe Hahn. The video premiered on kerrang.com on February 22.{{cite web|url=http://www.kerrang.com/blog/2011/02/watch_linkin_parks_new_video.html|title=Watch Linkin Park's new video!|publisher=Kerrang!}} The video was also uploaded on YouTube by Linkin Park on their official YouTube channel linkinparktv. The entire video is in slow motion. It shows the final activities of random people (a teen party; a couple in a car; a girl in her bathroom; another girl studying with her computer; an old man dining alone; and a kid running with pajamas and a lion mask) before being caught in a blast radius of what seems to be a nuclear explosion in downtown Los Angeles. The explosion happens when the guitar solo starts. Then the band members are seen in darkness with effects similar to the ones used in the "Waiting for the End" music video, although they do not sing or perform their instruments in accordance to the song.
As of November 2024, the music video for "Burning in the Skies" has over 62 million views on YouTube.{{Cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kh_YCSW5lPc|title=Burning In The Skies (Official International Video) - Linkin Park|publisher=YouTube|author=Linkin Park|date=February 22, 2011|access-date=October 17, 2022}}
The behind-the-scenes video for "Burning in the Skies" was released on March 29, 2011.{{YouTube|Gmh1xJJ0ghY|LPTV - Making of the "Burning in the Skies" Music Video}}
Reception
Jean Dean Wells of AOL Radio praised the song, saying that the band "delivered an upbeat track that could play just as easily on any pop radio station."{{cite web |url=http://www.aolradioblog.com/2011/02/01/linkin-park-burning-in-the-skies/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110217175234/http://www.aolradioblog.com/2011/02/01/linkin-park-burning-in-the-skies |url-status=usurped |archive-date=February 17, 2011 |title=Linkin Park, 'Burning in the Skies' -- New Song |author=James Dean Wells |date=February 1, 2011 |work=AOL Radio |publisher=aolradioblog.com |access-date=March 28, 2011}}
Track listing
{{Track listing
|all_writing = Linkin Park
|headline = CD single
|title1 = Burning in the Skies
|length1 = 4:13
|title2 = Blackout
|length2 = 4:36
|note2 = Live
}}
{{Track listing
|all_writing = Linkin Park
|headline = iTunes EP
|title1 = Burning in the Skies
|length1 = 4:13
|title2 = Blackout
|length2 = 4:36
|note2 = Live
|title3 = When They Come for Me
|length3 = 5:21
|note3 = Live
}}
{{Track listing
|all_writing = Linkin Park
|headline = Promotional radio CD single
|title1 = Burning in the Skies
|length1 = 4:01
|note1 = Edit
}}
Personnel
- Chester Bennington – vocals
- Mike Shinoda – vocals, sampler, lead guitar, piano, keyboard
- Brad Delson – rhythm guitar
- Dave "Phoenix" Farrell – bass guitar, backing vocals
- Joe Hahn – turntables, samplers
- Rob Bourdon – drums, percussion
Commercial performance
Since Shinoda confirmed that it is an international-only single, the single did not chart on any Billboard charts aside from debuting on the Rock Digital Song Sales chart for a solitary week at 37 solely on the strength of digital downloads of the song following the release of A Thousand Suns. The single received moderate success on the charts where it charted. It peaked within the Top 40 on the Austrian, German Airplay, and Portuguese charts, while it was a Top 20 hit on the UK Rock & Metal Chart peaking at number 16 and staying on the UK Rock & Metal charts for two weeks.
Charts
References
{{Reflist}}
{{Linkin Park songs}}
{{authority control}}
Category:Songs written by Mike Shinoda
Category:Warner Records singles
Category:Song recordings produced by Rick Rubin