Down with the Sickness

{{Short description|2000 single by Disturbed}} {{More citations needed|date=November 2008}} {{Use mdy dates|date=September 2024}} {{Infobox song | name = Down with the Sickness | cover = disturbed_down_with_the_sickness.png | alt = | type = single | artist = [[Disturbed (band)|Disturbed]] | album = [[The Sickness]] | released = October 31, 2000<ref>{{cite web | url=https://globalnews.ca/news/6735291/disturbed-down-with-the-sickness-climbs-charts-coronavirus/ | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211127161831/https://globalnews.ca/news/6735291/disturbed-down-with-the-sickness-climbs-charts-coronavirus/ | archive-date=November 27, 2021 | title=Disturbed song 'Down with the Sickness' surging in sales due to coronavirus - National | Globalnews.ca }}</ref> | format = | recorded = 1999 | studio = | venue = | genre = [[Nu metal]] | length = {{ubl|4:38 (album version)|3:42 (radio edit)}} | label = [[Giant Records (Warner)|Giant]] | writer = {{hlist|Steve Kmak|[[Dan Donegan]]|[[Mike Wengren]]|[[David Draiman]]}} | producer = [[Johnny K]] | prev_title = [[Stupify]] | prev_year = 2000 | next_title = [[Voices (Disturbed song)|Voices]] | next_year = 2000 | misc = {{Audio sample | type = single | file = Disturbed_-_Down_with_the_Sickness_(excerpt).ogg | description = "Down with the Sickness" (chorus) }} {{External music video|{{YouTube|09LTT0xwdfw|"Down with the Sickness"}}}} }}

"'''Down with the Sickness'''" is a song by American [[Heavy metal music|heavy metal]] band [[Disturbed (band)|Disturbed]]. It was recorded in 1999 and released as the second single from the band's debut studio album, ''[[The Sickness]]''. "Down with the Sickness" is one of Disturbed's best-known songs and is a concert staple, usually played as the last song. This was Disturbed's first single to be certified platinum in the United States by the [[Recording Industry Association of America]]. The song was certified 8× Platinum by the RIAA on January 17, 2025.<ref name="RIAA"/>

In 2017, Annie Zaleski of ''[[Spin (magazine)|Spin]]'' named it the sixth-best nu metal track of all time, calling Draiman's uttering of the "ooh-wah-ah-ah-ah" staccato noise "the throat-clearing heard 'round the world."<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last=Zaleski |first=Annie |date=2017-05-17 |title=The 30 Best Nu-Metal Songs |url=https://www.spin.com/2017/05/best-nu-metal-songs-ranked/ |access-date=2025-12-20 |website=SPIN |language=en-US}}</ref> In 2013, the staff of ''[[Loudwire]]'' included the song's main riff in their list of "the 10 Best Metal Riffs of the 2000s".<ref>{{Cite web |last=Staff |first=Loudwire StaffLoudwire |date=2013-12-26 |title=10 Best Metal Riffs of the 2000s |url=https://loudwire.com/best-metal-riffs-2000s/ |access-date=2025-12-21 |website=Loudwire |language=en}}</ref>

