| "Nimble Bastard" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
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| Single by Incubus | ||||
| from the album 8 | ||||
| Released | February 17, 2017 | |||
| Recorded | 2016 | |||
| Genre | Hard rock [1] | |||
| Length | 3:29 | |||
| Label | Island | |||
| Songwriter(s) |
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| Incubus singles chronology | ||||
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"Nimble Bastard" is a single by American rock band Incubus, off of their eighth studio album 8 . It peaked at number 4 on the Billboard Mainstream Rock Songs chart in April 2017.
Guitarist Mike Einziger mentioned that the song was conceived very late in the album creation process, being written spontaneously while already working on recording sessions in the studio. [2] He reflected that: "we were messing around with this musical idea and the next thing we know we had a song." [2] Lyrics were written by lead vocalist Brandon Boyd. [3] The track was not one of the tracks from the album to be produced by Skrillex, though he did provide the song final mix. [4]
The song was debuted on KROQ on February 16, 2017. [5] The band premiered a lyric video for the track the following day, featuring a film reel that presented the song's lyrics across a number of various backdrops and landscapes, until the reel burns, revealing nothing but a brick wall. [6] A music video for the song was released on April 7, 2017, and featured the band being attacked by dogs with jet packs and, in retaliation, band members transform into super hero cats to fight back. [7]
Loudwire described the song as "Incubus in a heavier mood", [2] stating the song features "an immediate energy with the full band coming in together right at the start, including the vocals. The slightly subdued introduction gives way to a bobbing energy that crashes into the positively sublime chorus" and concluding that "Soaring hooks dominate 'Nimble Bastard', making it one of the catchiest songs in the band’s discography. [8] Lyrically, Boyd states he wrote the song about people he was inspired by people's adaptability, and ability to recover from negative life situations against difficult odds. [6] However, the lyrics lead many to misinterpret them to be an allegory for the political climate in the United States after the United States Presidential Election of 2016, in which Donald Trump was elected over Hillary Clinton. [3] He clarified the situation, explaining:
In the lyric for 'Nimble Bastard,' I'm in praise of someone. I've known a handful of people in my life who've come into the most horrific circumstances whether it's physical injury or psychological or failure and they'll be as low as you could possibly be and you're like, 'Dude, this guy's done.' And then somehow they pop back up and shake it off and then are more strong and resilient as a result. That is this nimble bastard that I'm in praise of. It could be construed as a political statement in that the left took a massive hit over the past few months so maybe now's the time to learn from those failures... but that's not what I had in mind when I wrote the lyrics. [3]
Radio.com pointed out that similar misconceptions had arisen from the band's 2004 single "Megalomaniac", of which many listeners misinterpreted its lyrics to be about then-president George W. Bush. [3]
Loudwire named the song the 25th-best hard rock song of 2017. [1]
Weekly charts
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Incubus is an American rock band from Calabasas, California. The band was formed in 1991 by vocalist Brandon Boyd, lead guitarist Mike Einziger, and drummer José Pasillas while enrolled in Calabasas High School and later expanded to include bassist Alex "Dirk Lance" Katunich, and Gavin "DJ Lyfe" Koppel; the latter two were eventually replaced by bassist Ben Kenney and DJ Kilmore, respectively. Nicole Row replaced Kenney in 2024.
Make Yourself is the third studio album by American rock band Incubus. It was released on October 26, 1999, through Epic Records and Immortal Records. The album received double platinum certification by the RIAA and produced three charting singles—"Pardon Me", "Stellar", and "Drive"—all of which reached the top three of the Billboard Alternative Songs chart, with the latter topping the chart and also becoming the band's sole top ten hit to date on the Billboard Hot 100, where it peaked at number nine.
S.C.I.E.N.C.E. is the second studio album by American rock band Incubus. It was released on September 9, 1997, by Epic and Immortal Records. The album was certified gold by the RIAA, and is the second and final release to feature Gavin Koppel, who first appeared on the 1997 Enjoy Incubus EP. It has been occasionally considered the band's proper debut album, due to the nature of their independent release Fungus Amongus.
Morning View is the fourth studio album by American rock band Incubus, released October 22, 2001, through Epic Records. A companion DVD, The Morning View Sessions, was released on May 29, 2002. Continuing the band's evolution away from nu metal, the album ranges widely from soft to hard rock sounds in the style of alternative rock. Morning View was the last Incubus album to feature bassist Alex Katunich.
Audiovent is an American alternative rock band from Calabasas, California. Initially forming as "Vent" in the early 1990s, the band changed their name to Audiovent upon signing with Atlantic Records in 2001. The band released their one and only album on a major record label, Dirty Sexy Knights in Paris, in 2002. Two singles were released to rock radio and charted with moderate success - "The Energy" and "Looking Down". The band began work on a second album in 2003, demoing over 19 tracks over the course of the year, but disbanded in mid-2004 before the album could be formally recorded, due to creative differences between band members. They reformed in 2017 for several reunion shows, then began writing and recording new material in 2022. They released their first single, "Sleepless Machine" in late 2023, with more music to follow.
