System of a Down frontman Serj Tankian is understood for writing deeply private and/or political lyrics that – at occasions – might be fairly perplexing. In a brand new interview with Metallic Hammer, bassist/backing vocalist Shavo Odadjian revealed which System of a Down tune has essentially the most “what the fuck?” lyrics.
What Odadjian Mentioned
Within the smartphone problem of Metal Hammer, Odadjian is requested by System of a Down fan Ariel Colton if any Tankian lyrics made Odadjian say, “WTF?” Virtually instantly, he provides his reply: “Bounce” (from the band’s 2001 breakthrough LP, Toxicity).
Odadjian displays:
I wrote that tune musically and Serj wrote the vocals, and it was known as “PJs”. As a substitute of “Bounce! Pogo pogo pogo pogo…!”, it was like, “Da! Pisha pisha pisha pisha…!” I used to be like, “What the fuck are you saying, bro?!” Truly, each album has shit the place I say, “What the fuck is he speaking about?!” Ha ha ha! However that’s a part of the fantastic thing about Serj. He does that however there’s all the time one thing there for everybody to learn into.
The seventh tune on Toxicity, the characteristically abrasive “Bounce” is famously about group sex. To Odadjian’s level, the monitor’s metaphorical mentions of pogo sticks (“Unannounced tornado video games / All gamers with no names / They lined up double fast / However only one pogo stick / Everybody will get to play / Runaway, expose’ / It was so unique / However only one pogo stick”) are eyebrow-raising, to say the least.
Metallic Hammer additionally level out that a number of years in the past, Tankian “described his strategy to [writing] lyrics” on his Patreon page.
“I normally begin with the music first, after which I will search for inspirations,” Tankian said (per Metallic Hammer). “What is that this music saying to me? What’s it speaking about? Is it speaking a couple of chicken? Is it speaking in regards to the Earth? Is it speaking a couple of love? Is it speaking about politics?…As soon as you’ve got figured that out, then you will have your theme. Your theme’s essential as a result of it provides you focus.”
READ MORE: Massive Nu-Metal Album Has Mysteriously Vanished From Spotify + Fans Are Distraught
Extra About “Bounce” + Toxicity
Given its grownup nature, it’s shocking to be taught that “Bounce” was really used in a trailer for 2015 animated children film The Secret Life of Pets. Per setlist.fm, it’s at the moment System of a Down’s twelfth most often performed tune in live performance, with 275 performances (together with the latest one on Might 14, 2025 in Brazil).
Toxicity in its entirety, it launched on Sept. 4, 2001 and debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 album chart. With standout singles comparable to “Aerials,” “Toxicity” and “Chop Suey!” it’s no marvel why, and along with advancing the quartet’s stylistic selection and musicianship, it noticed them fleshing out their sociopolitical songwriting (amidst persevering with their risqué humor).
At the moment, Toxicity stays System of a Down’s signature LP.
System of a Down in 2025
Earlier this 12 months, System of a Down vowed to “drastically” alter their setlists for various stadium concerts, and to this point, they completely have. Particularly, and as Loudwire reported again in April, some current exhibits discovered them barreling by way of in depth setlists that featured songs from nearly each studio document which hadn’t performed in over 10 years (comparable to “Arto,” “Marmalade,” “Streamline,” “Mind” and “Attack”).
Across the identical time, Odadjian set the document straight relating to what actually happened between himself and ex-Mastodon guitarist/singer Brent Hinds after the 2007 MTV Video Music Awards. Per Loudwire, the evening in query ended with “Hinds within the hospital with a damaged nostril, two black eyes and a mind hemorrhage,” and preliminary stories (or at the least rumors) said that Odadjian was partially – or completely – chargeable for the harm.
“I by no means knocked out Brent Hinds,” Odadjian clarified. “That’s one thing that Brent was instructed by I-don’t-know-who.” Quite the opposite, Odadjian claimed, an inebriated and overly intense Hinds threw a punch of Odadjian’s buddy – rapper Reverend William Burk – after which Burk landed a “self-defense” punch that resulted in Hinds falling to the bottom and being “knocked out.”
Within the years because the incident, Hinds and different members of Mastodon equally agreed that Odadjian wasn’t chargeable for Hinds’ accidents.
Each Large Rock + Metallic Album Launched Every Day in Might Historical past
Listed here are the all-time finest rock and metallic albums launched for every day in Might.
Gallery Credit score: Rob Carroll