"Hey You" is a song by American heavy metal band Disturbed. It was released on July 14, 2022, as the lead single from the band's eighth studio album, Divisive. The song marked the band's first release of new original music in four years and became the band's eleventh number-one single on the BillboardMainstream Rock Airplay chart.
On July 7, 2022, Disturbed announced the release of a new single titled "Hey You", scheduled to be made available online on July 14, 2022.[1]
In the days leading up to its release, the band promoted the single by sharing a preview of its music video on July 11, 2022,[2] followed by a 30-second audio teaser released via social media on July 12, 2022.[3]
At the time of release, Disturbed confirmed that "Hey You" would serve as the first single from their forthcoming eighth studio album, which was expected to be released later in 2022.[4]
Composition and lyrics
Musically, "Hey You" has been described as harkening back to Disturbed's early work, particularly the band's debut album The Sickness. The song features Draiman's staccato vocal delivery over heavy guitar riffs by Dan Donegan, with a melodic chorus that maintains the overall heaviness of the track.[4]
According to vocalist David Draiman, "Hey You" was written in response to social and cultural polarization that emerged following the release of Disturbed's 2018 album Evolution. Draiman described the song as a "wake-up call," addressing themes of outrage addiction, declining civil discourse, and social polarization.[5]
Guitarist Dan Donegan explained that "Hey You" and other tracks on Divisive reflect on societal division and the impact of social media, describing the song as a wake-up call to reflect on escalating hostility, the breakdown of civil discourse, and the growing tendency to ostracize opposing viewpoints in both public and private interactions.[6]
Additional commentary characterized the track as a return to the band's heavier, riff-driven sound, drawing comparisons to "Indestructible".[7]
Music video
A preview of the video had been shared several days earlier in advance of its debut.[2] "Hey You" was then released alongside a cinematic, science-fiction–themed music video, which premiered on the same day as the single's release.[8]
The video was directed by Josiahx and filmed in Los Angeles on June 14, 2022, featuring all four members of the band performing.[9] It depicts a futuristic, Matrix-inspired scenario in which people are manipulated by a barrage of media, aligning with the song's lyrical critique of societal division.[10]
Reception
Upon release, "Hey You" received a mixed response from listeners and critics. Coverage highlighted the song's heavy, early-era sound and thematic focus, while noting that reactions ranged from praise for its aggressiveness to criticism of its lyrical approach.[11]
Reviewers of Divisive specifically critiqued the placement of "Hey You" among the opening tracks on the album. In a review for Kerrang!, the song and the following tracks were described as underwhelming compared to the high-octane material expected from the band, characterizing the first three tracks including "Hey You" as disappointing within the context of the album's overall quality.[12]
Similarly, Sputnikmusic staff reviewer Trey noted that while "Hey You" features the band's driving verses and infectious grooves, its chorus — described as a momentum‑killing area rock section — was considered less effective than those on other pre‑release singles and disrupted the track's flow.[13]
As of the release of Divisive on November 18, 2022, "Hey You" had amassed more than 25 million streams, further demonstrating its commercial impact.[14]
Charts
"Hey You" reached number one on the Billboard Mainstream Rock chart, becoming Disturbed's 11th leader on the ranking. It was the band's first number one since "No More" in 2019 and tied them with Foo Fighters and Godsmack for the fifth-most number ones in the chart's history.[15]
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