Awesome that you picked up on the Middle Eastern influence. Each of the members are Armenian and they always incorporate that Armenian sound into their music, and although sometimes subtle, it’s always there.
I would say the same thing about melodic death metal band In Flames, honestly. Anders Fridén screams his lungs out for most of the songs, but it's the softer and more melodic parts of songs likes Monsters in the Ballroom that really hammer home that no, these guys _aren't_ just "making noise", so you need to listen to find the meaning in the "noise".
This song exists because mega-producer Rick Ruben told SOAD to take a break from recording and had lead vocalist Serj Tankian go into his library and told him to pull a book off a shelf to see if he could find inspiration. Serj landed on Jesus saying "father into your hands, I commend my spirit...Why have you forsaken me?" and here we are 20 years and a billion views later.
Rick didn't comprehend the verse at first though, he said to Tankian "you really want this to be the verse?" and thought the whole song was something like a Frankenstein's monster. But he already knew that SOAD was like that, an unusual band and he liked it.
I have a friend who actually describes SOAD as controlled chaos, he didn't like them at first because they just sounded chaotic to him but the more he listened the more loved them.
There was an actual orchestral string section tracked to tape on this record that you wouldn't even notice unless you listened for it. Rick Rubin is an insane producer!!!
I think you can definitely notice it but maybe the average listener wouldn't. But I think they're pretty noticeable. Pretty sure they were arranged and tracked by the great Marc Mann of Oingo Boingo fame.
I’ve been listening to this for years and was wondering what in the fuck I was hearing. Everything else like the piano stuck out, but couldn’t ever pin everything else. Awesome 🤘🏽
This came out when MTV actually played music videos. Song and video were sick/different than anything else that was hitting mainstream during that time. Anyone in high school during 2001 understands this on another level.
100% dude! I was in tenth grade when this song/album came out. I already knew their first album, but to me, Toxicity just hit me on a whole other level.
Absolutely agree! I had never heard the piano/ keys before either! But, as soon as he mentioned "maybe hearing" them, after listening to this song for years, I heard them, too!
😮🙏Wow, thank you all for the great comments. I really did dive super deep into the song because I was viscerally pulled into it with its production and compositions. Again, thank you so much for your support/comments - AWWWRIGHT!!!🏄♂️🤙
Oh man, please do dive further into system of a down. All are great songs. Their songs are so incredibly emotional. I saw them live with Gogol bordello(eastern European Gypsy punk band) in Seattle ages ago and it was an absolutely mind blowing concert. Cheers!
Try checking out "Soldier Side". Very underrated song from this band and is among the most emotionally sung songs in SOAD's catalogue. Or go for one of their flat out bonkers songs like "This Cocaine makes me feel like I'm on the song" or "Vicinity of Obscenity" Either way keep the video's coming man and I've got plenty of suggestions should you need them
That Armenian music influence is what makes SOAD stand apart from the rest. Awesome band. That "mandolin" part you mention is my favorite. Part of that strong middle eastern vibe.
That first “truuussst innnn myyy” on the final chorus still gives me chills 20 years later. I love unique sounding bands and they deservedly carved out their place in rock history.
I’ll try find it and come post back. Have a look for a vocal coach listening to the isolated vocal track of Chop Suey - Damon’s “father” sounds completely disturbing
For 20 years, I wondered why it was called "Chop Suey." I googled so you won't have to: "The song was originally titled "Suicide" but Columbia Records forced the band to change it to avoid controversy. The song title is therefore a wordplay: "Suey" is "suicide", "chopped" in half."
I love your "light-bulb moment" at 12:21! Leading up to it, your reaction clearly states, "Yeah, great guitars, chord progression, lyrics, drums, harmony... but why am I sporting wood right now?" Your lips start mouthing the words, you listen more intently, and you solve the puzzle in your head - it's the piano. You look to the camera to announce you have the solution, and pantomime piano playing. That's the production element that elevates hearing this from "a memorable song" to "a memorable life experience."
That final run of the chorus is the cherry on the icing of the song. The cello sneaking in behind the piano and the "dark pad" as you picked up gives a sense of melancholy against the harmonies. Amazing song
So around 13 years ago, my Mom came to stay with me and my two children for a few months. She grew up a small town girl in Indiana, ended up divorcing my Dad and met Julio Mitchell, a photographer from NYC. She traveled the world with him before they split up, and right before she came to stay with me, she had read a book about the Armenian genocide at the hands of Turkey. At that time, my kids and I listened to this song ALL THE TIME, and when she got there, I explained who SoaD was. One night the kids and I are jamming this song, and I look up, and my mom is openly weeping as if someone dear to her had just died. I was worried, and asked her what was wrong. She said it was (Serj's) the lyrics, beseeching God as to why he had forsaken them. She cried so deeply, and I cried with her. SoaD will forever be the GoaT imo.
This song demonstrates how SOAD cannot be replicated. They are essentially their own genre. Daron said in an interview with Ernie Ball that when he writes he like to think of it as painting with different colors, that’s why they go from super heavy to super melodic with the blink of an eye. Truly an iconic band!
@@Bass.sick.b1tch I can see that. My comment pertains to an article I read some time ago where led zep allegedly described themselves the way OP described SOAD 😁
Chop Suey was produced by Rick Rubin, so they had a master behind the scenes. There's a story where at the climax of the song they had writer's block but needed to get things done so Rubin took them to his house for lunch and whiskey, brought the songwriter into his library, and said "when you need inspiration, pick a book open it, and let the world guide you towards what you need." Something like that. Reached out to a nice leather book, ended up being a bible, and he opened it to Luke "Father into your hands I commend my spirit." I'm not a religious guy but I love the story, especially for a song about suicide.
