A Symptom of Being Human

Last updated
"A Symptom of Being Human"
A Symptom of Being Human - Live.jpg
Cover art for the 2024 live single release
Single by Shinedown
from the album Planet Zero
ReleasedFebruary 22, 2023
Recorded2021
Studio Big Animal Studio (Charleston, South Carolina)
Genre Alternative rock
Length4:08
Label Atlantic
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s) Eric Bass
Shinedown singles chronology
"Dead Don't Die"
(2023)		"A Symptom of Being Human"
(2023)		"Three Six Five" / "Dance, Kid, Dance"
(2025)
Music video
"A Symptom of Being Human" on YouTube

"A Symptom of Being Human" is a song by American rock band Shinedown. It was released on February 22, 2023, as the fourth single from their seventh studio album Planet Zero (2022).

Contents

The song was a crossover hit, reaching the Mainstream Top 40, topping the Mainstream Rock Songs charts, and becoming the first song to chart in the top 10 across the Mediabase Active Rock, Alternative Rock, and Adult Contemporary charts. [1]

Background

Unlike all of Shinedown's previous singles, "A Symptom of Being Human" was initially not released to Mainstream Rock radio, and was instead started at Hot Adult Contemporary radio. [2] [3] On June 23, 2023, a "Pop Remix" was released, which turns the song into an upbeat song in the style of modern top-40 hits. [4] The song would eventually enter Mainstream Rock radio, becoming the band's nineteenth to top the Billboard Mainstream Rock Songs chart in January 2024, extending their record for the most number ones in the chart's history. [5] The song also entered the Billboard Pop Airplay chart on the week of March 2, 2024, Shinedown's fourth song on the chart, and the first one since "If You Only Knew" in 2010. [6] [7]

Lyrics and composition

Frontman Brent Smith stated that "A Symptom of Being Human" is written about his struggles with mental illness and the social stigma surrounding it he endured throughout his life. [8] Joseph Hudak of Rolling Stone described the song as a "mid-tempo piano ballad about self-doubt, anxiety, and anything that threatens our mental health". [2]

Charts

References

  1. ↑ DeRuyter, Hannah (August 2, 2024). "Iconic Shinedown Single Reaches New Milestone After Record-Breaking Success". iHeartRadio . Retrieved February 24, 2025.
  2. 1 2 "Shinedown Are Outgrowing Hard Rock With an Unexpected Pop Hit". Rolling Stone . January 23, 2024. Retrieved February 2, 2024.
  3. ↑ "Shinedown Adult Pop Airplay Chart History". Billboard. Retrieved 2023-06-26.
  4. ↑ Despres, Tricia (June 23, 2023). "Shinedown Score a Mainstream Hit with 'A Symptom of Being Human': 'It's a Song About Taking a Breath' (Exclusive)". People . Retrieved January 13, 2024.
  5. ↑ Rutherford, Kevin (January 12, 2024). "Shinedown Adds to Mainstream Rock Airplay No. 1 Record With 'A Symptom of Being Human'". Billboard . Retrieved January 13, 2024.
  6. ↑ Baltin, Steve (March 21, 2024). "How Shinedown And iHeartRadio Teamed Up To Bring Rock Back To Charts". Forbes . Retrieved February 24, 2025.
  7. 1 2 "Shinedown Chart History (Pop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved June 17, 2024.
  8. ↑ "What Brent Smith Understands About Being Human | Psychology Today". www.psychologytoday.com. Retrieved 2023-06-26.
  9. ↑ "Shinedown Chart History (Canada Rock)". Billboard. Retrieved April 6, 2024.
  10. ↑ "Shinedown Chart History (Adult Contemporary)". Billboard. Retrieved August 6, 2024.
  11. ↑ "Shinedown Chart History (Adult Pop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved July 29, 2023.
  12. ↑ "Shinedown Chart History (Hot Rock & Alternative Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved May 14, 2024.
  13. ↑ "Shinedown Chart History (Rock & Alternative Airplay)". Billboard. Retrieved January 28, 2024.
  14. ↑ "Shinedown Chart History (Mainstream Rock)". Billboard. Retrieved January 28, 2024.
  15. ↑ "Shinedown Chart History (Radio Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved May 25, 2024.
  16. ↑ "Year-End Charts: Adult Pop Airplay Songs (2023)". Billboard . Retrieved May 21, 2025.
  17. ↑ "Year-End Charts: Adult Contemporary Songs (2024)". Billboard . Retrieved May 21, 2025.
  18. ↑ "Year-End Charts: Hot Rock & Alternative Songs (2024)". Billboard . Retrieved May 21, 2025.
  19. ↑ "Year-End Charts: Rock & Alternative Airplay Songs (2024)". Billboard . Retrieved May 21, 2025.
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