.gif)
Minerva (song)
Encyclopedia
"Minerva" is a song by American alternative metal
band Deftones
and the lead single
from their fourth studio album, Deftones
. Released in April 2003, it charted at #9 on Billboard's Modern Rock Tracks
chart, #16 on the Mainstream Rock Tracks
chart, and #15 on the UK Singles Chart
. It is the band's highest charting single worldwide, but is their 2nd-highest charting in the U.S.
As the lead single of Deftones, "Minerva" features a far more commercially appealing sound than its brutal successor, "Hexagram
". The uplifting song contains clean vocals, plentiful use of harmonies
, and a heavy yet soaring chorus.
The video
for "Minerva," directed by Paul Fedor, is notable for its similarity to Pink Floyd
's Live at Pompeii concert film. The band is featured playing the song on a desert like landscape backed by various amplifiers and other stage equipment. It was filmed near the Salton Sea
in southern California
in 2003, during a sandstorm
. The filming process itself was fraught with problems, as the sand caused problems with the recording equipment and lighting set-up. The shoot eventually took 22 hours to complete, with Abe Cunningham
saying that "[the shoot] sucked" and Chi Cheng
calling it "terrible", but conceding that "it [is] a trippy video. I actually like it a lot".
The second and third tracks are covers. "Sinatra", written by Page Hamilton
, was originally performed by Helmet
on 1990's Strap It On
, while "Sleep Walk" is a cover of a highly popular 1959 single by Santo & Johnny
.
. It was also featured in the soundtrack for the 2005 remake House Of Wax
. It was also made available as downloadable content for the Rock Band
series on June 8, 2010. The song was also featured in the Video Game True Crime: Streets of LA
.
Alternative metal
Alternative metal is a genre of alternative rock and heavy metal that gained popularity in the early 1990s. Most notably, alternative metal bands are characterized by heavy guitar riffs and experimental approaches to heavy music.-Origins:...
band Deftones
Deftones
Deftones are an American alternative metal band from Sacramento, California, founded in 1988. The band consists of Chino Moreno , Stephen Carpenter , Chi Cheng , Frank Delgado , and Abe Cunningham . Currently Sergio Vega is standing in on bass while Cheng recovers from a car accident...
and the lead single
Lead single
A lead single is usually the first single released by a musician or a band before the release of its home album.During the era of the grammophone record, all music arrived in the marketplace as what is now termed a single, one potential hit song backed by an additional song of generally less...
from their fourth studio album, Deftones
Deftones (album)
Deftones was well received by critics earning an aggregate rating of 74 on Metacritic. The music website Sputnikmusic gave it a perfect score and praised the band for have returned to their heavy sound without leaving behind their experimental side, lauding also Moreno's abstract lyrics and the...
. Released in April 2003, it charted at #9 on Billboard's 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, #16 on the 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...
chart, and #15 on the UK Singles Chart
UK Singles Chart
The UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ...
. It is the band's highest charting single worldwide, but is their 2nd-highest charting in the U.S.
As the lead single of Deftones, "Minerva" features a far more commercially appealing sound than its brutal successor, "Hexagram
Hexagram (song)
"Hexagram" is a song by alternative metal band Deftones and the second single from their eponymous fourth album. The song failed to chart on the Modern and Mainstream rock charts in America and charted at a low #68 in the UK, which could be seen as a testament to its non-commercial sound...
". The uplifting song contains clean vocals, plentiful use of harmonies
Vocal harmony
Vocal harmony is a style of vocal music in which a consonant note or notes are sung at the same time as a main melody in a predominantly homophonic texture. Vocal harmonies are used in many subgenres of European art music, including Classical choral music and opera and in the popular styles from...
, and a heavy yet soaring chorus.
Music video
Music video
A music video or song video is a short film integrating a song and imagery, produced for promotional or artistic purposes. Modern music videos are primarily made and used as a marketing device intended to promote the sale of music recordings...
for "Minerva," directed by Paul Fedor, is notable for its similarity to Pink Floyd
Pink Floyd
Pink Floyd were an English rock band that achieved worldwide success with their progressive and psychedelic rock music. Their work is marked by the use of philosophical lyrics, sonic experimentation, innovative album art, and elaborate live shows. Pink Floyd are one of the most commercially...
