Institutionalized (song)
Encyclopedia
"Institutionalized" is a song by the American hardcore punk
band Suicidal Tendencies
. It was released in 1983 as the only single from their debut album, Suicidal Tendencies
. It is often classified as the band's signature song and would be re-recorded for the album Still Cyco After All These Years
ten years later. The 1993 version was nominated for the Grammy for Best Metal Performance in 1994.
The original version of the song was featured on the long-out of print compilation album on F.N.G.
, while the Still Cyco After All These Years version appears on Prime Cuts and Playlist: The Very Best of Suicidal Tendencies
, which was not endorsed by the band.
, through a series of social conflicts with friends and, more significantly, parents. The lyrics in the verses are not sung, but spoken in a run-on sentence style. The lyrics are complemented by the lead guitar, which is subdued at the start of the verses, but becomes more frantic and powerful with the protagonist's confrontations and emotional outbursts, mainly based on a heavy, funk
-influenced riff that increases in speed several sections before each chorus. This is one of the few examples of funk influence in the band's music before the entrance of bassist Robert Trujillo
, the member who introduced the genre to the band with the recording of Lights...Camera...Revolution!
.
and thrash metal
song to receive significant airplay on MTV
and is considered to be one of the songs that defines both genres. Tom Araya
of the band Slayer
appears in the video, along with actors Jack Nance
and Mary Woronov
.
of the song is included in the music video game Guitar Hero II
for PlayStation 2
and Xbox 360
. The song was also featured in the game Mat Hoffman's Pro BMX 2
(2002). It was also popularly covered by the band Senses Fail
, and this version can be heard in skateboarding video game Tony Hawk's American Wasteland
(where one notable difference is that "Buddy" replaces "Mike
" on the lyrics). Thrash Metal band Evildead
covered the main riff on their fist release, the track was entitled "S.T. Riff".
The song appears in the films Iron Man
, Repo Man and The Brady Bunch Movie
. . The video was also favorably featured in an episode of Beavis and Butt-head
.
"Institutionalized" is referenced in the Sage Francis song "Slow Down Gandhi" in the line "It's death penalty vs. suicidal tendencies / All I wanted was a fucking Pepsi / Institution / Making you think you're crazy is a billion dollar industry." Limp Bizkit
also referenced it in the song "Stuck" with the lines "All I wanted was a Pepsi, just one Pepsi. So far from suicidal but still I get them tendencies bringing back the memories that I really miss." The line "All I wanted was a Pepsi" was also sampled in Cypress Hill
's song "How I Could Just Kill A Man
". Part of the song "My Chemical Imbalance" by punk rock band Guttermouth
parodies this song.
Hardcore punk
Hardcore punk is an underground music genre that originated in the late 1970s, following the mainstream success of punk rock. Hardcore is generally faster, thicker, and heavier than earlier punk rock. The origin of the term "hardcore punk" is uncertain. The Vancouver-based band D.O.A...
band Suicidal Tendencies
Suicidal Tendencies
Suicidal Tendencies is a U.S. crossover thrash band founded in 1981 in Venice, Los Angeles, California by Mike Muir, its leader and only permanent member. The band is sometimes credited as one of "the fathers of crossover thrash"...
. It was released in 1983 as the only single from their debut album, Suicidal Tendencies
Suicidal Tendencies (album)
-Personnel:* Mike Muir – lead vocals* Grant Estes – guitar[A]* Louiche Mayorga – bass, backing vocals* Amery Smith – drums-Production:* Glen E...
. It is often classified as the band's signature song and would be re-recorded for the album Still Cyco After All These Years
Still Cyco After All These Years
Still Cyco After All These Years is a 1993 compilation album by Suicidal Tendencies. It is a re-recording of the band's 1983 debut album, Suicidal Tendencies and also contains 3 additional tracks...
ten years later. The 1993 version was nominated for the Grammy for Best Metal Performance in 1994.
The original version of the song was featured on the long-out of print compilation album on F.N.G.
F.N.G. (album)
F.N.G. is a compilation album by hardcore/crossover band Suicidal Tendencies.-Reception:-Track listing:* Although the recording of "Suicyco Mania" is the same one featured on How Will I Laugh Tomorrow When I Can't Even Smile Today, the mix differs in that all vocals sans the title chant are not...
