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Sugar (System of a Down song)

{{Infobox song

| name = Sugar

| cover = system_of_a_down_sugar.png

| alt =

| caption = Standard retail artwork

| type = single

| artist = System of a Down

| album = System of a Down

| released = May 24, 1998 (single)

  • May 26, 1999 (EP)

| recorded = November 1997{{snd}}March 1998, January 19, 1999 (live tracks)

| venue = Irving Plaza, New York City, New York (live tracks)

| studio = * Sound City Studios, Van Nuys

  • Akademie Mathematique of Philosophical Sound Research Studios, Hollywood

| genre = *Nu metal{{cite web | url=http://www.phoenixnewtimes.com/music/10-nu-metal-songs-that-actually-dont-suck-7339562 | title=10 Nu-metal Songs That Actually Don't Suck | work=Phoenix New Times | date=May 18, 2015 | accessdate=March 13, 2016 | author=Chesler, Josh}}{{cite web | url=http://www.laweekly.com/music/the-10-greatest-nu-metal-albums-7363642/2|title=The Top 10 Essential Nu Metal Albums| publisher=LA Weekly| accessdate=| author=Alex Distefano}}

  • alternative metal{{cite web |last1=Blum |first1=Jordan |title=10 Facts About System of a Down's Debut Only Superfans Would Know |url=https://loudwire.com/facts-system-of-a-down-self-titled-debut-album/ |website=Loudwire |date=30 June 2022 |access-date=24 July 2022}}

| length = 2:34

| label = American

  • DDEVIL Music

| composer = {{flatlist|

}}

| lyricist = Serj Tankian

| producer = {{flatlist|

}}

| prev_title =

| prev_year =

| next_title = Spiders

| next_year = 1999

| misc = {{Extra album cover

| header = Promotional single cover

| type = single

| cover = SoaD Sugar Promo CD.jpeg

| border =

| alt =

| caption =

}}

{{External music video|{{YouTube|5vBGOrI6yBk|"Sugar" (clean version)}}}}

}}

"Sugar" is a song by American heavy metal band System of a Down. It was released as the band's first ever single on May 24, 1998,{{cite web |last1=Law |first1=Sam |title=The 20 greatest System Of A Down songs – ranked |url=https://www.kerrang.com/the-20-greatest-system-of-a-down-songs-ranked |website=Kerrang |access-date=23 January 2023 |date=6 November 2020}} and as an EP on May 26, 1999. The song was taken from their debut studio album, System of a Down (1998).

The song propelled the band into the front of the then current metal scene, giving them the opportunity to open for Slayer and later Metallica on their Summer Sanitarium Tour, get second stage at Ozzfest,{{cite web |title=This Day In Music History: June 30th, 1998 – System Of A Down get weird with self-titled debut album |url=https://thenewfury.com/this-day-in-music-history-june-30th-1998-system-of-a-down-get-weird-with-self-titled-debut-album/ |website=The New Fury |date=30 June 2022}} and getting them their first headlining tour. The video for the song was often played on MTV after release.

Music and lyrics

"Sugar" has been described as "a spazzy, jazz-spattered noise rock freak-out".{{cite web |last1=Wiederhorn |first1=Jon |title=24 Years Ago: System of a Down Release Self-Titled Debut Album |url=https://loudwire.com/system-of-a-down-self-titled-album-anniversary/ |website=Loudwire |access-date=23 January 2023 |date=30 June 2022}} The song features rapped verses from lead singer Serj Tankian, along with death metal growls and shrieks, the latter two being signatures of the band's early sound.{{cite web |last1=Stocks |first1=Matt |url=https://www.loudersound.com/features/the-top-10-best-system-of-a-down-songs |website=Louder Sound |publisher=Metal Hammer |access-date=23 January 2023 |title=The top 10 best System Of A Down songs|date=15 June 2020 |quote=ankian’s spitfire rap delivery is interspersed with vocal acrobatics ranging all the way from death metal growls to falsetto shrieks, all the while sounding certifiably insane, and in less than three minutes you knew heavy music would never be the same again. ‘SUGAR!’}} The verses of the song feature guitarist Daron Malakian on backing vocals. Later in the band's career, he would move on to be more of a co-lead vocalist (although he sang on demos of "Roulette" and DAM").{{cite web |last1=Wiederhorn |first1=Jon |title=System Of A Down Reveal Motivations For Steal This Album |url=https://www.billboard.com/music/music-news/system-invites-fans-to-steal-this-album-73820/ |website=MTV News |access-date=23 January 2023 |date=6 November 2002}} The ending of the song features the band speeding up from the original tempo.{{cite web |last1=Paxon |first1=Rob |title=System Of A Down System Of A Down (1998) |url=https://www.punknews.org/review/937/system-of-a-down-system-of-a-down |website=Punk News |access-date=23 January 2023 |date=30 April 2002}}

"Sugar" is about the world's population's over use and reliance on drugs and other substances, as well as the predatory state of media like the news.{{cite web |title=Revisiting System of a Down's chaotic, anti-fascist debut album 20 years after its release |url=https://www.firstpost.com/entertainment/revisiting-system-of-a-downs-chaotic-anti-fascist-debut-album-20-years-after-its-release-4570621.html |website=First Post |access-date=23 January 2023 |date=30 June 2018}}

