System Of A Down’s “Chop Suey”, off the band’s 2001 album Toxicity, is undoubtedly one of the most popular post-millennium rock // metal songs. The numbers as well as the hilarious memes that the song (and band, in general) have spawned says more than enough. And for Serj Tankian, the opening line of “Wake up // grab a brush and put a little makeup” is apparently truly inescapable, as he revealed in a recent interview.
Yes, this is a thing that absolutely happens, apparently. As Loudwire helpfully transcribed, Serj revealed in the video (which you can see just after the 31-minute mark) how the interactions go sometimes, saying:
“People will scare the shit outta me and yell ‘wake up’ behind me like, somewhere, wherever, in public. (They’re) like ‘WAKE UP!” (and) I’m like ‘Fuck, dude!… Really?!??'” Tankian opens his eyes wide in mock disbelief. “‘Like, wow.’ Hey… I’m glad you’re excited, but don’t do that! I get it though … I get that a lot. But you know, it is very intriguing, it is the biggest compliment in the world… that anyone would listen to your music…(And) the best thing for me to see is multi-generational listeners, like a father with his son, or a grandfather with a father, that is happening as we get older… and just seeing that is so fucking beautiful… for us to have that kind of memorable… penetration thru people’s psyche for so many decades. I think (it’s) incredible.”
Honestly, amazing. He’s also working on new solo material at the moment, though there’s no word on any new System Of A Down music of any sort.
