Slither (song)

"Slither" is a song by American hard rock band Velvet Revolver, featured on their 2004 debut album Contraband. When it was released as the second single from the album in 2004, "Slither" topped both the American Billboard Mainstream Rock and Modern Rock charts, as well as reaching number 56 on the main Billboard Hot 100 chart and number 35 on the UK Singles Chart.[2] The song won the 2005 Grammy for Best Hard Rock Performance.

For the song by Earth Crisis, see Slither (album). For the song by Metallica, see Reload (Metallica album).

"Slither"
Single by Velvet Revolver
from the album Contraband
ReleasedMay 24, 2004
RecordedAugust–December 2003 at NRG and Pulse Recording, Los Angeles, California
Genre
Length4:08
LabelRCA
Songwriter(s)Velvet Revolver
Producer(s)Josh Abraham
Velvet Revolver singles chronology
"Set Me Free"
(2003)		 "Slither"
(2004)		 "Fall to Pieces"
(2004)
Audio sample
  • file
  • help

Composition

Scott Weiland said, "The lyrics are about a relationship. 'When you look you see right through me, cut the rope, fell to my knees, born and broken every single time.' It's just feeling not right in a situation."[3]

Music video

The video, directed by Kevin Kerslake, was filmed in Prague, Czech Republic and Los Angeles. It starts with the band members playing their instruments inside a tunnel while a woman is driving a car seeking for the way to get to that tunnel. As the song continues, people become much more aggressive and the underground concert reaches a peak as band members play hard. Often in the video, Scott Weiland is seen standing before a wall made of human skulls.

Success and awards

It was awarded a Grammy in 2005 for Best Hard Rock Performance, an award Weiland had won with his previous band, Stone Temple Pilots, for the song "Plush" in 1994. In 2009, the song was named the 85th best hard rock song of all time by VH1.[4]

Track listings
European two-track edition
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Slither"
4:08
2."Negative Creep" (Nirvana cover)Kurt Cobain4:17
European three-track edition
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Slither"
  • Weiland
  • Slash
  • McKagan
  • Sorum
  • Kushner
4:08
2."Bodies" (live Sex Pistols cover)
3:19
3."Negative Creep" (Nirvana cover)Cobain4:17
United Kingdom double CD edition (disc one)
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Slither"
  • Weiland
  • Slash
  • McKagan
  • Sorum
  • Kushner
4:08
2."Bodies" (live Sex Pistols cover)
  • Lydon
  • Jones
  • Cook
3:19
3."Negative Creep" (Nirvana cover)Cobain4:17
United Kingdom double CD edition (disc two)
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Slither"
  • Weiland
  • Slash
  • McKagan
  • Sorum
  • Kushner
4:08
2."Money" (Pink Floyd cover)
7:38
3."Set Me Free" (live)
  • Weiland
  • Slash
  • McKagan
  • Sorum
  • Kushner
7:11
United Kingdom 12" picture disc (side A)
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Slither"
  • Weiland
  • Slash
  • McKagan
  • Sorum
  • Kushner
4:08
United Kingdom 12" picture disc (side B)
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Set Me Free"
  • Weiland
  • Slash
  • McKagan
  • Sorum
  • Kushner
4:07

Personnel

Chart performance

The song reached No. 1 on the Billboard Mainstream Rock Tracks chart, and stayed there for nine weeks. It also became their sole No. 1 hit on the Modern Rock Tracks chart, maintaining the position for four weeks. "Slither" also charted at No. 56 on the Billboard Hot 100, making it Velvet Revolver's highest-charting song and one of the highest-charting songs that Scott Weiland has appeared on.

Chart (2004) Peak
position
Australia (ARIA)[5] 26
Canada Rock Top 30 (Radio & Records)[6] 1
Ireland (IRMA)[7] 47
Italy (FIMI)[8] 38
Netherlands (Single Top 100)[9] 46
Norway (VG-lista)[10] 12
Finland (Suomen virallinen lista)[11] 17
France (SNEP)[12] 81
Scotland (OCC)[13] 34
Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)[14] 58
UK Singles (OCC)[15] 35
UK Rock & Metal (OCC)[16] 1
US Billboard Hot 100[17] 56
US Alternative Airplay (Billboard)[18] 1
US Mainstream Rock (Billboard)[19] 1

Certifications
Region CertificationCertified units/sales
United States (RIAA)[20] Gold 500,000^

^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

References
  1. "Ranking: Every Alternative Rock No. 1 Hit from Worst to Best". Consequence of Sound. July 5, 2017. Retrieved January 20, 2020.
  2. Official Charts Company info OfficialCharts.com. Retrieved June 2, 2009.
  3. Prato, Greg (October 10, 2014). "Scott Weiland: Songwriter Interviews". Songfacts. Retrieved January 31, 2018.
  4. Stosuy, Brandon (January 5, 2009). "VH1's 100 Greatest Hard Rock Songs". Stereogum. Retrieved June 19, 2021.
  5. "Velvet Revolver – Slither". ARIA Top 50 Singles. Retrieved February 9, 2021.
  6. "October 8, 2004 - RR Canada Rock Top 30" (PDF). Retrieved June 19, 2021.
  7. "Chart Track: Week 29, 2004". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved February 9, 2021.
  8. "Velvet Revolver – Slither". Top Digital Download. Retrieved February 9, 2021.
  9. "Velvet Revolver – Slither" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved February 9, 2021.
  10. "Velvet Revolver – Slither". VG-lista. Retrieved February 9, 2021.
  11. "Velvet Revolver: Slither" (in Finnish). Musiikkituottajat. Retrieved February 9, 2021.
  12. "Velvet Revolver – Slither" (in French). Les classement single. Retrieved February 9, 2021.
  13. "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved June 19, 2021.
  14. "Velvet Revolver – Slither". Singles Top 100. Retrieved February 9, 2021.
  15. "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved February 9, 2021.
  16. "Official Rock & Metal Singles Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved June 19, 2021.
  17. "Velvet Revolver Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved February 9, 2021.
  18. "Velvet Revolver Chart History (Alternative Airplay)". Billboard. Retrieved February 9, 2021.
  19. "Velvet Revolver Chart History (Mainstream Rock)". Billboard. Retrieved February 9, 2021.
  20. "American single certifications – Velvet Revolver – Slither". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved November 22, 2022.
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