Why We Give System Of A Down A Pass - RETROACTIVE REVIEW

C'mon guys, seriously, you're killing us with this no album thing.
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[@tivus]

no one has ever played like system of a down i feel like they're their own genre lol

[@thedreadedsaltpacket6210]

abdulaziz E i call them "classical metal", other bands in this category would be red and disturbed. they're music is very similar to classical music, but distorted. they sometimes mix mesmerizing soft vocals and then fast paced and heavy vocals afterwards, others use violins.

[@mikeg785]

Harry Obser try opeth

[@rocketmuffin8310]

Mr. Bungle

[@Sighbot]

Mr. Bungle is kinda like System

[@smilejenkins]

Something that comes close is Enter Shikari - Price on Your Head

[@DaSpenceMence]

IDK their lyrics may be abstract, but most their songs have a a clear meaning

[@pizzafreak1175]

I agree. Reminds me of songs like Violent Pornography and Sad Statue.

[@spewn2123]

Or the first two songs on Toxicity Just Aerials and Chop Suey! Are kinda hard to grasp.

[@Jonko]

The meaning of their songs always depends on the person listening to it, that's an attribute which makes an artist good. Whether you are having a bad time and want to make it better, or you have an extremely good time and want to multiply and enjoy your happiness

[@jacoblydall9800]

"I hope your stepson doesn't eat the fish"

[@jaycewilkinson6221]

@@jacoblydall9800 except for that one

[@03509338]

I disagreed - their lyrics mostly HAVE meaning or a theme but one that the listener can come up with an interpretation. Because the songs won't flat out turn you what it's about. It's a dialog. It's beautiful and weird and moving. Please don't over look their lyrics

[@lemonkei6902]

Elton Joao on their uranium interview with the full band, darron talks about if he or anyone tells you about the songs meaning, it loses its its shock factor so they leave it up for others to decide what it means to them. It’s what they want it to be

[@gridly10]

their meanings are not abstract... so much history of Armenia in their songs. their songs make sense to me. prison song.. attack.. u fig... songs that are clear as day

[@gridly10]

and while some are abstract that's good but abstract is only part of what they do you make it seem like that's it. everyone has their own interpretation but I disagree with the guy who made this video.

[@byounger9171]

rob allman many if their songs could be interpreted any way. Tell me the meaning of Aerials and I'll be surprised

[@lizardguy7624]

im sorry did you call him a fig

[@EthanRadell]

@@byounger9171 the meaning of Aerials is reaching enlightenment

[@EthanRadell]

Probably doing it on psychedelics too 😂

[@yooitsxtra]

Old school Hollywood is about a charity celebrity baseball game Daron competed in

[@BrainDedd96]

"Dude we should write a song about this"

[@erik4d952]

@@BrainDedd96 Its about Daron feeling left out by the other celebs...after he returned home he took a shower, grabbed a guitar and the song came to him.

[@lizucavictoria]

Not having any news about a band's new album is better that a band's saying that the new album will come out at the end of the year, but it never does.

[@felixcolpron4173]

Eliza-Victoria Batrin cough *Marilyn Manson* cough

[@REXOZero]

so here we are ... soad actually teased a new album, but cancelled it. while tool will release it this summer. strange

[@calebbliss8626]

Psh their first record was great. Not as melodic as all the others but it was still brutal and odd.

[@CarInMyAss]

Caleb Bliss I remember I was 14 and somebody gave me a blank cassette tape that had 3 songs on it and they copied it after they got it in the mail from being on some mailing list back in like 1999 or 98 I don't know I've done a lot of drugs since then but I remember the first time I put that in my tape player and it blew me away

[@BrainDedd96]

My fav album by em!

[@Naltddesha]

@@CarInMyAss I remember having all ki was of odd promo stuff like that around the same age.. I actually had the single Heretic Anthem by Slipknot on cassette, before Iowa had come out. Wish I still had some of that rare stuff

[@JamesOsyris]

They've explained OVER AND OVER that tyeir songs are about whatever comes to their mind at the moment and they prefer the songs to be up to interpretation. They also feel no obligation to explain their persobal lives either

[@ericksheldon3870]

3:12 It's actually my favorite album by them. I say this because, exactly what you said earlier about the influences they had, and not being able to be classified. It was a completely new sound at that time, that nobody saw coming.

