Kyoto (Skrillex song)

Last updated

"Kyoto"
Song by Skrillex featuring Sirah
from the album Bangarang
ReleasedDecember 23, 2011
RecordedJune August 2011
Genre Drumstep, rap metal
Length3:21
Label Big Beat, Atlantic
Songwriter(s) Skrillex, Sirah
Producer(s) Skrillex

"Kyoto" is a song by American electronic music producer Skrillex featuring Sirah, taken from his fourth EP as Skrillex, Bangarang . Musically, the song has multiple influences of drum and bass, [1] dubstep and electro house, while also having notable elements of hip hop music and metal music, [2] using "heavy, distorted guitar rhythms" within its composition. [3] The song received generally mixed reviews from music critics, with some criticizing its use of formula in comparison to his previous material. Due to strong digital downloads after the EP's release, the song charted in several countries worldwide, including Australia, Canada, the United Kingdom and United States.

Contents

Leak

In early 2011, an unfinished version of the song was leaked under the working title 'Ruffneck Bass' [4] after Skrillex's laptop was stolen while residing in Milan, Italy for a tour. A now-deleted facebook post by Skrillex reads: "Just gonna set it strait. I had 2 laptops and both of my hard drives stolen out of my hotel in Milan Italy last month. On those laptops and drives were all the project files of Skrillex. All gone now. Also I had a new album that is now gone too. I spent a week pulling my hair out but now im just focussing on the future and re making my album." [5] [6]

Critical reception

The song received generally lukewarm reviews from music critics, with some criticizing its similarities to his previous material. Jon O'Brien from AllMusic said "Skrillex's lack of progression means there's a distinct sense of déjà vu among its seven tracks, particularly on the relentless, scattershot bleeps, chopped-up vocal hooks, and repetitive loops of opener 'Right In' and the rap-metal fusion of 'Kyoto'". [7] Evan Rytlewski from The A.V. Club gave the song a mixed review, saying that it conveys "high drama without superfluous aggression", however, called it a "sub-Travis Barker stab at rap-rock". [8] Kevin Vincenti from The Cavalier Daily gave the song a negative review, saying "The bland 'Kyoto' is reminiscent of every other average electro-dance song, and it fails to show the genius of its creator." [9]

Chart performance

Due to strong digital downloads after the EP's release, the song charted in several countries worldwide, including Australia, Canada, the United Kingdom and United States. In the United States, it debuted and peaked at number 74 on the Billboard Hot 100. [10] It declined to number 76 the following week, before exiting the chart two weeks later. [10] It made its highest peak on the Canadian Hot 100, where it reached number 59. [11]

Charts

Weekly charts

Weekly chart performance for "Kyoto"
Chart (2012)Peak
position
Australia (ARIA) [12] 50
Canada (Canadian Hot 100) [13] 59
UK Dance (OCC) [14] 25
US Billboard Hot 100 [15] 74
US Dance Digital Song Sales ( Billboard ) [16] 5

Year-end charts

Year-end chart performance for "Kyoto"
Chart (2012)Position
US Dance Digital Song Sales (Billboard) [17] 27

Certifications

Certifications for "Kyoto"
RegionCertification Certified units/sales
Australia (ARIA) [18] Platinum70,000
New Zealand (RMNZ) [19] Gold7,500*
United States (RIAA) [20] Platinum1,000,000

* Sales figures based on certification alone.
Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

References

  1. "Bangarang EP from Big Beat Records on Beatport". Beatport .
  2. O'Brien, Jon (January 24, 2012). "Bangarang - Skrillex". AllMusic. Retrieved February 28, 2012.
  3. "Skrillex 'drops it hard' with the Doors in 4th EP 'Bangarang'". February 3, 2012.
  4. TheImmortalCoil (March 31, 2011). Skrillex - Ruffneck Bass (ORIGINAL UPLOAD THAT EVERYONE RIPPED) . Retrieved May 1, 2025 via YouTube.
  5. Staff Writer. "Skrillex gets robbed, loses new album material". The Music. Retrieved May 1, 2025.
  6. Skrillex. Archived from the original on February 14, 2025. Retrieved May 1, 2025.
  7. "Bangarang - Skrillex | Songs, Reviews, Credits | AllMusic". AllMusic .
  8. "Skrillex: Bangarang". The A.V. Club . January 24, 2012.
  9. "Skrillex drops 'Bangarang' beats | the Cavalier Daily". www.cavalierdaily.com. Archived from the original on July 22, 2012. Retrieved May 22, 2022.
  10. 1 2 "Hot 100". Billboard .
  11. https://www.billboard.com/artist/skrillex/chart-history/billboard-canadian-hot-100
  12. "Skrillex feat. Sirah – Kyoto". ARIA Top 50 Singles. Retrieved October 15, 2022.
  13. "Skrillex Chart History (Canadian Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved October 15, 2022.
  14. "Official Dance Singles Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved June 5, 2025.
  15. "Skrillex Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved October 15, 2022.
  16. "Dance Digital Song Sales". Billboard . January 28, 2012. Retrieved June 5, 2025.
  17. "Dance Digital Song Sales – Year-End 2012". Billboard . Retrieved June 5, 2025.
  18. "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2023 Singles" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association . Retrieved November 30, 2023.
  19. "New Zealand single certifications – Skrillex feat. Sirah – Kyoto". Radioscope. Retrieved August 10, 2025.Type Kyoto in the "Search:" field.
  20. "American single certifications – Skrillex – Kyoto". Recording Industry Association of America . Retrieved April 7, 2016.