Closer to the Edge
{{distinguish|text=the album Close to the Edge, Close to the Edge (song), or the film TT3D: Closer to the Edge}}
{{Infobox song
| name = Closer to the Edge
| cover = 30 Seconds to Mars-Closer to the Edge s.jpg
| alt =
| type = single
| artist = Thirty Seconds to Mars
| album = This Is War
| released = {{Start date|2010|08|20}}{{cite web|title=Closer to the Edge - EP by 30 Seconds to Mars|url=https://itunes.apple.com/au/album/closer-to-the-edge-ep/id386456148|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121113124802/https://itunes.apple.com/au/album/closer-to-the-edge-ep/id386456148|url-status=dead|archive-date=November 13, 2012|publisher=iTunes|access-date=22 August 2011}}
| recorded = 2008–2009
| studio = The International Centre for the Advancement of the Arts and Sciences of Sound
(Los Angeles)
| genre = Progressive rock
| length = {{ubl|4:15 (radio edit)|4:34 (album version)}}
| label = {{hlist|Virgin|EMI}}
| writer = Jared Leto
| producer = {{hlist|Flood|Thirty Seconds to Mars}}
| prev_title = This Is War
| prev_year = 2010
| next_title = Hurricane 2.0
| next_year = 2010
| misc =
{{External music video|{{YouTube|mLqHDhF-O28|"Closer to the Edge"}}}}
}}
"Closer to the Edge" is a song written by Jared Leto and performed by American rock band Thirty Seconds to Mars. Produced by the band, co-produced by Flood, the track is the seventh track and the third single from their third studio album, This Is War (2009). It was released in the US on August 20, 2010.{{cite press release |url=http://www.virginrecords.com/home/news.aspx |title=Thirty Seconds To Mars New Single, 'This Is War' Claims The #1 Spot At Alternative Radio |publisher=Virgin Records America |date=2010-07-19 |quote=Their new single 'Closer To The Edge' is already climbing the airplay charts across Europe and will impact U.S. radio in August. |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060828234305/http://www.virginrecords.com/home/news.aspx |archive-date=2006-08-28}}
Background
Tomo Miličević, the former lead guitarist of 30 Seconds to Mars, said about the song, "A really interesting track. We call it our 'pop' song, but when you really listen to it, you realize that it has a lot of rock glory in it. It's a song that fools you, and I like that. Jared really pushed himself as a songwriter here in that he was trying to reach for a new way of presenting music that was very accessible but not spoon-fed it to the audience. He has a lot of respect for the fans in that way. The guy's a trip - very inspiring to be around and work with."{{cite web | title = 30 Seconds To Mars: exclusive track-by-track album preview :Jared Leto and band declare This Is War | url = http://thirtysecondstomars.thisisthehive.net/blog/?p=972 | first = Joe | last = Bosso | date = 2009-12-02 | access-date = 2010-07-15 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120522023845/http://thirtysecondstomars.thisisthehive.net/blog/2010/06/11/closer-to-the-edge/ | archive-date = 2012-05-22 | url-status = dead}}
Music video
The music video premiered on June 9, 2010, on the band's YouTube account.[https://www.youtube.com/user/30secondstomars#p/u/0/AQHv-fhHq9Y 30 Seconds to Mars "Closer to the Edge" video premiere] The video was directed by Jared Leto as "Bartholomew Cubbins".{{cite web| title = Closer to the Edge: The Film| url = http://thirtysecondstomars.thisisthehive.net/blog/?p=972| first = Jared| last = Leto| author-link = Jared Leto| date = 2010-06-11 | access-date = 2010-06-24| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120522023845/http://thirtysecondstomars.thisisthehive.net/blog/2010/06/11/closer-to-the-edge/| archive-date = 2012-05-22| url-status = dead}} The video contains concert footage from about 30 performances{{cite web|title=Closer to the Edge: de video|url=http://www.30secondstomars.nl/index/2010/06/closer-to-the-edge-de-video/|date=2010-06-13|access-date=2010-07-15|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120309053129/http://www.30secondstomars.nl/index/2010/06/closer-to-the-edge-de-video/|archive-date=2012-03-09|url-status=dead}} during their Into the Wild Tour, which commenced on February 19, 2010, and ran till December 18, 2010. The six-minute-long video shows each location played at until a certain date, fan commentary and some backstage footage. "Closer to the Edge" is not the band's first live video, being preceded by "Edge of the Earth".
