Bully (song) explained

Bully
Cover:Shinedown - Bully.jpg
Type:single
Artist:Shinedown
Album:Amaryllis
Released:January 3, 2012
Recorded:2011
Length:4:01[1]
Label:Atlantic
Producer:Rob Cavallo
Prev Title:Diamond Eyes (Boom-Lay Boom-Lay Boom)
Prev Year:2010
Next Title:Unity
Next Year:2012

"Bully" is the lead single from American rock band Shinedown's fourth studio album, Amaryllis.

Meaning

Speaking to Rolling Stone, Shinedown front man Brent Smith discussed the lyrics of the song as "about not feeling like you can't stand up for yourself and take back your self respect if you feel as if someone is belittling you or trying to push you around. The song is not condoning violence. What it is condoning is survival. I don't think that anyone should ever have their self-respect or their dignity taken from them."

He also mentioned that his father had instructed him on how to defend himself against bullies. "When I was ten years old, my dad took me to the garage and put a pair of boxing gloves on me and said, 'I don't ever want it to come to this, but you need to learn how to fight.' And I got my butt kicked sometimes, but I always stood up for myself. By nature I've just never backed down from what I believed in, and I'll be damned if I'm going to let someone push me around. It's the same thing with my family, too. I wouldn't let someone come into my house and mess with my girlfriend or my son."[2]

Release

The song was released on January 3, 2012.

Music video

The official video premiered on the band's YouTube channel on March 6, 2012. The video was directed by Darren Doane, who previously directed the video for "Sound of Madness".

As of September 2023, the music video for "Bully" has 29.8 Million Views.

The Ohio State University Marching and Athletic bands

A version of "Bully" was arranged by John Brennan for the 2012 football season for the Ohio State University Marching and Athletic bands. It is played as a pep song by the marching band at football games and by the athletic band at basketball (and hockey) games.

Charts

Weekly charts

Weekly chart performance for "Bully"
Chart (2012)Peak
position
Mexico Ingles Airplay (Billboard)[3] 44
UK Rock & Metal (OCC)[4] 11
US Rock Airplay (Billboard)[5] 3

Year-end charts

Notes and References

  1. Web site: iTunes Store . itunes.apple.com . February 1, 2014.
  2. Web site: Steve Baltin . Shinedown Top the Charts, Stand Up to Bullies | Music News . Rolling Stone . April 5, 2012 . February 1, 2014.
  3. Web site: Shinedown Chart History (Mexico Ingles Airplay). Billboard. May 10, 2024.
  4. Web site: Official Rock & Metal Singles Chart. Official Charts Company. January 29, 2012. May 10, 2024.
  5. Web site: Shinedown Chart History (Rock & Alternative Airplay). Billboard. May 10, 2024.
  6. Web site: Year-End Charts: Hot Rock & Alternative Songs (2012). Billboard. October 13, 2021.