Classical Composer Reacts to SYSTEM OF A DOWN: SUGAR | The Daily Doug (Episode 660)

#systemofadown #soad
In this edition of #thedailydoug, I'm returning to music by System of a Down with their first ever single release, Sugar. This song comes from their self-titled debut album, and this is the first song from that album that I've heard. I was so taken with it that I listened to it twice! It's an amazing and prophetic bit of political speech in musical form. I hope you enjoy!
Reference Video: • System Of A Down - Sug...
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Thanks to our friend TIM WAURICK for providing the vocals on the Daily Doug Intro and extended Outro: / @timwaurickmusic
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[@Doug.Helvering]

Apologies for the mixup...in my wrap-up, I mistakenly called the band Rage Against the Machine. I guess I have similar places in my brain for these two bands, and I simply said the wrong one in the moment. Yes, I indeed know and realize that this band is System of a Down. :)

[@Dasvidanyaful]

😂 we all do it, it's being human. I still get bush and rush mixed after 25 years

[@Arrow2theACL]

It has to start some place, it has to start sometime. What better place than here, What better time than....SUGAH!!

[@DawidUliczny-ro7eo]

I've been listening to both for over 20 years and I make this mistake either, don't worry. If you're interested in something musically, hmm, challenging I recommend The Dillinger Escape Plan - Panasonic Youth.

[@lisathurston8265]

SOAD! Is a band that politically they make you think about the world in a different view. They pull out the SUGAR out of news and media in general. The governments tell us what we can hear and talk about. Sweetening the news to show the right amount of the bad and ugly.

[@Zetalpa187]

No worries, both bands seemed to have known exactly where things were heading before the majority of us did so definitely can't blame ya for making that kinda mistake. I'd like to add too, that Trent Reznor spoke with Rick Rubin on his podcast Tetragrammaton (amazing episode btw) and mentioned Rage and that he kinda went out of his way to not sound like them or kind of go the political route. So, in a different world you could have been mistaking NiN, System and Rage all for similar bands. Honestly kind of would like to hear what that would have been like but I suppose we did get a taste of that with Year Zero. One of my absolute favorite albums ever, literally a story about the end of the world from multiple perspectives. If you haven't listened to it from beginning to end you absolutely need to. I remember the amazing amount of extra details just around the release of it and things like USB drives being hidden in the bathrooms at shows. I was also lucky enough to have front row seats to the Lights in The Sky tour and it was f'in life changing, there are plenty of videos of that tour as well and it would be awesome to see you react to it. Specifically "The Big Comedown", it still gives me goosebumps to this day even thinking about that moment in time.

[@CompleteProducer84]

Doug just broke down Sugar better than digestive enzymes would!

[@richpeltier9519]

Regardless of however many likes this eventually accumulates, it will be an underappreciated comment. 🤘🧙‍♂️🤘

[@CompleteProducer84]

@@richpeltier9519 🙏 🙏

[@veevamm3642]

😂😂😂😂

[@spelunkymonke]

👏👏👏👏👏 Favourite comment of the day by far😂😂

[@Spitx]

Actually this sugar might not travel through the digestive, it's eaten by the nose 😅

[@belvedue7892]

‘Question!’ is an absolute must - there’s a ton to unpack with that one.

[@drewbacca1981]

"Spiders" is an other absolute gem from this album

[@pb9018]

Great track

[@notsure2939]

Yes!!

[@davideleardi3894]

True !!

[@davetay44]

One of my all time favourites

[@ruthaderginsburg9506]

SUITE PEA?!?!

[@alfonso4740]

SOAD is one of the best things that happened to music in the late 90s and early 2000s

[@shadxw817]

SOAD is one of the best things that happened to music ever

[@iwantmyvanback]

I love when a reaction requires the host to completely rewatch and listen. It really shows an appreciation for the media

[@Durocel]

I love their debut so much I have it tattooed on my arm! You should defo try Spiders from the same album, Serj has such a powerful energy in it, it stands out as one of the less "chaotic" songs on the album.

[@davidhollis1592]

I feel that accelerando is such an insanely underused feature in music these days (and I'd welcome any recommendations anyone has for other songs that display it)!

[@renancenbs]

Gun by Soundgarden has that and it's awesome. It is also a heavy and political song.

[@forformgamer]

It's the clicktrack that bands and other musicians play to in the studio these days that messes that up.

[@justintaylor9458]

"Limerent Death" from The Dillinger Escape Plan

[@kairitkolk6641]

haha the way this guy moves describes perfectly how I feel when listening to this song

[@forformgamer]

I will always call them one of the best bands ever. Simply because of the fact that I can't think of skippable songs on their albums. They're unique, intense, they have strong views and opinions that grant them purpose... Also one of the most energetic concerts I've ever seen!

