Devil (Shinedown song)
{{Infobox song
| name = Devil
| cover =
| alt =
| type = single
| artist = Shinedown
| album = Attention Attention
| released = {{Start date|2018|03|07}}
| recorded = 2017–2018
| studio =
| venue =
| genre = Hard rock{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/chart-beat/8486175/shinedown-breaks-record-most-rock-airplay-top-10s|title=Shinedown Breaks Record For Most Rock Airplay Top 10s With 'Get Up'|last=Rutherford|first=Kevin|date=November 21, 2018|magazine=Billboard|access-date=December 18, 2018}}{{cite web|url=http://loudwire.com/the-40-best-hard-rock-songs-of-2018/|title=The 40 Best Hard Rock Songs of 2018|date=December 3, 2018|website=Loudwire|language=en|access-date=December 18, 2018}}
| length = {{Duration|m=3|s=27}}
| label = Atlantic
| writer = {{flatlist|
}}
| producer = Eric Bass
| prev_title = How Did You Love
| prev_year = 2016
| next_title = Get Up
| next_year = 2018
| misc = {{External music video|{{YouTube|_AsPY1bQx70|"Devil"}}}}
}}
"Devil" is a song by American rock band Shinedown. It was their first single off of their sixth studio album Attention Attention. It reached number one on the US Billboard Mainstream Rock Songs chart in May 2018.
Background
The song was first released on March 7, 2018, as the first single from the band's sixth studio album, Attention Attention.{{cite web |date=7 March 2018 |title=Watch the video for Devil, the new single from Shinedown |url=http://teamrock.com/news/2018-03-07/shinedown-announce-new-album-release-video-for-devil-single |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180307214354/http://teamrock.com/news/2018-03-07/shinedown-announce-new-album-release-video-for-devil-single |archive-date=2018-03-07 |website=teamrock.com |publisher=}}{{cite web|url=http://www.kerrang.com/video/shinedown-have-released-new-single-video-devil/|title=Shinedown Have Released A New Single And Video, Devil — Kerrang!|website=Kerrang!|date=7 March 2018 }} An accompanying music video was released on the same day,{{cite web|url=http://www.blabbermouth.net/news/shinedown-to-release-attention-attention-album-in-may-devil-video-available/|title=SHINEDOWN To Release 'Attention Attention' Album In May; 'Devil' Video Available|date=7 March 2018|publisher=}} also featuring intro track "The Entrance". The video was directed by Bill Yukich, the lead editor for Beyonce's Lemonade film.{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/rock/8232518/shinedown-attention-attention-album-devil-video|title=Shinedown Announces New Album 'ATTENTION ATTENTION,' Releases Single 'DEVIL': Video Premiere|magazine=Billboard}} The song was included in the soundtrack for WWE 2K19, having been selected by Baron Corbin.{{cite magazine|url=https://www.loudersound.com/news/metallica-slipknot-bfmv-and-more-for-wwe-2k19-soundtrack|magazine=Metal Hammer|last=Morton|first=Luke|title=Metallica, Slipknot, BFMV and More for WWE 2K19 Soundtrack|date=September 18, 2018|access-date=March 2, 2025}} The song was also included in the Apex Legends season 3 cinematic trailer.
Themes and composition
Lyrically, the song has been described by Alternative Press as "a deep dive into the heart of fear".{{cite magazine|url=https://www.altpress.com/shinedown_devil_new_song_attention_attention|title=Hear Shinedown's Strident New Song "Devil" From Their Upcoming Album|magazine=Alternative Press|date=March 7, 2018|access-date=March 5, 2025}} Attention Attention is a concept album that details a person's progression, from being in a dark, negative space, to working through their issues and eventually progressing into be a new, more positive person; "Devil" is the second track from the album, and the first fully formed song after the intro track, placing it in the more negativity-themed side of the album. Frontman Brent Smith outlined the meaning of the song:
{{quote|'Devil' is about being afraid, 'Devil' is about being terrified of not only yourself, in some respects, but the world around you, and understanding that there are so many things and so many different situations and people and places and atmospheres and exposure that human beings are put in front of on a daily basis, [and] the world can be a really difficult place to navigate. So that's where the story starts.}}
Musically, Loudwire described the song as having a dense, wall of sound quality to it, describing it as having a "sliding guitar lick and off kilter beat"...backing choirs.. layers of synth, piano and guitar textures."{{cite web|url=http://loudwire.com/shinedown-devil-attention-attention-song/|title=Shinedown Warn of the 'Devil' in New 'Attention Attention' Song|website=Loudwire|date=7 March 2018 }}
Personnel
Band
- Brent Smith – vocals
- Zach Myers – guitar
- Eric Bass – bass
- Barry Kerch – drums
Charts
{{col-start}}
{{col-2}}
=Weekly charts=
| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"
|+ Weekly chart performance for "Devil" |
| scope="col"| Chart (2018–19)
! scope="col"| Peak |
|---|
| {{single chart|Billboardcanadarock|7|artist=Shinedown|rowheader=true|accessdate=August 2, 2020}} |
| {{single chart|Billboardbubbling100|21|artist=Shinedown|rowheader=true|accessdate=March 20, 2018}} |
| scope="row"| US Digital Song Sales (Billboard){{Cite web|url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/shinedown/chart-history/hds/|title=Shinedown Chart History (Digital Song Sales)|magazine=Billboard|access-date=January 31, 2025}}
| 11 |
| {{single chart|Billboardrocksongs|9|artist=Shinedown|rowheader=true|accessdate=March 30, 2019}} |
| {{single chart|Billboardrockairplay|13|artist=Shinedown|rowheader=true|accessdate=August 2, 2020}} |
{{col-2}}
=Year-end charts=
| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"
|+ Year-end chart performance for "Devil" |
| scope="col"| Chart (2018)
! scope="col"| Position |
|---|
| scope="row"| US Hot Rock & Alternative Songs (Billboard){{Cite web|url=http://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/2018/hot-rock-songs|title=Year-End Charts: Hot Rock Songs (2018)|magazine=Billboard|access-date=January 31, 2025}}
| 24 |
| scope="row"| US Rock Airplay (Billboard){{Cite web|url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/2018/rock-airplay-songs/|title=Year-End Charts: Rock Airplay Songs (2018)|magazine=Billboard|access-date=January 31, 2025}}
| 32 |
{{col-end}}
Certifications
{{Certification Table Top|caption=Certifications for "Devil"}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=Canada|certyear=2023|relyear=2018|artist=Shinedown|title=Devil|award=Platinum|type=single|accessdate=6 November 2023}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=United States|certyear=2020|relyear=2018|artist=Shinedown|title=Devil|award=Gold|type=single|accessdate=2 August 2020}}
{{Certification Table Bottom|nosales=true|noshipments=true|streaming=true}}