Aerials (song)

"Aerials" is a song by American heavy metal band System of a Down. It was released in 2002 as the third single from their second album Toxicity, which earned the band its second Grammy Award nomination for Best Hard Rock Performance at the 45th Annual Grammy Awards in 2003.

"Aerials"
Single by System of a Down
from the album Toxicity
B-side	"Snowblind"
Released	June 11, 2002
Recorded	2001
Studio	Cello (Hollywood)
Genre	Alternative metal[1]
Length	3:55 (without hidden track) 6:11 (with hidden track)
Label	American Columbia
Songwriter(s)	Daron Malakian Serj Tankian
Producer(s)	Daron Malakian Rick Rubin Serj Tankian
System of a Down singles chronology
"Toxicity" (2002) "Aerials" (2002) "Innervision" (2002)
Music video
"Aerials" on YouTube

The song hit number one on both the Billboard's Alternative Songs and Mainstream Rock charts. It was System of a Down's first number-one hit.^[2] The song was played at the funeral of Keith Flint, frontman of the Prodigy.^[3]

Music video

The music video was directed by Shavo Odadjian and David Slade. The video features an alien-like, disfigured boy who is accompanied by people in various settings in which he is adored and pampered like a celebrity. The video was shot in Hollywood, Los Angeles.

Reception

"Aerials" is widely considered one of the band's best songs. Loudwire and Kerrang both ranked the song number three on their lists of the greatest System of a Down songs.^[4][5]

Track listing

CD single

No.	Title	Lyrics	Music	Length
1.	"Aerials"	Serj Tankian Daron Malakian	Daron Malakian	3:57
2.	"Toxicity" (Live)	Serj Tankian	Shavo Odadjian Daron Malakian	3:38
3.	"Sugar" (Live)	Serj Tankian	Shavo Odadjian Daron Malakian	4:10
4.	"P.L.U.C.K." (Live)	Serj Tankian	Daron Malakian	4:09
5.	"Aerials" (Live Video/DVD Version)	Serj Tankian Daron Malakian	Daron Malakian

Australian single

No.	Title	Lyrics	Music	Length
1.	"Aerials"	Serj Tankian Daron Malakian	Daron Malakian	3:57
2.	"Toxicity" (Live Version)	Serj Tankian	Shavo Odadjian Daron Malakian	3:38
3.	"P.L.U.C.K." (Live)	Serj Tankian	Daron Malakian	4:09

UK CD1

No.	Title	Lyrics	Music	Length
1.	"Aerials"	Serj Tankian Daron Malakian	Daron Malakian	3:57
2.	"Toxicity" (Live)	Serj Tankian	Shavo Odadjian Daron Malakian	3:38
3.	"P.L.U.C.K." (Live)	Serj Tankian	Daron Malakian	4:09
4.	"Aerials" (Video)	Serj Tankian Daron Malakian	Daron Malakian

UK CD2

No.	Title	Lyrics	Music	Length
1.	"Aerials"	Serj Tankian Daron Malakian	Daron Malakian	3:57
2.	"Streamline" (Alternate Version [from The Scorpion King soundtrack])	Serj Tankian	Serj Tankian Daron Malakian	3:38
3.	"Sugar" (Live)	Serj Tankian	Shavo Odadjian Daron Malakian	4:10

7" single

No.	Title	Lyrics	Music	Length
1.	"Aerials"	Serj Tankian Daron Malakian	Daron Malakian	3:57
2.	"Snowblind" (Album Version)	Geezer Butler Tony Iommi Ozzy Osbourne Bill Ward	Geezer Butler Tony Iommi Ozzy Osbourne Bill Ward	4:40

Charts

Chart performance for "Aerials"

Chart (2002–03)	Peak position
Australia (ARIA)[6]	36
Canada (Billboard)[7]	61
Germany (GfK)[8]	80
Ireland (IRMA)[9]	35
Scotland (OCC)[10]	35
UK Singles (OCC)[11]	34
UK Rock & Metal (OCC)[12]	3
US Billboard Hot 100[13]	55
US Alternative Airplay (Billboard)[14]	1
US Mainstream Rock (Billboard)[15]	1

Certifications

Certifications and sales for "Aerials"

Region	Certification	Certified units/sales
Italy (FIMI)[16]	Gold	50,000‡
New Zealand (RMNZ)[17]	2× Platinum	60,000‡
Spain (PROMUSICAE)[18]	Gold	30,000‡
United Kingdom (BPI)[19]	Gold	400,000‡
United States (RIAA)[20]	2× Platinum	2,000,000‡
‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.