[@Snaffdude]

Same, I can't count the amount of times I've listened to it end to end!

[@realspartan5206]

they have such good songs especially Peephole, war?, Spiders, Sugar, suggestions, etc.

[@sostef]

I agree. I LOVE Serj's solo stuff... But I've always felt like it would be better with Darron's vocals in there too... & the same for Scars on Broadway. SOAD are great as a whole.

[@hadolfitler3316]

It kind of blows my mind that you kind of write off their lyricism as something that lacks critical thinking. There songs hold a lot of political messages within in them, like listen to the album toxicity for example; an album that features criticisms on pollution, war, police brutality, and a lot more than that. This type of writing is present in all of their albums, maybe not every track, but definitely the majority of their songs. They also use cartoonish and outlandish singing styles and lyrics to really drive the imagery home. The fact you overlook that is kind of stunning tbh.

[@dirkheeres2206]

this makes me wanna listen to all of the RATM and SOAD records

[@XtremeKillah101]

4:13 the picture in the middle, iis daron playing the guitar naked?

[@thelatenightgamer2624]

Knowing daron yes

[@jdogseyebrows]

....Yep

[@jeyko666]

Their songs have much meaning

[@finnancahill2644]

Chic n Stu is actually a criticism of the American lifestyle of distracting yourself from the hard things in life with food and tv when you're really just forcing yourself into bombardment from advertising

[@BrainDedd96]

Butter aint the only thing gettin hard😉 Dont get any ideas... just 1 pogo stick😘

[@jordanhodgkinson9707]

5 years after this, we finally get SOME new music after 15 years

[@Kukabu12]

System of a down doesn't need to make sense. They do what they want. They let themselves be themselves. But, you can't say they don't make sense with all of their songs. Holy Mountains on Hypnotize is about the Armenian Genocide. Most of their songs that have stories are usually on protestant standpoints. Most of their songs are actually really great too. For example. My favorite song. Soldier Side. This band, I love it so much because if you learn the lyrics, most of the songs have deeper meanings and you can understand better. It's not about meaning. It's about how you, the consumer, interprets it.

[@boiliev4656]

Soldier side in my opinion is one of the best system songs. It was their last song, it has deep meanings and it's just as melodical as an opera. It's just perfect.

[@jdgonzo1982]

these videos are really good Scott - this one especially, your insight and knowledge of music real fleshes this story out...I watched your Deftones and Death Grips vids yesterday and was impressed by them as well. I'd be interested in seeing a video of yours done on The Mars Volta and the electronic "artist" Burial...also Tool. I think these artists would entertain you if you haven't heard of them already...

[@AdrianMartinez-yk5dd]

jdgonzo1982 he said tool in the video

[@uncrownedoak7777]

im a bit satisfied with Scars on Broadway and Serj's solo stuff. I could do with another Scars album though.

[@adamclarke403]

Josh D you're in luck

[@thelatenightgamer2624]

DICTATER

[@matiaspalacios83]

“If you listen to their first record, while it’s not their best...” Me: huh???

[@lordvalen8133]

I understand all their lyrics, for first listens, it can be difficult. I have always known what Serj was saying in Chop suey!.

[@klink4313]

Inquisitor Titus I really doubt you understand ALL of their lyrics. I’ve listen to all of their songs multiple times and still don’t know what the fuck they’re taking about in some of them. For example in the song Pictures Serj says “Can't you look at my shamed ass? Now she's gone and got us once. You can't see me Saturday.” What the fuck does that even mean?

[@gavin7821]

I always saw the 'nonsense' tracks as a break from the (often but not always) political meaning of a Lot of their tracks. Other than that great video as always

[@sailorjoopiter]

i agree !!

[@Zeeblud-Music]

Great video but two things. One : Thyre not really talking about shaking asess, and jewelery. Theyre lyrics have meaning. And two : This immediately made me think of Linkin Park. Its always a question in the back of my mind about how do people give Linkin Park a pass, even though Nu metal is a hated genre. People always seem to give Linking Park a pass. The elitists either try to cherry pick which nu metal bands they like and try to rationalize any reason as to why they are not nu metal, or just totally bash the remaining bands they dont deem worth of their bullshit justification as to why certain bands are not nu metal and certain noes are, but the fact remains Linkin Park always gets a pass.....why. Maybe an interesting video.

