Thriller (Fall Out Boy song)
| "Thriller" | |
|---|---|
| Song by Fall Out Boy featuring Jay-Z | |
| from the album Infinity on High | |
| Released | February 5, 2007 |
| Genre | |
| Length | 3:30 |
| Label | The Island Def Jam Music Group |
"Thriller" is the first track on the album Infinity on High by Chicago band Fall Out Boy. It is the first song on the album and it begins with a spoken word introduction by rapper Jay-Z. The song is written in the style of pop-punk and features a heavy guitar riffs and the pop style vocals of lead singer Patrick Stump.
The song was named after Michael Jackson's 1982 album Thriller. It was written as a reflection of the band's previous two years and it was also commentary on the band's popularity. Reviewers have said it is one of Fall Out Boy's heaviest songs.
History[edit]
"Thriller" is an original song by the band Fall Out Boy.[3] It was named "Thriller" after the 1982 Michael Jackson album Thriller.[4][5] The song appears on the album Infinity on High which is Fall Out Boy's third album. Jay-Z owned the record label that produced the album, Def Jam Recordings, and he provided a spoken introduction on the track.[2][6] "Thriller" along with the Jay-Z introduction open and introduce the album, and Fall Out Boy often opens shows with the song.[1]
The song was created as an reflection on the bands previous two years. Some lyrics reflect on previous mediocre album reviews the band received. The lyrics also call out the rise of the band's popularity, "But by fall we were a cover story".[7] In context the song's opening lines are, "Last summer we took threes across the board, but by fall we were a cover story now in stores. Make us poster boys for your scene, but we are not making an acceptance speech."[8] A line in verse two of the song is "the only thing I haven't done yet is die/ and it's me and my plus-one at the afterlife."[9] The song also features the lyric "Fix me in 45" which is a nod to the way singles were released as 45 on vinyl records.[6]
In an interview with Fall Out Boy drummer Andy Hurley has said the opening parts in "Thriller" were copied from "Islands to Burn" by Racetraitor; which was a band he once drummed for.[10] The song is three 3:30 long and was produced by Neal Avron.[11]
Personell[edit]
- Patrick Stump vocals[11]
- Joe Trohman guitar[11]
- Pete Wentz bass[11]
- Andy Hurley drums[11]
Reviews[edit]
The album was released in 2007 and Guitar.com called it "one of the most vital albums of the second wave of pop-punk". Some reviewers complained that the album did not have a hardcore edge, but the song "Thriller" was an exception. Fall Out Boy guitarist Joe Trohman played a strong "chugging pulse that electrifies the track".[2] Slant Magazine described tsaid the song, "Feature[s] a crunching, emo-fied knockoff of the riff from Metallica’s "One"".[7] Alternative Press (magazine) said much of the song is dominated by the soaring vocals of Patrick Stump and his pop arrangement. In 2023 the magazine called "Thriller" the 10th heaviest song in the Fall Out Boy body of work.[12] Writing for the Northern Valley Suburbanite, Jack Phinney reviewed the album and called the song, "spectacular".[13]
References[edit]
- ^ a b Greene, Andy (18 April 2013). "How Fall Out Boy Rose Again". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 23 May 2024.
- ^ a b c Kraftman, Tamzin (16 August 2023). "The Genius Of… Infinity on High by Fall Out Boy". Guitar.com. Retrieved 23 May 2024.
- ^ McDermott, Maeve (19 September 2019). "Green Day, Fall Out Boy and Weezer's best songs we hope to hear on 'Hella Mega' tour". USA Today. Retrieved 23 May 2024.
- ^ Sheffield, Rob (24 January 2007). "Infinity on High". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 23 May 2024.
- ^ Rosen, Jody (2 February 2007). "Infinity on High". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved 23 May 2024.
- ^ a b Powers, Ann (4 February 2007). "LPs? Hold that Swan Song". The Los Angeles Times. p. 69. Retrieved 23 May 2024.
- ^ a b Shetler, Scott (16 February 2007). "Review: Fall Out Boy, Infinity On High". Slant Magazine. Retrieved 23 May 2024.
- ^ Koster, Kyle (22 July 2022). "Fall Out Boy Albums, Ranked". The Big Lead. Retrieved 23 May 2024.
- ^ Abdurraqib, Hanif (14 November 2017). They Can't Kill Us Until They Kill Us. Columbus, Ohio: Two Dollar Radio. ISBN 978-1-937512-66-8. Retrieved 23 May 2024.
- ^ Zorgdrager, Bradley (23 November 2017). "Andy Hurley Reveals Hardcore Beginnings of Fall Out Boy Riffs | Exclaim!". Exclaim!. Retrieved 23 May 2024.
- ^ a b c d e Apar, Corey. "Infinity on High - Fall Out Boy Album". AllMusic.com. AllMusic. Retrieved 23 May 2024.
- ^ Zucker, Noah (20 February 2023). "15 of Fall Out Boy's heaviest songs of all time, ranked". Alternative Press Magazine. Retrieved 23 May 2024.
- ^ Phinney, Jack (21 February 2007). "'Infinity on High' is loaded". Northern Valley Suburbanite (South). pp. A36. Retrieved 23 May 2024.
