Editing Chop Suey!

{{for|other uses, including other songs titled "Chop Suey"|Chop suey (disambiguation)}}
{{Infobox song
| name          = Chop Suey!
| cover         = ChopSueyEurope.jpg
| alt           =
| caption       = Standard retail artwork
| type          = single
| artist        = [[System of a Down]]
| album         = [[Toxicity (album)|Toxicity]]
| B-side        = Johnny
| released      = {{start date|2001|08|13}}<ref>{{cite web|last1=Wiederhorn|first1=Jonn|title=System Of A Down's Schizophrenia Aggravated On Toxicity|url=http://www.mtv.com/news/1446606/system-of-a-downs-schizophrenia-aggravated-on-toxicity/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151001122455/http://www.mtv.com/news/1446606/system-of-a-downs-schizophrenia-aggravated-on-toxicity/|url-status=dead|archive-date=October 1, 2015|website=MTV|access-date=April 15, 2015|date=August 13, 2001|quote=The first single from Toxicity is "Chop Suey", which starts with a guitar strum and a tribal beat and segues to a serrated stop-start punk verse before drifting into an ethereal chorus colored by a bouzouki, a Greek stringed instrument.}}</ref>
| recorded      =
| studio        = [[Cello Studios|Cello]] (Hollywood)
| genre         =
* [[Nu metal]]<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.phoenixnewtimes.com/music/10-nu-metal-songs-that-actually-dont-suck-7339562 | title=10 Nu-metal Songs That Actually Don't Suck | work=[[Phoenix New Times]] | date=May 18, 2015 | access-date=March 13, 2016 | author=Chesler, Josh}}</ref><ref>{{Citation |title=Lil Uzi Vert Covers System of a Down, Features Bring Me the Horizon + Babymetal on New Album |date=June 30, 2023 |url=https://loudwire.com/lil-uzi-vert-pink-tape-system-down-bring-me-horizon-babymetal/ |access-date=August 11, 2023 |language=en}}</ref>
* [[alternative metal]]<ref>{{cite web|last1=Evans|first1=James|title=Crashing the Party|url=http://theboar.org/2013/04/17/crashing-party/#.VSKYW_nF88Q|date=April 17, 2013|quote=Not so long ago, I was frequenting an exclusive South Leamington cocktail bar. Compelled by housemates proffering a certain glowing green beverage, I was giving a passionate rendition of System of a Down’s alternative metal anthem, ‘Chop Suey’.|access-date=April 6, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131206003319/http://theboar.org/2013/04/17/crashing-party/#.VSKYW_nF88Q|archive-date=December 6, 2013|url-status=dead}}</ref>
| length        = 3:30
| label         =
* [[American Recordings (record label)|American]]
* [[Columbia Records|Columbia]]
| writer        =
* [[Daron Malakian]]
* [[Serj Tankian]]
| producer      =
* Daron Malakian
* [[Rick Rubin]]
* Serj Tankian
| prev_title    = [[Spiders (System of a Down song)|Spiders]]
| prev_year     = 1999
| next_title    = [[Toxicity (song)|Toxicity]]
| next_year     = 2002
| misc          = {{External music video|{{YouTube|CSvFpBOe8eY|"Chop Suey!"}}}}
}}

"'''Chop Suey!'''" is a song by the American [[Heavy metal music|heavy metal]] band [[System of a Down]]. It was released on August 13, 2001, as the first single from their second album, ''[[Toxicity (album)|Toxicity]]'' (2001). The single earned the band its first [[Grammy Awards|Grammy]] nomination in 2002 for [[Grammy Award for Best Metal Performance|Best Metal Performance]] at the [[44th Annual Grammy Awards]]. "Chop Suey!" is often considered the band's [[List of signature songs|signature song]], and its music video has reached one billion views on [[YouTube]].<ref name=Billion>{{Cite web|last=Krol|first=Charlotte|url=https://www.nme.com/news/music/system-of-a-downs-chop-suey-reaches-one-billion-views-on-youtube-2827244|title=System Of A Down’s ‘Chop Suey!’ reaches one billion views on YouTube|website=[[NME]]|date=November 28, 2020|access-date=October 2, 2023}}</ref>

