Aerials (song)

"Aerials" is a song by American heavy metal band System of a Down. It was released in 2002 as the third single from their second album Toxicity, which earned the band its second Grammy Award nomination for Best Hard Rock Performance in 2003.

"Aerials"
Single by System of a Down
from the album Toxicity
B-side"Snowblind"
ReleasedJune 11, 2002
Recorded2001
StudioCello (Hollywood)
Genre
Length
  • 3:55 (without hidden track)
  • 6:11 (with hidden track)
Label
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)
System of a Down singles chronology
"Toxicity"
(2002)		 "Aerials"
(2002)		 "Innervision"
(2002)
Music video
"Aerials" on YouTube

The song hit number one on both the Billboard Alternative Songs and Mainstream Rock chart. It was System of a Down's first number-one hit.[3]

Music video

The music video was directed by Shavo Odadjian and David Slade. The video features an alien-like, disfigured boy who is accompanied by people in various settings. The video was shot in Hollywood, Los Angeles.

As of August 2023, the song has over 420 million views on YouTube.

Reception

"Aerials" is widely considered one of the band's best songs. Loudwire and Kerrang both ranked the song number three on their lists of the greatest System of a Down songs.[4][5]

Track listing
CD single
No.TitleLyricsMusicLength
1."Aerials"
  • Serj Tankian
  • Daron Malakian
Daron Malakian3:57
2."Toxicity" (Live)Serj Tankian
  • Shavo Odadjian
  • Daron Malakian
3:38
3."Sugar" (Live)Serj Tankian
  • Shavo Odadjian
  • Daron Malakian
4:10
4."P.L.U.C.K." (Live)Serj TankianDaron Malakian4:09
5."Aerials" (Live Video/DVD Version)
  • Serj Tankian
  • Daron Malakian
Daron Malakian 
Australian single
No.TitleLyricsMusicLength
1."Aerials"
  • Serj Tankian
  • Daron Malakian
Daron Malakian3:57
2."Toxicity" (Live Version)Serj Tankian
  • Shavo Odadjian
  • Daron Malakian
3:38
3."P.L.U.C.K." (Live)Serj TankianDaron Malakian4:09
UK CD1
No.TitleLyricsMusicLength
1."Aerials"
  • Serj Tankian
  • Daron Malakian
Daron Malakian3:57
2."Toxicity" (Live)Serj Tankian
  • Shavo Odadjian
  • Daron Malakian
3:38
3."P.L.U.C.K." (Live)Serj TankianDaron Malakian4:09
4."Aerials" (Video)
  • Serj Tankian
  • Daron Malakian
Daron Malakian 
UK CD2
No.TitleLyricsMusicLength
1."Aerials"
  • Serj Tankian
  • Daron Malakian
Daron Malakian3:57
2."Streamline" (Alternate Version (from The Scorpion King soundtrack))Serj TankianDaron Malakian3:38
3."Sugar" (Live)Serj Tankian
  • Shavo Odadjian
  • Daron Malakian
4:10
7" single
No.TitleLyricsMusicLength
1."Aerials"
  • Serj Tankian
  • Daron Malakian
Daron Malakian3:57
2."Snowblind" (Album Version)
  • Geezer Butler
  • Tony Iommi
  • Ozzy Osbourne
  • Bill Ward
4:40

Charts
Chart (2002) Peak
position
Australia (ARIA)[6] 36
Germany (Official German Charts)[7] 80
Ireland (IRMA)[8] 35
Scotland (OCC)[9] 35
UK Singles (OCC)[10] 34
UK Rock & Metal (OCC)[11] 3
US Billboard Hot 100[12] 55
US Alternative Airplay (Billboard)[13] 1
US Mainstream Rock (Billboard)[14] 1

Certifications
Region CertificationCertified units/sales
United Kingdom (BPI)[15] Silver 200,000‡
United States (RIAA)[16] 2× Platinum 2,000,000‡

‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

References
  1. Grierson, Tim. "Top 10 Essential Alt-Metal Songs". About.com. Archived from the original on March 3, 2016. Retrieved December 26, 2018.
  2. "Top 10 System of a Down Songs". WatchMojo. Retrieved 2023-07-31.
  3. Billboard.com
  4. Kaufman, Spencer (August 21, 2012). "10 Best System of a Down Songs". Loudwire. Retrieved April 10, 2022.
  5. Law, Sam (November 6, 2020). "The 20 greatest System Of A Down songs – ranked". Kerrang. Retrieved April 10, 2022.
  6. "System of a Down – Aerials". ARIA Top 50 Singles.
  7. "System of a Down – Aerials" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts.
  8. "Chart Track: Week 29, 2002". Irish Singles Chart.
  9. "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved November 13, 2021.
  10. "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company.
  11. "Official Rock & Metal Singles Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved November 13, 2021.
  12. "System of a Down Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved April 30, 2021.
  13. "System of a Down Chart History (Alternative Airplay)". Billboard. Retrieved April 9, 2015.
  14. "System of a Down Chart History (Mainstream Rock)". Billboard. Retrieved April 3, 2015.
  15. "British single certifications – System of a Down – Aerials". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved July 29, 2022.
  16. "American single certifications – System of a Down – Aerials". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved December 4, 2022.
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