[@MrTimebomb12]

For me it's always been about modern consumerism and the media's role in it, which is also a recurrent theme in System's discography. I believe that the song's lyrics are purposefully senseless, all while having this very violent undertone. It's a reflection of American culture, how we consume the media and other products like its sugar, and this distracts us from how savage we truly are. That's why the lyrics talk about being happy after having killed everyone, almost as if it is embracing the chaos. Furthermore, that's why the man being interrogated is so happy in the video. It really is brilliant, as Serj manages to deliver a thoughtful critique of modern American culture with absurdist lyrics.

[@SakuraAvalon]

Nah, the song is just about desserts.

[@hampuskullberg9932]

@@SakuraAvalon That comment made my fucking day! :D

[@SakuraAvalon]

@@hampuskullberg9932 :D

[@Thommy_B]

What a band. What a track. Thanks for playing it twice! It’s weird because in addition to being a prog uke recording artist, my “real” job is sound editing. I was on the Sony lot in Culver City on a movie and System of a Down was on a nearby soundstage rehearsing for a tour and I was lucky enough to get invited in to hear them run through this song TWICE!!! Probably a lighting thing. I stood there like the guy plastered back in his chair in that Memorex ad. Look it up, y’all

[@landonherm794]

This was fantastic! Lonely Day, Question, or Spiders would be great to do next from this great band!

[@flora5090]

This was so fun! Would love if you could react to their songs "Spiders" or "Question", those have music videos too, and they're so intriguing musically. "Spiders" has a lot of interesting vocal stuff in it, whereas "Question" has some fun shenanigans with time signatures

[@divitu]

This whole album is so much more interesting than their later work. There's an argument to be made that it's not as good, but it's absolutely more interesting.

[@isaacbobjork7053]

Sugar was my first contact with SOAD. MTV or VH1 or whatever, after midnight and that WTF feeling made me an instant fan

[@kylegalanvdv3939]

The speed at which I hit subscribe after you noticed the duality of the song, I love introspective thinkers! Keep up that brilliant energy!!!

[@otakubancho6655]

This is the reason why they basically took over the world!🤘🤘🤘

[@user-iq8jj1pm3x]

Have you heard Serj Tankian’s solo music? He is amazing on his own. System is one of my favorite bands.

[@jjorissen]

One of the first songs of SOAD I ever heard. It's still brilliant.

[@Kumquat_Lord]

Oh this'll be fun, i love the bassline in this song

[@dustdreamer673]

Congrats on the merch, looking really badass

[@sliverhi]

Forgot how great the vid was. Never forgot how good the song is. Thank you for this and your Metal Mondays!

[@eljefe68]

I have the metal Monday shirt and am wearing it now! Great quality shirt and awesome design. Love the channel Doug!

[@faureamour]

Just found your channel in my random KZbin mentions. I had to do a doubletake because my first college theory professor's name was Prof Helvering. He liked pop and shared his variation on the theme song from Buffy the Vampire Slayer once when I visited during office hours. Love your channel and your analysis!❤🎶

[@bryanforis1839]

Great music and great live performances and band

[@fauzanmuhammad591]

i need B.Y.O.B, love your channels

[@rbkn8068]

Doug, great explanation. I also believe that Sugar as cocaine, being addictive, is comparative to media and American culture and how addictive that is to head in the wrong direction.

[@TheSeanLiddle]

Love that piano work

[@willowtatus6159]

The bassline is the same in both parts in the beginning, it's the drummer swinging it versus playing it straight ahead is the difference.

[@andarchy1386]

My intro to them was on that ozzfest and this song got my attention when Toxicity came out I was hooked

[@richpeltier9519]

Always awesome Dr. Doug! More Floyd, Tull, Blue Oyster Cult and Kansas! 🤘🧙‍♂️🤘 Rich the Ancient Metal Beast

[@lee.the.reaper]

Next time please do Question! from SOAD! Great analysis and thank you!

[@leonidaspartsas4563]

Great analysis and reaction doug!!What i really wanna see is you reacting in some Pantera music. Hollow is a touching song with heavy emotion and i would recommend you take a listen!!!

[@williamthomas1605]

Dude you rock

[@Jinsen0]

Hi Doug ! Would love to see you react to “Pierce the Veil - Bulls in the Bronx” or… “temple of angels - 100 lilies” (or any other song from that album)… either way awesome video !

