We Are Chaos (song)

"We Are Chaos" (stylized in all caps) is a song by American rock band Marilyn Manson. It was released on July 29, 2020, through Loma Vista Recordings as the lead single from their eleventh studio album of the same name.[2] The song was written and produced by Manson himself and Shooter Jennings.[3][4] A limited edition 7" vinyl single was available with pre-orders of the album at Loma Vista Recordings' web store. This single contains an exclusive remix of the song, and was limited to 4,000 copies worldwide.[5]

"We Are Chaos"
Cover art for the 7" vinyl edition
Single by Marilyn Manson
from the album We Are Chaos
ReleasedJuly 29, 2020 (2020-07-29)
GenreGlam rock[1]
Length4:05
LabelLoma Vista
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)
  • Manson
  • Jennings
Marilyn Manson singles chronology
"The End"
(2019)		 "We Are Chaos"
(2020)		 "Don't Chase the Dead"
(2020)
Music video
"We Are Chaos" on YouTube

Composition and style

The band's eponymous vocalist said that although the song was written before the COVID-19 pandemic, its lyrical content "does feel as if it could have been written about [the pandemic], but it really wasn't necessarily about anything other than maybe my own mental health, trying to relate with other people about how the world is." He elaborated that the song's content could be conflated with the pandemic, arguing that lockdown can impact mental health while saying "being kept indoors for so long can really work at someone's emotions and their soul, and test their strength in a lot of ways."[6]

Critical reception

Kerrang! compared the track to the work of the Beatles – specifically their song "Across the Universe" – while saying that "it's [an] anthemic, celebratory, New Year's Eve feeling, dancing at the end of the world, that provides the energy on 'We Are Chaos'. The nihilism is pared back in favour of something more… romantic?" They went on to say that "As a signpost for the new album, [the song is] hard to get a total grip on. Heaven Upside Down was so striking, so definite, that divining [Manson's] next move was always going to be to presume a lot about him. And that's always been a fool's errand. For now, it's enough of a clue to know that what Marilyn Manson has in store is going to be something on a grand scale, and with a sense of class only he can unlock."[7] Idolator called the track "unexpectedly melodic, reflective and semi-accessible",[8] while Consequence of Sound wrote: "Musically, the track is powered by an acoustic guitar riff, as the song is both melodic and heavy at the same time. There's almost a pop quality to the song, but the macabre nature of the lyrics and vocals still make it very much a Marilyn Manson tune."[9]

DIY also compared the song to the Beatles, calling it "an anarchic listen, but perhaps not in the way you are expecting. Acoustically focused and indebted to the Beatles' brand of cathartic melancholia, it's a significant departure from his usual shock rock output. It feels like the crooning Manson is inviting you to join a dysfunctional family rather than a violent uprising. The song is an aptly chaotic investigation into introspection, resulting in the ultimate brooding power ballad."[10] BrooklynVegan described it as a "kind of a power ballad but in the brooding, creepy way that only Marilyn Manson would do a power ballad. Not bad at all."[11] USA Today said the song's lyrics were "signature Manson",[3] and American Songwriter said the chorus is "among the most visceral, primal expressions of inner turmoil since the unchained desperation of... 'Smells Like Teen Spirit'. Manson's lyric, not unlike Cobain's, shows us a world in which reason, logic and hope have been abandoned and lost."[12]

Music video

The music video for the song was directed, photographed and edited by Matt Mahurin while in quarantine due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Using chroma key and computer-generated imagery technology, Mahurin inserted Manson's likeness into a series of surrealistic vignettes,[13] such as his head being used as a microscope, wading through blood,[3] and transforming himself into a "chaos pill" which is then placed on a disembodied tongue to create an army of clones rising from graves in a cemetery.[13]

Commercial performance

The song debuted at number thirty on the US active rock radio format on August 10, as the highest new entry that week.[14] It went on to peak at number eight on the week ending October 24, a week when it was broadcast 1,208 times to over 2.35 million people.[15] On the mainstream rock format, the song peaked with 1,083 plays and a measured broadcast audience of 1.717 million on October 24.[16] The track peaked at number 8 on Billboard's Mainstream Rock, making it the band's third top ten hit on that chart.[17]

Track listing

All tracks are written by Marilyn Manson and Shooter Jennings.

Digital download
No.TitleProducer(s)Length
1."We Are Chaos"
  • Jennings
  • Manson
4:00
7" vinyl
No.TitleProducer(s)Length
1."We Are Chaos"
  • Jennings
  • Manson
4:05
2."We Are Khaos" (Remix)
  • Jennings
  • Manson
4:36

Personnel

Credits adapted from Tidal[18]

Charts
Chart (2020) Peak
position
Canada Active Rock (Billboard)[20] 31
Czech Rock Songs (ČNS IFPI)[21] 5
German Alternative Singles (Deutsche Alternative Charts)[22] 1
US Alternative Digital Songs (Billboard)[23] 12
US Hot Rock & Alternative Songs (Billboard)[24] 45
US Hard Rock Digital Songs (Billboard)[25] 1
US Hot Hard Rock Songs (Billboard)[26] 4
US Hot Rock Digital Songs (Billboard)[27] 4
US Mainstream Rock (Billboard)[17] 8
US Rock Airplay (Billboard)[28] 26

