Monster (Skillet song)

"Monster"
Single by Skillet
from the album Awake
Released	July 14, 2009
Recorded	2009
Genre	Alternative metal, post-grunge, Christian rock
Length	2:58
Label	Lava Ardent Atlantic
Writer(s)	John L Cooper Gavin Brown [1]
Skillet singles chronology
"Hero" (2009) "Monster" (2009) "Awake and Alive" (2010)

"Monster" is the second single of 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 bands breakthrough single charting at #4 on Mainstream rock charts and #101 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's also the fifth single by Skillet to be released to physical media.

Reception

The Single has so far peaked at number #11 on the iTunes Rock charts, #1 on Christian Rock radio, #2 on Christian Hard Rock radio, #20 on the Billboard Rock Songs chart, #7 on the Billboard Heatseeker charts, #4 on the US Active Rock charts, and number #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 #40, peaked at #28.^[2]On November 10th it was announced that the song had reached the "Elite 8" on MTV's rotation slot.^[3] The song was also the tenth most played halloween song of 2010.^[4]

Promotion

World Wrestling Entertainment has recently been using Monster for most of its major products. The song is one of the tracks in WWE SmackDown vs. Raw 2010^[5]. It was the theme song of the WWE PPV Hell in a Cell. The song was also used in the NBC telecast of WrestleMania XXV, highlighting Randy Orton's quest to become WWE Champion. The song has also been announced to be used on the MTV show, Bully Beatdown.^[6] On October 4, 2009. "Monster" is also the opening theme song for the AHL team the Lake Erie Monsters in Cleveland, Ohio, and it also serves as the opening theme of the Fresno Monsters of Fresno, California^[7]

Monster has also been released as a downloadable track for the video game Rock Band.^[8][9]

Video

The music video for "Monster" was directed by the Erwin Brothers, and was released on September 2nd, 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. ^[10]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 number 1. As of Novemder 2011, the video has received over 31 million views on YouTube.

Awards

The song was nominated for "Short Form Video Of The Year" at the 41st GMA Dove Awards.^[11][12]

Credits

• John Cooper - lead vocals, bass
• Korey Cooper - guitar, keyboard
• Ben Kasica - guitar
• Jen Ledger - drums

Accolades

Publication	Country	Accolade	Year	Rank
AOL Radio	United States	"Top Rock Songs of 2009"	2009	4[13]

Charts

Chart	Peak position
Christian Hard Rock Radio	2 [14]
Christian Rock Radio	1[15]
U.S. Active Rock	4[16]
U.S. Billboard Top Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles	1[17]
U.S. Billboard Top Mainstream Rock Tracks	4[18]
U.S. Billboard Top Alternative Songs	28[2]
U.S. Billboard Top Rock Songs	20[2]
U.S. Billboard Top Heatseekers Songs	7[2]
Japan Hot 100	98[2]

References

1. ^ BMI entry for songwriters
2. ^ ^{a b c d e} http://www.billboard.com/#/artist/skillet/166990
3. ^ http://www.facebook.com/home.php#/notes/skillet-music/skilletmusic-mtv-2-bumps-up-skillets-monster-into-elite-8-increased-rotation-beg/172137483540
4. ^ http://www.billboard.com/#/column/chartbeat/2010-s-most-played-halloween-songs-1004125043.story
5. ^ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h8yZJLKMh7s&feature=channel_page
6. ^ http://blogs.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=blog.view&friendId=12268788&blogId=508256760
7. ^ http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Skillet_(band)
8. ^ http://www.jesusfreakhideout.com/news/2010/03/26.Superchick%20Download%20Coming%20To%20Rock%20Band%20April%206.asp%7Ctitle=JesusFreakHideOut Rock Band Rumors
9. ^ http://www.rockband.com/zine/skillet-superchick-dlc
10. ^ http://www.noisecreep.com/2009/09/02/skillet-monster-video-premiere
11. ^ http://ardentrecords.com/520/
12. ^ http://blogs.tennessean.com/tunein/2010/02/18/41st-annual-gma-dove-awards-nominees-announced/
13. ^ http://www.aolradioblog.com/2009/12/01/rock-songs-of-2009/
14. ^ http://www.christianhardrock.net/mostrequestedthisweek.asp
15. ^ http://www.christianrock.net/charts.asp
16. ^ http://www.americasmusiccharts.com/index.cgi?fmt=R2
17. ^ http://atrl.net/forums/showthread.php?p=3341268#3341268
18. ^ http://your.heraldsun.com/pages/full_story/push?article-BILLBOARD%20&id=5387972&instance=main_article

External links

• Official Music video
• Official website
• Skillet on Myspace