Panic Switch
{{Short description|2009 single by Silversun Pickups}}
{{Infobox song
| name = Panic Switch
| cover = Sspu ps cover.jpg
| alt =
| type = single
| artist = Silversun Pickups
| album = Swoon
| released = March 17, 2009
| recorded =
| studio =
| genre = {{hlist|Indie rock|post-punk revival|nu gaze{{cite web |last1=Matera |first1=Joe |title=Silversun Pickups: 'We Like When The Guitar Is Used As A Texture' |url=https://www.ultimate-guitar.com/news/interviews/silversun_pickups_we_like_when_the_guitar_is_used_as_a_texture.html |website=Ultimate-Guitar.com |accessdate=May 4, 2019 |date=July 21, 2009}}}}
| length = 5:44 (album version)
4:14 (radio edit)
| label = Dangerbird
| writer = {{hlist|Brian Aubert|Christopher Guanlao|Joe Lester|Nikki Monninger}}
| producer = Dave Cooley
| prev_title = Little Lover's So Polite
| prev_year = 2008
| next_title = Substitution
| next_year = 2009
| misc = {{Audio sample
| type = single
| file =
}}
{{External music video|{{YouTube|AG8fugqFn9Q|"Panic Switch"}}}}
}}
"Panic Switch" is a song by the American alternative rock band Silversun Pickups. It was the first single released from the group's second album, Swoon (2009), on March 17, 2009. The song reached number one on the Billboard Alternative Songs chart, becoming their first number-one single on any Billboard chart.{{cite web | title = Artist Chart History - Silversun Pickups - Singles | publisher = Billboard | url = {{BillboardURLbyName|artist=silversun pickups|chart=all}} | accessdate = May 22, 2009}} "Panic Switch" was the first song by an independent artist to reach number one on the chart in 11 years.{{cite web | title = Silversun Pickups Hit #1 With Lead Single "Panic Switch" | publisher = Dangerbird Records | url = http://www.dangerbirdrecords.com/news/entry/sspu-one | accessdate = November 21, 2009 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20090627132857/http://www.dangerbirdrecords.com/news/entry/sspu-one | archive-date = June 27, 2009 | url-status = dead }} After a one-week stay at number one, it spent 11 weeks at number two behind Linkin Park's "New Divide". It is also their first Hot 100 entry, peaking at number 92.
Background
When asked about the song, singer Brian Aubert told MTV that the song was added late to the album, almost as an afterthought. It is meant to represent a nervous breakdown, which is a major theme of the album.{{cite web | last = Montgomery | first = James | title = Exclusive: Silversun Pickups Preview A Pair Of Swoon Songs | publisher = MTV | date = March 5, 2009 | url = http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1606334/20090304/silversun_pickups.jhtml | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20090309233346/http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1606334/20090304/silversun_pickups.jhtml | url-status = dead | archive-date = March 9, 2009 | accessdate = March 31, 2009}}
Reception
The song was ranked at no. 45 on Consequence of Sound's Every Alternative Rock No. 1 Hit from Worst to Best.{{cite web|website=Consequence of Sound|author=Philip Cosores and COS Staff|url=https://consequence.net/2017/07/ranking-every-alternative-rock-hit-from-worst-to-best/17/|title=Ranking: Every Alternative Rock No. 1 Hit from Worst to Best (Page 17)|date=July 4, 2017|accessdate=March 23, 2020}}
Use in other media
The song appeared in the trailer for Sucker Punch{{cite news|last1=Spicer|first1=Nathan|title=20 Great Songs from Movie Trailers|url=https://www.pastemagazine.com/blogs/lists/2011/03/20-great-songs-from-movie-trailers.html|accessdate=23 September 2016|work=Paste Magazine Blog|date=27 March 2011}}{{cite web|url=http://dangerbirdrecords.com/news/entry/silversun-pickups-panic-switch-featured-in-sucker-|website=dangerbirdrecords.com|accessdate=2014-06-17|title=Silversun Pickups "Panic Switch" Featured in Sucker Punch Movie Trailer « Dangerbird Records|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130411175908/http://dangerbirdrecords.com/news/entry/silversun-pickups-panic-switch-featured-in-sucker-|archive-date=2013-04-11|url-status=dead}} and in the Honda Stage video package during the 2016 NHL Winter Classic.
In 2012, Mitt Romney's presidential campaign received a cease and desist request from Silversun Pickups, who alleged illegal use of their song at a campaign event set-up in North Carolina. Romney's spokeswoman, Amanda Henneberg, stated that playing the song before the event began was covered under the campaign's regular blanket license and would not play it again.{{cite web|title=Trending: Band demands that Romney campaign stop using its song|url=http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2012/08/15/band-demands-that-romney-campaign-stop-using-its-song/|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130103131520/http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2012/08/15/band-demands-that-romney-campaign-stop-using-its-song/|url-status=dead|archive-date=January 3, 2013|publisher=CNN|accessdate=16 August 2012}}
It is featured in Fortnite's Rock & Royale radio station in-game.
The song was available as downloadable content for Guitar Hero and Rock Band
Chart performance
=Weekly charts=
| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders"
|+Weekly chart performance for "Panic Switch" !Chart (2009–2010) !Peak |
| scope="row"| Czech Republic Modern Rock (IFPI){{cite web|url=https://ifpicr.cz/hitparada/21/silversun-pickups/panic-switc/147147|title=CZ - Radio - Top 20 Modern Rock - Panic Switc - Silversun Pickups|publisher=IFPI Czech Republic|accessdate=June 21, 2023|language=Czech}}
|align="center"| 18 |
|---|
| scope="row"|German Singles Chart{{cite web |url=http://www.mtv.de/charts/germany |title=:: mtv.de {{!}} charts |website=www.mtv.de |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071202122151/http://www.mtv.de/charts/germany |archive-date=2007-12-02}}
|align="center"|73 |
| {{singlechart|Billboardhot100|92|artist=Silversun Pickups|rowheader=true|accessdate=7 August 2017}} |
| {{singlechart|Billboardalternativesongs|1|artist=Silversun Pickups|rowheader=true|accessdate=7 August 2017}} |
| {{singlechart|Billboardmainstreamrock|38|artist=Silversun Pickups|rowheader=true|accessdate=7 August 2017}} |
=Year-end charts=
| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"
|+Year-end chart performance for "Panic Switch" ! scope="col"| Chart (2009) ! scope="col"| Position |
| scope="row"| US Hot Rock Songs (Billboard){{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/2009/hot-rock-songs|title=Hot Rock Songs – Year-End 2009|magazine=Billboard|date=2 January 2013|accessdate=September 6, 2018}}
| 5 |
|---|
| scope="row"| US Alternative Songs (Billboard){{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/2009/alternative-songs|title=Alternative Songs – Year-End 2009|magazine=Billboard|date=2 January 2013|accessdate=September 6, 2018}}
| 3 |
Certifications
{{Certification Table Top|caption=Certifications for "Panic Switch"}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=United States|title=Panic Switch|artist=Silversun Pickups|type=single|award=Gold|relyear=2009|certyear=2015}}
{{Certification Table Bottom|noshipments=true|streaming=true|format=3col|nosales=yes}}