Now this song is one of those 'soundtrack of your life' hits for sooo many of us. Instant classic and just a perfect little nugget of energy and emotion. System of a Down's Chop Suey will be in our heads for the rest of our lives
a) They hit the zeitgeist. b) At the time it was really different and new. c) Songs with great dynanics are always killer. Even if people don't know that that's the reason they like it. d) Serj is just an insanely good vocalist. And for a lot of people (me included) the voice is the entrance into a song.
I believe I've read somewhere that Serj put a lot of Middle Eastern singing techniques into his vocals, which really did help him stand out from other vocalists (and still does to this day).
Kinda still think its fresh and new tbh. It was always too chaotic to ever be part of nu metal scene. Almost the antithesist of the genre. But able to run parallel with it. Tool had it and deftones too. You just knew they were more than the genre people associated them with. Now soad, tool and deftones are far removed from it
@@Demention94 tool deffo proggy. I just meant that undertow with its angst and easier structure was nu metal(ish). Andrenaline, around the fur and white pony are quite nu metal albeit very different to lets say limp bizkit and korn. I dont see their newer stuff being nu metal tbh. But if you do then thats cool. 🙂
3:06 Yes, I'm so glad you picked up on the unusual bass arrangement (it's why you're the best)! His weird choices are actually foreshadowing the song's outro (2:34 on the track) - like Shavo is eager to deliver a message but the rest of the band are not ready for it, until they are and scream it in unison.
This song is my 7 mo old sons favorite. Started with using “Wake up!” To wake him up, now every time we hum the whole part after he starts laughing no matter what.
This song is so iconic that during my uni days here in the UK back in the early 2000's, in between all the eurodance crap, one club on their Wednesday student night would always slap this on at about 1:30am and everyone loved it, no matter their musical tastes.
I don't really have a reason why, but this song can still make me cry. Did it the first time and just did it again haha. This band is very unique and they have an amazing catalogue of music! Please do more by them, great reaction, man!!!
The last chorus is so powerful that it feels like you're literally opening yourself up and blasting all the angst from deep within your soul straight into the sky.
10:49 the band members are children of armenian refugees who grew up in l.a. going to armenian orthodox christian schools. so yeah, lots of middle eastern influence.
The guys of SOAD have said they were inspired by Iron Maiden, the way their music was like horses running into battle. So maybe another throwback Thursday band should be IRON MAIDEN
You're absolutely right that the prechorus is in Phrygian (I think Phrygian dominant, actually). I don't have a great ear, but to me, the flat second note in Phrygian has such a unique mood that it's instantly recognizable.
There is no other band sounding like SOAD, they have a completely own style. Spiders from their self titled first album is another beautiful song you should find the time to listen to❤
I was smiling the entire time he was grooving, closing his eyes, just LISTENING! This music was part of my childhood, and to watch a genuine composer/musician who's never heard it before fully appreciate the genius that was one of the hallmark songs of a triumph of an album was truly, and literally, awesome.
Ive heard this song a thousand times maybe, and for the first time ever maybe, I'm pretty sure I heard a mandolin in the background laying down triplets around 7:30, and then again at the end of the song. That's what I love about bands like this, similar to Pink Floyd, depending on the speaker or what, you can hear things you never focused on before
Dude This band, this song, so so deep and good. In a time when Fred Durst was all about the nookie, these guys hit my ears. It’s just so unique and honest and heartfelt. Having known a victim of suicide, this song still makes me ugly cry every time I hear it 💔
@@Zanenothsorry you are just wrong. SOAD has a unique style that is engrained in their Armenian descent. I have listened to born of Osiris and this style is not present. This band is borderline FOB from Armenia considering they all attended the same Armenian high school. Do your research.
I'm so sad Serj left to do solo work. This band is/was amazing and the poetry of Serj made the band exceptional compared to what Daron was able to do. They are both incredibly talented, I just wish they were still working together
I love that you go in deep on songs that display depth. Never feel like giving a song that speaks to you special treatment is a slight to any other song. We are here to hear from you. Especially when it comes to generational masterpieces like chop suey, feel free to digress as much as you are willing to.
This song gives me chills every time I hear it; so powerful. Even when these guys have songs that are a little goofy there is still so much passion there. I listen to all of their albums all the time and can't get enough.
The band is heavily influenced by middle eastern style music because of their Armenian ethnicity. They grew up listening to music with changes like that so its cool to see that reflected in system of a downs music. Serj tankian is a composer now btw.
SOAD's song 'Dreaming' is one i can think of just off the top of my head that showcases more of their ethnic influences and is compositionally quite unique.
I can't imagine a better analogy for SOAD's music than a rollercoaster... they're geniuses at keeping the listener off balanced, ironically with tremendous rhythm.
If your just blasting it’s hard to notice. With good over the ear headphones, there’s so much more in there. I guess that’s most good music. All the hidden, underlying stuff.
I love how much your channel and energy (that purple level passion) has grown since you started. I'm glad you wanted to keep making videos, and I hope the income keeps you caffeinated and the work you do with those kids going. Rock on Geebz!
