Sleepwalking (Bring Me the Horizon song)

Last updated

"Sleepwalking"
Bmth sleepwalking artwork.jpg
Single by Bring Me the Horizon
from the album Sempiternal
Released1 March 2013 (2013-03-01)
Genre Metalcore [1]
Length3:50
Label
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s) Terry Date
Bring Me the Horizon singles chronology
"Shadow Moses"
(2013)		"Sleepwalking"
(2013)		"Go to Hell, for Heaven's Sake"
(2013)
Music video
"Sleepwalking" on YouTube

"Sleepwalking" is a song by British rock band Bring Me the Horizon. Written by the band's vocalist Oliver Sykes, guitarist Lee Malia and keyboardist Jordan Fish, it was produced by Terry Date and appeared on the band's fourth studio album Sempiternal , released in 2013. The song was released as the second single from the album on 1 March 2013, reaching number three on the UK Rock & Metal Singles Chart.

Contents

Promotion and release

"Sleepwalking" was released as a digital download on 1 March 2013, [2] and was later released on 10" picture disc for Record Store Day in April. [3] The song was featured as BBC Radio 1's "Hottest Record" on 28 February 2013. [4] In addition to Sempiternal, the song was also featured on the band's debut live video album, 2015's Live at Wembley , [5] as well as their second, 2016's Live at the Royal Albert Hall . [6]

Composition and lyrics

"Sleepwalking" has been noted by many commentators for its notably more mellow tone compared to Bring Me the Horizon's previous singles. Spencer Kaufman of Loudwire, for example, noted that the song "showcases [the band's] more melodic side", praising the "beautiful bridge in the middle of the track". [7] Similarly, the ticket merchant AXS claimed that the song "showcased that [Bring Me the Horizon] could write more poppy songs that still maintained the aggressive style they have been known for", [8] while Mike Hohnen of Music Feeds explained that the track "[hones] in on a far more mellow, ambient vibe". [9] Speaking in a track-by-track overview of Sempiternal with Metal Hammer , the vocalist Oliver Sykes described "Sleepwalking" as "one of the more commercial songs on the record" and "one of [the band's] best-written songs". [10]

According to Loudwire's Sarai C., "Sleepwalking" begins "with an electronic melody which evolves into a powerful minor chord progression, paired with Sykes' perfectly executed vocals", and also features some nu metal influence. [11] Hohnen of Music Feeds noted that the track features a "dominant role" for keyboards, accompanied by irregular drum patterns. [9] Gregory Adams of Exclaim! proposed that the style of the song "heads towards an electronics-assisted, Linkin Park-ish melancholia". [12] Bram Teitelman of Metal Insider also compared the song's style to that of Linkin Park, criticising its lack of "heaviness" to some extent. [13]

Music video

The music video for "Sleepwalking" was released on 4 March 2013. [14] Directed by A Nice Idea Every Day and Richard Sidwell, [15] it depicts a sleepwalker "[traversing] wintery landscapes and a seagull-infested dock whilst in the land of nod", while Bring Me the Horizon "perform the somnambulist-inspired tune for a bunch of depressed pint-sippers in a pub". [12] In the video, Bring Me the Horizon frontman Oliver Sykes is seen wearing a T-shirt featuring the logo of American death metal band Death. [13]

Critical reception

"Sleepwalking" received praise from the majority of music critics. Dan Slessor of Alternative Press identified the song, in addition to "Go to Hell, for Heaven's Sake" and "Seen It All Before" as a highlight of Sempiternal. [16] BBC Music's Mike Diver proposed that "Sleepwalking" and opening track "Can You Feel My Heart" introduce "new, synthetic textures to the forefront of" the band's sound. [17] Reviewing Sempiternal for PopMatters, Dean Brown praised the addition of Jordan Fish's keyboards to the band's sound, particularly on "Sleepwalking" and "And the Snakes Start to Sing", which he claimed "splash[ed] colour" onto the songs' "sparse sections". [18]

