Guns for Hands

Last updated
"Guns for Hands"
Song by Twenty One Pilots
from the album Regional at Best
ReleasedJuly 8, 2011 (2011-07-08)
Length4:37
Label Self-released
Producer(s) Twenty One Pilots
"Guns for Hands"
Guns for Hands by Twenty One Pilots.jpg
Single by Twenty One Pilots
from the album Vessel
ReleasedDecember 26, 2012 [1]
Recorded2012
Genre
Length4:33
Label Warner Japan
Songwriter(s) Tyler Joseph
Producer(s) Greg Wells [5] [6]
Twenty One Pilots singles chronology
"Ode to Sleep"
(2012)		"Guns for Hands"
(2012)		"Lovely"
(2013)
Music video
"Guns for Hands" on YouTube

"Guns for Hands" is a song written and recorded by American musical duo Twenty One Pilots, released as a single only in Japan. [1] The song was originally recorded for their second self-released album, Regional at Best. It was re-recorded for their third album Vessel , their 2012 Three Songs EP, [7] and their 2013 EP, Migraine. [8] The video was directed by Mark C. Eshleman. [9] The song was heavily promoted in Japan as part of the duo's concert tour through the country and experienced moderate success there, reaching number 21 on the country's Hot 100 chart.

Contents

Background

In an interview with Rock Sound , Tyler Joseph explained that "Guns for Hands" came about following a meeting after a show with young fans of the band who discussed "what it was they were going through and a lot of what they were going through had to do with suicide", and added that "thank goodness it had a lot to do with them overcoming it and using music and songs, in particular his songs, to help them get over that." Joseph was consequently inspired to write a track "about taking that negative energy and aiming it at something else, not aiming it at yourself." [10]

Music video

The music video for "Guns for Hands" is shot in a large and empty white room, saved for the performers and their instruments. The beginning of the video also shows the song's title in Japanese, as well as some subtitles. Joseph wears a blue shirt, and Dun wears a red shirt, representing the band's early logo. The video opens with Joseph putting on a ski mask and then offering another mask to a withdrawn Dun, whispering "They won't know it's you." The two launch into an energetic performance, with Joseph regularly bringing attention to the fact that his microphone is not actually recording his voice by swinging it around and rubbing it against his forehead. As well as that, Joseph would often shake and twitch throughout the video. Prior to the rap verse, both performers wrap colored duct tape around their faces, creating makeshift masks that they remove prior to the final chorus.

Track listing

Digital download / stream
No.TitleLength
1."Guns for Hands"4:33
EP
No.TitleLength
1."Guns for Hands"4:33
2."Forest"4:06

Personnel

Charts

Chart (2013)Peak
position
Japan Hot 100 ( Billboard ) [11] 21
Mexican Ingles Airplay ( Billboard ) [12] 4

Certifications

RegionCertification Certified units/sales
United States (RIAA) [13] Platinum1,000,000‡

‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

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References

  1. 1 2 "Right-on2012A＆WのテレビCM曲「ガンズ・フォー・ハンズ」ビデオクリップ完成！YouTube公開！｜twenty one pilots / トゥエンティ・ワン・パイロッツ｜ワーナーミュージック・ジャパン". Archived from the original on April 2, 2015. Retrieved November 5, 2016.
  2. 1 2 "Twenty One Pilots – Entertainment". Columbus Alive.
  3. ↑ Deeley, Chelsea. "Twenty One Pilots – The Roundhouse UNSW, Sydney 20/04/16". Music Feeds.
  4. ↑ "Twenty One Pilots Break Silence With Singles: "Jumpsuit" And "Nico And The Niners" — Content". Sound Bites Media. Retrieved 2020-12-16.
  5. ↑ "Twenty One Pilots – Biography, Albums, Streaming Links – AllMusic" . Retrieved November 5, 2016.
  6. ↑ "Twenty One Pilots". Voodoo Music Festival. Archived from the original on January 23, 2015. Retrieved November 5, 2016.
  7. ↑ "Three Songs – EP". Amazon.com US. Retrieved January 22, 2014.
  8. ↑ "Migraine – EP". iTunes US. Apple Inc. Retrieved January 13, 2014.
  9. ↑ "Twenty One Pilots – "Guns For Hands"". MTV. January 28, 2013. Retrieved January 13, 2014.
  10. ↑ "Track-By-Track: Twenty One Pilots – Vessel". Rock Sound. September 4, 2013. Archived from the original on April 2, 2019. Retrieved February 28, 2019.
  11. ↑ "Billboard Japan Hot 100". Billboard Japan (in Japanese). Retrieved March 4, 2024.
  12. ↑ "Twenty One Pilots Chart History (Mexico Ingles Airplay)". Billboard . Retrieved March 21, 2024.
  13. ↑ "American single certifications – Twenty One Pilots – Guns For Hands". Recording Industry Association of America . Retrieved May 22, 2024.
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