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"Sugar"
Shugga98
Single by System of a Down
from the album System of a Down (album)
Released May 24th 1998 (single)

May 26th 1999 (EP)

Format CD, Vinyl
Recorded Akademie Mathematique of Philosophical Sound Research Studios, Hollywood
Genre Alternative Metal
Length 2:34
Label American/Columbia, DDevil Music
Writer(s) Daron Malakian, Shavo Odadjian, Serj Tankian
Producer Rick Rubin, System of a Down
System of a Down singles chronology
Sugar

(1998)

Spiders

(1999)

Sugar is the first single released by System of a Down, and third track off of their first self-titled album. It holds the record as the song the band has performed the most, totaling 465 as of May 13th, 2023

Music Video[]

Sugar's music video starts with a reenactment of the movie Network, with a news reporter stating, and increasing in anger:

"Good evening, I'm Eric Alost. NATO forces bomb Serbia and Kosovo. An unidentified man is being held for questioning by the FBI for suspected links to last month's biological virus deaths. In local news, a dog named Hero takes the grand prize at the annual- I wish I could tell you more pertinent news, but we're in a rating system here, and the key factor is 'sensationalism'. They've got you running in circles, 9 to 5, *static, then TV image resets* and 5 to 9... you're mine! I tell you what they want you to know, and you consider it the truth. Nobody is opening their eyes! Our global economy is depleting the world of our lives and natural resources! AND ARE YOU HAPPY?! COME ON! I WORK FOR THE SYSTEM!"

It then cuts to the oddly dressed band; Serj and Daron are seen with their faces painted throughout the entire video, John is seen briefly wearing a gas mask, and Shavo with a red braided beard and face painted.

Aspartame

A clip less than a second long starting at 1:18

Several times throughout the video, "Aspartame kills" is seen, possibly a reference to the song's title.

Due to the controversial nature of the video, it received little airplay, especially during primetime television.

Track listing[]

Sugar (Single)[]

All lyrics written by Serj Tankian. 

# TitleMusic Length
1. "Sugar"  Odadjian, Malakian 2:33
2. "Sugar" (Clean)Odadjian, Malakian 2:33

Sugar (7" Single)[]

All lyrics written by Serj Tankian. 

# TitleMusic Length
1. "Sugar"  Odadjian, Malakian 2:34
2. "War?" (Live)Malakian 2:47

Sugar (7" Promo Single)[]

All lyrics written by Serj Tankian. 

# TitleMusic Length
1. "Sugar" (Live)Odadjian, Malakian 2:28
2. "Suite-Pee" (Live)Malakian 2:47

Sugar (EP)[]

All lyrics written by Serj Tankian. 

# TitleMusic Length
1. "Sugar"  Odadjian, Malakian 2:33
2. "Sugar" (Clean)Odadjian, Malakian 2:33
3. "War?"  Malakian 2:40
4. "War?" (Clean)Malakian 2:40
5. "Störagéd"  Malakian 1:19
6. "Sugar" (Live)Odadjian, Malakian 2:28
7. "War?" (Live)Malakian 2:49
8. "Sugar" (Clean Live)Odadjian, Malakian 2:28
9. "War?" (Clean Live)Malakian 2:49

Usage in popular culture[]

Sugar was used in MTV Spots: Skateboarding and Madden NFL 10.

Lyrics:[]

[Chorus: Serj Tankian & Daron Malakian]

The Kombucha mushroom people, sitting around all day

Who can believe you? Who can believe you?

Let your mother pray

Sugar

Sugar


[Verse 1: Serj Tankian & Daron Malakian]

I'm not there all the time, you know

Some people, some people, some people call it insane

Yeah, they call it insane (Sugar)

I play Russian Roulette every day, a man's sport

With a bullet called life

Yeah, mama called life (Sugar)

Yeah and every time I try to go where I really want to be

It's already where I am

'Cause I'm already there


[Chorus: Serj Tankian & Daron Malakian]

The Kombucha mushroom people, sitting around all day

Who could believe you? Who could believe you?

Let your mother pray

Sugar


[Verse 2: Serj Tankian & Daron Malakian]

I got a gun the other day from Sako

It's cute, it's small, fits right in my pocket

Yeah, right in my pocket (Sugar)

My girl, you know, she lashes out at me sometimes

And I just fucking kick her

And then, ooh baby, she's okay (Sugar)

People are always chasing me down

Tryna push my face to the ground

Where all they do is suck out my motherfucking brains

My brains (Sugar)


[Chorus: Serj Tankian]

The Kombucha mushroom people, sitting around all day

Who can believe you? Who can believe you?

Let your mother pray


[Outro: Serj Tankian]

I sit in my desolate room

No lights, no music

Just anger, I killed everyone

I'm away forever, but I'm feeling better

How do I feel? What do I say?

Fuck you, it all goes away

How do I feel? What do I say?

Fuck you, it all goes away

How do I feel? What do I say?

In the end, it all goes away

How do I feel? What do I say?

In the end, it all goes away

How do I feel? What do I say?

In the end, it all goes away

How do I feel? What do I say?

In the end, it all goes away

How do I feel? What do I say?

In the end, it all goes away

How do I feel? What do I say?

In the end, it all goes away

In the end, it all goes away

In the end, it all goes away

In the end, it all goes away

In the end, it all goes away

External links[]

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