In a list of the best Bring Me the Horizon songs published in May 2014, Sarai C. of the music website Loudwire ranked "Sleepwalking" as the band's third best track. The writer claimed that "it shows the outstanding musicianship that [the band] have developed", praising its electronic melody, chord progression and vocal performance. [11] Alternative Press also ranked it at number three on their list of the group's top songs, hailing it as "a master class on how to write a song that will dominate rock radio without sacrificing any of your band's personality". Writer Dan Slessor claimed that it features "perhaps the most rousing chorus in [the band's] catalog, a stuttering breakdown ... a sublime bridge ... [and a] gigantic climax". [19] AXS also included the song at number five on its list of the band's best tracks, [8] while Metal Hammer writer Luke Morton ranked it the seventh best, praising its accessible and anthemic nature. [20]

Commercial performance

"Sleepwalking" debuted at number four on the UK Rock & Metal Singles Chart on 10 March 2013, [21] before rising to its peak position of number three the following week. [22] Outside of the UK, "Sleepwalking" reached number 14 on the US Billboard Mainstream Rock chart. [23]

Track listing

Digital download
No.TitleLength
1."Sleepwalking"3:50
2."Sleepwalking" (instrumental version)3:50
Total length:7:40

Charts

Chart performance for "Sleepwalking"
Chart (2013–14)Peak
position
UK Singles (OCC) [24] 122
UK Physical Singles (OCC) [25] 48
UK Rock & Metal (OCC) [26] 3
US Rock Airplay ( Billboard ) [27] 47

Certifications

Certifications for "Sleepwalking"
RegionCertification Certified units/sales
Australia (ARIA) [28] Platinum70,000‡
United Kingdom (BPI) [29] Silver200,000‡

‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Related Research Articles

<i>Count Your Blessings</i> (Bring Me the Horizon album) 2006 studio album by Bring Me the Horizon

Count Your Blessings is the debut studio album by British rock band Bring Me the Horizon. Recorded at DEP International Studios in Birmingham with producer Dan Sprigg, it was originally released in the United Kingdom on 30 October 2006 by Visible Noise. The album was later issued by Earache Records in the United States on 14 August 2007. Count Your Blessings was supported by the release of music videos for two of the album's tracks: "Pray for Plagues" on 4 June 2007 and "For Stevie Wonder's Eyes Only (Braille)" on 6 March 2008.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bring Me the Horizon</span> British rock band

Bring Me the Horizon are a British rock band, formed in Sheffield in 2004. The group currently consists of lead vocalist Oli Sykes, drummer Matt Nicholls, guitarist Lee Malia and bassist Matt Kean. They are signed to RCA Records globally and Columbia Records exclusively in the United States.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chelsea Smile (song)</span> 2009 single by Bring Me the Horizon

"Chelsea Smile" is a song by British rock band Bring Me the Horizon. Produced by Fredrik Nordström and Henrik Udd, it was featured on the band's 2008 second studio album Suicide Season. The song was also released as the second music video from the album on 19 January 2009. Travie McCoy and KC Blitz produced remixes of the track for the album's special edition reissue, Suicide Season Cut Up!, which was released in 2009.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bring Me the Horizon discography</span>

British rock band Bring Me the Horizon have released seven studio albums, two live albums, two compilation albums, one remix album, two extended plays (EPs), one demo album, 35 singles, two video albums, 38 music videos, two other releases and three other appearances. Formed in Sheffield in 2004 by vocalist Oliver Sykes, guitarists Lee Malia and Curtis Ward, bassist Matt Kean and drummer Matt Nicholls, the band released their debut EP This Is What the Edge of Your Seat Was Made For on Thirty Days of Nights Records in 2005, which reached number 41 on the UK Budget Albums Chart. After signing with British independent record label Visible Noise, the group released their debut full-length studio album Count Your Blessings in 2006, which reached the top 100 of the UK Albums Chart and the top 10 of the UK Rock & Metal Albums Chart. The 2008 follow-up Suicide Season reached the UK top 50 and charted in the US for the first time when it reached number 107 on the Billboard 200. In November 2009, an expanded version of the album titled Suicide Season Cut Up! was released, featuring remixes and videos.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">It Never Ends</span> 2010 single by Bring Me the Horizon

