"Sugar" | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
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 | |||||
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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.
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.
# | Title | Music | Length |
---|---|---|---|
1. | "Sugar" | Odadjian, Malakian | 2:33 |
2. | "Sugar" (Clean) | Odadjian, Malakian | 2:33 |
Sugar (7" Single)[]
All lyrics written by Serj Tankian.
# | Title | Music | Length |
---|---|---|---|
1. | "Sugar" | Odadjian, Malakian | 2:34 |
2. | "War?" (Live) | Malakian | 2:47 |
Sugar (7" Promo Single)[]
All lyrics written by Serj Tankian.
# | Title | Music | Length |
---|---|---|---|
1. | "Sugar" (Live) | Odadjian, Malakian | 2:28 |
2. | "Suite-Pee" (Live) | Malakian | 2:47 |
Sugar (EP)[]
All lyrics written by Serj Tankian.
# | Title | Music | 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