"Ass" is not a bad word in my book, but I've noticed that you're such a polite person. Every time you cough, you say "excuse me". Every single time! I love your reactions, but I also love your manners, your passion for music and the overall positive energy. Lots of love from Europe and Aloha!
I love watching your 1st time reactions to songs I've been listening to since they came out man! You taught me how to listen haaaarder and I love how you heard both the keyboard/synth & middle eastern influences without already knowing about their background
For me it was the contrast. Metal was never my genre, but the chorus/hook is such a killer it sucked me into SOAD as a band, and that contrast between the verse/chorus dynamic is just something special and unique. The chorus is almost angelic, peaceful, bittersweet and soulful, and the hard verses are necessary for that beautiful experience in the chorus. For me, anyway!
This is the first video I've seen of yours and I just had to pause for a sec and say that I love that you do hospital entertainment for children. Long-term patients especially can tend to end up forgotten amongst the routine at times so much respect and best of luck with that.
This has got to be the most accurate use of a roller coaster analogy I’ve heard in years. Also, good catch on the Middle Eastern influences. These guys are Armenian by nationality, but based out of California.
This is a soundtrack of life song for me unintentionally. I had this in my cd player the day 9/11 happened. I was in physics class. I was pumped because I just got this album. We sat in that class all day with the TV on. Kid next to me never heard SOAD so I let him listen to the whole album. He became a Ranger and died in Fallujah.
I've heard this song a million times. And until now when I put myself in your composer shoes, I NEVER heard the piano riff playing at the end under the vocals. So cool thank you so much for this.
I think it was the first System song played on the radio so it has nostalgia from my good ol punkin days for me. It's def one of my favs and i could just repeat listen to it for a dang while. OH YAH!!
I have heard this song so many times and never caught the piano bit in it! I love watching you break down songs like this, it gives me a new appreciation on old songs I love! Much love!❤️🤘
this is my favorite song of all time and have heard it thousands of times but surprisingly I have never heard the keys in the song great reaction and this song got me into medal when I saw it on MTV for my first music video ever I was and still am hooked
The orig title of the song was “Suicide” (....self-righteous suicide...). The label asked them to change the name to get airplay so they ‘chopped suicide’ from the title and gave us “Chop Suey” (chop sui-). Clever blokes.
I love the way you talk about hearing deep into the tracks. I’ve always listened to little nuances in all the music I really enjoy, and I always say there’s people who listen to music and people who hear and feel it.
I have listened to this song since the day it came out and I have never noticed the part you mentioned about the second verse until you mentioned it lol. And it's your first listen. Very talented ears Respect
This is kinda a weird association -- but it hits me every time I hear this song (and I love this song). The album this is on -- 'Toxicity' -- was released a week before 9/11. (Sept. 4th 2001 to be exact). I bought the album on the 10th on my way home from work -- I remember that because that's when I got paid (I'm Canadian -- shits different up here sometimes). On the day of the attacks -- I came home in shock -- I went to my room and laid down. I had been listening to the news all day and needed to hear some music -- I hit play on my CD player, and this was the track that played. "Trust in my self-righteous suicide"... "I cry, when angles deserve to die" ..."father into your hands I commend my spirit... why have you forsaken me?" Glib blobbit dude -- I know that's not what the song is about and I know the timing of its release was complete serendipity -- but in that moment it uppercutted my soul out of my body.
Same here, its interesting on chop suey cause I was listening to it on the radio heavy well before 9/11 and it was just a new song to get used to.. then when the album dropped it hit me differently.. I got the album late September and knowing it came out the 4th hearing jet pilot, chop suey, atwa, areils and toxicity was just like some prophetic shit to me.
I've listened to this track sooo many times, it was very informative to hear some of the science behind it. And as English is my second language, for the first many listens I hear the vocals as an instrument as well, gradually picking up words or sentences here and there. And he has a powerful instrument, indeed!
This was a hit because it actually had a message and when you heard it, it changed you and you could never forget it! I remember when it came out, I listened to them nonstop driving around delivering newspapers at 4 in the morning, people must have thought I was insane because I would blast this every morning! Where are the System of a Down's and Rage Against The Machine's today? Could music that actually has a message and says something about current events and makes people think even make it in today's world? There hasn't been a band like them since and who knows if there will ever be! Classic and iconic and any other words you want to use!✌️
So glad I found this. This song basically charted the course of my amateur musical/recording "career" when I heard it as an 8th grader. Didn't really appreciate the rhythmic parts back then, much more about melody and harmony for my personal style. Your comments and analysis regarding composition, layering, kick drum, etc. were really validating. I just piddle around with this stuff as a hobby, but I have similar sensibilities I think. So fun to see someone enjoying this song for the first time.
Serj sings a lot of his own dub over back ground lyrics that helps his background singers, and does bring a lot of harmony to everyone What is great is his Armenian-American vocals
music like this wasnt mainstream yet... i remember I was on the crew(rowing) team in highschool and we jammed to this while on the rowing machines exercising and NO ONE complained
It's funny, I went back to watch the official video after watching this and spotted something I'd never seen before. During the intro, when he's not singing, Serj is miming a variety of instruments (guitar, violin, piano, etc). He was obviously very proud of the work they did to add depth to the mix, especially for the epic climax of the song.
Check out Rick Beato’s “what makes this song great” series it’s quality, been going at least a couple of years now. And yes this is on there episode 25 I think.
Eveytime I watch tour videos I go and hear the tracks again. Thank you from helping us to listen to the songs we heard a gazillion times, but from another perspective. Awesome!!! Keep it up!!
