A Reason to Fight explained

A Reason to Fight
Cover:Disturbed - A Reason to Fight.jpg
Type:single
Artist:Disturbed
Album:Evolution
Recorded:2018
Genre:Rock
Label:
Producer:Kevin Churko
Prev Title:Are You Ready
Prev Year:2018
Next Title:No More
Next Year:2019

"A Reason to Fight" is a song by American heavy metal band Disturbed. It was released as the second single off of their seventh studio album Evolution. It topped the Billboard Mainstream Rock Songs chart for three weeks[1] and became the band's record-breaking sixth consecutive number one on the chart.[2]

Background

In July 2018, upon the completion of recording the band's seventh studio album Evolution, frontman David Draiman polled fans as to whether they preferred the first single to be a heavy rock song, more akin to most of their back catalogue, or a more mellow ballad song, more comparable to their cover of Simon & Garfunkel's "The Sound of Silence".[3] Out of 80,000 respondents, over 83% chose "heavy" over "ballad".[4] As a result, "Are You Ready" was released as the first single from the album on August 16, 2018.[5]

The album's second single, the ballad "A Reason to Fight", was later released on September 21, 2018.[6] [7] The song was chosen as a single to help represent the band's change in sound for the Evolution album, comparing it to what Metallica's "Black Album" was to the rest of their career up until that point.[8] A music video was also released at the time of the single's release, and was directed by Matt Mahurin, who had previously directed their "The Sound of Silence" music video.

Themes and composition

Lyrically, the song is about battling addiction and depression; the song is meant to provide a positive and hopeful message for those struggling with it.[9] The rough song idea was initially proposed by guitarist Dan Donegan, and supported by frontman and lyricist David Draiman, who felt a personal connection to its message, having seen a number of people close to him struggle with addiction and depression.[9] The song is most commonly referred to as a ballad[10] [11] prominently featuring acoustic guitar. The song's musical direction was inspired by the band's success with their cover of "The Sound of Silence".[12]

Reception

Vince Neilstein of MetalSucks was critical of the song, summing it up as "Draiman whining over top acoustic guitars", but conceded that it was poised to do well at rock radio.[13]

Personnel

Disturbed

Charts

Weekly charts

Chart (2018–19)Peak
position
Czech Republic Rock (IFPI)[14] 2
Germany Rock Airplay (Official German Charts)[15] 1
Mexico Airplay (Billboard)[16] 41

Year-end charts

Notes and References

  1. Archived copy . . 2019-04-15 . 2019-09-30 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190930175417/https://www.billboard.com/archive/charts/2019/hot-mainstream-rock-tracks . live .
  2. Disturbed Scores Record-Breaking Sixth Straight Mainstream Rock Songs No. 1. Billboard. 2019-04-29. 2019-04-15. https://web.archive.org/web/20190415105529/https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/chart-beat/8504463/disturbed-record-sixth-straight-mainstream-rock-songs-number-one-a-reason-to-fight. live.
  3. Web site: Disturbed finish new album, ask fans to pick the first single. . 31 July 2018. 2 October 2018. 25 September 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180925025515/https://www.altpress.com/news/disturbed-band-new-album-fans-pick-first-single/. live.
  4. Web site: Disturbed fans vote "heavy" over "ballad" for first single from new album – Music News – ABC News Radio. ABC News Radio. 2018-10-02. 2018-09-24. https://web.archive.org/web/20180924224922/http://abcnewsradioonline.com/music-news/2018/8/14/disturbed-fans-vote-heavy-over-ballad-for-first-single-from.html. live.
  5. Web site: Disturbed announce album release date, drop first single "Are You Ready". . 16 August 2018. 2 October 2018. 24 September 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180924224928/https://www.altpress.com/news/disturbed-album-evolution-are-you-ready-music-video/. live.
  6. Web site: DISTURBED: 'A Reason To Fight' Single To Arrive This Friday. 19 September 2018. 2 October 2018. 23 September 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180923184641/http://www.blabbermouth.net/news/disturbed-a-reason-to-fight-single-to-arrive-this-friday. live.
  7. Web site: Disturbed to Release 'A Reason to Fight' Single This Friday. . 2018-10-02. 2018-10-03. https://web.archive.org/web/20181003014304/http://loudwire.com/disturbed-a-reason-to-fight-single-this-friday/. live.
  8. Web site: Disturbed tease new single A Reason To Fight. 2018-10-02. 2018-10-03. https://web.archive.org/web/20181003014140/https://www.loudersound.com/news/disturbed-tease-new-single-a-reason-to-fight. live.
  9. Web site: Disturbed release acoustic ballad, "A Reason to Fight": Stream. 21 September 2018. 2 October 2018. 3 October 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20181003014122/https://consequenceofsound.net/2018/09/disturbed-a-reason-to-fight/. live.
  10. Web site: Disturbed to Release 'A Reason to Fight' Single Friday. Ariel. Goronja. 20 September 2018. 2 October 2018. 3 October 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20181003014321/https://heavy.com/news/2018/09/disturbed-a-reason-to-fight/. live.
  11. Web site: DISTURBED's New Power Ballad Gives Us "A Reason To Fight". 21 September 2018. 2 October 2018. 3 October 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20181003014328/http://www.metalinjection.net/av/new-music/disturbeds-new-power-ballad-gives-us-a-reason-to-fight. live.
  12. Web site: Listen to a New Disturbed Song, 'A Reason to Fight'. 2018-10-02. 2018-10-03. https://web.archive.org/web/20181003014058/https://www.guitarworld.com/news/listen-to-a-new-disturbed-song-a-reason-to-fight. live.
  13. Web site: Disturbed Give Us "A Reason to Fight" Their Earhole Abuse – MetalSucks. 21 September 2018. 2 October 2018. 3 October 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20181003014031/http://www.metalsucks.net/2018/09/21/disturbed-give-us-a-reason-to-fight-their-earhole-abuse/. live.
  14. Web site: CZ - Radio - Top 20 Modern Rock. hitparada.ifpicr.cz. December 14, 2022. select "Top 20 Modern Rock" into the search box, then select "201905".
  15. Web site: Radio No9 Charts — Month 4/2019. July 10, 2023.
  16. Mexico Airplay. November 24, 2018 . November 18, 2022 . Billboard.
  17. Hot Rock Songs – Year-End 2019. Billboard. March 19, 2020. December 5, 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20191205181023/https://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/2019/hot-rock-songs. live.

This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article "A Reason to Fight".

Except where otherwise indicated, Everything.Explained.Today is © Copyright 2009-2024, A B Cryer, All Rights Reserved. Cookie policy.