Lonely Day

Single infobox |
Name = Lonely Day


Artist = System of a Down
from Album = Hypnotize
Released = March 2006
Format = CD, Airplay
Recorded = The Mansion
Laurel Canyon, Los Angeles, California
Akademie Mathematique of Philisophical Sound Research
Los Angeles, California
Genre = Alternative metal, Power Ballad
Length = 2:47
Label = American/Columbia
CK
Writer = Daron Malakian
Producer = Rick Rubin, Daron Malakian
Chart position = * #37 Aus ARIA
* #10 U.S. Modern Rock Tracks
* #10 U.S. Mainstream Rock Tracks
* #17 New Zealand
NoReviews =
Last single = "Hypnotize"
(2005)
This single = "Lonely Day"
(2006)
Next single = "Kill Rock 'n Roll"
(2006)

"Lonely Day" is the Grammy nominated second single from the 2005 album "Hypnotize" by the band System of a Down. It was written by guitarist Daron Malakian, who also provides the track's lead vocals.

"Lonely Day" is a power ballad with melancholy lyrics and features one of the most complex guitar solos of System of a Down's repertoireFact|date=May 2008 (it should be noted that the guitar work resembles that of The Animals' "House of the Rising Sun"). However, it has been criticized by music reviewers such as Pitchfork Media [cite web|url=http://www.pitchforkmedia.com/article/record_review/22229/System_of_a_Down_Mezmerize_Hypnotize|title=System Of A Down: Mezmerize/Hypnotize|publisher=Pitchfork Media|author=Cory D. Byrom |accessdate=2007-08-24] , and some English learning sites such as AntimoonForums [cite web |url=http://www.antimoon.com/forum/t2175-0.htm |title=AntiMoon Forums |accessdate=2007-11-15 |format=text] for its lyrics, notably the fact that the song utilizes the double superlative "most loneliest."

Daron said about "Lonely Day": "I write a lot of songs and some of 'em I never thought worked for System so I didn't take 'em to System, and that's one that I wasn't going to take into the band, [...] I kind of [regretted] it." Bassist Shavo Odadjian said: "Yeah, we had to kind of get it out of him. He brought it and we loved it so much that he was like, 'I really don't want it on the record,' but ... it's something that needs to be heard."Fact|date=August 2007.

The music video contains footage of the band in a tour coach and many of the things they drive past are on fire; the fire possibly represents loneliness. Another interpretation is that the fire represents scenes from Iraq with buildings on fire from bombings, and life going on as normal while destruction of the city is happening in the background. Another interpretation comes from the last line "It's the day that I'm glad I survived" which led some fans to believe the song is about either September 11th or the Armenian Genocide. There is also reference to Pink Floyd's Wish You Were Here album cover. At approximately 48 seconds there is a scene which can be seen as a reflection on the glass. This reproduces the album's cover art where two men, one of them on fire, can be seen shaking hands. [cite web |url=http://www.songmeanings.net/lyric.php?lid=3530822107858560513 |title=SongMeanings |accessdate=2007-11-15 |format=text] The single and music video gained airplay in Australia and was #37 on the Australian Recording Industry Association charts. Fact|date=February 2007

The song ends the same way "Soldier Side - Intro", the first song on "Mezmerize" ends. This is because the next (and last) song on Hypnotize is "Soldier Side".

The music video for "Lonely Day" can be viewed on [http://music.yahoo.com/promos/premieres/ Yahoo! Music] and the [http://www.systemofadown.com official website] .

The song received a nomination for "Best Hard Rock Performance" at the 49th annual Grammy Awards, [Blabbermouth.net. "SLAYER, LAMB OF GOD, STONE SOUR Among GRAMMY Nominees", December 7, 2006, at [http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=63432 Blabbermouth.net] ; last accessed December 7, 2006.] but lost to Wolfmother's single, 'Woman'.

The song is used in a trailer for the movie "Disturbia" and can also be heard in the movie itself. It is one of the most recognizable songs in the movie.

An EP of Lonely Day was also released.

Track listing

tracklist|collapsed= |writing_credits = yes
title1=Lonely Day |writer1 = D. Malakian |length1=2:47

References

External links

* [http://www.systemofadown.com/words-hypnotize.html#11 "Lonely Day" lyrics on the band's official website]
* [http://www.soadfans.com/hypnotize.htm Lonely Day lyrics]