Unsung (song)
Encyclopedia
"Unsung" is a single by alternative metal
band Helmet
from their 1992
album, Meantime. It is the album's fourth track and easily the band's most well known song. A music video
was produced for "Unsung" and found significant airplay on MTV
in the early 1990s."Unsung" is recorded in Dropped D tuning on both guitars and bass, and begins with a bass intro. Its stop-and-go dynamics and catchy rhythm made it somewhat of a flagship of the growing '90s alternative metal
scene. It was also reportedly influential to Pantera
's similar song "Rise
"; however, both songs were released in very close proximity. Also notable is that in 1991, a full year before the release of "Meantime" Amphetamine Reptile records issued the "Unsung" 7" record (scale 41), featuring an earlier recording of the song and putting to bed the debate of who came first in the Helmet/Pantera debate. The song has been covered
by The Wildhearts
on their new album of covers, Stop Us If You've Heard This One Before, Vol 1.
.
Alternative metal
Alternative metal is a genre of alternative rock and heavy metal that gained popularity in the early 1990s. Most notably, alternative metal bands are characterized by heavy guitar riffs and experimental approaches to heavy music.-Origins:...
band Helmet
Helmet (band)
Helmet is an alternative metal band from New York City formed in 1989. Founded by vocalist and lead guitarist Page Hamilton, Helmet has had numerous lineup changes, and Hamilton has been the only constant member....
from their 1992
1992 in music
This is a list of notable events in music that took place in the year 1992.-January–February:*January 11**Nirvana's Nevermind album goes to #1 in the US Billboard 200 chart, establishing the widespread popularity of the Grunge movement of the 1990s....
album, Meantime. It is the album's fourth track and easily the band's most well known song. A music video
Music video
A music video or song video is a short film integrating a song and imagery, produced for promotional or artistic purposes. Modern music videos are primarily made and used as a marketing device intended to promote the sale of music recordings...
was produced for "Unsung" and found significant airplay on MTV
MTV
MTV, formerly an initialism of Music Television, is an American network based in New York City that launched on August 1, 1981. The original purpose of the channel was to play music videos guided by on-air hosts known as VJs....
in the early 1990s."Unsung" is recorded in Dropped D tuning on both guitars and bass, and begins with a bass intro. Its stop-and-go dynamics and catchy rhythm made it somewhat of a flagship of the growing '90s alternative metal
Alternative metal
Alternative metal is a genre of alternative rock and heavy metal that gained popularity in the early 1990s. Most notably, alternative metal bands are characterized by heavy guitar riffs and experimental approaches to heavy music.-Origins:...
scene. It was also reportedly influential to Pantera
Pantera
Pantera was an American heavy metal band from Arlington, Texas. Formed by the Abbott brothers, Vinnie Paul and Dimebag Darrell in 1981, bassist Rex Brown would join in late 1981 with vocalist Terry Glaze. Looking for a new and heavier sound, Pantera had Terry replaced in 1987 with Phil Anselmo as...
's similar song "Rise
Vulgar Display of Power
Vulgar Display of Power is the sixth studio album by heavy metal band Pantera. It was released through Atco Records, on February 25, 1992. It is the last album where Darrell Abbott is credited as "Diamond Darrell". One of the most influential groove metal albums of the 1990s, Vulgar Display of...
"; however, both songs were released in very close proximity. Also notable is that in 1991, a full year before the release of "Meantime" Amphetamine Reptile records issued the "Unsung" 7" record (scale 41), featuring an earlier recording of the song and putting to bed the debate of who came first in the Helmet/Pantera debate. The song has been covered
Cover version
In popular music, a cover version or cover song, or simply cover, is a new performance or recording of a contemporary or previously recorded, commercially released song or popular song...
by The Wildhearts
The Wildhearts
The Wildhearts are a British rock group originally formed in Newcastle upon Tyne, England. The band's sound is a mixture of hard rock and melodic pop music, often described in the music press as combining influences as diverse as The Beatles and 1980s-era Metallica...
on their new album of covers, Stop Us If You've Heard This One Before, Vol 1.
Stop Us If You've Heard This One Before, Vol 1.
----Note: The tracks "AC Rocket," "Everyday Formula," and "The Judge" are not included in the legal download-only version of the album, or on the audio streaming service Spotify...
.
Release and reception
"Unsung" was Helmet's very first single to be released, and was also the lead single to their second album Meantime. The song helped Helmet attain breakthrough success and is Helmet's most commercially successful song to date. "Unsung" reached # 29 on the US Alternative Songs chart and #32 on the US Hot Mainstream Rock Tracks chart.In pop culture
- It is featured in the cartoon "Beavis and Butt-headBeavis and Butt-HeadBeavis and Butt-head is an American animated television series created by Mike Judge. The series originated from Frog Baseball, a 1992 short film by Judge. After seeing the short, MTV signed Judge to develop the concept. Beavis and Butt-head originally aired from March 8, 1993 to November 28, 1997...
" - It is featured in the video game True Crime: New York CityTrue Crime: New York CityTrue Crime: New York City is an urban sandbox-style action-adventure videogame published by Activision and developed by Luxoflux for the Xbox, PlayStation 2, and GameCube consoles and Windows based computers. It is the second game of the True Crime series, released after True Crime: Streets of LA...
. - It is featured in the video game Saints Row 2Saints Row 2Saints Row 2 is an open world action-adventure video game developed by Volition, Inc. and published by THQ for the Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 3, and Xbox 360 systems. It is the second title in the Saints Row series, after the release of Saints Row in 2006. It is succeeded by Saints Row: The...
. - It is featured in the video game Madden 10.
- It is featured in the 2004 video game Grand Theft Auto: San AndreasGrand Theft Auto: San AndreasGrand Theft Auto: San Andreas is a 2004 open world action video game developed by British games developer Rockstar North and published by Rockstar Games. It is the third 3D game in the Grand Theft Auto video game franchise, the fifth original console release and eighth game overall...
on the fictional radio station Radio X. - Cover version is featured in the 2005 music video game Guitar Hero.
- Live version recorded from a 1992 gig in Chicago is featured in the 2009 music video game Guitar Hero Smash Hits.
Accolades
| Year | Publication | Country | Accolade | Rank | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2004 | Kerrang! Kerrang! Kerrang! is a UK-based magazine devoted to rock music published by Bauer Media Group. It was first published on June 6, 1981 as a one-off supplement in the Sounds newspaper... |
United Kingdom United Kingdom The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages... |
"666 Songs You Must Own (Alternative Rock)" | * | |
| "*" denotes an unordered list. | |||||