==Overview==
In an interview, System of a Down's guitarist, [[Daron Malakian]], explained, "The song is about how we are regarded differently depending on how we pass. Everyone deserves to die. Like, if I were now to die from drug abuse, they might say I deserved it because I abused dangerous drugs. Hence the line, 'I cry when angels deserve to die.'"<ref>{{cite web |last1=Rampton |first1=Mike |title=A Deep Dive into System of a Down's Chop Suey! Video |url=https://www.kerrang.com/features/a-deep-dive-into-system-of-a-downs-chop-suey-video/ |website=[[Kerrang!]] |access-date=October 28, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200621020140/https://www.kerrang.com/features/a-deep-dive-into-system-of-a-downs-chop-suey-video/ |archive-date=June 21, 2020 |date=June 1, 2019}}</ref> The lyrics for the midsection ("Father into your hands I commend my spirit" ...) were randomly picked out by the singer, [[Serj Tankian]], from the producer [[Rick Rubin]]'s book collection after Tankian was struggling for ideas.<ref>Archived at [https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211205/RmOtJ3Ic2FU Ghostarchive]{{cbignore}} and the [https://web.archive.org/web/20210114034657/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RmOtJ3Ic2FU Wayback Machine]{{cbignore}}: {{cite web| url = https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RmOtJ3Ic2FU| title = System of a Down: Reuniting the Band, "Protect the Land," and Armenia {{!}} Apple Music | website=[[YouTube]]}}{{cbignore}}</ref> Although it was not revealed what book the lines were taken from, they are quoted from the [[sayings of Jesus on the cross]] ([[Luke 23#Verse 46|Luke 23:46]] and [[Mark 15#Verses 33–39|Mark 15:34]]).<ref>{{bibleverse|Luke|23:46}}</ref><ref>{{bibleverse|Mark|15:34}}</ref>

==Song title==
The song was originally titled either "Suicide" (according to the bassist, [[Shavo Odadjian]]) or "Self-Righteous Suicide" (according to Rubin), but the name was changed in response to real or anticipated pushback from [[Columbia Records]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-lists/rick-rubin-my-life-in-21-songs-26024/system-of-a-down-chop-suey-2001-29262/|title=Rick Rubin: My Life in 21 Songs |author=Kory Grow |date= February 11, 2016 |publisher=Rolling Stone|access-date=July 23, 2019}}</ref><ref name="shavoLW">Archived at [https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211205/UvNpgwRfWCY Ghostarchive]{{cbignore}} and the [https://web.archive.org/web/20200930122250/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UvNpgwRfWCY Wayback Machine]{{cbignore}}: {{cite web| url = https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UvNpgwRfWCY| title = System of a Down's Shavo Odadjian - Wikipedia: Fact or Fiction? | website=[[YouTube]]}}{{cbignore}}</ref> According to Odadjian, the song title is a wordplay: "Suey" is "suicide", "chopped" in half.<ref name="shavoLW"/> Most pressings of the album include an intro to the track where the singer, Serj Tankian, can faintly be heard saying "we're rolling 'Suicide{{'"}} while the drummer, [[John Dolmayan]], is [[Counting (music)|counting]] the band in.

==Music video==
The music video was the band's first collaboration with the director [[Marcos Siega]], and is set in the parking lot of the Oak Tree Inn Motel, 5265 W [[Sunset Boulevard|Sunset Blvd]], in [[Los Angeles]], hometown of the band. The members are performing the song on stage, surrounded by approximately 1,500 fans. Editing devices are used to create the effect of the band members "walking through" one another and teleporting on and off the stage. One scene briefly shows Tankian eating [[chop suey]] with some fans, the only reference to the title dish in either the song or the video. The video makes use of the [[SnorriCam]] technique, in which an actor will have a camera attached to them with a harness, making it appear as though the background is moving and the actor is stationary. In the middle of the video, the [[Flag of Armenia|Armenian Flag]] can be seen. The video reached one billion views on [[YouTube]] in November 2020.<ref name=Billion/>