==Music and composition== "Down With the Sickness" is a [[nu metal]] song<ref>{{cite web |url=http://allaxess.com/news/paolo-gregoletto-nu-metal-revered-reviled-top-ten/ |title=Paolo Gregoletto: Nu-Metal – Revered or Reviled? The Top Ten |publisher=All Axess}} (January 5, 2015). Retrieved on September 23, 2015</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://music.cbc.ca/#!/blogs/2013/2/10-nu-metal-songs-that-still-hold-up |title=10 nu metal songs that still hold up on CBC music |publisher=CBC Music |last=Shumka |first=Dave}} (February 14, 2013)</ref><ref name=nu-metal>{{cite web |url=https://consequence.net/2015/08/album-review-disturbed-immortalized/ |title=Disturbed – Immortalized |publisher=[[Consequence of Sound]] |author=Jon Hadusek |date=August 20, 2015}}</ref> that features an unusual "ooh-wah-ah-ah-ah" [[staccato]] noise from Disturbed's singer [[David Draiman]] at the end of the intro, which reappears before the last chorus.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://loudwire.com/best-metal-riffs-2000s/ |title=10 Best Metal Riffs of the 2000s |publisher=[[Loudwire]]}} (December 26, 2013). Retrieved on October 1, 2015</ref> Annie Zaleski of ''[[Spin (magazine)|Spin]]'' opined that "the rest of the song basically plays second fiddle to this exhortation."<ref>{{Cite web |last=Zaleski |first=Annie |date=2017-05-17 |title=The 30 Best Nu-Metal Songs |url=https://www.spin.com/2017/05/best-nu-metal-songs-ranked/ |access-date=2025-06-25 |website=SPIN |language=en-US}}</ref> Draiman has stated the sound was made possible by effects on his vocal cords after receiving surgery for [[GERD|acid reflux]], but he has dismissed the rumor the noise was actually caused by [[heartburn]], further explaining, "I mean the song originally was written and just had a pause. Mikey's beat is just so tribal and you know it just made me feel like an animal... [The noise] came out one day."<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.mtv.com/videos/misc/183836/behind-the-ball-with-disturbed-dispelling-the-rumor-behind-the-sickness.jhtml | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20090221023044/http://www.mtv.com/videos/misc/183836/behind-the-ball-with-disturbed-dispelling-the-rumor-behind-the-sickness.jhtml | url-status = dead | archive-date = February 21, 2009 | title = Behind the Ball with Disturbed: Dispelling the Rumor Behind the Sickness | website = mtv.com | publisher = [[Headbangers Ball]] | access-date = November 12, 2015 }}</ref>

Guitarist [[Dan Donegan]] has mentioned that the tuning for the guitar "is drop C-sharp... your bottom five strings are half a step down and your low string will be dropped to C-sharp."<ref>{{cite web | url = https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ySD5VP621l8 | title = "Disturbed – Learn to play "Down with the Sickness" | date = September 22, 2010 | website = YouTube }}</ref> This is sometimes referred to as "E{{flat}} Drop D{{flat}}", the most common [[drop tuning]] for bands who play generally in E{{flat}} standard instead of E standard.

==Lyrics== A spoken segment near the end of the song describes a child who is physically abused by his mother and who ultimately retaliates. This segment is somewhat controversial and music critics sometimes express a negative opinion of its inclusion in the song. For example, Leor Galil of the ''Chicago Reader'' opined, "Yet I still find it hard to believe that the megasingle 'Down With the Sickness,' with its vocal breakdown in which front man David Draiman crudely describes being beaten by his mom (and vice versa), guided the band on to a path that's resulted in four albums topping the ''Billboard'' 200."<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.chicagoreader.com/chicago/disturbed/Event?oid=18400884 | title = Disturbed – House of Blues | last = Galil | first = Leor | date = August 20, 2015 | website = Chicago Reader | publisher = Sun-Times Media, LLC | access-date = November 5, 2015}}</ref>

However, the band has disavowed that this song is about literal child abuse, and that it is instead about a metaphoric abuse. Lead singer David Draiman explained to the ''Phoenix New Times'': <blockquote>...the screamed psychodramas in metal hits like "Down With The Sickness" ... are merely ''inspired'' by personal history, not a literal journal of his own tortured upbringing. "I'm really talking about the conflict between the mother culture of society, who's beating down the child yearning for independence and individuality, and the submission of the child."<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.phoenixnewtimes.com/music/disturbed-and-disturberer-6408263 | title = Disturbed & Disturberer | last = Magahern | first = Jimmy | date = 26 June 2003 | website = Phoenix New Times | publisher = NT Media LLC | access-date = 4 November 2015}}</ref></blockquote>

The "abuse" segment is not included in the radio edit or the music video.