[@hoggboyy]

I think he ignores (or maybe is unaware of) a huge part of their identity as a group. That is the fact that they are all Armenian Americans. And every aspect of their music and lyrics is touched by Armenian folk music, culture, history, and politics, at least to some degree.

[@drivesafe4565]

I thought the video title meant a pass as in they aren't that good but we still give them a pass. i was thinking in my mind "this guy is crazy, system is magnificent ". lmao awesome vid

[@judelind7036]

s SOAD is my favorite!Like if you agree!😉

[@fseanenglert7073]

This is a wonderfully done video. You've done your research on this music :D Something that I would keep in mind in terms of the genre placement is that Faith No More was definitely avant garde as well. I think that avant garde would be a perfect genre to categorize SOAD under. The reason I say this is because they take a lot of influence from other avant garde movements such as dadaism (HEAVY EMPHASIS ON DADAISM. 1. because I'm a huge sucker for the avant garde and dadaism. 2. I think it had more influence on their work than they lead on. If you Ctrl+F search it on their wiki, it only comes up once with only two cited sources). Dadaism captures the frustration of the artists so, so well. I'd also like to connect this video to the one that you made about RATM, who are passionate political thinkers. SOAD almost rival with them on how political they get, except the difference is that SOAD portray their passion for politics through absurdism in their music, which is why they really don't make sense. It's supposed to be absurd, loud, chaotic, and most of all, rooted in frustration and unhappiness with people, society, politics/the political climate, etc. But in all of those definitions, I agree with what you said in the very beginning of the video: SOAD ROCKS.

[@terenceaaron1999]

They're nu metal, plain and simple. Just because they have different elements in their music doesn't mean they are a new genre altogether or do we have to come up with a new descriptor for them. For example, Atheist in their core is a death metal band. They have jazzy influences, art rock like time signatures and use scales that don't normally appear in death metal. The same when it goes to SOAD. Their core sound still sounds like nu metal to me. Chop Suey in its very core sounds like a nu metal track that happens to have tempo shifts/time signatures. And I know many don't like to call them nu metal because it is also an insult. But the word only is an insult if you empower people that hurl those insults.

[@bhaveshmahida7991]

Aerials, holy mountains, attack,pluck,psycho,soil,sugar,war,bounce,lonelyday ,prison song,lost in Hollywood many more all have meaningful lyrics. What r u you talking about dude?

[@elliotskunk]

but their songs make sense....just think about it...

[@Mateo-ko9kx]

Beautiful. Great narrating!

[@Prololan]

new album boiiisssssss

[@fotismonocheir1446]

Prololan Yep it's still coming

[@achilliesmyl.2321]

Nah don't think so

[@davedave5141]

2020 soad after watching thia video: we're done when we say we're done!

[@liamdoyle821]

Why we give System of a Down an n word pass

[@snidechart069doesgaming7]

The cool thing is that they are back on tour this summer!

[@0r1onMovies]

Avant-garde? Faith no More became one hit wonders? Systems lyrics don't make sense? Rush seems to fit? Wtf? I can't believe how wrong you are, please rethink most of what you said, this video is ridiculous.

[@notfittolivekillme2004]

I feel like this channel deserves to be much bigger. Great content

[@gyurza__]

idk why i love SOAD, theyre insane, and their lyrics are insane, and i dont really like insanity, but for some reason i like it, maybe cuz it makes me think, but idk.

[@jayfisher3359]

Kill Rock n roll is about the time where he accidentally ran over his pet rabbit

[@cass0nvadegenerate383]

I literally thought this Faith no more concept.

[@dreamsofthedepths9789]

Totally love your videos. Great analysis!

[@snidechart069doesgaming7]

I read an article that said "Kill Rock N' Roll" was a song written by Daron when he ran over a bunny. I kind of doubt it, but it kind of makes sense.

[@MrMorea-wi6yk]

People just need to remember basic high school English, especially poetry and they'll understand the meanings of their songs.

[@ahhwe-any7434]

English in hs was like can anyone tell me why it's raining right now (In to kill a mockingbird)? It would be like oh, Idk. Bc the weather sucks? I mean, bc clearly someone's gonna die. Yeah, that sounds about right...