When this song was new, I used to make my production interns listen to this song several times to appreciate how many subtle elements were layered into it and how each pass through the chorus the piano / keyboards became more present & how many different guitar parts were going on at once ... it’s, IMHO, one of Rick Rubin’s best productions.
I've listened to this song probably a few hundred times and it's so cool to see so many things I noticed through multiple replays be noticed in just one listen
The lines "father to your hands I commend my spirit....." has a interesting story. Those lines ended up in the song by mere chance. Serj picked out a random book in the library at the producer's (at least I think it was the producer) house when they were on dinner break and opened it to a random page. Thus the final piece of this musical puzzle magically fell into place.
In all my years listening to this song I’ve never consciously became aware of the piano. Thanks for the enlightenment! I can listen to this with a new light now
Awesome that you picked up on the Middle Eastern influence. Each of the members are Armenian and they always incorporate that Armenian sound into their music, and although sometimes subtle, it’s always there.
Was just about to say roughly the same thing
Serge is even Lebanese-Armenian like i am! So it even goes beyond armenian, it's even more middle eastern influence!
I was just about to make this comment! 👍
It’s even more apparent in songs like Science and Arto
@@realspartan5206 even Arials
Man that last chorus hits so hard EVERY FUCKING TIME.
For sure
Nick CDeez nuts
@@averyavery1426 🤣😂
Hell yes
Yeah, man. This album came out a week before 911, too.
the soft melodic parts are what really makes the harder parts stand out and shine
And Vice Versa!
So true, SOAD does this a lot. It really makes their music special.
couldn't have said it any better
I’d say the opposite. I listen to the whole song because I know that at the end there’s the best chorus metal produced in the past 20 years
I would say the same thing about melodic death metal band In Flames, honestly. Anders Fridén screams his lungs out for most of the songs, but it's the softer and more melodic parts of songs likes Monsters in the Ballroom that really hammer home that no, these guys _aren't_ just "making noise", so you need to listen to find the meaning in the "noise".
This song exists because mega-producer Rick Ruben told SOAD to take a break from recording and had lead vocalist Serj Tankian go into his library and told him to pull a book off a shelf to see if he could find inspiration. Serj landed on Jesus saying "father into your hands, I commend my spirit...Why have you forsaken me?" and here we are 20 years and a billion views later.
That's a great story!
Rick didn't comprehend the verse at first though, he said to Tankian "you really want this to be the verse?" and thought the whole song was something like a Frankenstein's monster. But he already knew that SOAD was like that, an unusual band and he liked it.
they were already writing the song, but serj was trying to find lyrics for the bridge, and that's what he found in the library
yes he landed on jesus for a good reason....?!
Rick Rubin is a marvelous producer. So many great albums.
It's catchy and unnerving at the same time. Controlled chaos, if you will.
I have a friend who actually describes SOAD as controlled chaos, he didn't like them at first because they just sounded chaotic to him but the more he listened the more loved them.
speaking of controlled chaos - The Lotus Eater by Opeth
This is probably the purest definition of this band.... catchy yet unnerving
Well said !!
Oh, I will.
There was an actual orchestral string section tracked to tape on this record that you wouldn't even notice unless you listened for it. Rick Rubin is an insane producer!!!
I think you can definitely notice it but maybe the average listener wouldn't. But I think they're pretty noticeable. Pretty sure they were arranged and tracked by the great Marc Mann of Oingo Boingo fame.
I’ve been listening to this for years and was wondering what in the fuck I was hearing. Everything else like the piano stuck out, but couldn’t ever pin everything else. Awesome 🤘🏽
This came out when MTV actually played music videos. Song and video were sick/different than anything else that was hitting mainstream during that time. Anyone in high school during 2001 understands this on another level.
I do remember seeing this video for the first time, and you are absolutely right. It was completely mind blowing.
I always remember the FATHER (father) bit and how they filmed it whenever I listen to it. Perfectly represented.
Jr. High as well. (I had the limited edition toxicity album with dvd bonus disc if you remember those)
Damn rigth! Soundtrack of my (our) teen years!
100% dude! I was in tenth grade when this song/album came out. I already knew their first album, but to me, Toxicity just hit me on a whole other level.
This dude just nails it. Picks up sooo many little things in just 1 listen. Subbed!
I have said the same thing first time i listened to his decomposing :)
totally agree! I have heard this song countless times and never heard the piano. Dude has an impeccable ear
Absolutely agree! I had never heard the piano/ keys before either! But, as soon as he mentioned "maybe hearing" them, after listening to this song for years, I heard them, too!
@@darrengee936 I discovered the piano keys when I was off 6 tabs of acid gels.. it was so beautiful lol :D
@@kellidavis2318 FYI it's Rick Rubin on the keys 🤘
😮🙏Wow, thank you all for the great comments. I really did dive super deep into the song because I was viscerally pulled into it with its production and compositions. Again, thank you so much for your support/comments - AWWWRIGHT!!!🏄♂️🤙
Oh man, please do dive further into system of a down. All are great songs. Their songs are so incredibly emotional. I saw them live with Gogol bordello(eastern European Gypsy punk band) in Seattle ages ago and it was an absolutely mind blowing concert. Cheers!
Lost in Hollywood is a personal favourite. Serj and Daron definitely have a Lennon and McCartney dynamic to their harmonies🤘
@@Steam_Engenius Love Gogol!!