"It Never Ends" is a song by British rock band Bring Me the Horizon. Produced by Fredrik Nordström and Henrick Udd, it was featured on the band's 2010 third studio album There Is a Hell Believe Me I've Seen It. There Is a Heaven Let's Keep It a Secret. The song was released as the lead single from the album on 20 August 2010, and was the band's first song to chart when it reached number 103 on the UK Singles Chart, number 3 on the UK Rock & Metal Singles Chart and number 11 on the UK Independent Singles Chart.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Oli Sykes</span> British singer

Oliver Scott Sykes is a British singer and songwriter, best known as the lead vocalist and primary lyricist of the rock band Bring Me the Horizon. He also founded the apparel company Drop Dead Clothing, and created a graphic novel.

<i>Sempiternal</i> (album) 2013 studio album by Bring Me the Horizon

Sempiternal is the fourth studio album by British rock band Bring Me the Horizon. It was released on 1 April 2013 worldwide through RCA Records, a subsidiary label of Sony Music, and 2 April 2013 in the United States and Canada through Epitaph Records. It is the first album to feature former Worship keyboardist Jordan Fish and the first with guitarist Lee Malia playing both lead and rhythm parts.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Shadow Moses (song)</span> 2013 single by Bring Me the Horizon

"Shadow Moses" is a song by British rock band Bring Me the Horizon. Written by vocalist Oliver Sykes, guitarist Lee Malia and keyboardist Jordan Fish, it was produced by Terry Date and featured on the band's 2013 fourth studio album Sempiternal. The song was released as the lead single from the album on 11 January 2013, reaching number 82 on the UK Singles Chart and number 2 on the UK Rock & Metal Singles Chart.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Can You Feel My Heart</span> 2013 single by Bring Me the Horizon

"Can You Feel My Heart" is a song by British rock band Bring Me the Horizon. Written by vocalist Oliver Sykes, guitarist Lee Malia and keyboardist Jordan Fish, it was produced by Terry Date and featured on the band's 2013 fourth studio album Sempiternal. The song was also released as the fourth and final single from the album on 8 October 2013, reaching number five on the UK Rock & Metal Singles Chart.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Throne (song)</span> 2015 single by Bring Me the Horizon

"Throne" is a song by British rock band Bring Me the Horizon. Produced by keyboardist Jordan Fish and vocalist Oliver Sykes, it was featured on the band's 2015 fifth studio album That's the Spirit and released as the third single from the album on 24 July 2015. The single topped the UK Rock & Metal Singles Chart and the US Billboard Mainstream Rock chart, and reached number 51 on the UK Singles Chart and number 12 on the Billboard Hot Rock Songs chart.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">True Friends (song)</span> 2015 single by Bring Me the Horizon

"True Friends" is a song by British rock band Bring Me the Horizon. Produced by keyboardist Jordan Fish and vocalist Oliver Sykes, it was featured on the band's 2015 fifth studio album That's the Spirit. The song was also released as the fourth single from the album on 20 November 2015, reaching number 91 on the UK Singles Chart and topping the UK Rock & Metal Singles Chart.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Follow You (Bring Me the Horizon song)</span> 2016 single by Bring Me the Horizon

"Follow You" is a song by British rock band Bring Me the Horizon. Produced by keyboardist Jordan Fish and vocalist Oliver Sykes, it was featured on the band's 2015 fifth studio album That's the Spirit. The song was also released as the fifth single from the album on 26 February 2016, reaching number 95 on the UK Singles Chart and topping the UK Rock & Metal Singles Chart.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Go to Hell, for Heaven's Sake</span> 2013 single by Bring Me the Horizon

"Go to Hell, for Heaven's Sake" is a song by British rock band Bring Me the Horizon. Written by vocalist Oliver Sykes, guitarist Lee Malia and keyboardist Jordan Fish, it was produced by Terry Date and featured on the band's 2013 fourth studio album Sempiternal. The song was also released as the third single from the album on 6 June 2013, reaching number 22 on the US Billboard Mainstream Rock chart.