[@Chopped3v]

New subscriber here! love your videos! but man oh man with your analysis walkthroughs i would LOVE some zelda reactions... Mostly the Windwaker soundtrack.. but just something to think of for video recommendations! keep up the awesome work.

[@PatrickJaneFan]

Am super impressed that you love Big Big Train. Victorian Brickwork changed my life!

[@thomasdensmoredensmore5704]

I love your intro y'all

[@JohnnyMayHymn]

Zager & Evans - In the Year 2525 (the video where they used footage from the classic film Metropolis)

[@bygoneegowaitingremoval]

Obsessed with anything that help us escape reality.

[@gwaptiva]

I saw that newsreader actor and thought "isn't that Cliff Barnes from Dallas?" Shows you how old I am

[@NotYouization]

😂

[@katiecoleman3205]

Oh pleaseee do Question! By SOAD, it’s such a fantastic song!

[@The_SARC_Knight]

I could be wrong, but I think the actor in the start is actually Flea, the bass player for Red Hot Chilli Pepeprs. He also played Needles in The Back to the Future franchise.

[@jeremymiller3800]

This song gets me hyped up.

[@andrewbulock]

My 5th grade music teacher taught that it's possible to appreciate a piece of music without enjoying it and that's exactly where I am with this song and record. I understand the importance of it and how unique it was at the time, but I sold this CD for $5 after I bought it. Some of it was not being ready for that sound, but it was mostly the grating clean vocals I couldn't take. Still can't. I hate this song :D. That being said, I'm glad it did well and everybody else loved it because that allowed them to make Toxicity, which I loved. They refined their sound ever so slightly and that's all it took for me. Toxicity, Hypnotize, and Mezmerize, I played those quite a few times. It's great music for exercising for sure. The one that started it all makes me want to ram ice picks through my ear drums, but it paved the way for all of their music that I really like, so... Hey, it's a great song :D

[@sz5001]

There is one fun theory about lyrics - kombucha mushroom people are soldiers (helmets!) who are sitting around all day because of PTSD from first gulf war and health complications from drinking aspartam sweetend drinks in Iraqi 104F heat (temperatures at which artificial sweeteners are extremely unhealthy), hence the title. Dont know if any of the band members commented on that but sure sounds enticing.

[@retronemesis7064]

Just discovered the channel. You should do the song Dancing Mad by the Black Mages. I guarantee that you'll love it.

[@michellemcnair4825]

Still one of my favs by SOAD

[@samfunfun646]

this is on a fairly short list of songs I use to test new audio gear. the production quality of this album was basically unparalleled for this genre at the time, especially impressive considering it was their debut

[@toddamypostma1378]

Primus soon I hope

[@CupOJoeOuttaIdaho]

SUPER DEEP SONG BROTHER

[@joaquinlezcano2372]

I think Doug would enjoy either Radio/video or question

[@christophercook4819]

I’ve always enjoyed their unique style of music and the vocal back and forth between Serj and Daren is amazing. It was difficult for me to get into their hypnotize albums though

[@QuantumSharp]

From 5:55 that part sounds exactly like a KoRN song but I can't remember which one. Perhaps it was "One". Anyone else thought the same?

[@Петърчо]

I see SOAD, I'm smashing that like button, before even watch the video.

[@Skywolf370]

It would be realy intresting to see what you make of Serj tankian's Orca symphony No.1.

[@lauramartins5953]

Kombucha mushrooms are also knows as "Manchurian mushrooms"...

[@BlightedGhost]

Just found your channel with one of the DOOM videos. You should listen to the Deep Stone Lullaby from the Destiny 2: Beyond Light OST

[@KaluSuddasCanDie]

Awesome! Thanks for sharing the knowledge. If you have time , do radio/video by SOAD. So many variations there.

[@jakob8372]

would love for you to react to any lorna shore song. they do Deathcore, blackened death metal, symphonic metal and metalcore

[@Benobot99]

Probably my favourite song from them. I discovered it from a flash video about Mario on Newgrounds back in 2005 or so. "Dumbass Mario" I think it was called.

[@vanillasnowx]

please consider listening to their song "Question" one of the best in my opinion

[@colleenhardin230]

SOAD next song do Dreaming please. You will like it very much.

[@ljoffrey]

14:52 substantially higher values !

[@pokeholicmaster]

Would love for you to react to some Twelve Foot Ninja. They're an experimental fusion metal group from Australia that just like to have a lot of fun with their music. They will often switch genres multiple times in the same song from metal, to jazz, to disco, to reggae, plus they have a great sense of humor. I think you'd really dig em.

[@djclaudeus]

Agreed! So many great tracks from them to choose from. While some official videos might confuse off the bat, I'd hate that not lead to more TFN reactions. That said, I almost feel like a good introduction might be the official for Over And Out with Tatiana.