Try checking out "Soldier Side". Very underrated song from this band and is among the most emotionally sung songs in SOAD's catalogue. Or go for one of their flat out bonkers songs like "This Cocaine makes me feel like I'm on the song" or "Vicinity of Obscenity"
Either way keep the video's coming man and I've got plenty of suggestions should you need them
Loved it. The best I have seen so far.
That Armenian music influence is what makes SOAD stand apart from the rest. Awesome band. That "mandolin" part you mention is my favorite. Part of that strong middle eastern vibe.
That first “truuussst innnn myyy” on the final chorus still gives me chills 20 years later. I love unique sounding bands and they deservedly carved out their place in rock history.
Daron's harmony when he sings "when angels derserve to die" @12:15 in this video may be my favorite harmony ever sung.
Exactly!!!
Daron's undertones is what gives many SOAD songs such great vocal harmonies. Sure, Serj is amazing, but, his voice is made greater by Daron's help.
I’ll try find it and come post back. Have a look for a vocal coach listening to the isolated vocal track of Chop Suey - Damon’s “father” sounds completely disturbing
th-cam.com/video/WOBsgC-bM8U/w-d-xo.htmlsi=VlDCpIUPsYqnteev
The harmony these two use is so nice and so SoaD. Like Layne/Jerry from Alice In Chains. Automatically identifiable.
Great comparison. Not often you get a band with two singers that have very distinct sounds that blend so well together.
If you listen to a song enough all music is easily identified you jack ass.
@@Zanenoth why so aggressive? He said automatically, not after listening a "bunch of times" lol. Just a comment not sure why ur so mad 🤣
Not as good as Layne/Jerry though. I actually hate Daron’s voice when he does anything above a whisper.
@@rockosmodurnlif layne is my favorite voice ever and Jerry complimented him very well yes so I agree
For 20 years, I wondered why it was called "Chop Suey." I googled so you won't have to:
"The song was originally titled "Suicide" but Columbia Records forced the band to change it to avoid controversy. The song title is therefore a wordplay: "Suey" is "suicide", "chopped" in half."
Toxicity was the first album I ever owned(along with enema of the state ugh lol) and I never knew that.
Thank you sir
If you can't hear "we're rolling suicide" at the start, you haven't turned it up enough for the rest of the song either.
@@random_n Wow. That makes so much sense now.
And I thought its this asian dish that I love 😂
How did Nirvana get away with 'Rape Me' then?!!
Brought all my children up to this music. They are now 29 24 and 17 years old..
I love your "light-bulb moment" at 12:21! Leading up to it, your reaction clearly states, "Yeah, great guitars, chord progression, lyrics, drums, harmony... but why am I sporting wood right now?" Your lips start mouthing the words, you listen more intently, and you solve the puzzle in your head - it's the piano. You look to the camera to announce you have the solution, and pantomime piano playing. That's the production element that elevates hearing this from "a memorable song" to "a memorable life experience."
That final run of the chorus is the cherry on the icing of the song. The cello sneaking in behind the piano and the "dark pad" as you picked up gives a sense of melancholy against the harmonies. Amazing song
Dude, I could totally listen to you talk about music composition for hours. Love your channel, man! Keep it up!
So around 13 years ago, my Mom came to stay with me and my two children for a few months. She grew up a small town girl in Indiana, ended up divorcing my Dad and met Julio Mitchell, a photographer from NYC. She traveled the world with him before they split up, and right before she came to stay with me, she had read a book about the Armenian genocide at the hands of Turkey.
At that time, my kids and I listened to this song ALL THE TIME, and when she got there, I explained who SoaD was. One night the kids and I are jamming this song, and I look up, and my mom is openly weeping as if someone dear to her had just died. I was worried, and asked her what was wrong. She said it was (Serj's) the lyrics, beseeching God as to why he had forsaken them. She cried so deeply, and I cried with her. SoaD will forever be the GoaT imo.
Oh My God 😢❤
Richard Dreyfuss you have given me the best review of the music that I’ve heard seen on TH-cam
THAT'S who he looks like!!! Thank you haha
This song demonstrates how SOAD cannot be replicated. They are essentially their own genre. Daron said in an interview with Ernie Ball that when he writes he like to think of it as painting with different colors, that’s why they go from super heavy to super melodic with the blink of an eye. Truly an iconic band!
This description also kind of applies to led zeppelin but its crazy how different the sounds are while both fitting the picture you painted
W respect, I’d put them in the Zappa -> Mr Bungle -> SOAD category ... I imagine Serj at least would agree
@@Bass.sick.b1tch I can see that. My comment pertains to an article I read some time ago where led zep allegedly described themselves the way OP described SOAD 😁
@@Bass.sick.b1tch Include Magma (France), Ruins (Japan), Virus (Norway). SOAD brought avant-garde metal to the masses.
@@dispersemedia a assassin 2 1
Chop Suey was produced by Rick Rubin, so they had a master behind the scenes. There's a story where at the climax of the song they had writer's block but needed to get things done so Rubin took them to his house for lunch and whiskey, brought the songwriter into his library, and said "when you need inspiration, pick a book open it, and let the world guide you towards what you need." Something like that. Reached out to a nice leather book, ended up being a bible, and he opened it to Luke "Father into your hands I commend my spirit." I'm not a religious guy but I love the story, especially for a song about suicide.