[@hadolfitler3316]

@@ahhwe-any7434 I mean that's just symbolism. A lot of authors use symbolism and events to foreshadow things that would later occur in a story

[@ahhwe-any7434]

@@hadolfitler3316 I think it meant that it was for adultery. Clearly someone was gonna do "it." 💡That sounds about right🤔.

[@hadolfitler3316]

@@ahhwe-any7434 tbh I never read To kill a mocking bird, watched the movie once but my memory on plot is fuzzy. But interpretation can vary.

[@razzaus1570]

Their music is like a fine wine

[@thehawk515]

Loved this video! Though it always bothers me to hear Faith No More described as one hit wonders.

[@grantmclean8536]

They have meaning, it's just subtle metaphors

[@jasonjohnson1824]

Hey it's 2020, there is still nothing but we know why they haven't

[@Snaffdude]

Psychedelic politically charged Armenian metal would be my pompous over analysed genre for them. I prefer to just say "Unique and heavy" when anyone asks and play some choice songs from each album to my "victim"

[@jayfisher3359]

Wu Tang Clan gave them the N Word pass

[@BeanieL2p]

first album is the best by such a wide margin

[@BrainDedd96]

Well maybe its becuase i like just got into em a few months ago but there was a point i liked all of the albums then my ear kinda went towards the "heavier" albums (im not a metal person at all). But Im at the point where i dont have to skip a song on self titled or steal this album. But do have to skip around on the other 3.

[@johnl1686]

you are well spoken and it is easy to watch your entire video. Kudos

[@nathanbeebe7604]

Id have compared them to Mr.Bungle more than Faith No More

[@shanefella464]

Can you do a video on tool

[@mychemicaldeath3310]

don't worry new album coming this year!

[@BIGxBOSSxx1]

It's very ironic to me that such a left leaning political band has a drummer that's a Trump supporter.

[@jdogseyebrows]

6:38 my phone wallpaper lol

[@arphimusic]

You obviously forgot to mention that they're all Armenian, and their music is heavily influenced by Armenian folk. Serj's vocal and big portion of vocal technique is influenced by Armenian music. Also middle eastern. That plays a huge role.

[@Drybones898]

Chic’n Stu was quite obvious.

[@48emsj]

2017 and still waiting

[@NickG8420]

System is just so much fun. I don't like their politics, but I can look past it.

[@dakkahead517]

I appreciate the review,thanks for posting. Having been on a Nostalgic Bender on "SOAD" (the album) lately, i get what you mean by their... indescribable style. Its hard. Thas for sure. Is it metal? I wouldnt say that. Nor would i say their really anything else that can be labeled. Perhaps their later albums can shed light on their style, but i couldnt be paid to listen to those anymore. To go on a more personal note. I have a lot of nostalgia to their music(especially their first album). In the years since, Having found a love of Metal in its various forms...then coming back to SOAD... If i had to describe them in a phrase, it would be "chaotic emotions". The incoherent lyrics, coupled with strong musicianship, makes for some good listening, because..."Its Good, ITS GOOD MUTHAFUCKA!" With that said I hate how their later stuff gets all the praise, in spite of missing the indescribable trait the first album had. Maybe im just sick of Chop Suey, Mezmorize, and Ariels... *meh* regardless, i do appreciate their work. Even though you couldn't make me listen to any other album of theirs.

[@MESHQuality]

hehe,awesome vid.Enjoyed to watching it! System rules!

[@vaughnwesley9178]

Mr. Bungle was a pretty big influence on SOAD.

[@jeyko666]

Chop Suey is about subliminal advertising growing into your memories, while you are standing by - everywhere - from billboards to radio and TV ads to video advertisments on KZbin, to - in modern age - your personal likes being sold to Facebook and Google for money. I hope they rehash this idea on their new album.

[@heavymetal7929]

Kimiru the song has nothing to do with what you said just search on Wikipedia and you will find what this is really about

[@heavymetal7929]

Kimiru unless it is your interpretation of the song of course

[@weirdo4ever430]

When chop suey came out there was No youtube,no facebook, and the internet was limited. They wrote the song in 2000.

[@weirdo4ever430]

Inundating Psychonautics no i mean chop suey!. In 2000 there was no facebook. Internet was limited. After 2002 the internet started becoming "famous".