==Music video== A music video composed of live concert footage was produced for the song. The song is known for its segment which features a boy being attacked and abused by his mother,<ref>{{cite magazine |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/artists/disturbed/albums/album/147845/review/6067460/the_sickness |title=Rolling Stone Review of ''The Sickness'', Mudvayne's ''L.D. 50'', Relative Ash's ''Our Time With You'', and Soulfly's ''Primitive'' |last=Ratliff |first=Ben |magazine=[[Rolling Stone]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070510092405/http://www.rollingstone.com/artists/disturbed/albums/album/147845/review/6067460/the_sickness |archive-date=May 10, 2007 |url-status=dead}} (September 28, 2000). Retrieved on October 1, 2015</ref> which was not featured in the music video. The music video was recorded at the "[[Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre (Tinley Park, Illinois)|Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre]]" (named the Tweeter Center at the time) in [[Tinley Park, Illinois]], during Q101's Jamboree 2001.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.setlist.fm/festival/2001/q101-jamboree-2001-2bd6808e.html|title=Q101 Jamboree 2001 Setlists|access-date=May 20, 2015|website=setlist.fm}}</ref>

==In other media== * The song is featured in the 2001 [[Jet Li]] film ''[[The One (2001 film)| The One]]'' during an action scene. * The song was featured in the first episode of the [[South Park season 11|11th season]] of ''[[South Park]]'', "[[With Apologies to Jesse Jackson]]". * Former CZW wrestler and the late Christopher Jonathan Bauman Jr. better known by his ring name [[Chri$ Ca$h]] used the song as his entrance music from 2001–2005 in CZW until his death in an automobile accident on August 18, 2005. As of 2005, Combat Zone Wrestling annually run a memorial tribute event for Bauman titled "Down with the Sickness" after his theme song. * A [[swing music|swing]] cover version, performed by [[Richard Cheese]], plays during the end credits of the 2004 version of the film ''[[Dawn of the Dead (2004 film)|Dawn of the Dead]]''. * The song is featured in [[WWE 2K18]]. * In May 2019, the song was used during the final scene of the ''[[Brooklyn Nine-Nine]]'' episode "[[Sicko (Brooklyn Nine-Nine)|Sicko]]". * Since 2022, [[Phoebe Bridgers]] has used the song as her walk-on music when performing live. In 2023, David Draiman gave his blessing of its use after he saw footage of Bridgers' entrance on [[TikTok]].<ref>{{cite web |last1=Breihan |first1=Tom |title=Disturbed Respond To Phoebe Bridgers' "Down With The Sickness" Entrance On Taylor Swift Tour |url=https://www.stereogum.com/2222979/disturbed-respond-to-phoebe-bridgers-down-with-the-sickness-entrance-on-taylor-swift-tour/news/ |website=Stereogum |publisher=Stereogum Media |access-date=May 10, 2023}}</ref> * In February 2024, [[KFC]] used the song in a UK advertisement.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.thedrum.com/news/2024/02/05/kfc-s-vertically-gifted-tower-burger-too-tall-tv|title=KFC's vertically gifted Tower Burger is too tall for TV|publisher=The Drum|last=Houston|first=Amy|date=February 5, 2024|access-date=March 6, 2024}}</ref> * The song is playable in the 2023 rhythm-action video game ''Invector: Rhythm Galaxy''. * In March 2024, it was added to ''[[Fortnite]]'' as a playable Jam Track in ''[[Fortnite Festival]]''.

==Accolades== {|class="wikitable" |- !Region !Year !Publication !Accolade !Rank |- | rowspan="2" |United States |2015 | rowspan="2" |''[[Loudwire]]'' |10 Best Metal Riffs of the 2000s<ref>{{cite web|url=http://loudwire.com/best-metal-riffs-2000s/ |title= 10 Best Metal Riffs of the 2000s |publisher=Loudwire }}</ref> |align=|3 |- |2016 |Best Metal Song of the 21st Century<ref>{{cite web|url=http://loudwire.com/disturbed-down-with-the-sickness-wins-march-metal-madness-2016/ |title= Disturbed's 'Down With the Sickness' Wins Best Metal Song of the 21st Century in March Metal Madness 2016 |publisher=Loudwire }}</ref> |align=|Won |}

