Down with the Sickness

{{Short description|2000 single by Disturbed}}

{{More citations needed|date=November 2008}}

{{Use mdy dates|date=September 2024}}

{{Infobox song

| name = Down with the Sickness

| cover = disturbed_down_with_the_sickness.png

| alt =

| type = single

| artist = Disturbed

| album = The Sickness

| released = October 31, 2000{{cite web | url=https://globalnews.ca/news/6735291/disturbed-down-with-the-sickness-climbs-charts-coronavirus/ | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211127161831/https://globalnews.ca/news/6735291/disturbed-down-with-the-sickness-climbs-charts-coronavirus/ | archive-date=November 27, 2021 | title=Disturbed song 'Down with the Sickness' surging in sales due to coronavirus - National | Globalnews.ca }}

| format =

| recorded = 1999

| studio =

| venue =

| genre = Nu metal

| length = {{ubl|4:38 (album version)|3:42 (radio edit)}}

| label = Giant

| writer = {{hlist|Steve Kmak|Dan Donegan|Mike Wengren|David Draiman}}

| producer = Johnny K

| prev_title = Stupify

| prev_year = 2000

| next_title = Voices

| next_year = 2000

| misc = {{Audio sample

| type = single

| file = Disturbed_-_Down_with_the_Sickness_(excerpt).ogg

| description = "Down with the Sickness" (chorus)

}}

}}

"Down with the Sickness" is a song by American heavy metal band Disturbed. It was recorded in 1999 and released as the second single from the band's debut studio album, The Sickness. "Down with the Sickness" is one of Disturbed's best-known songs and is a concert staple, usually played as the last song. This was Disturbed's first single to be certified platinum in the United States by the Recording Industry Association of America. The song was certified 8× Platinum by the RIAA on January 17, 2025.

Music and composition

"Down With the Sickness" is a nu metal song{{cite web |url=http://allaxess.com/news/paolo-gregoletto-nu-metal-revered-reviled-top-ten/ |title=Paolo Gregoletto: Nu-Metal – Revered or Reviled? The Top Ten |publisher=All Axess}} (January 5, 2015). Retrieved on September 23, 2015{{cite web |url=http://music.cbc.ca/#!/blogs/2013/2/10-nu-metal-songs-that-still-hold-up |title=10 nu metal songs that still hold up on CBC music |publisher=CBC Music |last=Shumka |first=Dave}} (February 14, 2013){{cite web |url=http://consequenceofsound.net/2015/08/album-review-disturbed-immortalized/ |title=Disturbed – Immortalized |publisher=Consequence of Sound |author=Jon Hadusek |date=August 20, 2015}} that features an unusual "ooh-wah-ah-ah-ah" staccato noise from Disturbed's singer David Draiman at the end of the intro, which reappears before the last chorus.{{cite web |url=http://loudwire.com/best-metal-riffs-2000s/ |title=10 Best Metal Riffs of the 2000s |publisher=Loudwire}} (December 26, 2013). Retrieved on October 1, 2015

Draiman has stated the sound was made possible by effects on his vocal cords after receiving surgery for acid reflux, but he has dismissed the rumor the noise was actually caused by heartburn, further explaining, "I mean the song originally was written and just had a pause. Mikey's beat is just so tribal and you know it just made me feel like an animal... [The noise] came out one day."{{cite web | url = http://www.mtv.com/videos/misc/183836/behind-the-ball-with-disturbed-dispelling-the-rumor-behind-the-sickness.jhtml | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20090221023044/http://www.mtv.com/videos/misc/183836/behind-the-ball-with-disturbed-dispelling-the-rumor-behind-the-sickness.jhtml | url-status = dead | archive-date = February 21, 2009 | title = Behind the Ball with Disturbed: Dispelling the Rumor Behind the Sickness | website = mtv.com | publisher = Headbangers Ball | access-date = November 12, 2015 }}

Guitarist Dan Donegan has mentioned that the tuning for the guitar "is drop C-sharp... your bottom five strings are half a step down and your low string will be dropped to C-sharp."{{cite web | url = https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ySD5VP621l8 | title = "Disturbed – Learn to play "Down with the Sickness" | date = September 22, 2010 | website = YouTube }} This is sometimes referred to as "E{{flat}} Drop D{{flat}}", the most common drop tuning for bands who play generally in E{{flat}} standard instead of E standard.