"Doomed" is a song by British rock band Bring Me the Horizon. Produced by keyboardist Jordan Fish and vocalist Oliver Sykes, it was featured as the opening track on the band's 2015 fifth studio album That's the Spirit. Although it was not released as a single, the song reached number 87 on the UK Singles Chart and number four on the UK Rock & Metal Singles Chart.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Avalanche (Bring Me the Horizon song)</span> 2016 single by Bring Me the Horizon

"Avalanche" is a song by British rock band Bring Me the Horizon. Produced by keyboardist Jordan Fish and vocalist Oliver Sykes, it was featured on the band's 2015 fifth studio album That's the Spirit. The song was also released as the sixth single from the album on 27 June 2016, reaching number 97 on the UK Singles Chart and number seven on the UK Rock & Metal Singles Chart.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Antivist</span> 2013 promotional single by Bring Me the Horizon

"Antivist" is a song by British rock band Bring Me the Horizon. Written by vocalist Oliver Sykes, guitarist Lee Malia and keyboardist Jordan Fish, it was produced by Terry Date and featured on the band's 2013 fourth studio album Sempiternal. Although it was not released as a single, the song is considered to be one of the band's most popular tracks, and it continues to be performed live on a regular basis.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mantra (Bring Me the Horizon song)</span> 2018 single by Bring Me the Horizon

"Mantra" is a song by British rock band Bring Me the Horizon. Produced by the band's vocalist Oliver Sykes and keyboardist Jordan Fish, it is featured on the group's 2019 sixth studio album Amo. The track was released as the lead single from the album on 21 August 2018, topping the UK Rock & Metal Singles Chart and spending three weeks at that spot.

<i>Amo</i> (Bring Me the Horizon album) 2019 studio album by Bring Me the Horizon

Amo is the sixth studio album by British rock band Bring Me the Horizon. Originally scheduled for release on 11 January 2019, it was released on 25 January 2019. The album was announced on 22 August 2018, a day after the release of the lead single "Mantra". It was produced by vocalist Oliver Sykes and keyboardist Jordan Fish, and was written and recorded primarily in Los Angeles.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ludens (song)</span> 2019 single by Bring Me the Horizon

"Ludens" is a song by British rock band Bring Me the Horizon. Produced by the band's vocalist Oliver Sykes and keyboardist Jordan Fish, it was released as the fifth single of the soundtrack Death Stranding: Timefall on 6 November 2019, and was featured as the first single from the group's 2020 commercial release Post Human: Survival Horror.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Obey (Bring Me the Horizon and Yungblud song)</span> 2020 single by Bring Me the Horizon and Yungblud

"Obey" is a song by British rock band Bring Me the Horizon and English singer Yungblud. Produced by the band's vocalist Oliver Sykes and keyboardist Jordan Fish, it was released as the third single from the group's 2020 commercial release Post Human: Survival Horror on 2 September 2020.