[@pokeholicmaster]

@@djclaudeus I was thinking that or Coming For You because that video has all of the musical fantasia with less of the....let's say lore

[@djclaudeus]

@pokeholicmaster is definitely another good choice! I personally love the hell out of the "lore". Miss Kin already.

[@pokeholicmaster]

@@djclaudeus you and me both!

[@AlessandroGenTLe]

Serj Tankian in this video looks like a Caparezza (Italian singer) that really believed in himself :D

[@sykoteddy]

Why can't I find the reaction video for System Of A Down - 'B.Y.O.B' ? Did that one get a copyright strike or why can I not find it? KZbin's search engine is so damn broken!

[@davideleardi3894]

To me this is THE BEST system of a down song.......period.

[@cyrilmichaud]

System Of A Down is an awesome band (Toxicity and Steal This Album are for me their best albums!). Could you please make a reaction to Manowar - Achilles, Agony and Ecstasy in Eight Parts ? It's an epic 28 minutes track with really amazing and surprising parts!

[@geojoe602]

LOL, this is the correct take on the song, and it had the correct effect on Doug. I wouldn't overthink the lyrics, though, as SOAD have admitted that lyrics don't mean too much to them. Also, agree that their song Question! would be a good next choice. SOAD had a lot of range and there's some really musical choices to check out.

[@TayValleyMX]

my initial take was "the media sprinkles sugar on top"

[@buddykaiser2380]

I'd like to see you react to System of a Downs Spiders. Personally I think their first album is their best.

[@jeffschwartz8900]

Remember, System Of "A" Down ‼️ 😁

[@justinman114]

My man, do Lost in Hollywood, you will not regret it!

[@breks1965]

In Flames - Ordinary Story ? im sure you wont regret it.

[@deminybs]

🎶🤟🥰

[@MrGaldinho]

Please analyze Kiuas - Across the snows. It’s a Finnish metal band doing a comeback, and they rock hard.

[@johnaa007]

Guy at the beginning is right

[@josephpomerleau2654]

Aspartame kills. Better get that good, good Sugar.

[@dougfisher1266]

That newscast beginning from 1998 aged very well.

[@LasseStaldMadsen]

That's a cool T. If only I had the capital to share

[@shredofmalarchi]

Not my favorite soad song for sure but the more songs you listen to the more likely you are to find "Radio/video"

[@peterschutz1422]

more soad!!!

[@renato360a]

4:39 as soon as the ass shows on screen Doug instantly goes "wow!" :D

[@-iago78a-pacheco38]

Spiders, please.

[@armchairgravy8224]

If you're not going "Suuugaarrrr" at something at least once a day you're not living right.

[@chavovaldez]

They are tuned to drop C on this.

[@Killeroforcs69]

Are you related to Day9? you guys have like the same voice and mannerisms, and even looks like each other slightly!

[@maxx.mazzeo]

Y'alllllllllll

[@williamreynolds3487]

Ironically, RATM is now supporting the machine they were raging against in the '90s lol

[@ebohn92]

This is one of my favorites. Though all I heard for awhile was locomotive mushroom people instead of kombucha mushroom people. 😂 Edit: I like how light-hearted it is in parts. And how sad he looks and is when he says 'No Music' I think sugar is a reference to that 'Spoonful of sugar helps the medicine go down' idea. Like you see all these awful things going on but the song and the way they act on stage is kinda goofy. And the newscaster tells you some awful stuff but then he follows it up with a nice story about a dog before he breaks. But as long as everything sounds nice then nothing at all is wrong. (It does remind me that NBC Nightly News, last I watched, ends with a segment called Making a Difference and it's all happy nice things, lol.)

[@keks137]

I used to hear locomotive on propane pushing the grass all day or something

[@ludacrisbutler]

mark me down as another person requesting Spiders

[@mr.steinhaus6014]

Shuggggaaaaaaaaaaaaa!

[@shallowlord]

I discovered them on Tony hawk pro skater 4 with shimmy

[@joshuamichael9761]

I always felt like SOAD was the spiritual successor to Dead Kennedys.

[@BrianHa00]

Im just waiting for more iron maiden reactions!! xD

[@dg6729]

I once heard SOAD described as "half-cool, half-stupid." I think that's pretty accurate.

[@my_stash]

lol! on that i can agree.. let me add that they're "half stupid" in a cool way though..

[@progperljungman8218]

Wonder how many old Zappa fans (like I am) who really enjoy these guys (like I do) 🤔

[@muskett00]

OMG what happened to your intro???