's Live at Pompeii concert film. The band is featured playing the song on a desert like landscape backed by various amplifiers and other stage equipment. It was filmed near the Salton Sea
Salton Sea
The Salton Sea is a shallow, saline, endorheic rift lake located directly on the San Andreas Fault, predominantly in California's Imperial Valley. The lake occupies the lowest elevations of the Salton Sink in the Colorado Desert of Imperial and Riverside counties in Southern California. Like Death...
in southern California
Southern California
Southern California is a megaregion, or megapolitan area, in the southern area of the U.S. state of California. Large urban areas include Greater Los Angeles and Greater San Diego. The urban area stretches along the coast from Ventura through the Southland and Inland Empire to San Diego...
in 2003, during a sandstorm
Dust storm
A dust / sand storm is a meteorological phenomenon common in arid and semi-arid regions. Dust storms arise when a gust front or other strong wind blows loose sand and dirt from a dry surface. Particles are transported by saltation and suspension, causing soil to move from one place and deposition...
. The filming process itself was fraught with problems, as the sand caused problems with the recording equipment and lighting set-up. The shoot eventually took 22 hours to complete, with Abe Cunningham
Abe Cunningham
Abe Cunningham, , is an American musician, he is the drummer of the alternative metal band Deftones. He is known for his use of ghost notes and other technical drumming techniques.-Biography:...
saying that "[the shoot] sucked" and Chi Cheng
Chi Cheng (musician)
Chi Cheng, is a Chinese American musician, best known as the bass guitarist for the American band Deftones.-Personal life:...
calling it "terrible", but conceding that "it [is] a trippy video. I actually like it a lot".
Track listing
- "Minerva" – 4:17 (DeftonesDeftonesDeftones are an American alternative metal band from Sacramento, California, founded in 1988. The band consists of Chino Moreno , Stephen Carpenter , Chi Cheng , Frank Delgado , and Abe Cunningham . Currently Sergio Vega is standing in on bass while Cheng recovers from a car accident...
) - "Sinatra" – 4:34 (HamiltonPage HamiltonPage Hamilton is a guitarist, singer and record producer, mostly noted for his work with alternative metal band Helmet...
) - "Sleep Walk" – 2:30 (Farina/Farina)
The second and third tracks are covers. "Sinatra", written by Page Hamilton
Page Hamilton
Page Hamilton is a guitarist, singer and record producer, mostly noted for his work with alternative metal band Helmet...
, was originally performed by Helmet
Helmet (band)
Helmet is an alternative metal band from New York City formed in 1989. Founded by vocalist and lead guitarist Page Hamilton, Helmet has had numerous lineup changes, and Hamilton has been the only constant member....
on 1990's Strap It On
Strap It On (album)
Strap It On is the first album by Helmet. Originally released in 1990 through Amphetamine Reptile Records, it was subsequently rereleased by Interscope in November 1991....
, while "Sleep Walk" is a cover of a highly popular 1959 single by Santo & Johnny
Santo & Johnny
Santo & Johnny were an Italian-American rock and roll duo from Brooklyn, New York, comprising brothers Santo and Johnny Farina.They are best known for their instrumental "Sleep Walk", which became a regional hit and eventually reached the top of the Billboard pop chart when it was released...
.
Appearances in other media
Minerva appeared on the soundtrack for NHL 2004NHL 2004
NHL 2004, developed by the EA Black Box studios, is an ice hockey video game. It is the successor to NHL 2003 and is widely considered to be a major turning point in the NHL series. The game adds 3 European Elite Leagues: Germany's Deutsche Eishockey Liga , Sweden's Elitserien , and Finland's...
. It was also featured in the soundtrack for the 2005 remake House Of Wax
House of Wax (2005 film)
House of Wax is a 2005 horror film directed by Jaume Collet-Serra. It shares the name of a 1953 horror film, which was a remake of the 1933 film Mystery of the Wax Museum. It was released in theaters on May 6, 2005 to negative reviews, but a financial success...
. It was also made available as downloadable content for the Rock Band
Rock Band
Rock Band is a music video game developed by Harmonix Music Systems, published by MTV Games and Electronic Arts. It is the first title in the Rock Band series. The PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 versions were released in the United States on November 20, 2007, while the PlayStation 2 version was...
series on June 8, 2010. The song was also featured in the Video Game True Crime: Streets of LA
True Crime: Streets of LA
True Crime: Streets of LA is an action-adventure video game developed by Luxoflux and published by Activision for the Xbox, PlayStation 2 and GameCube in November 2003 and the first game in the True Crime series...
.