"Drive" is a song by American rock band Incubus, released on November 14, 2000, as the third single from their third album, Make Yourself (1999). It is the band's biggest hit and breakthrough single, eventually reaching the top of the US Billboard Modern Rock Tracks chart on March 3, 2001, and number nine on the Billboard Hot 100 on July 28. It also reached number four in Portugal, number 13 in New Zealand, number 34 in Australia, and number 40 in the United Kingdom. In 2001, "Drive" won a Billboard Award for Modern Rock Single of the Year. Director Bill Draheim documented the making of "Drive" in Save Me from My Half-Life Drive.
"Bodies" is the debut single by the American rock band Drowning Pool, released in May 2001 from their debut album Sinner. "Bodies" is Drowning Pool's signature song and has been featured in various films, TV programs, and advertisements since its release. It was also the theme song for the 2001 WWF SummerSlam pay-per-view event, as well as that of the ECW brand in 2005 to early 2008, including the ECW One Night Stand pay-per-view events in 2005 and 2006. During 2001, the song became popular but was briefly taken off radio stations due to the September 11 attacks due to the nature of the lyrics, though the song is lyrically about moshing. It was also meant to be vague in order for the viewer to have their own interpretation.
Dirty Sexy Knights in Paris is the only major label album by alternative rock band Audiovent. It was released in 2002 on Atlantic Records. The album had two singles, "The Energy" and "Looking Down". Audiovent toured with Saliva and Theory of a Deadman in promotion of the album.
Light Grenades is the sixth studio album by alternative rock band Incubus, released on November 28, 2006, on Epic. The album sold 359,000 copies during its first week of release worldwide, and debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200, selling 165,000 copies in the US in its first week; it is the band's first number one album. The album achieved Gold certification, less than the band's previous Platinum records beginning with 1999's Make Yourself.
"Pardon Me" is a song by American rock band Incubus. Released on October 5, 1999, as the lead single from their third studio album Make Yourself, it was the band's first song to receive considerable radio airplay, reaching number three on the Billboard Modern Rock Tracks chart, number seven on the Mainstream Rock Tracks chart and number two on Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles chart.
"Stellar" is a song by American rock band Incubus. It was released on June 13, 2000, as the second single from their third album Make Yourself. The song reached number 2 on the US Modern Rock Tracks and also reached number 17 on the US Mainstream Rock charts and number 7 on Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles.
"Wish You Were Here" is a song by American rock band Incubus and the lead single from their fourth studio album, Morning View. Released on August 14, 2001, it peaked at number two on the US Billboard Modern Rock Tracks chart and number four on the Billboard Mainstream Rock chart that year. "Wish You Were Here" would later be included on the 2009 greatest hits compilation Monuments and Melodies.
"Warning" is a song by American rock band Incubus, released as a single from their fourth studio album, Morning View (2001). It reached number three on the US Billboard Modern Rock Tracks chart, number 27 on the Mainstream Rock Tracks chart, and number four on the Bubbling Under Hot 100.
If Not Now, When? is the seventh studio album by American rock band Incubus, released on July 12, 2011 and named after the novel by Primo Levi. Preceded by the singles "Adolescents" and "Promises, Promises", the album represented the band's longest gap between studio albums at the time, and their final full-length release through long-time label Epic Records. Described by guitarist Michael Einziger as "a very straightforward, concise album," If Not Now, When? was recorded in the wake of an extended hiatus, and produced by frequent collaborator Brendan O'Brien. The album's cover features high wire artist Philippe Petit.
"Voices" is a song by the American rock band Alice in Chains and the third single from their fifth studio album, The Devil Put Dinosaurs Here (2013). Guitarist/vocalist Jerry Cantrell takes lead vocals on the song. The single premiered exclusively on USA Today website on July 26, 2013, and was released to radio stations on July 29, 2013. "Voices" peaked at No. 3 on Billboard's Mainstream Rock Tracks, and stayed on the chart for 20 weeks. It also peaked at No. 18 on the Rock Airplay chart.
"The Energy" is the lead single from the debut and only major record label album Dirty Sexy Knights in Paris by alternative rock band Audiovent. The song was a top ten hit on the Billboard Hot Mainstream Rock Tracks chart in 2002, and broke into the top 20 of the Billboard Alternative Songs chart as well.
"Still Breathing" is a song by American rock band Green Day from their twelfth studio album, Revolution Radio (2016). Written and produced by the band, the lyrics explore the idea of overcoming adversity in the face of hardship. "Still Breathing" is a pop-punk song with a pop-like production, which has been stylistically considered a return to form for the band.
"Absolution Calling" is the lead single for the American rock band Incubus on their 2015 EP Trust Fall .
8 is the eighth studio album by American rock band Incubus. It was released on April 21, 2017, through Island Records. The album takes its name from being the band's eighth LP. The release of 8 in 2017 saw the longest time between full-length albums for Incubus. The album was previously produced by Dave Sardy, and later re-produced and mixed by Skrillex, a close friend of the band. The album's first single, "Nimble Bastard", peaked at number 4 on the Billboard Mainstream Rock Songs chart in April 2017. 8 is the last studio album with bassist Ben Kenney before his departure in 2024.
"American Dreams" is a single by American rock band Papa Roach, from their studio album Crooked Teeth. It peaked at number three on the Billboard Mainstream Rock Songs chart in 2017.
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