Satellite (Rise Against song) explained

Satellite
Cover:Rise_Against-Satellite.jpeg
Alt:Cover art for the single "Satellite" by Rise Against.
Type:single
Artist:Rise Against
Album:Endgame
Released:November 1, 2011
Recorded:September 2010 - January 2011 at The Blasting Room, Fort Collins, Colorado
Genre:Melodic hardcore
Length:3:58
Label:DGC, Interscope
Producer:Bill Stevenson, Jason Livermore
Prev Title:Make It Stop (September's Children)
Prev Year:2011
Next Title:I Don't Want to Be Here Anymore
Next Year:2014

"Satellite" is a song by American punk rock band Rise Against, featured on their sixth studio album Endgame (2011). Written by lead vocalist Tim McIlrath, "Satellite" is a melodic hardcore song expressing the idea that the band stood by their social and political beliefs, and that they would not conform to mainstream media. The song first premiered on March 4, 2011 in a webisode series detailing the recording process of Endgame, but was not released as the album's third single until November 1, 2011. The song impacted radio on the same day.[1]

The song was positively received by critics and praised for its passionate lyrics.

Background

"Satellite" was written by lead vocalist Tim McIlrath in collaboration with the song's producers, Bill Stevenson and Jason Livermore. Stevenson and Livermore engineered the song alongside Andrew Berlin, while Chris Lord-Alge served as the mixer. It was recorded at The Blasting Room in Fort Collins, Colorado and mastered by Ted Jensen. Rise Against first unveiled the song on March 9, 2011 a webisode documenting the studio recording sessions for Endgame.[2] The band later released the track as the album's third and final single on November 1.[3]

During the writing process for Endgame, McIlrath noted how he took inspiration from the song "Not Ready to Make Nice" by the country band The Chicks. "Not Ready to Make Nice" was written in response to a controversial statement made by Natalie Maines about then U.S. President George W. Bush. The lyrics for "Satellite" were inspired by the Dixie Chicks song.[4] McIlrath also saw the song as a way of expressing that the band stood by their beliefs and that they wouldn't conform.[5]

Composition

"Satellite" is a melodic hardcore song. John Fortunato of The Aquarian Weekly described the song as a "fist-pounding mantra",[6] while Davey Boy of Sputnikmusic commented on how "Satellite" was produced to "enhance the [album's] melodic nature".

Lyrically, the song features several paradoxes and metaphors, such as "You can't fill your cup, until you empty all it has". According to McIlrath, the song's title comes from the idea that "Rise Against is kind of like a satellite and every once in a while we're in orbit over you - we pop into your lives and play show".[5]

Reception

The song was positively received by critics. Chad Grischow of IGN commented on the "melodic bliss hidden in the [song's] hammering riffs", and noted how "Satellite" and fellow Endgame track "This Is Letting Go" make the album a "tough resist for even those not accustomed to the staggering punk package it wraps it all up in".[7] Boy labeled the song an "infectious sing-along" and praised the track for its fiery and passionate social commentary.[8] Ulf Kubanke of laut.de found "Satellite" to be a perfect pop song, praising its anti-establishment message.[9] However, Alex Young of Consequence of Sound described the song as one of the haphazard moments from the album,[10] while John Gentile of Punknews.org felt that some of the lyrics were clichéd and bland.[11]

Music video

The accompanying music video was directed by Marc Klasfeld,[12] and was released on November 1, 2011.[13] Filmed during numerous Endgame Tour performances, the idea for the video stemmed from the distinct reaction by fans during live performances of the song. In response, the band felt compelled to dedicate the video to their fans.[14] Alongside concert performances, several behind the scenes shots of the concert production crews are also shown.[15]

A mashup video was produced, combining the music video with various motocross riders, including Blake Williams and Robbie Maddison.[16]

Credits and personnel

Credits adapted from the liner notes of Endgame.[17]

Rise Against

Additional backing vocals by Chad Price (All)

Production

Charts

Year-end charts

Notes and References

  1. Web site: AllAccess.com Alternative eWeekly. AllAccess. October 25, 2011. July 3, 2016.
  2. Web site: Rise Against Post New Song "Satellite" In Final In-Studio Webisode. KROQ-FM. March 9, 2011. January 10, 2016.
  3. "Satellite" (CD single). Rise Against. October 18, 2015-->. DGC Records, Interscope Records. 2011.
  4. O'Donnell. Kevin. First Look at Rise Against's Upcoming Album. Spin. December 22, 2010. October 11, 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20150926223347/http://www.spin.com/2010/12/first-look-rise-againsts-upcoming-album/. September 26, 2015. live.
  5. Garner. George. The Ultimate Rise Against Videography. Kerrang!. February 15, 2015. "Satellite" slide. October 11, 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20150104180104/http://www.kerrang.com/24423/ultimate-rise-against-videography-by-tim-mcilrath/. January 4, 2015. live.
  6. News: Fortunato. John. Interview with Tim McIlrath from Rise Against: Prophesying A Favorable 'Endgame'. The Aquarian Weekly. May 4, 2011. October 14, 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20150925221420/http://www.theaquarian.com/2011/05/04/interview-with-tim-mcilrath-from-rise-against-prophesying-a-favorable-%E2%80%98endgame%E2%80%99/. September 25, 2015. live.
  7. Web site: Grischow. Chad. Rise Against: Endgame Review. IGN. March 14, 2011. October 13, 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20150926010447/http://www.ign.com/articles/2011/03/14/rise-against-endgame-review. September 26, 2015. live.
  8. Web site: Boy. Davey. Review: Rise Against - Endgame Sputnikmusic. Sputnikmusic. March 14, 2011. October 13, 2015.
  9. Web site: Kubanke. Ulf. Endgame - Preaching with a Punk Bazooka. German. laut.de. March 11, 2011. January 10, 2015.
  10. Young. Alex. Rise Against - Endgame Consequence of Sound. Consequence of Sound. March 17, 2011. October 13, 2015.
  11. Web site: Gentile. John. Rise Against - Endgame Punknews.org. Punknews.org. March 15, 2011. October 13, 2015.
  12. Web site: Satellite - Rise Against - Vevo. Vevo. October 13, 2015.
  13. Common. Tyler. Rise Against release music video for 'Satellite'. Alternative Press. November 1, 2011. October 13, 2015.
  14. Web site: Satellite New Music Video. riseagainst.com. October 13, 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20140804053725/http://www.riseagainst.com/news/satellite-new-music-video. August 4, 2014. dead.
  15. Web site: Kim. Dave. Rise Against Pay Tribute to Fans in "Satellite" Music Video. WGRD-FM. November 2, 2011. October 13, 2015.
  16. Web site: Wilkie. Jim. Riders mash up in Rise Against video. https://web.archive.org/web/20160306202633/http://xgames.espn.go.com/xgames/action/fmx/article/7691632/rise-mixes-music-motocross-video-satellite. dead. March 6, 2016. X Games. March 15, 2012. November 4, 2015.
  17. Endgame. liner notes. Rise Against. DGC Records, Interscope Records. 2011.
  18. Rock Songs Year End 2012. Billboard. October 11, 2015.