==Reception==
''[[Loudwire]]'' included the song in its list of "The Best Hard Rock Songs of the 21st Century", where it was ranked at number one.<ref>Kaufman, Spencer (July 1, 2012).  [http://loudwire.com/system-of-a-down-chop-suey-top-21st-century-hard-rock-songs/ "No. 1: System of a Down, 'Chop Suey!' – Top 21st Century Hard Rock Songs."]  ''LoudWire.com''.  Retrieved September 3, 2019.</ref> ''Loudwire'' and ''[[Kerrang!]]'' both named it as System of a Down's best song.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://loudwire.com/best-system-of-a-down-songs/|title=10 Best System of a Down Songs|first=Spencer|last=Kaufman|work=[[Loudwire]]|date=August 21, 2012|access-date=April 10, 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.kerrang.com/the-20-greatest-system-of-a-down-songs-ranked|title=The 20 greatest System Of A Down songs – ranked|first=Sam|last=Law|work=[[Kerrang!|Kerrang]]|date=November 6, 2020|access-date=April 10, 2022}}</ref> In March 2023, ''[[Rolling Stone]]'' ranked "Chop Suey!" at number 37 on their "100 Greatest Heavy Metal Songs of All Time" list.<ref>{{Cite magazine |date=March 13, 2023 |title=The 100 Greatest Heavy Metal Songs of All Time |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-lists/100-greatest-heavy-metal-songs-1234688425/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230313191405/https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-lists/100-greatest-heavy-metal-songs-1234688425/ |archive-date=March 13, 2023 |access-date=March 13, 2023 |magazine=[[Rolling Stone]] |language=en-US}}</ref> As of March 2024, “Chop Suey!” has 1.2B streams on [[Spotify]], making it System of a Down’s most-streamed song.

==Controversy==
"Chop Suey!" was the first single off of ''[[Toxicity (album)|Toxicity]]'', an album that was at number one on the [[Billboard 200|''Billboard'' 200]] chart during the week of the [[September 11, 2001 attacks|September 11 attacks]]. A controversy surrounding the popular single, especially the line <nowiki>'</nowiki>"I don't think you trust in my self-righteous suicide"<nowiki>'</nowiki>, at the time led to [[IHeartMedia|Clear Channel Radio]] placing the song on a [[Clear Channel memorandum|list of post-9/11 inappropriate titles]]. Although it was never actually banned completely from the air, radio stations were advised against playing any of the songs on the list.<ref>[http://www.slate.com/articles/news_and_politics/chatterbox/2001/09/its_the_end_of_the_world_as_clear_channel_knows_it.html It's the End of the World as Clear Channel Knows It] Slate</ref>

==Track listing==
{{Track listing
| headline      = CD single
| title1        = Chop Suey!
| lyrics1       = {{hlist|[[Serj Tankian]]|[[Daron Malakian]]}}
| music1        = Daron Malakian
| length1       = 3:30
| title2        = Johnny
| lyrics2       = Serj Tankian
| music2        = Serj Tankian
| length2       = 2:08
| title3        = [[Sugar (System of a Down song)|Sugar]]
| note3         = Live
| lyrics3       = Serj Tankian
| music3        = {{hlist|[[Shavo Odadjian]]|Daron Malakian}}
| length3       = 2:23
| title4        = War?
| note4         = Live
| lyrics4       = Serj Tankian
| music4        = Daron Malakian
| length4       = 2:47
}}

{{Track listing
| headline      = UK CD1 • Australian single
| title1        = Chop Suey!
| lyrics1       = {{hlist|Serj Tankian|Daron Malakian}}
| music1        = Daron Malakian
| length1       = 3:30
| title2        = Johnny
| lyrics2       = Serj Tankian
| music2        = Serj Tankian
| length2       = 2:08
| title3        = Know
| note3         = Live
| lyrics3       = Serj Tankian
| music3        = {{hlist|Shavo Odadjian|Daron Malakian|Serj Tankian}}
| length3       = 3:04
}}

{{Track listing
| headline = UK CD2
| title1   = Chop Suey!
| lyrics1  = {{hlist|Serj Tankian|Daron Malakian}}
| music1   = Daron Malakian
| length1  = 3:31
| title2   = Sugar
| note2    = Live
| lyrics2  = Serj Tankian
| music2   = {{hlist|Shavo Odadjian|Daron Malakian}}
| length2  = 2:27
| title3   = War?
| note3    = Live
| lyrics3  = Serj Tankian
| music3   = Daron Malakian
| length3  = 2:47
| title4   = Chop Suey!
| note4    = Video
| lyrics4  = {{hlist|Serj Tankian|Daron Malakian}}
| music4   = Daron Malakian
| length4  = 3:27
}}

