System of a Down, ցած համակարգի հետ, (Part 1, Up To Interpretation)
When you think of the word "System," what comes to mind? Personally, when I first heard the name, "System of a Down," I had computers in mind. However, this California band with Armenian roots that goes through genres of music almost as much as tempo changes and pitches in vocals is entirely up to interpretation as well. Even if you are not an avid rock or metal listener, chances are that you have heard some of the works from this very interesting and controversial band or its musicians. One could categorize them as "Acoustic/Alternative/Avant Garde/Comedy/Dance/Electronic/Emo/Experimental/Folk/Hip Hop/Groove/Nu Metal/Operatic/Orchestral/Political/Post Hardcore/Punk/Rock/Screamo/Thrash" (taking all of their songs into consideration, the song "Old School Hollywood" has some electronic elements and at times Serj has used some rapping in his lyrics and the band has had an almost "Gothic" image in the beginning).
From their origins in a previous band, Serj Tankian (vocals, guitar, and keyboard rarely) & Daron Malakian (vocals and guitar) were in Soil (not to be confused with the rock band Soil from Chicago Illinois, but if you like modern rock I would recommend giving them a shot as well) and even at the time where "Nu-metal" (should you consider that a genre) was getting popular, the band stood out enough, that later on with the name System of a Down (which they became circa 1994), Rick Rubin (who you may know of handling: Run D.M.C., Beastie Boys, Johnny Cash, Public Enemy, Red Hot Chili Peppers; and more artists of similar caliber) liked what he saw at the Viper Room in Los Angeles and signed them to Columbia Records (which was called American then). At this time in their history S.O.A.D. or System of a Down had put out 3 or so demo tapes as Soil. If you are into hip-hop or rap, they would later do a collaboration song with Wu-Tang Clan called "Shame." S.O.A.D. are also known as a band that always puts on a great live show as well.
From then on out, was their rise to popularity from their self titled album with an almost ominous hand on the front. A very unique album indeed. There was a promo album of System of A Down that was released, however it may not have been for sale.
This album catapulted them to play at Ozzfest (a festival that was essentially run by Ozzy Osbourne and company, there they opened for the caliber of Metal / Rock artists for festivals such as: Ozzfest 1998, with: Megadeth, Tool, Motörhead (R.I.P. & Rock on Lemmy), Ozzy, Limp Bizkt, Soulfly, Sevendust, Incubus, Melvins, Life of Agony, Snot, Kilgore, Coal Chamber, Ultraspank, and Monster Voodoo Machine; the Ozzfest 1999 with: Primus, Puya, Slipknot, Fear Factory, Godsmack, Deftones, Static-X, (Hed) P.e., Slayer, Black Sabbath, Rob Zombie, Apartment 26, Drain Sth, Flashpoint, and Pushmonkey. Later on they would play more Ozzfests. For a band that just put out their first album and gets to play festivals with that much publicity and one that has talent and creativity in that style of music, is without a doubt, noteworthy at the very least.
From then on, you may recall seeing S.O.A.D. on MTV with songs such as "Chop Suey" (a popular song of theirs with allusions to the biblical figure of Jesus), "Sugar" (with interesting lines such as "The Kombucha Mushroom People" and "I got a gun from Sako the other day," etc. Now, with abstract lyrics like these the band set up their music to be interpreted anyway one would like. The first song mentioned is of course from the album Toxicity, but before this there was a promotional album that may not have been for sale.
The band also has strong political views and that shows in their songs and very much so in their music videos, and saw their songs on various movies, such as: Dracula 2000 with their cover of Berlin's "Metro," Scorpion King with a song, "Streamline," Distrubia with the song "Lonely Day." Their music has also been on the popular game, "Guitar Hero" the songs: "B.Y.O.B." (These letters stand for, "Bring Your Own Bombs") and "Toxicity." And finally, "Aerials" along with other songs of theirs can be heard on the radio as well. The band would go on to play at Ozzfest 2002 with: Meshuggah, Mushroomhead, Black Label Society, Glassjaw, Sw1tched, Hatebreed, Ill Niño, Flaw, Adema, 3rd Strike, Down, Chevelle, Soil, Pulse Ultra, Neurotica, Drowning Pool, P.O.D. / "Payable On Death," The Used, Rob Zombie, Otep, and Andrew W.K.
There was a Special Limited Edition version of Toxicity that had "metallic art" that was put out around 2002.
Australia and Germany are just some of the examples of the countries that have their own versions of the album.
If you are still skeptical, System of a Down won these awards: "Outstanding Group" in 2003 at the California Music Awards, "Best Alternative" in 2005 at the MTV Europe Music Awards, "Best Hard Rock Performance" in 2006 for "B.Y.O.B." They have also won an award for their impact on society. "The Good Woodie" for the "Greatest Social Impact" category, for the song "Question!" and those are just the ones they won; they were nominated for many more. John Dolmayan (long-time drummer) has won Drum! Magazine's Drummer of the Year and Alternative Rock Drummer of the year award, both in 2006. The band went on its last Ozzfest show in 2006, with: Between The Buried And Me, The Red Chord, Strapping Young Lad / SYL, A Life Once Lost, Dragonforce, Norma Jean, Unearth, Bleeding Through, Hatebreed, Black Label Society, Avenged Sevenfold, All That Remains, Bad Acid Trip, Atreyu, Lacuna Coil, Disturbed, Walls of Jericho, Full Blown Chaos, and Ozzy.