References

  1. ↑ Carter, Josh (12 July 2021). "BRING ME THE HORIZON'S "SLEEPWALKING" RECEIVES SILVER CERTIFICATION". Alternative Press . Retrieved 16 September 2021.
  2. ↑ "Sleepwalking - Single by Bring Me the Horizon". iTunes . Retrieved 26 June 2016.
  3. ↑ "Bring Me The Horizon/Record Store Day - Sleepwalking". Banquet Records . Retrieved 26 June 2016.
  4. ↑ Stephens, Huw (28 February 2013). "Hottest Record - Bring Me The Horizon - Sleepwalking". BBC . Retrieved 25 June 2016.
  5. ↑ "Live at the SSE Wembley Arena - Bring Me the Horizon: Songs, Reviews, Credits". AllMusic . All Media Network . Retrieved 26 June 2016.
  6. ↑ Childers, Chad (24 April 2016). "Bring Me the Horizon Welcome Orchestra for London's Royal Albert Hall Show". Loudwire . Townsquare Media . Retrieved 26 June 2016.
  7. ↑ Kaufman, Spencer (11 April 2013). "Bring Me the Horizon, 'Sempiternal'". Loudwire . Townsquare Media . Retrieved 26 June 2016.
  8. 1 2 Harris, Rey (3 May 2015). "Bring Me The Horizon's 10 best songs". AXS . Anschutz Entertainment Group . Retrieved 25 June 2016.
  9. 1 2 Hohnen, Mike (5 March 2013). "Watch: Bring Me The Horizon Reveal New Clip For 'Sleepwalking'". Music Feeds . Retrieved 26 June 2016.
  10. ↑ Alderslade, Merlin (14 February 2013). "Bring Me The Horizon's Full Track-By-Track Guide To 'Sempiternal'". Metal Hammer . Future plc. Archived from the original on 17 February 2013. Retrieved 25 June 2016.
  11. 1 2 Sarai C. (10 May 2014). "10 Best Bring Me The Horizon Songs". Loudwire . Townsquare Media . Retrieved 25 June 2016.
  12. 1 2 Adams, Gregory (4 March 2013). "Bring Me the Horizon "Sleepwalking" (video)". Exclaim! . Retrieved 26 June 2016.
  13. 1 2 Teitelman, Bram (4 March 2013). "Bring Me The Horizon Debut "Sleepwalking" Video". Metal Insider. Retrieved 26 June 2016.
  14. ↑ "Bring Me The Horizon: 'Sleepwalking' Video Released". Blabbermouth.net . 4 March 2013. Retrieved 25 June 2016.
  15. ↑ "Sleepwalking - Bring Me the Horizon". Vevo . Retrieved 26 June 2016.
  16. ↑ Slessor, Dan (4 March 2013). "Bring Me The Horizon - Sempiternal". Alternative Press . Retrieved 25 June 2016.
  17. ↑ "Review of Bring Me the Horizon - Sempiternal". BBC Music . BBC. 2013. Retrieved 25 June 2016.
  18. ↑ Brown, Dean (31 March 2013). "Bring Me the Horizon: Sempiternal". PopMatters . Retrieved 25 June 2016.
  19. ↑ Slessor, Dan (30 May 2015). "The 10 best Bring Me the Horizon songs". Alternative Press . Retrieved 4 May 2016.
  20. ↑ Morton, Luke (8 July 2016). "The Top 10 best Bring Me The Horizon songs". Metal Hammer . TeamRock. Retrieved 13 November 2016.
  21. ↑ "10 March 2013 - 16 March 2013". Official Rock & Metal Singles Chart Top 40 Archive. Official Charts Company . Retrieved 25 June 2016.
  22. ↑ "17 March 2013 - 23 March 2013". Official Rock & Metal Singles Chart Top 40 Archive. Official Charts Company . Retrieved 25 June 2016.
  23. ↑ "Mainstream Rock Songs: Bring Me the Horizon Chart History". Billboard . Prometheus Global Media . Retrieved 25 June 2016.
  24. ↑ "Chart Log UK - Weekly Updates Sales 2013". Zobbel.de. Retrieved 20 September 2021.
  25. ↑ "Official Physical Singles Chart". Official Charts Company. 12 May 2013. Retrieved 4 July 2023.
  26. ↑ "Official Rock & Metal Singles Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 9 August 2020.
  27. ↑ "Bring Me the Horizon Chart History (Rock Airplay)". Billboard.
  28. ↑ "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2023 Singles" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association . Retrieved 7 March 2023.
  29. ↑ "British single certifications – Bring Me the Horizon – Sleepwalking". British Phonographic Industry . Retrieved 9 July 2021.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.