Lyrics

A spoken segment near the end of the song describes a child who is physically abused by his mother and who ultimately retaliates. This segment is somewhat controversial and music critics sometimes express a negative opinion of its inclusion in the song. For example, Leor Galil of the Chicago Reader opined, "Yet I still find it hard to believe that the megasingle 'Down With the Sickness,' with its vocal breakdown in which front man David Draiman crudely describes being beaten by his mom (and vice versa), guided the band on to a path that's resulted in four albums topping the Billboard 200."{{cite web | url = http://www.chicagoreader.com/chicago/disturbed/Event?oid=18400884 | title = Disturbed – House of Blues | last = Galil | first = Leor | date = August 20, 2015 | website = Chicago Reader

| publisher = Sun-Times Media, LLC | access-date = November 5, 2015}}

However, the band has disavowed that this song is about literal child abuse, and that it is instead about a metaphoric abuse. Lead singer David Draiman explained to the Phoenix New Times:

...the screamed psychodramas in metal hits like "Down With The Sickness" ... are merely inspired by personal history, not a literal journal of his own tortured upbringing. "I'm really talking about the conflict between the mother culture of society, who's beating down the child yearning for independence and individuality, and the submission of the child."{{cite web | url = http://www.phoenixnewtimes.com/music/disturbed-and-disturberer-6408263 | title = Disturbed & Disturberer | last = Magahern | first = Jimmy | date = 26 June 2003 | website = Phoenix New Times | publisher = NT Media LLC | access-date = 4 November 2015}}

The "abuse" segment is not included in the radio edit or the music video.

Music video

A music video composed of live concert footage was produced for the song. The song is known for its segment which features a boy being attacked and abused by his mother,{{cite magazine |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/artists/disturbed/albums/album/147845/review/6067460/the_sickness |title=Rolling Stone Review of The Sickness, Mudvayne's L.D. 50, Relative Ash's Our Time With You, and Soulfly's Primitive |last=Ratliff |first=Ben |magazine=Rolling Stone |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070510092405/http://www.rollingstone.com/artists/disturbed/albums/album/147845/review/6067460/the_sickness |archive-date=May 10, 2007 |url-status=dead}} (September 28, 2000). Retrieved on October 1, 2015 which was not featured in the music video. The music video was recorded at the "Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre" (at the time the Tweeter Center) in Tinley Park, Illinois, during Q101's Jamboree 2001.{{cite web|url=http://www.setlist.fm/festival/2001/q101-jamboree-2001-2bd6808e.html|title=Q101 Jamboree 2001 Setlists|access-date=May 20, 2015|website=setlist.fm}}

In other media

  • The song is featured in the 2001 Jet Li film The One during an action scene.
  • The song was featured in the first episode of the 11th season of South Park, “With Apologies to Jesse Jackson”, as Eric Cartman fights with a man who has dwarfism.
  • The song is featured in the 2004 remake of the film Dawn of the Dead'' during the end credits.
  • In May 2019, the song was used during the final scene of the Brooklyn Nine-Nine episode “Sicko”.
  • Since 2022, Phoebe Bridgers has used the song as her walk-on music when performing live. In 2023, David Draiman gave his blessing of its use after he saw footage of Bridgers' entrance on TikTok.{{cite web |last1=Breihan |first1=Tom |title=Disturbed Respond To Phoebe Bridgers' "Down With The Sickness" Entrance On Taylor Swift Tour |url=https://www.stereogum.com/2222979/disturbed-respond-to-phoebe-bridgers-down-with-the-sickness-entrance-on-taylor-swift-tour/news/ |website=Stereogum |publisher=Stereogum Media |access-date=May 10, 2023}}
  • Since February 2024, KFC used the song in a UK advertisement.{{Cite web|url=https://www.thedrum.com/news/2024/02/05/kfc-s-vertically-gifted-tower-burger-too-tall-tv|title=KFC's vertically gifted Tower Burger is too tall for TV|publisher=The Drum|last=Houston|first=Amy|date=February 5, 2024|access-date=March 6, 2024}}
  • In March 2024, it was added to Fortnite as a playable Jam Track in Fortnite Festival.