Now this song is one of those 'soundtrack of your life' hits for sooo many of us. Instant classic and just a perfect little nugget of energy and emotion. System of a Down's Chop Suey will be in our heads for the rest of our lives
i've listened to that song a thousand times and that bridge still gives me goosebumps
a) They hit the zeitgeist.
b) At the time it was really different and new.
c) Songs with great dynanics are always killer. Even if people don't know that that's the reason they like it.
d) Serj is just an insanely good vocalist. And for a lot of people (me included) the voice is the entrance into a song.
I believe I've read somewhere that Serj put a lot of Middle Eastern singing techniques into his vocals, which really did help him stand out from other vocalists (and still does to this day).
Kinda still think its fresh and new tbh. It was always too chaotic to ever be part of nu metal scene. Almost the antithesist of the genre. But able to run parallel with it. Tool had it and deftones too. You just knew they were more than the genre people associated them with. Now soad, tool and deftones are far removed from it
@@richardroberts957 Tool turned more proggy and Deftones on there newer albums have sort of gotten back to the nu metal sounds.
@@Demention94 tool deffo proggy. I just meant that undertow with its angst and easier structure was nu metal(ish). Andrenaline, around the fur and white pony are quite nu metal albeit very different to lets say limp bizkit and korn. I dont see their newer stuff being nu metal tbh. But if you do then thats cool. 🙂
@@richardroberts957 I actually never considered them Nu Metal, simply because they never gave of that depressed vibe that the others did. :D
3:06 Yes, I'm so glad you picked up on the unusual bass arrangement (it's why you're the best)!
His weird choices are actually foreshadowing the song's outro (2:34 on the track) - like Shavo is eager to deliver a message but the rest of the band are not ready for it, until they are and scream it in unison.
Absolutely love that on the foreshadowing. Sheds a whole new light to it for me. Cheers!🥂
This song is my 7 mo old sons favorite. Started with using “Wake up!” To wake him up, now every time we hum the whole part after he starts laughing no matter what.
This song is so iconic that during my uni days here in the UK back in the early 2000's, in between all the eurodance crap, one club on their Wednesday student night would always slap this on at about 1:30am and everyone loved it, no matter their musical tastes.
I don't really have a reason why, but this song can still make me cry. Did it the first time and just did it again haha. This band is very unique and they have an amazing catalogue of music! Please do more by them, great reaction, man!!!
System of a Down is what got me through middle school. This band will always hold a deep place in my heart.
Same
The last chorus is so powerful that it feels like you're literally opening yourself up and blasting all the angst from deep within your soul straight into the sky.
10:49 the band members are children of armenian refugees who grew up in l.a. going to armenian orthodox christian schools. so yeah, lots of middle eastern influence.
The guys of SOAD have said they were inspired by Iron Maiden, the way their music was like horses running into battle. So maybe another throwback Thursday band should be IRON MAIDEN
\m/ UP THE IRONS \m/
Love to see him do Hallowed be they name
Made me think of muses knights of cydonia.....
Galloping triplets
HOLY CRAP I can’t believe you picked up on the Middle Eastern chord changes. You made a new fan 🙌
His face!!! 😂🤣😂 I can't tell if he's enjoying it or being tortured.
For real
It’s the face of enjoying it and the agony trying to pick up every individual detail that’s happening in a single listen
A little bit of both, that’s why it’s sooooo good
You're absolutely right that the prechorus is in Phrygian (I think Phrygian dominant, actually). I don't have a great ear, but to me, the flat second note in Phrygian has such a unique mood that it's instantly recognizable.
There is no other band sounding like SOAD, they have a completely own style. Spiders from their self titled first album is another beautiful song you should find the time to listen to❤
Daron Malakian and Scars On Broadway have a similar sound for obvious reasons ;)
SOB are never a bad choice!
My favourite song too it's a brilliant track
@@0x2A_ Serj's solo stuff basically sounds like SOAD too...
@Ben Riegel Agreed👍
Heard this song probably handsdown over 500000 times.... something magical about this song it just doesnt get boring and pumps you up every time.
I was smiling the entire time he was grooving, closing his eyes, just LISTENING! This music was part of my childhood, and to watch a genuine composer/musician who's never heard it before fully appreciate the genius that was one of the hallmark songs of a triumph of an album was truly, and literally, awesome.
Ive heard this song a thousand times maybe, and for the first time ever maybe, I'm pretty sure I heard a mandolin in the background laying down triplets around 7:30, and then again at the end of the song. That's what I love about bands like this, similar to Pink Floyd, depending on the speaker or what, you can hear things you never focused on before
Chop Suey had everything we wanted in a track when I was a kid. Catchy, heavy, and sexy!
Dude
This band, this song, so so deep and good. In a time when Fred Durst was all about the nookie, these guys hit my ears. It’s just so unique and honest and heartfelt.
Having known a victim of suicide, this song still makes me ugly cry every time I hear it 💔
I tear up also maybe thousands more do.😢
This track hits you like a truck, there was nothing like it when it came out, and it's still brilliant today
Wow... Fantastic breakdown of the song...!
All of the members are from Armenian decent and it shows in their music. It makes them VERY unique.
Nonit doesn't. You hear this style of playing pretty much in all metal. God forbid you ever listen to born of osiris.
@@Zanenothsorry you are just wrong. SOAD has a unique style that is engrained in their Armenian descent. I have listened to born of Osiris and this style is not present. This band is borderline FOB from Armenia considering they all attended the same Armenian high school. Do your research.
