Paranoid (song)
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"Paranoid" is a song by Black Sabbath that appears on the band's breakthrough album Paranoid. Supposedly, the members of Black Sabbath put together this song in 15 minutes based on a riff by Tony Iommi. This song was only meant to be a "filler", but became one of Black Sabbath's most successful songs. The record company changed the album's name from War Pigs, as it was originally intended, to Paranoid out of fear of a backlash from supporters of the Vietnam War.
Paranoid is uncharacteristically fast and simple for a Black Sabbath song, and is one of the most-covered songs of all time, including a version by thrash metal band Megadeth. Unlike most of the band's songs, "Paranoid" was short enough (just under 3 minutes) to be released as a single, as well as to receive airplay on mainstream radio. The single was released in the UK in 1970 and it reached the top 5.
Juho Juntunen, editor of Finnish rock magazine Soundi, used to humorously shout "Soittakaa Paranoid!" ("Play Paranoid!") from the audience in various gigs. This manner spread widely and now it is common that someone shouts "Soittakaa Paranoid!" in any gig in Finland, even if they do not know where the joke originated, or have never heard the song. It is similar to requests for Free Bird.
Ozzy had continued to play this song as a solo artist and did a version live with Randy Rhoads, which was released on the live album Tribute.
"Paranoid" was ranked #34 on VH1's Top 40 Metal Songs. In March 2005, Q magazine placed it at number 11 in its list of the 100 Greatest Guitar Tracks.
Trivia
"Paranoid" was heard in the movie DogTown And Z-Boys.Cover versions
- The Dickies (1979)
External Links
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