==Personnel== ===Disturbed=== * [[David Draiman]] – vocals * [[Dan Donegan]] – guitar, electronics * Steve Kmak – bass * [[Mike Wengren]] – drums, percussion, programming ===Production=== * [[Johnny K]] – production, engineering * [[Andy Wallace (producer)|Andy Wallace]] – mixing * [[Howie Weinberg]] – mastering

==Charts== {| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center" !scope="col"| Chart (2001) !scope="col"| Peak<br />position |- ! scope="row"| [[UK Rock & Metal Singles Chart|UK Rock & Metal]] ([[Official Charts Company|OCC]])<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.officialcharts.com/charts/rock-and-metal-singles-chart/20200320/111/|title=Official Rock & Metal Singles Chart|publisher=[[Official Charts Company]]|date=March 20, 2020|access-date=January 12, 2024}}</ref> | 37 |- {{single chart|Billboardbubbling100|4|artist=Disturbed|rowheader=true|access-date=January 20, 2024}} |- {{single chart|Billboardalternativesongs|8|artist=Disturbed|rowheader=true|access-date=January 20, 2024}} |- {{single chart|Billboardmainstreamrock|5|artist=Disturbed|rowheader=true|access-date=January 20, 2024}} |}

==Certifications== {{Certification Table Top}} {{Certification Table Entry|region=Australia|type=single|award=Platinum|number=4|certyear=2024|access-date=September 27, 2024}} {{Certification Table Entry|region=Canada|type=single|artist=Disturbed|title=Down with the Sickness|award=Platinum|number=6|relyear=2000|certyear=2024|access-date=September 9, 2024}} {{Certification Table Entry|region=Denmark|artist=Disturbed|title=Down with the Sickness|award=Gold|type=single|relyear=2000|certyear=2024|accessdate=July 24, 2024|id=14171}} {{Certification Table Entry|region=Germany|type=single|artist=Disturbed|title=Down with the Sickness|award=Gold|relyear=2000|certyear=2025|access-date=January 16, 2025}} {{Certification Table Entry|region=New Zealand|type=single|artist=Disturbed|title=Down with the Sickness|award=Platinum|number=3|relyear=2000|certyear=2024|source=radioscope|access-date=December 24, 2024}} {{Certification Table Entry|region=United Kingdom|type=single|artist=Disturbed|title=Down with the Sickness|award=Platinum|relyear=2000|certyear=2024|id=14828-2264-1|access-date=January 19, 2024}} {{Certification Table Entry|region=United States|type=single|artist=Disturbed|title=Down with the Sickness|award=Platinum|number=8|relyear=2000|certyear=2025|refname="RIAA"|access-date=January 16, 2025}} {{Certification Table Separator|title=Ringtone / Mastertone}} {{Certification Table Entry|region=Canada|type=ringtone|artist=Disturbed|title=Down with the Sickness|award=Gold|relyear=2000|certyear=2007|note=Ringtone|accessdate=April 28, 2022}} {{Certification Table Entry|region=United States|type=single|artist=Disturbed|title=Down with the Sickness|award=Gold|relyear=2000|certyear=2006|note=Mastertone|digital=true|refname=US2|accessdate=April 28, 2022}} {{Certification Table Bottom|noshipments=true|streaming=true}}

==References== {{Reflist}}

==External links== * {{YouTube|09LTT0xwdfw}}

[[Category:1999 songs]] [[Category:2000 songs]] [[Category:2000 singles]] [[Category:Disturbed (band) songs]] [[Category:Giant Records (Warner) singles]] [[Category:Music videos directed by Nathan Cox]] [[Category:Obscenity controversies in music]] [[Category:Song recordings produced by Johnny K]] [[Category:Songs about child abuse]] [[Category:Songs about mothers]] [[Category:Songs written by Dan Donegan]] [[Category:Songs written by David Draiman]] [[Category:Songs written by Mike Wengren]]