References
  1. Kaufman, Spencer (September 8, 2020). "Marilyn Manson on WE ARE CHAOS, Pandemic Life, New Wave Influences, and Favorite David Bowie Album". Consequence of Sound. Archived from the original on September 10, 2020. Retrieved December 10, 2020.
  2. Aniftos, Rania (July 29, 2020). "Marilyn Manson Announces 'We Are Chaos' Album, Drops Title Track & Video". Billboard. Archived from the original on August 1, 2020. Retrieved August 1, 2020.
  3. Dinges, Gary (July 29, 2020). "Marilyn Manson drops video for 'We Are Chaos', announces new album". USA Today. Archived from the original on September 24, 2020. Retrieved July 31, 2020.
  4. Reilly, Nick (July 29, 2020). "Watch the unsettling video for 'We Are Chaos', the title track from Marilyn Manson's new album". NME. Archived from the original on July 30, 2020. Retrieved July 31, 2020.
  5. "Marilyn Manson – We Are Chaos. Vinyl LP, CD, Cassette, Download. Loma Vista Recordings". Loma Vista Recordings. Retrieved August 1, 2020.
  6. Sara Taylor (September 1, 2020). "Marilyn Manson on 'CHAOS,' Collaboration, How Elton John Made Him Cry". Revolver. Archived from the original on September 10, 2020. Retrieved September 9, 2020.
  7. Ruskell, Nick (July 29, 2020). "The First Reaction To Marilyn Manson's New Single, We Are Chaos". Kerrang!. Archived from the original on August 1, 2020. Retrieved August 1, 2020.
  8. Wass, Mike (July 29, 2020). "Marilyn Manson Announces 11th Album 'We Are Chaos'". Idolator. Archived from the original on September 24, 2020. Retrieved August 1, 2020.
  9. Kaufman, Spencer (July 29, 2020). "Marilyn Manson Announces New Album We Are Chaos, Unleashes Title Track: Stream". Consequence of Sound. Archived from the original on August 1, 2020. Retrieved August 1, 2020.
  10. Johnstone Orr, Jack (July 31, 2020). "Tracks: Bilie Eilish, Bastille, Angel Olsen and more". DIY. Archived from the original on August 5, 2020. Retrieved August 1, 2020.
  11. Sacher, Andrew (July 31, 2020). "Marilyn Manson announces new album 'We Are Chaos,' shares video for title track". BrooklynVegan. Archived from the original on July 30, 2020. Retrieved August 1, 2020.
  12. Zollo, Paul (September 11, 2020). "Inside "We Are Chaos," the new song & album by Marilyn Manson, Part 1". American Songwriter. Retrieved October 7, 2020.
  13. Shaffer, Claire (July 29, 2020). "Marilyn Manson Announces New Album 'We Are Chaos,' Shares Title Track". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on July 29, 2020. Retrieved July 31, 2020.
  14. "Exclusive Mediabase Analysis From All Access". Mediabase/AllAccess.com. August 10, 2020. Retrieved September 9, 2020.
  15. "Mediabase 24/7 – 7 Day Charts". Mediabase. October 25, 2020. Archived from the original on October 26, 2020. Retrieved October 25, 2020.
  16. "BDSRadio Charts | Billboard Mainstream Rock National Airplay". Billboard. October 24, 2020. Archived from the original on October 24, 2020. Retrieved October 26, 2020.
  17. "Marilyn Manson Chart History (Mainstream Rock)". Billboard. Retrieved October 6, 2020.
  18. "Credits / WE ARE CHAOS / Marilyn Manson – TIDAL". TIDAL. July 29, 2020. Archived from the original on August 9, 2020. Retrieved July 31, 2020.
  19. "Marilyn Manson Returns With New Single, We Are Chaos". Kerrang!. July 29, 2020. Archived from the original on July 30, 2020. Retrieved July 31, 2020.
  20. "Top Canada Active Rock Song Chart". BDS Radio Systems. Archived from the original on September 22, 2020. Retrieved September 23, 2020.
  21. "ČNS IFPI | Top 20 Modern Rock – We Are Chaos". ČNS IFPI. Retrieved October 12, 2020.
  22. "Deutsche Alternative Charts – Woche: 41 Jahr: 2020 Kategorie: Single". Deutsche Alternative Charts. Archived from the original on October 6, 2020. Retrieved October 6, 2020.
  23. "Marilyn Manson Chart History (Alternative Digital Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved August 15, 2020.
  24. "Marilyn Manson Chart History (Hot Rock & Alternative Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved September 22, 2020.
  25. "Marilyn Manson Chart History (Hard Rock Digital Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved August 18, 2019.
  26. "Marilyn Manson Chart History (Hot Hard Rock Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved September 23, 2020.
  27. "Marilyn Manson Chart History (Hot Rock Digital Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved August 15, 2020.
  28. "Marilyn Manson Chart History (Rock Airplay)". Billboard. Retrieved October 12, 2020.
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