Devil (Shinedown song)

"Devil"
Single by Shinedown
from the album Attention Attention
ReleasedMarch 7, 2018 (2018-03-07)
Recorded2017–2018
GenreHard rock[1][2]
Length3:27
LabelAtlantic
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)Eric Bass
Shinedown singles chronology
"How Did You Love"
(2016) 		"Devil"
(2018) 		"Get Up"
(2018)
Music video
"Devil" on YouTube

"Devil" is a song by American rock band Shinedown. It was their first single off of their sixth studio album Attention Attention. It reached number one on the US Billboard Mainstream Rock Songs chart in May 2018.

Background

The song was first released on March 7, 2018, as the first single from the band's sixth studio album, Attention Attention.[3][4] An accompanying music video was released on the same day,[5] also including the intro track "The Entrance" at the beginning of the video. The video was directed by Bill Yukich, who had previously directed the videos for Beyonce's Lemonade videos for HBO.[6] The song is included in WWE 2K19's soundtrack, being selected by Baron Corbin to appear in game.[7] The Song was also included in the Apex Legends Season 3 cinematic trailer.

Themes and composition

Lyrically, the song has been described by Alternative Press as "a deep dive into the heart of fear".[8] Attention Attention is a concept album that details a person's progression, from being in a dark, negative space, to working through their issues and eventually progressing into be a new, more positive person; "Devil" is the second track from the album, and the first fully formed song after the intro track, placing it in the more negativity-themed side of the album.[6] Frontman Brent Smith outlined the meaning of the song:

'Devil' is about being afraid, 'Devil' is about being terrified of not only yourself, in some respects, but the world around you, and understanding that there are so many things and so many different situations and people and places and atmospheres and exposure that human beings are put in front of on a daily basis, [and] the world can be a really difficult place to navigate. So that's where the story starts.[6]

Musically, Loudwire described the song as having a dense, wall of sound quality to it, describing it as having a "sliding guitar lick and off kilter beat"...backing choirs.. layers of synth, piano and guitar textures."[9]

Personnel

Band

Charts

Certifications

Region Certification Certified units/sales
Canada (Music Canada)[16] Platinum 80,000‡
United States (RIAA)[17] Gold 500,000‡

‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

References

  1. ^ Rutherford, Kevin (November 21, 2018). "Shinedown Breaks Record For Most Rock Airplay Top 10s With 'Get Up'". Billboard. Retrieved December 18, 2018.
  2. ^ "The 40 Best Hard Rock Songs of 2018". Loudwire. December 3, 2018. Retrieved December 18, 2018.
  3. ^ "Watch the video for Devil, the new single from Shinedown". teamrock.com. 7 March 2018. Archived from the original on 2018-03-07.
  4. ^ "Shinedown Have Released A New Single And Video, Devil — Kerrang!". Kerrang!. 7 March 2018.
  5. ^ "SHINEDOWN To Release 'Attention Attention' Album In May; 'Devil' Video Available". 7 March 2018.
  6. ^ a b c "Shinedown Announces New Album 'ATTENTION ATTENTION,' Releases Single 'DEVIL': Video Premiere". Billboard.
  7. ^ https://wwe.2k.com/news/wwe-2k19-soundtrack/. {cite web}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  8. ^ "Hear Shinedown's strident new song "Devil" from their upcoming album - News - Alternative Press". Alternative Press.
  9. ^ "Shinedown Warn of the 'Devil' in New 'Attention Attention' Song". Loudwire. 7 March 2018.
  10. ^ "Shinedown Chart History (Canada Rock)". Billboard. Retrieved August 2, 2020.
  11. ^ "Shinedown Chart History (Bubbling Under Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved March 20, 2018.
  12. ^ "Shinedown Chart History (Hot Rock & Alternative Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved March 30, 2019.
  13. ^ "Shinedown Chart History (Rock Airplay)". Billboard. Retrieved August 2, 2020.
  14. ^ "Hot Rock Songs – Year-End 2018". Billboard. Retrieved March 24, 2020.
  15. ^ "Rock Airplay Songs – Year-End 2018". Billboard. Retrieved January 21, 2022.
  16. ^ "Canadian single certifications – Shinedown – Devil". Music Canada. Retrieved 6 November 2023.
  17. ^ "American single certifications – Shinedown – Devil". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved 2 August 2020.