Accolades

class="wikitable"
Region

!Year

!Publication

!Accolade

!Rank

United States

|2015

|Loudwire

|10 Best Metal Riffs of the 2000s{{cite web|url=http://loudwire.com/best-metal-riffs-2000s/ |title= 10 Best Metal Riffs of the 2000s |publisher=Loudwire }}

|align=|3

United States

|2016

|Loudwire

|Best Metal Song of the 21st Century{{cite web|url=http://loudwire.com/disturbed-down-with-the-sickness-wins-march-metal-madness-2016/ |title= Disturbed's 'Down With the Sickness' Wins Best Metal Song of the 21st Century in March Metal Madness 2016 |publisher=Loudwire }}

|align=|Won

Personnel

=Disturbed=

=Production=

Charts

class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"

!scope="col"| Chart (2001)

!scope="col"| Peak
position

scope="row"| UK Rock & Metal (OCC){{Cite web|url=https://www.officialcharts.com/charts/rock-and-metal-singles-chart/20200320/111/|title=Official Rock & Metal Singles Chart|publisher=Official Charts Company|date=March 20, 2020|access-date=January 12, 2024}}

| 37

{{single chart|Billboardbubbling100|4|artist=Disturbed|rowheader=true|access-date=January 20, 2024}}
{{single chart|Billboardalternativesongs|8|artist=Disturbed|rowheader=true|access-date=January 20, 2024}}
{{single chart|Billboardmainstreamrock|5|artist=Disturbed|rowheader=true|access-date=January 20, 2024}}

Certifications

{{Certification Table Top}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Australia|type=single|award=Platinum|number=4|certyear=2024|access-date=September 27, 2024}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Canada|type=single|artist=Disturbed|title=Down with the Sickness|award=Platinum|number=6|relyear=2000|certyear=2024|access-date=September 9, 2024}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Denmark|artist=Disturbed|title=Down with the Sickness|award=Gold|type=single|relyear=2000|certyear=2024|accessdate=July 24, 2024|id=14171}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Germany|type=single|artist=Disturbed|title=Down with the Sickness|award=Gold|relyear=2000|certyear=2025|access-date=January 16, 2025}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=New Zealand|type=single|artist=Disturbed|title=Down with the Sickness|award=Platinum|number=3|relyear=2000|certyear=2024|source=radioscope|access-date=December 24, 2024}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=United Kingdom|type=single|artist=Disturbed|title=Down with the Sickness|award=Platinum|relyear=2000|certyear=2024|id=14828-2264-1|access-date=January 19, 2024}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=United States|type=single|artist=Disturbed|title=Down with the Sickness|award=Platinum|number=8|relyear=2000|certyear=2025|refname="RIAA"|access-date=January 16, 2025}}

{{Certification Table Separator|title=Ringtone / Mastertone}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Canada|type=ringtone|artist=Disturbed|title=Down with the Sickness|award=Gold|relyear=2000|certyear=2007|note=Ringtone|accessdate=April 28, 2022}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=United States|type=single|artist=Disturbed|title=Down with the Sickness|award=Gold|relyear=2000|certyear=2006|note=Mastertone|digital=true|refname=US2|accessdate=April 28, 2022}}

{{Certification Table Bottom|noshipments=true|streaming=true}}

References

{{Reflist}}