St. Anger (song)

Last updated

"St. Anger"
Metallica - St. Anger single cover.jpg
Single by Metallica
from the album St. Anger
B-side
ReleasedJune 23, 2003 (2003-06-23) [1]
Recorded2002–2003
Studio Metallica's HQ, San Rafael, California
Genre Alternative metal
Length
  • 7:21 (album version)
  • 5:41 (radio edit)
Label
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)
  • Bob Rock
  • Metallica
Metallica singles chronology
"I Disappear"
(2000)
"St. Anger"
(2003)
"Frantic"
(2003)
Music video
"St. Anger" on YouTube

"St. Anger" is a song by American heavy metal band Metallica. It was released on June 23, 2003, as the lead single from their eighth studio album of the same name. It won Best Metal Performance at the 46th Grammy Awards and was also nominated for Best Rock Video at the 2003 MTV Video Music Awards, but lost to "Somewhere I Belong" by Linkin Park. [2] [3]

Contents

This song provided the theme for WWE's SummerSlam 2003; the music video was also included in the pay-per-view DVD.

The lyric "Fuck it all and fuckin' no regrets, I hit the lights on these dark sets" may be a reference to two other Metallica songs, "Damage, Inc." ( Master of Puppets ) and "Hit the Lights" ( Kill 'Em All ). [4] [5]

Music video

The "St. Anger" video, directed by The Malloys, was shot in San Quentin State Prison, California. The band played at various locations in the area to hundreds of enthusiastic inmates, except for the death chambers and the death row cells. [6] It is also the first Metallica video to feature bassist Robert Trujillo, who joined just prior to filming. [7]

The video begins with Metallica drummer Lars Ulrich starting the beat saying "En, to, tre, fire!" (taken from the live in studio performance of "The Unnamed Feeling") which translated from Danish means "One, two, three, four!" At the end of the video, a sentence appears on a black background, reading: "For all the souls impacted by San Quentin, your spirit will forever be a part of Metallica."

It won a 2003 Metal Edge Readers' Choice Award for Video of the Year. [8]

Track list

International Single Part 1
No.TitleLength
1."St. Anger"7:21
2."Commando" (Ramones cover)1:48
3."Today Your Love, Tomorrow the World" (Ramones cover)2:13
International Single Part 2
No.TitleLength
1."St. Anger"7:21
2."Now I Wanna Sniff Some Glue" (Ramones cover)1:40
3."Cretin Hop" (Ramones cover)1:56
International 7" Vinyl Single
No.TitleLength
1."St. Anger"7:21
2."We're a Happy Family" (Ramones cover)2:20
Japanese EP
No.TitleLength
1."St. Anger"7:21
2."Commando" (Ramones cover)1:48
3."Today Your Love, Tomorrow the World" (Ramones cover)2:13
4."Now I Wanna Sniff Some Glue" (Ramones cover)1:40
5."We're a Happy Family" (Ramones cover)2:20

Chart positions

Chart (2003)Peak
position
Australia (ARIA) [9] 15
Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40) [10] 17
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders) [11] 43
Canada (Nielsen SoundScan)24
Chile (Notimex) [12] 3
Croatia (HRT) [13] 7
Denmark (Tracklisten) [14] 4
Finland (Suomen virallinen lista) [15] 5
Germany (GfK) [16] 15
Hungary (Single Top 40) [17] 5
Ireland (IRMA) [18] 12
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40) [19] 22
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ) [20] 38
Norway (VG-lista) [21] 6
Paraguay (Notimex) [22] 1
Spain (PROMUSICAE) [23] 4
Sweden (Sverigetopplistan) [24] 9
Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade) [25] 28
UK Singles (OCC) [26] 9
US Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles ( Billboard ) [27] 7
US Alternative Airplay ( Billboard ) [28] 17
US Mainstream Rock ( Billboard ) [29] 2
US Active Rock ( Billboard ) [30] 1
US Heritage Rock ( Billboard ) [31] 5

Certifications

Certifications for "St. Anger"
RegionCertification Certified units/sales
Australia (ARIA) [32] Platinum70,000

Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

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St. Anger is the eighth studio album by American heavy metal band Metallica, released on June 5, 2003, through Elektra Records in the United States and Vertigo Records elsewhere. It was the last Metallica album released through Elektra and the final collaboration between Metallica and longtime producer Bob Rock, with whom the band had worked since 1990. This is also Metallica's only album as an official trio, as bassist Jason Newsted left the band prior to the recording sessions. Rock played bass in Newsted's place, and Robert Trujillo joined the band following its completion. Although he does not play on the album, Trujillo is credited in the liner notes and appears in photos with the band in the album's booklet.

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