, while the Still Cyco After All These Years version appears on Prime Cuts and Playlist: The Very Best of Suicidal Tendencies
Playlist: The Very Best of Suicidal Tendencies
Playlist: The Very Best of Suicidal Tendencies is a best-of compilation album released on Sony Legacy, featuring a collection of Suicidal Tendencies' music with the label...
, which was not endorsed by the band.
Song structure
The song follows "Mike", presumably a teenage Mike MuirMike Muir
Mike Muir is the lead vocalist of the Venice skate punk bands Suicidal Tendencies Los Cycos and the funk rock band Infectious Grooves...
, through a series of social conflicts with friends and, more significantly, parents. The lyrics in the verses are not sung, but spoken in a run-on sentence style. The lyrics are complemented by the lead guitar, which is subdued at the start of the verses, but becomes more frantic and powerful with the protagonist's confrontations and emotional outbursts, mainly based on a heavy, funk
Funk
Funk is a music genre that originated in the mid-late 1960s when African American musicians blended soul music, jazz and R&B into a rhythmic, danceable new form of music. Funk de-emphasizes melody and harmony and brings a strong rhythmic groove of electric bass and drums to the foreground...
-influenced riff that increases in speed several sections before each chorus. This is one of the few examples of funk influence in the band's music before the entrance of bassist Robert Trujillo
Robert Trujillo
Robert Trujillo is an American bassist who currently plays bass in Metallica. He has also played in Suicidal Tendencies, Infectious Grooves, Black Label Society, and with Jerry Cantrell and Ozzy Osbourne.-Career:...
, the member who introduced the genre to the band with the recording of Lights...Camera...Revolution!
Lights...Camera...Revolution!
Lights...Camera...Revolution! is an album by Suicidal Tendencies, which was released in 1990. It is their fourth proper studio album as their previous release, Controlled By Hatred/Feel Like Shit...Déjà Vu, is considered a double-EP of stop-gap material rather than a full-length album.This was the...
.
Reception
Although "Institutionalized" was never a hit in the charts, it was the first hardcore punkHardcore punk
Hardcore punk is an underground music genre that originated in the late 1970s, following the mainstream success of punk rock. Hardcore is generally faster, thicker, and heavier than earlier punk rock. The origin of the term "hardcore punk" is uncertain. The Vancouver-based band D.O.A...
and thrash metal
Thrash metal
Thrash metal is a subgenre of heavy metal that is characterized usually by its fast tempo and aggression. Songs of the genre typically use fast percussive and low-register guitar riffs, overlaid with shredding-style lead work...
song to receive 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....
and is considered to be one of the songs that defines both genres. Tom Araya
Tom Araya
Tom Araya is a Chilean musician, best known as the bassist and vocalist of the American thrash metal band Slayer...
of the band Slayer
Slayer
Slayer is an American thrash metal band formed in Huntington Park, California, in 1981 by guitarists Jeff Hanneman and Kerry King. Slayer rose to fame with their 1986 release, Reign in Blood, and is credited as one of the "Big Four" thrash metal acts, along with Metallica, Megadeth and...
appears in the video, along with actors Jack Nance
Jack Nance
Marvin John Nance , known professionally as Jack Nance and occasionally credited as John Nance, was an American actor of stage and screen, primarily starring in offbeat or avant-garde productions...
and Mary Woronov
Mary Woronov
Mary Woronov is an American actress and writer. She is primarily known for her roles in independent and cult films. Woronov has appeared in over 80 movies, as well as numerous appearances in mainstream television series, such as Charlie's Angels and Knight Rider.-Early life:Woronov was born in the...
.
Usage and covers
A coverCover 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...
of the song is included in the music video game Guitar Hero II
Guitar Hero II
Guitar Hero II is a music video game developed by Harmonix Music Systems and published by RedOctane. It is the second installment in the Guitar Hero series and is the sequel to Guitar Hero...
for PlayStation 2
PlayStation 2
The PlayStation 2 is a sixth-generation video game console manufactured by Sony as part of the PlayStation series. Its development was announced in March 1999 and it was first released on March 4, 2000, in Japan...
and Xbox 360
Xbox 360
The Xbox 360 is the second video game console produced by Microsoft and the successor to the Xbox. The Xbox 360 competes with Sony's PlayStation 3 and Nintendo's Wii as part of the seventh generation of video game consoles...