@@sarcasm4371 Uhh.. I'm not gonna say I agree with the other guys sentiment but Erra a better BoO..?
I resent this.
I'm so sad Serj left to do solo work. This band is/was amazing and the poetry of Serj made the band exceptional compared to what Daron was able to do. They are both incredibly talented, I just wish they were still working together
I love me a song that strokes your cheek gently, then as soon as your eyes are closed kicks the f*cking chair out from under your feet...
Dude- you pointed out the middle eastern influence in this song. I always thought the same thing but have never heard someone else mention that
I love that you go in deep on songs that display depth. Never feel like giving a song that speaks to you special treatment is a slight to any other song. We are here to hear from you. Especially when it comes to generational masterpieces like chop suey, feel free to digress as much as you are willing to.
Wow! The way you explained it. Damn. The roller coaster analogy is super on point.
This song gives me chills every time I hear it; so powerful. Even when these guys have songs that are a little goofy there is still so much passion there. I listen to all of their albums all the time and can't get enough.
These guys are Armenian and they are trained in the tradition of that music which is why you are hearing those exotic scales.
The band is heavily influenced by middle eastern style music because of their Armenian ethnicity. They grew up listening to music with changes like that so its cool to see that reflected in system of a downs music. Serj tankian is a composer now btw.
All the members are amenians, so definitely not only Serj
@@David_Larkin yes.
that complete utter gasm at 12:05 . . . i feel you dude. its the moment that hooked me on this song and has never let me go
SOAD's song 'Dreaming' is one i can think of just off the top of my head that showcases more of their ethnic influences and is compositionally quite unique.
The layering is so insane that they never played that song in its entirety live
That's the "chicken skin" song for sure
also the blastbeats in there are awesome. Attack has the same tempo kinda.
I can't imagine a better analogy for SOAD's music than a rollercoaster... they're geniuses at keeping the listener off balanced, ironically with tremendous rhythm.
I was at a concert (remember those?) and someone described SOAD’s music as ‘schizophrenic’ and I always remembered that haha
Man you almost broke my neck when you paused right at the end of the 2nd chorus! :P
This was a huge part of the soundtrack to my teens. Love SOAD, and enjoyed the fresh ears on it.
Those small musical nuances like the drone sound you mentioned are what makes songs memorable
Man, you’ve really come into your own, you’re far more confident and clearly having a lot more fun. It’s great to see.
listend to this song a million times and never noticed the piano. damn
:D exactly, what i was thinking... need to get him a cup of coffee!
But that's the best part!??
If your just blasting it’s hard to notice. With good over the ear headphones, there’s so much more in there. I guess that’s most good music. All the hidden, underlying stuff.
me too...it's barely there...plus there is so much going on our brain just misses the detail of it.
XD What about the cellos in the back?
I love how much your channel and energy (that purple level passion) has grown since you started. I'm glad you wanted to keep making videos, and I hope the income keeps you caffeinated and the work you do with those kids going. Rock on Geebz!
"Ass" is not a bad word in my book, but I've noticed that you're such a polite person. Every time you cough, you say "excuse me". Every single time! I love your reactions, but I also love your manners, your passion for music and the overall positive energy. Lots of love from Europe and Aloha!
I love watching your 1st time reactions to songs I've been listening to since they came out man! You taught me how to listen haaaarder and I love how you heard both the keyboard/synth & middle eastern influences without already knowing about their background
For me it was the contrast. Metal was never my genre, but the chorus/hook is such a killer it sucked me into SOAD as a band, and that contrast between the verse/chorus dynamic is just something special and unique. The chorus is almost angelic, peaceful, bittersweet and soulful, and the hard verses are necessary for that beautiful experience in the chorus. For me, anyway!
This is the first video I've seen of yours and I just had to pause for a sec and say that I love that you do hospital entertainment for children. Long-term patients especially can tend to end up forgotten amongst the routine at times so much respect and best of luck with that.
This has got to be the most accurate use of a roller coaster analogy I’ve heard in years.
Also, good catch on the Middle Eastern influences. These guys are Armenian by nationality, but based out of California.
8:12 yes strings and it's Marc Mann from Oingo Boingo arranging, conducting, and recording them.
This is a soundtrack of life song for me unintentionally. I had this in my cd player the day 9/11 happened. I was in physics class. I was pumped because I just got this album. We sat in that class all day with the TV on. Kid next to me never heard SOAD so I let him listen to the whole album. He became a Ranger and died in Fallujah.
Blessings of comfort to his family and those that held him dear. Safe journeys, and gratitude, to him.
Marine or Army Semper Fi to anyone that went into that hell hole, and especially the ones that didn't come back.
I've heard this song a million times. And until now when I put myself in your composer shoes, I NEVER heard the piano riff playing at the end under the vocals. So cool thank you so much for this.
what a great energetic song this is...BYOB needs to be checked out also!!!
Your reaction is giving me goosebumps big time, LOVE this!!
You’re so good at these “decompositions.” Love your videos and your takes on so many of the songs I love...
I think it was the first System song played on the radio so it has nostalgia from my good ol punkin days for me. It's def one of my favs and i could just repeat listen to it for a dang while. OH YAH!!
Since you started soad I have been waiting for this!