[@nilespayne1985]

What is the "Rick Ruben treatment"

[@biconditionals]

Niles payne lots of things, but primarily loud birckwalled mastering and bad mixing choices

[@FactNinja]

Agreed

[@Jesse-mh6hv]

Good video 🙂👍

[@ImaTheTurtle]

Haha i get it they 'streamline' their ideas.

[@bobuiux]

They retired, I'm happy with their oeuvre. If they tried "coming back" it would probably be corny like REMs or Smashing Pumpkins return albums. Why taint an amazing career?

[@oliverhallsworthbaines8756]

You're so very wrong, disregard 'critical thinking'? Kind of contradicts their whole vibe.

[@wearealreadydeadfam8214]

Oliver hallsworth baines No not at all. They are 2% message. 98% surrealism.

[@hetdowsha2968]

@@wearealreadydeadfam8214 I'd say at least they're at least 40% message. They've got quite a few songs with a message. Not in a preachy way but just to get a point across.

[@guxtavobaggio]

I love Faith No More

[@LautaroGalanCid]

Well said, son

[@heggy_69]

Do lyrics even need to make sense?

[@reakwondachef6828]

You should do a video on tool

[@chuy7880]

even chino moreno says that the best thing about system of a down (serj) is their melody. deftones collaborated with him for that specific reason. this video fails in giving an authentic reason in correlating system of a down with nirvana with the statement " it has to mean something." there's no good reason to listen to their arpeggiated power chord progressive "melodies" and they're also dicks in interviews.

[@jacobm92]

SOAD are lebanese, not russian

[@abd_cheese7353]

Jrottin they're Armenian. Serj is part lebanese tho

[@catmansweater5466]

i love system but hate this video

[@ahhwe-any7434]

I h8 it when ppl bash other ppl for the interpretations of songs. Or theyre just so sure of themeselves. Like, can you cite the source of where ___ speaks about the meaning of wever song? I swear, someone could be talking about a black, sweet kitty & someone out there would be like it's about heroine! Believe me, I would know... & then go on typing about the experiences of heroine. I could guess what songs mean, but I just interpret things to my own personal world. I dont stay up musics ass - that much ... :/. Sometimes, I'll just take parts of songs I like. F it. If it sounds cool to me, it just does. Maybe I don't always want to actually be intensely, deep into lyrics at times. Maybe i just need more light hearted things & things to zone out on. That's why I don't even bother making comments - sometimes. Other ppls comments can make me not want to listen to shit... But what was chop suey about?

[@dennisrichards2604]

not really a fan of SOAD, but Sugar is awesome!

[@onioncontrol]

My friend, all but their last two albums contain tracks with clear political thems.

[@LoydAvenheart]

Their actual song meanings are pretty shitty when they make sense most of the time.

[@eddyalonsomoramorales6069]

🤦

[@idea_music]

RUSH

[@halfblood9908]

Whats chic n stus song meaning?

[@thedisabledviking]

adds everywhere

[@halfblood9908]

@@thedisabledviking just looked up the lyrics its it makes sense now

[@yawzzz]

not Russian.., Armenian. Get it right. Listen to classic Armenian music and you will understand.

[@CB-qg3yh]

Most of their songs are somehow political

[@marcosbarrera8554]

their coming back!!!!??

[@marcosbarrera8554]

with a new album!!!??

[@BA7ARO]

Truett Lehmann sometime this uesr5

[@BA7ARO]

Truett Lehmann year

[@fotismonocheir1446]

BA7ARO nop

[@arlosdud7225]

:(

[@Sighbot]

I just say they’re a nu-metal band with mathcore influences stuffed somewhere in there.

[@Skullkan6]

They never did anything better than their first album.

[@lucascesar029]

i agree,as much i like the other albuns,the first one is by far my favorite

[@GrigoryTingus]

actually i think steal this album is the best one, a great combination of the first and last two albums

[@mykelc205]

+Darius E. this.

[@RalphLindsen]

Myeah, although ridiculously good for a collection of throw away songs, you do notice they're less refined, especially with the lyrics. But musically, it's great. Which one is my favorite is hard to choose, I play the first en Steal this album the most, but that's also because I used to hear the Toxicity songs A LOT on radio/mtv.

[@gergonikk]

That's my least favorite SOAD album.