| Song |
"Paranoid" is a song by English heavy metal band Black Sabbath. It was first released on August 7, 1970 as a single, and later on September 18, 1970 as the second track on the band's sophomore album Paranoid. It's the lead single from the album, coming with "The Wizard" as its B-side. The song charted to number 4 on the UK Singles chart and number 64 on the Billboard Hot 100 (due to not getting much air-play).
About[]
One of the first Black Sabbath singles released along with "The Wizard" (released only in the Netherlands and France), it released six months after their self-titled debut Black Sabbath. The band's bassist Geezer Butler had this to say to Guitar World Magazine in March 2004:
A lot of the "Paranoid" album was written around the time of our first album, Black Sabbath. We recorded the whole thing in about 2 or 3 days, live in the studio. The song "Paranoid" was written as an afterthought. We basically needed a 3 minute filler for the album, and Tony came up with the riff. I quickly did the lyrics, and Ozzy was reading them as he was singing.
Live[]
"Paranoid" was played live a total of 1,097 times, making it the band's most performed song. It's been played with vocalists Ozzy Osbourne, Ronnie James Dio, Ian Gillan, Glenn Hughes, Ray Gillen and Tony Martin.[1]
The original line-up of Black Sabbath reunited to play the song in their set at Live Aid in 1985. It was their first time performing together since 1978.
Ozzy Osborune, Tony Iommi, Phil Collins, and Pino Palladino (of the Who) played the song in 2002 at the Buckingham Palace during the Queen's Golden Jubilee.[2]
Trivia[]
- The word "Paranoid" is never mentioned in the song, but there is no logical title amongst the lyrics.
- This song is used in two music based video games: Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock for the Nintendo Wii, Xbox 360, Playstation 2, and Playstation 3, and also in the video game Rock Band for the Xbox 360 and Playstation 3.
- In Finland, "Paranoid" has the same status as "Freebird" in the US or "Stairway to Heaven" in the UK. Regardless of the band or the type of music they play, someone will often shout "Soittakaa Paranoid!" (Play "Paranoid").
- Tony Iommi recorded "Paranoid" with a black eye after the band had gotten involved in a brawl with some punks. This incident is also referred to in "Fairies Wear Boots."
- In his book Iron Man: My Journey through Heaven and Hell with Black Sabbath, Iommi said he and Ozzy probably had no idea what the word "paranoid" even meant at that time. They left the lyrics to bassist Geezer Butler; they considered him the intelligent one.
Lyrics[]
Finished with my woman
'Cause she couldn't help me with my mind
People think I'm insane
Because I am frowning all the time
All day long I think of things
But nothing seems to satisfy
Think I'll lose my mind
If I don't find something to pacify
Can you help me
Occupy my brain?
Oh, yeah
I need someone to show me
The things in life that I can't find
I can't see the things that make true happiness
I must be blind
Make a joke and I will sigh
And you will laugh and I will cry
Happiness, I cannot feel
And love to me is so unreal
And so as you hear these words
Telling you now of my state
I tell you to enjoy life
I wish I could but it's too late
Megadeth cover[]
"Paranoid" was covered by American thrash metal band Megadeth and released in 1994 as the third track on the tribute album Nativity in Black. It was rereleased in 1995 as the sixth track on the EP Hidden Treasures.
This version of the song adds the lyrics, "It's too late, too late. Nick...Nick? Nick! Fuck me running!" It was also first performed live on December 8, 1994, in São Paulo, Brazil.
According to Marty Friedman, former lead guitarist of Megadeth, he brought in 5 or 6 Sabbath discs the day of the recording, but the band struggled to agree on what song to cover. This was until vocalist\guitarist Dave Mustaine launched into "Paranoid", and the rest of the band joined in. They got the entire song in just one take.[3]
Type O Negative cover[]
American gothic metal band Type O Negative also covered the song for Nativity in Black, but since Megadeth signed on and requested they perform "Paranoid" on the album, they decided to cover "Black Sabbath" instead. Their version of "Paranoid" was repurposed as a bonus track on the 1994 reissue of their second album The Origin of the Feces, and on the compilation album The Least Worst Of.
There is a riff based on that of "Iron Man" that begins at 2:51 and durates for 15 seconds. It's also the band's first song where Johnny Kelly plays the drums.
Revolver Magazine included the song on their list of Type O Negative's 10 Greatest Cover Songs, ranking it the band's fifth best cover song[4]
See Also[]
- Paranoid (song) on the Megadeth Wiki
References[]
| Paranoid | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| War Pigs • Paranoid • Planet Caravan • Iron Man • Electric Funeral • Hand of Doom • Rat Salad • Fairies Wear Boots | |||