=Critical reception=
The video was received with highly positive reviews by critics. Australia's RadarRadio referred to the video as "epic".{{cite web | title = 30 Seconds to Mars Closer to the Edge music video | url = http://www.radarradio.com.au/blog/2010/06/22/30-seconds-to-mars-closer-to-the-edge-epic-music-video/ | date = 2010-06-22 | work = Radar (radio) | publisher = Austereo | access-date = 2010-11-11 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120308091055/http://www.radarmusic.com.au/blog/2010/06/22/30-seconds-to-mars-closer-to-the-edge-epic-music-video/ | archive-date = 2012-03-08 | url-status = dead}} UK rock music website RockLouder also called the video "lovely" and "worth the watch".{{cite web | title = Jared and crew unveil their brand new video | url = http://www.rocklouder.co.uk/videos/article/30-seconds-to-mars-closer-to-the-edge | date = 2010-06-15 | access-date = 2010-07-15 | archive-date = 2012-02-25 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120225075454/http://www.rocklouder.co.uk/videos/article/30-seconds-to-mars-closer-to-the-edge | url-status = dead}}
Commercial performance
"Closer to the Edge" debuted on the UK Singles Chart on July 11, 2010, at number 90 before climbing to number 82 the following week. On July 18, 2010, the single rose a further four places to number 78. The single also found success on the UK Rock & Metal Singles Chart, where it climbed until peaking at number 1 on July 11, 2010, knocking The Pretty Reckless' "Make Me Wanna Die" off its seven-week reign. The single also peaked at number 88 on the Dutch Single Top 100. It is also their highest charted single in Australia, peaking at number 13, becoming platinum. It debuted at number 99 on the Billboard Hot 100 on the chart dated May 21, 2011,{{cite web|url=http://acharts.us/us_singles_top_100/2011/20 |title=US Singles Top 100 (May 21, 2011) |publisher=αCharts.us |access-date=2011-10-16}} more than two months after it dropped off of the Rock Songs and Alternative Songs charts. The song impacted radio on August 31, 2010.{{cite web|url=http://www.allaccess.com/mail/archive/eweekly/alternative/2010-8-24.html|title=AllAccess.com Alternative eWeekly|work=AllAccess|date=August 24, 2010|access-date=July 2, 2016}} It became the band's first single to be played on adult contemporary radio, with the first stations added being Detroit's WNIC (which changed formats to adult top 40 in August 2011) during Spring 2011 and WLER-FM in Butler/Pittsburgh.
Track listings
{{Track listing
| headline = CD single
| total_length = 8:45
| all_writing = Jared Leto
| title1 = Closer to the Edge
| note1 = radio edit
| length1 = 4:13
| title2 = Closer to the Edge
| note2 = album version
| length2 = 4:32
}}
Charts
{{col-begin}}
{{col-2}}
=Weekly charts=
{{col-2}}
=Year-end charts=
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" sortable style="text-align:center"
!scope="col"| Chart (2010) !scope="col"| Position |
| scope="row"|Australia (ARIA){{cite web|url=http://www.aria.com.au/pages/aria-charts-end-of-year-charts-top-100-singles-2010.htm |title=ARIA Charts – End of Year Charts – Top 100 Singles 2010 |publisher=Australian Recording Industry Association |access-date=January 8, 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101205172929/http://aria.com.au/pages/aria-charts-end-of-year-charts-top-100-singles-2010.htm |archive-date=December 5, 2010}}
|85 |
|---|
| scope="col"| Chart (2011)
!scope="col"| Position |
| scope="row"| US Alternative Airplay (Billboard){{Cite web|url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/2011/alternative-songs/|title=Year End Charts: Alternative Airplay (2010)|work=Billboard|access-date=September 19, 2023}}
| 34 |
{{col-end}}
Certifications
{{Certification Table Top}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=Australia|type=single|artist=Thirty Seconds to Mars|title=Closer to the Edge|award=Platinum|relyear=2010|certyear=2011|access-date=October 6, 2021}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=Germany|type=single|artist=Thirty Seconds to Mars|title=Closer to the Edge|award=Gold|relyear=2010|certyear=2023|access-date=June 5, 2023}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=New Zealand|type=single|artist=Thirty Seconds to Mars|title=Closer to the Edge|award=Gold|relyear=2010|relmonth=8|certyear=2011|source=archive|access-date=October 6, 2021}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=Portugal|type=single|artist=Thirty Seconds to Mars|title=Closer to the Edge|award=Platinum|relyear=2010|relmonth=8|certyear=2010|certref={{cite journal|date=October 2010|title=Top 50 Nacional Português|journal=Billboard Brasil|publisher=BPP Promoções e Publicações Ltda.|issue=2|page=82 }}|access-date=October 6, 2021}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=United Kingdom|type=single|artist=Thirty Seconds to Mars|title=Closer to the Edge|award=Silver|relyear=2010|certyear=2021|id=17308-446-1|access-date=October 6, 2021}}
{{Certification Table Bottom|streaming=true}}
See also
References
{{Reflist}}
{{Thirty Seconds to Mars}}
{{authority control}}
Category:Song recordings produced by Flood (producer)
Category:Song recordings produced by Steve Lillywhite
Category:Songs written by Jared Leto