Monster (Skillet song)
| "Monster" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Single by Skillet | ||||
| from the album Awake | ||||
| Released | July 14, 2009 | |||
| Format | Digital download | |||
| Recorded | 2009 at Bay7 Studios, Los Angeles, California | |||
| Genre | ||||
| Length | 2:58 | |||
| Label | ||||
| Writer(s) | ||||
| Producer(s) | Howard Benson | |||
| Certification | 2x Multi-Platinum (RIAA)[2] | |||
| Skillet singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
"Monster" is the second single from the 2009 album Awake by the Christian rock band Skillet, and is the second track on the album. The single went on to become the band's breakthrough single charting at No. 4 on Mainstream rock charts and No. 1 on the Billboard Bubbling Under Hot 100 Chart. A radio edit version can be found on the deluxe version, which does not include the growling part of the song. It is also the fifth single by Skillet to be released to physical media.
Reception
The single peaked No. 1 on Christian Rock radio, No. 2 on Christian Hard Rock radio, No. 20 on the Billboard Rock Songs chart, No. 7 on the Top Heatseekers, No. 4 on the US Active Rock charts, and number No. 4 on the Mainstream rock charts, making it the most successful single in the band's history. It is also the first single to make the Alternative Songs chart, debuting at No. 40, peaked at No. 28.[3] On November 10 it was announced that the song had reached the "Elite 8" on MTV's rotation slot.[4] The song was also the tenth most played Halloween song of 2010.[5]
Promotion
In the first week of April 2010, "Monster" was released for the Rock band music store in Rock Band 2[6]
"Monster" was used in the episode "Jason: The Pretty-Boy Bully" on MTV's Bully Beatdown. "Monster" was the theme song for the WWE event WWE Hell in a Cell. "Monster", and "Hero", were included on the official soundtrack for the WWE video game WWE SmackDown vs. Raw 2010. "Monster" would also become the opening theme song for the AHL team the Lake Erie Monsters in Cleveland, Ohio, being played in the player intros and after a Lake Erie goal, and serves as the opening theme of the Fresno Monsters of Fresno, California. "Monster" was aired at the beginning of several ACC football games on Raycom Sports during the 2009 season. It would become a marching band recording and be performed by schools all across the country because of its booming sound and lyrics. "Monster" has also been used as track 782 on the roller coaster Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit.
Music video
The music video for "Monster" was directed by the Erwin brothers, and was released on September 2, 2009 on Noisecreep. It features the band performing in a hospital room while in the next room, lead vocalist and bassist, John Cooper and guitarist, Korey Cooper, are being tested on and under observation from a medical team. The video cuts back to both Korey and John who wake up in different parts of the hospital while undergoing various tests. Eventually both escape while being chased by SWAT teams. The video ends with a dub over of a man reporting that there has been a "containment breach", and John and Korey walking out of the hospital into the sunlight.[7] Guitarist Ben Kasica and drummer Jen Ledger both appear as doctors in the beginning of the video. Skillet released a making-of for the video in one of their podcasts. The video was featured on Fuse's Number One Countdown: Viewer's Choice at No. 1. In April 2015 it had passed 100 million views on YouTube, and as of November 2016, it has gained over 170 million views.[8]
Awards
The song was nominated for "Short Form Video of the Year" at the 41st GMA Dove Awards.[9][10]
Credits
- John Cooper – lead vocals, bass
- Korey Cooper – guitar, keyboard
- Ben Kasica – lead guitar
- Jen Ledger – drums
Accolades
| Publication | Country | Accolade | Year | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| AOL Radio | United States | "Top Rock Songs of 2009" | 2009 | 4[11] |
Charts
| Chart | Peak position |
|---|---|
| U.S. Active rock | 4[12] |
| U.S. Billboard Top Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles | 1 |
| U.S. Billboard Top Mainstream Rock Tracks | 4[13] |
| U.S. Billboard Top Alternative Songs | 28<ref name="billboard Skillet" /[14] |
| U.S. Billboard Top Rock Songs | 20<ref name="billboard Skillet" /[14] |
| U.S. Billboard Top Heatseekers Songs | 7<ref name="billboard Skillet" /[15] |
| Japan Hot 100 | 98<ref name="billboard Skillet" /[14] |
Certifications
| Region | Certification | Certified units/Sales |
|---|---|---|
| United States (RIAA)[16] | 2× Platinum | 2,000,000^ |
|
^shipments figures based on certification alone | ||
References
- ↑ "BMI entry for songwriters". Repertoire.bmi.com. Retrieved May 22, 2013.
- ↑ "Gold & Platinum - RIAA". RIAA. December 16, 2015. Retrieved October 10, 2016.
- ↑
- ↑ "Facebook". Facebook. Retrieved May 22, 2013.
- ↑ "2010's Most-Played Halloween Songs". Billboard. Retrieved May 22, 2013.
- ↑ "Rockband – April 2010 [12]". Rockband.com. April 2010. Retrieved April 2, 2010.
- ↑ "Skillet 'Monster' - Video Premiere". Noisecreep. September 2, 2009. Retrieved May 22, 2013.
- ↑ "Skillet - Monster (Official Video)". YouTube. Google. Retrieved November 19, 2016.
- ↑ Mike Jackson. "Skillet Earns 6 Nominations In 2010 Dove Awards". Ardent Records. Retrieved May 22, 2013.
- ↑ http://blogs.tennessean.com/tunein/2010/02/18/41st-annual-gma-dove-awards-nominees-announced/
- ↑ Anderson, Sara D. "Top Rock Songs of 2009". AOL Radio Blog. Retrieved May 22, 2013.
- ↑ "AMERICA'S MUSIC CHARTS - 0 5 . 2 1 . 1 3 - powered by MEDIABASE". Americasmusiccharts.com. Retrieved May 22, 2013.
- ↑ http://your.heraldsun.com/pages/full_story/push?article-BILLBOARD%20&id=5387972&instance=main_article
- 1 2 3 http://www.billboard.com/#/artist/skillet/166990
- ↑
- ↑ "American single certifications – Skillet – Monster". Recording Industry Association of America. If necessary, click Advanced, then click Format, then select Single, then click SEARCH