. The song was also featured in the game Mat Hoffman's Pro BMX 2
Mat Hoffman's Pro BMX 2
Mat Hoffman Pro BMX 2 is the sequel to Mat Hoffman's Pro BMX. It was made available for the Game Boy Advance, Nintendo GameCube, PlayStation 2, and Xbox.-Gameplay:...
(2002). It was also popularly covered by the band Senses Fail
Senses Fail
Senses Fail is an American post-hardcore band from Ridgewood, New Jersey. Formed in 2002, the line up initially consisted of vocalist Buddy Nielsen, drummer Dan Trapp, guitarists Dave Miller and Garrett Zablocki and being completed by bassist Mike Glita. The band quickly issued their debut EP, From...
, and this version can be heard in skateboarding video game Tony Hawk's American Wasteland
Tony Hawk's American Wasteland
Tony Hawk's American Wasteland, abbreviated to THAW, is a video game that was released for the PS2, Xbox, Xbox 360, Nintendo GameCube and PC on October 18, 2005. Part of the Tony Hawk series, the game was developed by Neversoft and published by Activision.The PC version of the game was ported and...
(where one notable difference is that "Buddy" replaces "Mike
Mike Muir
Mike Muir is the lead vocalist of the Venice skate punk bands Suicidal Tendencies Los Cycos and the funk rock band Infectious Grooves...
" on the lyrics). Thrash Metal band Evildead
Evildead
Evildead is an American thrash metal band formed in Los Angeles in 1987. The band was originally composed of members of two former bands, Agent Steel and Abattoir, including guitarist Juan Garcia, who is their only permanent member member...
covered the main riff on their fist release, the track was entitled "S.T. Riff".
The song appears in the films Iron Man
Iron Man (film)
Iron Man is a 2008 American superhero film based on the Marvel Comics character of the same name. Directed by Jon Favreau, the film stars Robert Downey, Jr. as Tony Stark, an industrialist and master engineer who builds a powered exoskeleton and becomes the technologically advanced superhero, Iron...
, Repo Man and The Brady Bunch Movie
The Brady Bunch Movie
The Brady Bunch Movie is a 1995 American comedy film based on the 1969–1974 television series The Brady Bunch.The film features all the original regular characters, all played by new actors...
. . The video was also favorably featured in an episode of Beavis and Butt-head
Beavis and Butt-Head
Beavis 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...
.
"Institutionalized" is referenced in the Sage Francis song "Slow Down Gandhi" in the line "It's death penalty vs. suicidal tendencies / All I wanted was a fucking Pepsi / Institution / Making you think you're crazy is a billion dollar industry." Limp Bizkit
Limp Bizkit
Limp Bizkit is an American rock band from Jacksonville, Florida. Formed in 1995, the group's lineup consists of Fred Durst , Wes Borland , Sam Rivers , John Otto and DJ Lethal . The band achieved mainstream success with their second studio album Significant Other, released in 1999...
also referenced it in the song "Stuck" with the lines "All I wanted was a Pepsi, just one Pepsi. So far from suicidal but still I get them tendencies bringing back the memories that I really miss." The line "All I wanted was a Pepsi" was also sampled in Cypress Hill
Cypress Hill
Cypress Hill is an American hip hop group from South Gate, California. Cypress Hill was the first Latino hip-hop group to have platinum and multi-platinum albums, selling over 18 million albums worldwide...
's song "How I Could Just Kill A Man
How I Could Just Kill a Man
"How I Could Just Kill a Man" is the debut single by hip hop group Cypress Hill from their eponymous debut album, Cypress Hill, and was their first major hit in 1991. It was released as a double A-side to "The Phuncky Feel One" and the music video featured cameos by A Tribe Called Quest's Q-Tip and...
". Part of the song "My Chemical Imbalance" by punk rock band Guttermouth
Guttermouth
Guttermouth is an American punk rock band formed in 1988 in Huntington Beach, California and currently recording for Hopeless Records. They have released nine full-length studio albums and two live albums and have toured extensively, including performances on the Vans Warped Tour...
parodies this song.