"Sweating Bullets"is a song by Americanheavy metalbandMegadeth.It was released in 1993 as the third single from their fifth album,Countdown to Extinction(1992).A music video for the song was made, directed byWayne Isham.[1]The song charted at No. 27 on the USMainstream Rockchart and at No. 26 in the UK.
| "Sweating Bullets" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| SinglebyMegadeth | ||||
| from the albumCountdown to Extinction | ||||
| Released | February 16, 1993 | |||
| Recorded | January–April 1992 | |||
| Genre | Heavy metal | |||
| Length | 5:03(original version) 5:28 (2004 remastered version) | |||
| Label | Capitol | |||
| Songwriter(s) | Dave Mustaine | |||
| Producer(s) | Max Norman,Dave Mustaine | |||
| Megadethsingles chronology | ||||
| ||||
| Music video | ||||
| "Sweating Bullets"onYouTube | ||||
Lyrics
editThe lyrics, written by frontmanDave Mustaine,are from a first-person perspective of someone suffering fromschizophrenia.Mustaine wrote the lyrics to express an idea that everyone suffers from the mental illness in their own ways, stating:
"I wrote that about myself. It was pointed out to me that I'm kind of schizophrenic and that I live inside my head. Which is something I don't subscribe to, but I enjoyed the theory nonetheless. I think all of us are sweating bullets all the time. Society's a joke right now, and people are getting more and more hostile. When you think about having an evil twin or schizophrenia, I think a lot of us are schizo, because we live inside our heads. There's someone we all confer with; it's called our conscience. Some people cannot control their other side; it takes them over. Everybody has that psychotic side. Everyone has a thing that will make them snap."[2]
Music video
editThe music video of this song starts withDave Mustainelooking at himself in the mirror until a hand touches his shoulder and when he turns around, he notices that it is himself. Then, multiple Mustaines appear everywhere doing weird things. Then, the real Mustaine appears holding his brain sitting on a chair with two other Mustaines singing the song. In the guitar solo section of the song, the camera filming the music video moves backwards showing the otherMegadethmembersDavid Ellefson,Nick MenzaandMarty Friedmanlocked in cells as prisoners in a paranoia state with their instruments.
Appearances
edit"Sweating Bullets" is featured in the 2009 video gameGuitar Hero 5.[3]
Accolades
edit| Year | Publication | Country | Accolade | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | Billboard | United Kingdom | The 15 Best Megadeth Songs: Critic’s Picks[4] | 7 |
Charts
edit| Chart (1993) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| European Hot 100 Singles(Music & Media)[5] | 87 |
| Ireland (IRMA)[6] | 18 |
| UK Singles(OCC)[7] | 26 |
| USMainstream Rock(Billboard)[8] | 27 |
References
edit- ^Songfacts."Sweating Bullets by Megadeth - Songfacts".www.songfacts.com.RetrievedAugust 29,2020.
- ^Roy, Tee (August 27, 2013)."Tuesday Metal Mania – Megadeth" Sweating Bullets "".Rock 96.7.RetrievedAugust 27,2020.
- ^"Megadeth MFC Premium Membership Offer & Win a 'Guitar Hero 5' Game!".Megadeth.com.March 7, 2020.RetrievedSeptember 16,2020.
- ^Titus, Christina."The 15 Best Megadeth Songs: Critic's Picks".Billboard.RetrievedAugust 29,2022.
- ^"Eurochart Hot 100 Singles"(PDF).Music & Media.June 12, 1993. p. 19.RetrievedAugust 14,2018.
- ^"The Irish Charts – Search Results – Megadeth ".Irish Singles Chart.
- ^"Megadeth: Artist Chart History".Official Charts Company.
- ^"Megadeth Chart History (Mainstream Rock)".Billboard.