Sugar is the first single released by System of a Down, off of their first self-titled album. It holds the record as the song the band has performed the most, totaling 345 performances as of July 2014.
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 Olas. 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 |