Music video

The music video for "Sugar" shows the band playing on a stage, with an American flag intercut with images of public violence, hangings from the Holocaust, armies, footage of the Upshot-Knothole Grable nuclear test and footage from the German film Metropolis. The video was directed by Nathan Cox.{{cite web |title=System of a Down: Sugar |url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt7521428/ |website=IMDb |access-date=23 January 2023}}

The video, along with the band's next single "Spiders", would be MTV mainstays for a long time to come, much to the surprise of the band.{{cite web |title=7 things you didn't know about System of a Down's self titled album |url=https://www.revolvermag.com/music/7-things-you-didnt-know-about-system-downs-self-titled-album |website=Revolver Mag |date=30 June 2018 |access-date=23 January 2023}}

Reception

The song was well received by critics and fans alike. It is regarded to be the best song from this album,{{cite web |title=System of a Down's Self-Titled Album Songs Ranked |url=https://returnofrock.com/system-of-a-downs-self-titled-album-songs-ranked/ |website=Return of Rock |access-date=23 January 2023 |date=4 September 2021}}{{cite web |author1=Iluvatar |title=System of a Down System of a Down |url=https://www.sputnikmusic.com/review/8790/System-of-a-Down-System-of-a-Down/ |website=Sputnik Music |access-date=23 January 2023 |date=19 August 2006}} and one of the band's best overall.{{cite web |title=TOP X SYSTEM OF A DOWN SONGS |url=https://www.binghamtonreview.com/2022/09/top-x-system-of-a-down-songs/ |website=Binghamnton Review |access-date=23 January 2023 |date=21 September 2022}}

Track listing

{{Track listing

| headline = CD single

| all_lyrics = Serj Tankian

| title1 = Sugar

| music1 = {{flatlist|

}}

| length1 = 2:34

| title2 = War?

| note2 = live

| music2 = Malakian

| length2 = 2:49

| title3 = Sugar

| note3 = live

| music3 = {{flatlist|

  • Odadjian
  • Malakian

}}

| length3 = 2:23

| title4 = Suite-Pee

| note4 = live

| music4 = Malakian

| length4 = 3:04

}}

{{Track listing

| headline = 7" single

| all_lyrics = Serj Tankian

| title1 = Sugar

| music1 = {{flatlist|

  • Odadjian
  • Malakian

}}

| length1 = 2:34

| title2 = War?

| music2 = Malakian

| length2 = 2:48

| note2 = live

}}

{{Track listing

|headline = Sugar E.P.

|all_lyrics = Serj Tankian

|title1 = Sugar

|note1 = album version

|music1 = {{flatlist|

  • Odadjian
  • Malakian

}}

|length1 = 2:34

|title2 = Sugar

|note2 = clean version

|music2 = {{flatlist|

  • Odadjian
  • Malakian

}}

|length2 = 2:34

|title3 = Störagéd

|music3 = Malakian

|length3 = 1:19

|title4 = Sugar

|note4 = live version

|music4 = {{flatlist|

  • Odadjian
  • Malakian

}}

|length4 = 2:27

|title5 = War?

|note5 = live version

|music5 = Malakian

|length5 = 2:48

|title6 = Sugar

|note6 = clean live version

|music6 = {{flatlist|

  • Odadjian
  • Malakian

}}

|length6 = 2:27

|title7 = War?

|note7 = clean live version

|music7 = Malakian

|length7 = 2:48

}}

Personnel

System of a Down

Production

  • Live Tracks Produced by D. Sardy
  • Live Tracks Mixed by D. Sardy
  • Live Tracks Engineered by Doug Henderson
  • Live Tracks Recorded at Irving Plaza, New York City, New York

Charts

class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"
scope="col"| Chart (1998–99)

! scope="col"| Peak
position

scope="row"| UK Singles (OCC){{Cite web|url=https://www.zobbel.de/cluk/CLUK_S.HTM|title=Chart Log UK 1994–2010: DJ S – The System Of Life|publisher=Zobbel.de|access-date=December 30, 2024}}

| 136

{{singlechart|Billboardalternativesongs|31|artist=System of a Down|artistid=281380|rowheader=true|access-date=April 9, 2015}}
{{singlechart|Billboardmainstreamrock|28|artist=System of a Down|artistid=281380|rowheader=true|accessdate=April 3, 2015}}

Certifications

{{Certification Table Top|caption=Certifications for "Sugar"}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=New Zealand|artist=System of a Down|title=Sugar|type=single|access-date=December 30, 2024|certyear=2024|award=Gold|source=radioscope}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=United Kingdom|award=Silver|certyear=2025|title=Sugar|artist=System Of A Down|type=single|access-date=March 21, 2025|id=13190-2057-1|relyear=2005}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=United States|award=Platinum|certyear=2022|title=Sugar|artist=System of a Down|type=single|access-date=December 4, 2022|relyear=1998}}

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

References

{{Reflist}}

{{System of a Down}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Sugar (System Of A Down Song)}}

Category:System of a Down songs

Category:1998 debut singles

Category:1998 songs

Category:Nu metal songs

Category:Music videos directed by Nathan Cox

Category:Song recordings produced by Rick Rubin

Category:Songs written by Serj Tankian