System Of A Down, B.Y.O.B. | Controversial Songs

In the 6th edition of Controversial Songs (2024), we explore the controversy behind the “B.Y.O.B.” by Armenian American hard rock band, System Of A Down.

Bring on the controversy! Controversial Songs is a column that provides background information and insight into songs that raised eyebrows, stirred the pot, or were banned. The more censorship censor$hit, the better! The records that grace Controversial Songs are old and new alike, with all genres of music welcome.  In the 6^th edition of Controversial Songs (2024), we explore the controversy behind the “B.Y.O.B.” by System Of A Down.

“Why do they always send the poor?” Food for thought. Also, food for thought: “You depend on our protection, yet you feed us lies from the tablecloth.” Mic drop! Once upon a time, System Of A Down was kind of a big deal.  Sadly, the last album released by the Armenian American band was in 2005. Serj Tankian and company released two albums that year: Mezmerize and Hypnotize.  Both debuted at no. 1 on the Billboard 200. While both albums are sensational, Mesmerize is fueled by one potent protest song, “B.Y.O.B.”.  No, Tankian isn’t encouraging you to bring your own booze.  In this case, “B.Y.O.B.” is an acronym for bring your own bombs. War was firmly planted on the minds of System Of A Down and they didn’t hold back! Notably, their ambition, top-notch musicianship, and brutal honesty earned them a well-deserved Grammy (Best Hard Rock Performance).  Also, for a hard rock/metal song, “B.Y.O.B.” performed well on the pop charts, earning SOAD their highest-charting song peaking at no. 27 on the Billboard Hot 100.

What makes “B.Y.O.B.” one of System Of A Down’s best songs? The music is electrifying and often raucous. The collective provides contrast between the verses (wilder) and the chorus (more accessible and melodic), keeping things fresh and engaging. In the first verse, Serj sings of “Barbarisms by Barbaras with pointed heels” as well as “Marching forward, hypocritic and hypnotic computers.” Say what?! He doesn’t stop there folks.  In the second verse, there are “Kneeling roses disappearing in Moses’ dry mouth” and “Hangars sitting dripped in oil, crying, ‘Freedom!’” Damn! The chorus, however, is the crème de la crème – the crowning achievement:

“Everybody’s going to the party, have a real good time

Dancin’ in the desert, blowin’ up the sunshine.”

Ah, a sarcastic, cynical view of war – noted! The guitar riffs are quick and jagged, the bass provides a mean foundation, while the drums pummel something fierce.  Later, the bridge and refrain separate themselves from the verse and chorus, led by raw, screamed vocals.  This is intentional for Daron Malakian (guitarist and the band’s second vocalist) to make his point. Malakian drops bombs – f-bombs! “Blast off, it’s party time / And where the fuck are you?” Protest songs often earn a controversial label, particularly when the protest is either extremely right-wing or left-wing. Protesting wars of any kind always raises eyebrows, particularly the Iraq War in the 2000s, during the George W. Bush presidency, and post 9/11.  Interestingly, System Of A Down performed the song, with its f-bombs on Saturday Night Live in 2005.  The censors were successful in bleeping out “where the fuck are you,” but, Malakian’s rogue “fuck yeah!” went uncensored (live, mind you) and got the band banned. HOLY F**K 🤭! Although “B.Y.O.B.” is controversial, it is one of the best rock songs of the 2000s, PERIOD. System Of A Down, you f**king did that 🤭!

System Of A Down // Mezmerize // Sony Music Entertainment // 2005

System Of A Down, B.Y.O.B.: Controversial Songs No. 6 (2024) [📷: Brent Faulkner / The Musical Hype; Sony Music Entertainment; Tazz Vaughn via Pexels; Elena Arboleda Salas, nikolaytaman90, Tumisu from Pixabay; christian buehner on Unsplash]