{{Track listing
| headline = 7" single
| title1   = Chop Suey!
| lyrics1  = {{hlist|Serj Tankian|Daron Malakian}}
| music1   = Daron Malakian
| length1  = 3:30
| title2   = Johnny
| lyrics2  = Serj Tankian
| music2   = Serj Tankian
| length2  = 2:08
}}

==Commercial performance==
"Chop Suey!" was a moderate success on the charts around the world. In Australia, after hitting No. 3 on the [[Triple J Hottest 100]] of 2001, with virtually no airplay on commercial radio, it debuted and peaked at No. 14 in February 2002. It is System of a Down's highest-charting single in Australia. In the United States, the song peaked at No. 76, making it the band's lowest peaking song on the [[Billboard Hot 100|''Billboard'' Hot 100]] due to the fact it was taken off the radio for its political lyrics. On the [[Alternative Songs|Modern Rock Tracks]] chart, "Chop Suey!" peaked at No. 7, becoming the band's first top ten single.<ref>{{cite web|url={{AllMusic|class=album|id=toxicity-r547443/charts-awards/billboard-single|pure_url=yes}}|title=Toxicity — System of a Down — Billboard Singles|work=[[Allmusic]]|publisher=[[Rovi Corporation]]|access-date=October 1, 2010}}</ref> On the [[UK Singles Chart]], it debuted and peaked at No. 17.

==Charts==
{{col-begin}}
{{col-2}}

===Weekly charts===
{| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders"
|+ Weekly chart performance for "Chop Suey!"
!Chart (2001–2002)
!Peak<br />position
|-
{{single chart|Australia|14|artist=System of a Down|song=Chop Suey!|rowheader=true}}
|-
{{single chart|Flanders|18|artist=System of a Down|song=Chop Suey!|rowheader=true}}
|-
!scope="row"|Canada (''[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]'')<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/system-of-a-down/chart-history/cns/|title=System of a Down Chart History (Canadian Digital Songs)|magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]|access-date=July 28, 2020}}</ref>
|align="center"|21
|-
{{single chart|Ireland|46|year=2001|week=44|rowheader=true}}
|-
{{single chart|Dutch100|25|artist=System of a Down|song=Chop Suey!|rowheader=true}}
|-
{{single chart|Scotland|15|date=20011028|rowheader=true|access-date=July 28, 2020}}
|-
{{single chart|UK|17|date=20011028|rowheader=true}}
|-
{{single chart|UKrock|3|date=20011028|rowheader=true|access-date=July 28, 2020}}
|-
{{single chart|Billboardhot100|76|artist=System of a Down|rowheader=true|access-date=August 7, 2017}}
|-
{{single chart|Billboardalternativesongs|7|artist=System of a Down|rowheader=true|access-date=August 7, 2017}}
|-
{{single chart|Billboardmainstreamrock|12|artist=System of a Down|rowheader=true|access-date=August 7, 2017}}
|}
{|class="wikitable plainrowheaders sortable" style="text-align:center"
|+2025 weekly chart performance for "Chop Suey!"
!Chart (2025)
!Peak<br />position
|-
{{single chart|Brazil2|84|artist=System of a Down|rowheader=true|access-date=May 21, 2025}}
|-
! scope="row"| Portugal ([[Associação Fonográfica Portuguesa|AFP]])<ref>{{cite web|url=https://audiogest.pt/uploads/files/file_2025-05-27-15-59-24.pdf|title=Top 200 Singles Semana 21 de 2025|page=9|publisher=[[Associação Fonográfica Portuguesa]]|access-date=May 28, 2025|lang=pt-pt}}</ref>
| 181
|}
{{col-2}}

