Slither (song)
"Slither" is a song by American hard rock band Velvet Revolver, featured on their 2004 debut album Contraband. When it was released as the second single from the album in 2004, "Slither" topped both the American Billboard Mainstream Rock and Modern Rock charts, as well as reaching number 56 on the main Billboard Hot 100 chart and number 35 on the UK Singles Chart.[2] The song won the 2005 Grammy for Best Hard Rock Performance.
| "Slither" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Single by Velvet Revolver | ||||
| from the album Contraband | ||||
| Released | May 24, 2004 | |||
| Format |
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| Recorded | August–December 2003 at NRG and Pulse Recording, Los Angeles, California | |||
| Genre | ||||
| Length | 4:08 | |||
| Label | RCA | |||
| Songwriter(s) | ||||
| Producer(s) | Josh Abraham | |||
| Velvet Revolver singles chronology | ||||
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| Audio sample | ||||
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Composition
In a November 2014 interview with Songfacts, Scott Weiland said, "The lyrics are about a relationship. 'When you look you see right through me, cut the rope, fell to my knees, born and broken every single time.' It's just feeling not right in a situation."[3]
Chart performance
The song reached No. 1 on the Billboard Mainstream Rock Tracks chart, and stayed there for nine weeks. It also became their sole No. 1 hit on the Modern Rock Tracks chart, maintaining the position for four weeks. "Slither" also charted at No. 56 on the Billboard Hot 100, making it Velvet Revolver's highest charting song and one of the highest charting songs that Scott Weiland has appeared on.
| Chart (2004) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Billboard Hot 100 | 56 |
| Billboard Hot Mainstream Rock Tracks | 1 |
| Billboard Hot Modern Rock Tracks | 1 |
| Canada Rock Top 30 (Radio & Records) | 1 |
| Irish Singles Chart | 47 |
| UK Singles Chart | 35 |
Music video
The video, directed by Kevin Kerslake, was filmed in Prague, Czech Republic and Los Angeles. It starts with the band members playing their instruments inside a tunnel while a woman is driving a car seeking for the way to get to that tunnel. As the song continues, people become much more aggressive and the underground concert reaches a peak as band members play hard. Often in the video, Scott Weiland is seen standing before a wall made of human skulls.
Success and awards
It was awarded a Grammy in 2005 for Best Hard Rock Performance, an award Weiland had won with his previous band, Stone Temple Pilots, for the song "Plush" in 1994. In 2009, the song was named the 85th best hard rock song of all time by VH1.[4]
Other appearances
- In 2005, professional wrestler B.J. Whitmer used the song as his entrance theme in Ring of Honor.
- In 2006, "Weird Al" Yankovic sampled a part of "Slither" for his song "Polkarama" on the album Straight Outta Lynwood.
- In 2007, the song was used in a Victoria's Secret advertising campaign.
- The song appears in the commercial for Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock. The song was available in a Velvet Revolver download pack for Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3.
- Slash played the song in his tours with vocalist Myles Kennedy and the band The Conspirators. Recordings include the Live in Manchester and Made in Stoke 24/7/11 live albums.
- Guns N' Roses, with Slash and Duff, performed the song in 2018 during the Not in This Lifetime... Tour.
Track listings
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Slither" | 4:08 | |
| 2. | "Negative Creep" (Nirvana cover) | Kurt Cobain | 4:17 |
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Slither" |
| 4:08 |
| 2. | "Bodies" (live Sex Pistols cover) | 3:19 | |
| 3. | "Negative Creep" (Nirvana cover) | Cobain | 4:17 |
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Slither" |
| 4:08 |
| 2. | "Bodies" (live Sex Pistols cover) |
| 3:19 |
| 3. | "Negative Creep" (Nirvana cover) | Cobain | 4:17 |
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Slither" |
| 4:08 |
| 2. | "Money" (Pink Floyd cover) | 7:38 | |
| 3. | "Set Me Free" (live) |
| 7:11 |
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Slither" |
| 4:08 |
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Set Me Free" |
| 4:07 |
Personnel
- Scott Weiland – lead vocals
- Slash – lead guitar
- Duff McKagan – bass, backing vocals
- Matt Sorum – drums
- Dave Kushner – rhythm guitar
References
- "Ranking: Every Alternative Rock No. 1 Hit from Worst to Best". Consequence of Sound. July 5, 2017. Retrieved January 20, 2020.
- Official Charts Company info OfficialCharts.com. Retrieved June 2, 2009.
- "Scott Weiland: Songwriter Interviews". Songfacts. Retrieved January 31, 2018.
- "spreadit.org music". Retrieved February 5, 2009.