Leader of Men
Encyclopedia
"Leader of Men" is the title of a song recorded by Canadian rock
band Nickelback
. It was released in March 2000 as lead single from the 2000 album, The State
. It served to be Nickelback breakthrough hit single. The music video was the band playing in the recording room while outside a riot was taking place. The band's first successful single, the song reached the US rock charts, peaking at number eight on Mainstream Rock Tracks
and number 21 on Modern Rock Tracks
.
peaking at number 8. The single stay in the top ten for 10 weeks. "Leader of Men" helped the band gain mainstream popularity and brought them to a new audience.
, the band's frontman, has said that the song is about a time he possibly saved the life of a friend.
"The song starts off, 'Tell your friends not to think aloud until they swallow'," Kroeger says.
On the other hand, at some stops during Nickelback's 2002 Tour, Chad Kroeger would introduce the song by saying, "This is a song about tripping on 'shrooms, or sometimes, a song about magic mushrooms. This one's called 'Leader of Men'." There was a prototype song called The Shroom Song, with slightly different lyrics.
Rock music
Rock music is a genre of popular music that developed during and after the 1960s, particularly in the United Kingdom and the United States. It has its roots in 1940s and 1950s rock and roll, itself heavily influenced by rhythm and blues and country music...
band Nickelback
Nickelback
Nickelback is a Canadian rock band from Hanna, Alberta. Since 1995 the band has included guitarist and lead vocalist Chad Kroeger, guitarist and back-up vocalist Ryan Peake and bassist Mike Kroeger.. The band's current drummer and percussionist is Daniel Adair who has been with the band since 2005....
. It was released in March 2000 as lead single from the 2000 album, The State
The State (album)
-Singles:-Release history:-Charts:Album - Billboard -Certifications:*USA: 1,000,000 copies *Canada: 100,000 copies *Worldwide sales: 1,100,000 copies...
. It served to be Nickelback breakthrough hit single. The music video was the band playing in the recording room while outside a riot was taking place. The band's first successful single, the song reached the US rock charts, peaking at number eight on Mainstream Rock Tracks
Mainstream Rock Tracks
Hot Mainstream Rock Tracks is a ranking in Billboard magazine of the most-played songs on mainstream rock radio stations, a category that includes stations that play primarily rock music. Modern rock tracks are counted in the Alternative Songs chart.This chart began with the March 21, 1981, issue...
and number 21 on Modern Rock Tracks
Modern Rock Tracks
Alternative Songs is a music chart in the United States that has appeared in Billboard magazine since September 10, 1988. It lists the 40 most-played songs on modern rock radio stations, most of which are alternative rock songs...
.
Chart Success
The single proved to be Nickelback first hit single. Bringing Nickelback commercial success for the first time. The single reach the top ten of the Mainstream Rock TracksMainstream Rock Tracks
Hot Mainstream Rock Tracks is a ranking in Billboard magazine of the most-played songs on mainstream rock radio stations, a category that includes stations that play primarily rock music. Modern rock tracks are counted in the Alternative Songs chart.This chart began with the March 21, 1981, issue...
peaking at number 8. The single stay in the top ten for 10 weeks. "Leader of Men" helped the band gain mainstream popularity and brought them to a new audience.
Meaning
Chad KroegerChad Kroeger
Chad Robert Kroeger is aCanadian songwriter, singer, and guitarist best known as the lead vocalist and guitarist for the Canadian rock band Nickelback...
, the band's frontman, has said that the song is about a time he possibly saved the life of a friend.
The line about jumping off a cliff to save a girl — that really happened. Some of my friends and I were cliff diving. One of my friends, Kathy, was getting swept downstream and couldn't stay afloat - she wasn't a strong swimmer. So I jumped in, swam down to her and pulled her ashore.- Chad Kroeger
"The song starts off, 'Tell your friends not to think aloud until they swallow'," Kroeger says.
What that line implies is that usually what you say after you start tripping is far more interesting than what you're going to say when you're dead straight. A lot of the lines in the song are about what you're going through while you're zooming.- Chad Kroeger
On the other hand, at some stops during Nickelback's 2002 Tour, Chad Kroeger would introduce the song by saying, "This is a song about tripping on 'shrooms, or sometimes, a song about magic mushrooms. This one's called 'Leader of Men'." There was a prototype song called The Shroom Song, with slightly different lyrics.
Track listings
- "Leader of Men"
- "Leader of Men" [acoustic]
- "Just Four" [from the album CurbCurb (album)Curb is the first studio album by Canadian rock band Nickelback. Originally self-released by the band on May 1, 1996, the album was later reissued by Roadrunner in 2002, with a different album cover. The songs "Where?", "Fly", "Left" and "Window Shopper" had previously been released on the band's...
]
Charts
| Chart (2000) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Canadian RPM Rock/Alternative Chart RPM (magazine) RPM was a Canadian music industry publication that featured song and album charts for Canada. The publication was founded by Walt Grealis in February 1964, supported through its existence by record label owner Stan Klees. RPM ceased publication in November 2000.RPM stood for "Records, Promotion,... |
11 |
| U.S. Billboard Mainstream Rock Tracks Mainstream Rock Tracks Hot Mainstream Rock Tracks is a ranking in Billboard magazine of the most-played songs on mainstream rock radio stations, a category that includes stations that play primarily rock music. Modern rock tracks are counted in the Alternative Songs chart.This chart began with the March 21, 1981, issue... |
8 |
| U.S. Billboard Modern Rock Tracks Modern Rock Tracks Alternative Songs is a music chart in the United States that has appeared in Billboard magazine since September 10, 1988. It lists the 40 most-played songs on modern rock radio stations, most of which are alternative rock songs... |
21 |