===Year-end charts===
{|class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"
|+2001 year-end chart performance for "Chop Suey!"
!Chart (2001)
!Position
|-
!scope="row"|Canada (''Billboard'')<ref>{{cite web|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20020726120310/http://jamshowbiz.com/JamMusicCharts/2001_singles2.html|archive-date=July 26, 2002|url=http://jamshowbiz.com/JamMusicCharts/2001_singles2.html|title=Canada's Top 200 Singles of 2001|website=[[Jam!]]|access-date=March 28, 2022}}</ref>
|183
|}
{|class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"
|+2002 year-end chart performance for "Chop Suey!"
!scope="col"|Chart (2002)
!scope="col"|Position
|-
! scope="row"| Canada (''Billboard'')<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.jamshowbiz.com/JamMusicCharts/2002_singles2.html|title=Canada's Top 200 Singles of 2002 (Part 2)|date=January 14, 2003|work=[[Jam!]]|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040906184715/http://www.jamshowbiz.com/JamMusicCharts/2002_singles2.html|archive-date=September 6, 2004}}</ref>
| 165
|}
{{col-end}}

==Certifications==
{{Certification Table Top|caption=Certifications for "Chop Suey!"}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=Australia|type=single|artist=System of a Down|title=Chop Suey!|award=Gold|relyear=2001|certyear=2002|access-date=April 15, 2020}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=Denmark|type=single|artist=System of a Down|title=Chop Suey!|award=Platinum|relyear=2001|certyear=2025|id=15388|access-date=May 19, 2025}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=Germany|type=single|artist=System of a Down|title=Chop Suey!|award=Platinum|relyear=2001|certyear=2024|access-date=November 29, 2024}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=Italy|type=single|artist=System of a Down|title=Chop Suey!|award=Platinum|relyear=2001|certyear=2018|access-date=August 21, 2018|id=5797}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=New Zealand|type=single|artist=System of a Down|title=Chop Suey!|award=Platinum|number=4|relyear=2001|certyear=2024|access-date=December 17, 2024|source=radioscope}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=Portugal|type=single|artist=System of a Down|title=Chop Suey|award=Platinum|number=4|id=file_2025-05-27-15-59-24.pdf|relyear=2001|certyear=2025|access-date=May 28, 2025}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=Spain|type=single|award=Platinum|certyear=2024|artist=System of a Down|title=Chop Suey|access-date=February 21, 2024}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=United Kingdom|type=single|artist=System of a Down|title=Chop Suey|award=Platinum|number=2|id=13245-2057-1|relyear=2001|certyear=2024|access-date=September 27, 2024}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=United States|type=single|artist=System of a Down|title=Chop Suey!|award=Platinum|relyear=2001|number=5|certyear=2022|access-date=December 4, 2022}}
{{Certification Table Separator|title=Ringtone}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=United States|type=single|artist=System of a Down|title=Chop Suey!|award=Gold|relyear=2001|certyear=2003|digital=true|access-date=April 15, 2020|note=Mastertone|refname=chopgold}}
{{Certification Table Bottom|streaming=true}}

==Lil Uzi Vert version==
On June 30, 2023, American rapper and singer [[Lil Uzi Vert]] released a cover of "Chop Suey!", titled "CS", as a part of their third studio album, [[Pink Tape (Lil Uzi Vert album)|''Pink Tape'']]. 

System of a Down singer, Serj Tankian, posted on [[Facebook]]: "Covers are always the biggest compliment to artists and songwriters." The bassist, Shavo Odadjian, also reacted positively to the cover on [[Instagram]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=July 6, 2023 |title=System Of A Down members respond to Lil Uzi Vert’s Chop Suey! cover |url=https://www.kerrang.com/system-of-a-down-members-respond-to-lil-uzi-verts-chop-suey-cover/ |access-date=August 16, 2023 |website=Kerrang! |language=en}}</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
*{{youTube|vv_gMlgpzCE|"Chop Suey!" Live Performance Video}}

{{System of a Down}}

{{Authority control}}

[[Category:2001 singles]]
[[Category:2001 songs]]
[[Category:System of a Down songs]]
[[Category:Songs written by Daron Malakian]]
[[Category:Songs written by Serj Tankian]]
[[Category:Song recordings produced by Rick Rubin]]
[[Category:Music videos directed by Marcos Siega]]
[[Category:American Recordings (record label) singles]]
[[Category:Columbia Records singles]]
[[Category:Songs about suicide]]
[[Category:Songs about drugs]]
[[Category:Obscenity controversies in music]]