What of S.O.A.D. as of 2015 almost 2016? The band was on hiatus after putting out 5 albums (or 4, since Hypnotize & Mezmerize were released as two albums in one.) But, Daron Malakian & John Dolmayan (long time S.O.A.D. drummer) formed Scars On Broadway (which put out one album and then went on hiatus), John has also started "Torpedo Comics," Shavarsh Odadjian or "Shavo" (long time bassist of S.O.A.D.) went to form Achozen with RZA (of Wu-Tang Clan) & Kinetic 9. Shavo has also created a website called "urSESSION" (for you other musicians as well, it is cool to look into.) But, it seems that Serj has had the most success with his ventures. From starting his own record label "Serjical Strike Records" (that had a Very noteworthy and similar band to S.O.A.D. if you like them, Fair To Midland, on the roster), putting out his own clothes, watches, art exhibits, and perhaps lastly.. (The man is a veritable powerhouse of creativity) his solo music projects where he has achieved success from as well. Serj is also regarded as one of the best rock or metal vocalists due to his vocal range. S.O.A.D. has played some shows again, mainly in Europe, South America, and few in the states.
For the album there was a "Limited Edition Picture Disc LP" released around 2005 in the UK.
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For this album like Mezmerize, there was a "Limited Edition Picture Disc LP" released around 2005 in Europe.
Unofficial versions of the album were also made by bootleggers or so.
To conclude, S.O.A.D. is simply a band that has played all over the world and should be given a chance by all listeners alike. There are examples of all kinds of music ranging from: folk, rap or hip-hop, electronic, rock, metal, progressive rock, and etc. To get into this band, you should listen to various songs as many are different. Their earlier music can be thought of as "heavier" and their more recent music more "eclectic." However it is interpreted, the music of this well-known and influential Alternative Rock / Metal band is entertaining and definitely worthy of listening to, if not for the music itself but also for the accolades and success that the musicians of the band have found.
(The pictures used were taken from the internet. The links to them can be provided if need be.)
Sources:
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http://www.ozzfest.com/history.html
http://www.notablebiographies.com/newsmakers2/2006-Ra-Z/System-of-a-Down.html
http://www.mtv.com/artists/system-of-a-down/biography/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/System_of_a_Down_discography
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_awards_and_nominations_received_by_System_of_a_Down
http://serjtankian.com/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Dolmayan
http://systemofadownlive.webs.com/tourhistory.htm
- https://www.amazon.com/PLEDGE-ALLEGIANCE-TOUR-CONCERT-RECORDING/dp/B000063VSY?ie=UTF8&keywords=system%20of%20a%20down&qid=1464059655&ref_=sr_1_52&s=music&sr=1-52
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https://youtu.be/-MxmUXP4Odk (11/01/97 "Ddevil" & "X" at Corona)
https://youtu.be/WkxMgsVU_aM (11/06/97 "Mind" at Whiskey A Go Go)
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https://youtu.be/p9T5si4kPxM (11/06/97 "Blue" at Whiskey A Go Go)
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https://youtu.be/5ZiYqeJh22o (1998 "Darts" at Ozzfest)
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ee52ezoNA9w (1998 "Spiders" on Late Nite With Conan O'Brien)
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=naMpqxC-yl4 (2000 "CUBErt" in Cincinnati)
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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wka0YS1hQl4 [(2000 "Snowblind (Black Sabbath cover) & "Dam" live in Denver Colorado)
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- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gR84sp_zOIo (2001 "Aerials," "Goodbye Blue Sky (Pink Floyd cover), & "War?" at Lowlands)
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5EO9hV4wRwo (2001 "Drugs," "Suggestions," improv. & "Psycho" at Lowlands)
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w5HS4gk_S8g (2001 "When The Smoke Is Going Down" (Scorpions cover & "Know" at Reading Festival)
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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3SgsEF3fGNc (2002 "Deer Dance" at Big Day Out)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ug4Yv2hY5no (2002 "Toxicity" at Big Day Out)
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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-MLOilNvsEY \_
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9naxeRomJSc / (2002 "Shimmy" not sure where?)
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- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wkoJoQy051c (2002 "La Isla Bonita" (Madonna cover) & "Bounce" at Pinkpop)
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- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1x9r5-b9vJw (2004 "Im Nazelis (Armenian song) at Souls)
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- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wypT01QL7ck (2005 "This Cocaine Makes Me Feel I'm On This Song" at $2 Bill Show)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VmvADpZqipY (2005 "B.Y.O.B." at MTV EMA Music Awards)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gVPsT0Mx6bY (2005 "Cigaro" at Big Day Out)
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- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aRD_87_MiLw (2005 "Deer Dance" & "Only You" (The Platters cover) at KROQ)
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wsN2l7nLS2Y (2005 "Julietta" (Harout Pamboukjian cover at the Astoria Theatre)
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N5fojzNJaQY (2005 "Whatever She Wants (Wham! cover) at the Astoria Theatre)
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RtcTs75roJw (2005 "Sultans of Swing" (Dire Straits cover) at KROQ)
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tBJQ__P8648 (2005 "My,My,Hey,Hey" (Neil Young cover) & "Kill Rock N' Roll"
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- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sLnhbf1ZTkI (2006 "Old School Hollywood" at Ozzfest)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hq0TRll6Nco (2011 "I.E.A.I.A.I.O." at Rock Am Ring)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5O8jnny4npo (2011 "Question!" at Rock in Rio)
https://youtu.be/iVudBxV6Iu4 (2013 "Toxicity" at Rock 'N' Heim)
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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c4yIQZKxTo0 (2015 "P.L.U.C.K. & Sartarabad" in Armenia)
***https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5t5YF1szC4U (2016 DVD vid "China Girl" (David Bowie cover)
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