Friendly Fire (song) explained

Friendly Fire
Cover:Friendly Fire cover art.jpg
Border:yes
Type:single
Artist:Linkin Park
Album:Papercuts (Singles Collection 2000–2023)
Genre:
Label:Warner
Producer:
  • Brad Delson
  • Mike Shinoda
Prev Title:Fighting Myself
Prev Year:2023
Next Title:Qwerty
Next Year:2024

"Friendly Fire" is a song by American rock band Linkin Park. Originally recorded during sessions for their seventh studio album, One More Light (2017), it was later officially released on February 23, 2024, as the lead single from the greatest hits album Papercuts (Singles Collection 2000–2023). It appears as the 20th and final track on the album itself.

Background

In June 2020, Linkin Park member and co-founder Mike Shinoda revealed the existence of a song that contained Chester Bennington's vocals made during the recording sessions for the band's seventh studio album, One More Light (2017). The song, titled "Friendly Fire", was composed by Shinoda, the band's guitarist Brad Delson, and musician Jon Green,[1] the latter who also served as co-writer of two other songs on the album, "Nobody Can Save Me" and "Battle Symphony". Shinoda, however, mentioned that it would be "years" before it would be released.[2] Shinoda and Delson did additional recording in December 2023 to finish the song for release, having been inspired to revisit the song while they were putting together the album.[3]

Composition

Eli Enis of Revolver described "Friendly Fire" as "[fitting] right in" with the electropop sound of One More Light.

Release

On February 19, 2024, Linkin Park released a series of images and videos on their social media channels revealing a 30-second audio clip of "Friendly Fire";[4] they also made a preview of the song available on their SoundCloud page the next day.[5] "Friendly Fire" was then released digitally on February 23, 2024, as well as in CD single format in Germany.[6] [7] The song is featured as the 20th and final track of Papercuts (Singles Collection 2000–2023), a greatest hits album of the band's career that was released on April 12, 2024.[8]

Music video

The music video for the song was released simultaneously with the song itself. It is made up of footage of the band during the One More Light recording sessions, particularly Bennington singing his parts for the song, backstage footage, as well as live performance clips from the One More Light tour.[9]

Personnel

Linkin Park

Additional musicians

Technical

Charts

Chart (2024)! scope="col"
Peak
position
Australia Digital Tracks (ARIA)[10] 39
Canada Rock (Billboard)[11] 17
France Radio (SNEP)[12] 9
Japan Hot Overseas (Billboard Japan)[13] 16
New Zealand Hot Singles (RMNZ)[14] 11
UK Physical Singles (OCC)[15] 10
UK Singles Sales (OCC)[16] 31
US Digital Song Sales (Billboard)[17] 22
Venezuela (Record Report)[18] 42

Release history

Region! scope="col"
DateFormatLabel
VariousFebruary 23, 2024Warner[19]
GermanyCD single
ItalyRadio airplay[20]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Linkin Park Have At Least One Unreleased Song With Chester Bennington's Vocals. Kerrang!. June 24, 2020. February 27, 2024.
  2. Web site: Linkin Park Have an Unreleased Song With Chester Bennington. Loudwire. Joe. DiVita. June 23, 2020. February 27, 2024.
  3. Web site: BEHIND THE SONG: FRIENDLY FIRE - Linkin Park. YouTube. Linkin Park. March 29, 2024. July 30, 2024.
  4. Web site: Linkin Park Share New Teaser With Chester Bennington's Vocals. Loudwire. Philip. Trapp. February 19, 2024. February 27, 2024.
  5. Web site: Linkin Park announces “Friendly Fire” with Chester Bennington. WECB. February 20, 2024. February 27, 2024.
  6. Web site: Hear Linkin Park's newly unearthed song "Friendly Fire" featuring Chester Bennington vocals. Revolver. Eli. Enis. February 23, 2024. February 27, 2024.
  7. Web site: Friendly Fire Linkin Park CD. EMP. February 23, 2024.
  8. Web site: Linkin Park Announces Papercuts Greatest Hits Album, Unveils Never-Before-Released Song 'Friendly Fire': Listen. Billboard. Jason. Lipshutz. February 23, 2024. February 27, 2024.
  9. Web site: Linkin Park have released a previously unheard track, Friendly Fire. Kerrang!. Nick. Ruskell. February 23, 2024. February 27, 2024.
  10. The ARIA Report: Week Commencing 4 March 2024. The ARIA Report. Australian Recording Industry Association. 1774. 9. 4 March 2024.
  11. Web site: Linkin Park Chart History (Canada Rock). Billboard. April 30, 2024.
  12. Web site: Top Singles Radio (Week 20, 2024). SNEP. French. May 21, 2024.
  13. Web site: Billboard Japan Hot Overseas – Week of March 6, 2024. Billboard Japan. ja. March 6, 2024.
  14. Web site: NZ Hot Singles Chart. Recorded Music NZ. March 4, 2024. March 1, 2024.
  15. Web site: Official Physical Singles Sales Chart Top 100. Official Charts Company. June 14, 2024.
  16. Web site: Official Singles Sales Chart. Official Charts Company. March 1, 2024. March 1, 2024.
  17. Web site: Linkin Park Chart History (Digital Song Sales). Billboard. March 6, 2024.
  18. Web site: Top 100 - Record Report. Record Report. May 4, 2024. https://web.archive.org/web/20240504202808/https://www.recordreport.com.ve/publico/top100/. May 4, 2024. live.
  19. News: Tiller . Joe . Linkin Park Announce Singles Collection, Share 'Friendly Fire': Listen . March 1, 2024 . Dig! . February 23, 2024.
  20. Web site: Morandi . Anna Marzia . Linkin Park - Friendly Fire (Radio Date: 23-02-2024) . EarOne . March 1, 2024 . it . February 23, 2024.