Guns for Hands
{{short description|Twenty One Pilots song}}
{{Infobox song
| name = Guns for Hands
| cover =
| alt =
| type = Song
| artist = Twenty One Pilots
| album = Regional at Best
| released = {{start date|2011|7|8}}
| format =
| recorded =
| studio =
| venue =
| genre =
| length = 4:37
| label = Self-released
| producer = Twenty One Pilots
}}
{{Infobox song
| name = Guns for Hands
| cover = Guns for Hands by Twenty One Pilots.jpg
| border = yes
| alt =
| type = single
| artist = Twenty One Pilots
| album = Vessel
| recorded = 2012
| studio =
| venue =
| genre = * Alternative rock{{cite web|url=https://www.columbusalive.com/article/20130103/ENTERTAINMENT/301039648|website=Columbus Alive|title=Twenty One Pilots – Entertainment}}
- conscious hip hop
- electropop{{cite web|url=https://musicfeeds.com.au/gig/twenty-one-pilots-roundhouse-unsw-sydney-200416/#/slide/1|publisher=Music Feeds|title=Twenty One Pilots – The Roundhouse UNSW, Sydney 20/04/16|author=Deeley, Chelsea}}
- reggae{{Cite web|title=Twenty One Pilots Break Silence With Singles: "Jumpsuit" And "Nico And The Niners" — Content|url=https://www.soundbitesmedia.co/content/topjumpsuitnicoandtheniners|access-date=2020-12-16|website=Sound Bites Media|language=en-US}}
| length = 4:33
| label = Fueled By Ramen
| writer = Tyler Joseph
| producer = Greg Wells{{cite web|url=http://www.allmusic.com/artist/twenty-one-pilots-mn0002398414|title=Twenty One Pilots – Biography, Albums, Streaming Links – AllMusic|publisher=|accessdate=November 5, 2016}}{{cite web|url=http://worshipthemusic.com/artist/twenty-one-pilots/|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20150123072708/http://worshipthemusic.com/artist/twenty-one-pilots|title=Twenty One Pilots|publisher=Voodoo Music Festival|archivedate=January 23, 2015|accessdate=November 5, 2016}}
| prev_title = Ode to Sleep
| prev_year = 2012
| next_title = Lovely
| next_year = 2013
| misc = {{External music video|{{YouTube|Pmv8aQKO6k0|"Guns for Hands"}}
| type = single
}}
}}
"Guns for Hands" is a song written and recorded by American musical duo Twenty One Pilots, released as a single only in Japan. It was originally recorded for their second studio album, Regional at Best (2011), and was later re-recorded for their third album Vessel (2013), their 2012 extended play Three Songs,{{cite web|title=Three Songs – EP|url=https://www.amazon.com/three-songs-Twenty-One-Pilots/dp/B008I6DTJW|work=Amazon.com US|accessdate=January 22, 2014}} and their 2013 extended play Migraine.{{cite web|title=Migraine – EP|url=https://music.apple.com/ie/album/migraine-ep/651405957|work=iTunes US|publisher=Apple Inc.|access-date=January 13, 2014}} The song's accompanying music video was directed by Mark C. Eshleman.{{cite web|url=http://www.mtv.com/videos/twenty-one-pilots/875601/guns-for-hands.jhtml |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130206014027/http://www.mtv.com/videos/twenty-one-pilots/875601/guns-for-hands.jhtml |url-status=dead |archive-date=February 6, 2013 |title=Twenty One Pilots – "Guns For Hands" |publisher=MTV |date=January 28, 2013 |accessdate=January 13, 2014}} The song was heavily promoted in Japan as part of the duo's concert tour through the country and experienced moderate success there, reaching number 21 on the country's Hot 100 chart.
Background
In an interview with Rock Sound, Tyler Joseph explained that "Guns for Hands" came about following a meeting after a show with young fans of the band who discussed "what it was they were going through and a lot of what they were going through had to do with suicide", and added that "thank goodness it had a lot to do with them overcoming it and using music and songs, in particular his songs, to help them get over that." Joseph was consequently inspired to write a track "about taking that negative energy and aiming it at something else, not aiming it at yourself."{{cite web|title=Track-By-Track: Twenty One Pilots – Vessel|url=https://www.rocksound.tv/blog/read/track-by-track-twenty-one-pilots-vessel|work=Rock Sound|date=September 4, 2013|accessdate=February 28, 2019|archive-date=April 2, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190402020639/https://www.rocksound.tv/blog/read/track-by-track-twenty-one-pilots-vessel|url-status=dead}}
Music video
The music video for "Guns for Hands" is shot in a large and empty white room, saved for the performers and their instruments. The beginning of the video also shows the song's title in Japanese, as well as some subtitles. Joseph wears a blue shirt, and Dun wears a red shirt, representing the band's early logo. The video opens with Joseph putting on a ski mask and then offering another mask to a withdrawn Dun, whispering "They won't know it's you." The two launch into an energetic performance, with Joseph regularly bringing attention to the fact that his microphone is not actually recording his voice by swinging it around and rubbing it against his forehead. As well as that, Joseph would often shake and twitch throughout the video. Prior to the rap verse, both performers wrap colored duct tape around their faces, creating makeshift masks that they remove prior to the final chorus.
Track listing
{{Track listing
| headline = Digital download / stream
| title1 = Guns for Hands
| length1 = 4:33
}}
{{Track listing
| headline = EP
| title1 = Guns for Hands
| length1 = 4:33
| title2 = Forest
| length2 = 4:06
}}
Personnel
- Tyler Joseph – vocals, piano, bass guitar, guitar, synthesizers, keyboards, programming
- Josh Dun – drums, percussion, backing vocals
Charts
| class="wikitable sortable" |
| Chart (2013)
! Peak |
|---|
| Japan Hot 100 (Billboard){{Cite web |title=Billboard Japan Hot 100 |url=https://www.billboard-japan.com/charts/detail?a=hot100&year=2013&month=01&day=21 |access-date=March 4, 2024 |website=Billboard Japan |language=ja}}
| style="text-align:center;"|21 |
| Mexican Ingles Airplay (Billboard){{cite web |title=Twenty One Pilots Chart History (Mexico Ingles Airplay) |url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/twenty-one-pilots/chart-history/min |website=Billboard |access-date=March 21, 2024}}
| style="text-align:center;"|4 |
Certifications
{{Certification Table Top}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=United States|type=single|artist=Twenty One Pilots|relyear=2012|certyear=2024|title=Guns For Hands|award=Platinum|accessdate=May 22, 2024}}
{{Certification Table Bottom|streaming=true | nosales=true | noshipments=true}}
References
{{reflist}}
{{Twenty One Pilots}}
{{authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Guns for Hands}}
Category:Twenty One Pilots songs
Category:American reggae songs
Category:Fueled by Ramen singles
Category:Songs written by Tyler Joseph