I have heard this song so many times and never caught the piano bit in it! I love watching you break down songs like this, it gives me a new appreciation on old songs I love! Much love!❤️🤘
Hah, it's been years since I heard this, I still get goose bumps on the bridge in the middle.
this is my favorite song of all time and have heard it thousands of times but surprisingly I have never heard the keys in the song great reaction and this song got me into medal when I saw it on MTV for my first music video ever I was and still am hooked
The orig title of the song was “Suicide” (....self-righteous suicide...). The label asked them to change the name to get airplay so they ‘chopped suicide’ from the title and gave us “Chop Suey” (chop sui-). Clever blokes.
That’s been debunked by the band
@@cscz28 I think he's right tho. the band has only debunked that they were pressured by the music company; not on the word play itself
I love the way you talk about hearing deep into the tracks. I’ve always listened to little nuances in all the music I really enjoy, and I always say there’s people who listen to music and people who hear and feel it.
Absolute choon. Very staccato then melodic then angst. That's me putting on SOAD's back catalogue now.
I have listened to this song since the day it came out and I have never noticed the part you mentioned about the second verse until you mentioned it lol. And it's your first listen.
Very talented ears
Respect
This is kinda a weird association -- but it hits me every time I hear this song (and I love this song). The album this is on -- 'Toxicity' -- was released a week before 9/11. (Sept. 4th 2001 to be exact). I bought the album on the 10th on my way home from work -- I remember that because that's when I got paid (I'm Canadian -- shits different up here sometimes). On the day of the attacks -- I came home in shock -- I went to my room and laid down. I had been listening to the news all day and needed to hear some music -- I hit play on my CD player, and this was the track that played. "Trust in my self-righteous suicide"... "I cry, when angles deserve to die" ..."father into your hands I commend my spirit... why have you forsaken me?" Glib blobbit dude -- I know that's not what the song is about and I know the timing of its release was complete serendipity -- but in that moment it uppercutted my soul out of my body.
Same here, its interesting on chop suey cause I was listening to it on the radio heavy well before 9/11 and it was just a new song to get used to.. then when the album dropped it hit me differently.. I got the album late September and knowing it came out the 4th hearing jet pilot, chop suey, atwa, areils and toxicity was just like some prophetic shit to me.
I got the association too. Biblical.
Wow,that’s powerful
9/11 was an inside job.
I've listened to this track sooo many times, it was very informative to hear some of the science behind it.
And as English is my second language, for the first many listens I hear the vocals as an instrument as well, gradually picking up words or sentences here and there. And he has a powerful instrument, indeed!
This was a hit because it actually had a message and when you heard it, it changed you and you could never forget it! I remember when it came out, I listened to them nonstop driving around delivering newspapers at 4 in the morning, people must have thought I was insane because I would blast this every morning! Where are the System of a Down's and Rage Against The Machine's today? Could music that actually has a message and says something about current events and makes people think even make it in today's world? There hasn't been a band like them since and who knows if there will ever be! Classic and iconic and any other words you want to use!✌️
So glad I found this. This song basically charted the course of my amateur musical/recording "career" when I heard it as an 8th grader. Didn't really appreciate the rhythmic parts back then, much more about melody and harmony for my personal style. Your comments and analysis regarding composition, layering, kick drum, etc. were really validating. I just piddle around with this stuff as a hobby, but I have similar sensibilities I think. So fun to see someone enjoying this song for the first time.
Serj sings a lot of his own dub over back ground lyrics that helps his background singers, and does bring a lot of harmony to everyone
What is great is his Armenian-American vocals
music like this wasnt mainstream yet... i remember I was on the crew(rowing) team in highschool and we jammed to this while on the rowing machines exercising and NO ONE complained
Glad my girlfriend found your channel from Radiohead vids. I've been loving the metal stuff, Gojira and such. You rock, keep being awesome.
You are just rocking my socks with this analysis. I love it. This song is forever a classic, for all the reasons you pointed out.
It's funny, I went back to watch the official video after watching this and spotted something I'd never seen before. During the intro, when he's not singing, Serj is miming a variety of instruments (guitar, violin, piano, etc). He was obviously very proud of the work they did to add depth to the mix, especially for the epic climax of the song.
Love it how you explain the build up of tension with the pauses and then the release of tension
I never heard the piano before. Holy fuck. This guy rocks.
I've never noticed the strings before today ( 6:56 ). This guy gets them on his first listen lol
Check out Rick Beato’s “what makes this song great” series it’s quality, been going at least a couple of years now. And yes this is on there episode 25 I think.
Eveytime I watch tour videos I go and hear the tracks again. Thank you from helping us to listen to the songs we heard a gazillion times, but from another perspective. Awesome!!! Keep it up!!
When this song was new, I used to make my production interns listen to this song several times to appreciate how many subtle elements were layered into it and how each pass through the chorus the piano / keyboards became more present & how many different guitar parts were going on at once ... it’s, IMHO, one of Rick Rubin’s best productions.
I've listened to this song probably a few hundred times and it's so cool to see so many things I noticed through multiple replays be noticed in just one listen
The lines "father to your hands I commend my spirit....." has a interesting story. Those lines ended up in the song by mere chance. Serj picked out a random book in the library at the producer's (at least I think it was the producer) house when they were on dinner break and opened it to a random page. Thus the final piece of this musical puzzle magically fell into place.
How about the bible this song is about Jesus
In all my years listening to this song I’ve never consciously became aware of the piano. Thanks for the enlightenment! I can listen to this with a new light now
You have no idea how much I love this song and YOU sir just made me listen to details I never heard before. THANK YOU!!!
There are some amazing piano covers of this song on TH-cam. It translates a lot better than one might think.