Burn It Down

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Template:Infobox single "Burn It Down" is the third song and lead single off of Linkin Park's fifth studio album, Living Things. It was released to radio and as a digital download on April 16, 2012, and, by the end of 2012, sold over one million units, making it the band's eighth million-selling single. [1]

Background

In an interview with ABCDane.net, Chester Bennington talked about some of the more unexpected reactions the band had gotten in response to "Burn It Down", stating "It’s interesting, since ‘BURN IT DOWN’ was released, we’ve been getting a lot of e-mails from people saying something like, ‘I can finally work out to your music again.’ It’s something we never even considered while making this album. You don’t really think, ‘This song is perfect for doing push-ups to!’ or ‘I can’t wait to jog while playing this song.’ But it made us happy to hear these things, because it meant that this album has a lot of energy." [2]

Mike Shinoda went into detail about some of the themes explored on "Burn It Down", and how important it is for the listener to derive their own meanings from the lyrics, stating "You know, to be honest, we get the songs to a certain point, and once we put out our record, it's up to the fans to decide how the song gets finished. In other words, we lead you to a certain point in the road and we say, "Okay, the rest of it is your call. You bring your own interpretation to the song." In the case of most of these songs, I think Chester (Bennington) is coming from a certain place, I'm coming from my own experience, and on top of that, there are oftentimes metaphor and maybe a third read. In the case of "Burn it Down," we're talking about my personal story and his personal story, and there's also a layer of pop culture that plays a role in the lyrics of the song. For example, people build up a certain celebrity or musician or actor or whatever and they're popular one minute and the next thing, you know either they've done something wrong or they've done nothing wrong and there's just a bad rumor that goes around about them and then everybody's attacking that person. That's just the way things are. We've actually lived through that as a band. All that stuff plays a role."[3]

Remix

"Burn It Down", by far, has gotten the most remixes compared to any other song from Living Things, and most songs in Linkin Park's discography, with a grand total of 12 remixes. The song had one remix released on the band's second remix album, Recharged, done by Tom Swoon, in addition to a remix done by Paul Van Dyk, which was included as a pre-order bonus for the remix album. To promote the album, Paul Van Dyk and Mike Shinoda held a chat with fans on Twitter.[4] During the chat, Mike said he has never met Paul Van Dyk in person[5] and Paul said his favorite part about working on the remix was "taking this fantastic track to the dance floor!".[6]

The track also had four remixes released as a part of the Living Things Remix Subscription, which was a reward for pre-ordering Living Things. In addition to the remixes by Tom Swoon and Paul Van Dyk, remixes done by RAC and Bobina were included in the subscription. The Bobina remix was actually a fan made remix given away for free download after his Facebook profile reached 50000 fans. The band liked the remix so much that they decided to present it to fans along with the Rad Omen remix of "Roads Untraveled".[7] A month before, Mike had been asking for good fan remixes of Living Things songs on Twitter.[8]

Even more remixes for the song were released as a part of the Burn It Down Remixes promo CD, which included the aforementioned remixes, barring Tom Swoon's, and included remixes by Hann With Gunn, Double Dust, Heavy Burn, Arya Shani, and John Reaper. A few of those remixes were also fan made and were previously released by the artists themselves.[9] The Hann With Gunn remix was given to Linkin Park on a meet and greet during their European Tour in 2012. When Arya Shani's remix was released, he was only 13 years old.[10]

The CD also included two more versions of Paul Van Dyk's remix, both of which cut Mike's rap, but one was considered a "radio edit", which cut the length of the remix in half. Finally, over three years after the song was released, one final remix of "Burn It Down" was released, done by Charly Beck. It wasn't included on any official releases from the band, but was later released digitally with the consent of Linkin Park's label, Warner Bros. Records. According to Martin von Auen, who worked as producer on Beck's remix, it took eight weeks until they heard back from Linkin Park.[11]

A few other remixes of the song were said to have been done, but remain unreleased. Mike Shinoda said that he would do a remix for the track, but it was never released. In addition, Tech N9ne recorded a verse for a "Burn It Down" remix, but the track was never released.

Tracklist

CD Single

No. Title Writer(s) Length
1 Burn It Down Linkin Park 3:51
2 New Divide (Live) Linkin Park 4:29
3 In The End (Live) Linkin Park 3:39
4 What I've Done (Live) Linkin Park 4:04

Music Video

Versions

Note: Only the date of the very first release of each version is listed.

Studio

Title Album Length Recorded Released Notes
Burn It Down Burn It Down

Living Things

Burn It Down Remixes

NOW: The Hits Of Spring 2012

3:50 March 2011 – April 2012 April 16, 2012
  • Listed on Burn It Down Remixes as "Burn It Down (Main)".
Burn It Down (Instrumental) Living Things (Acapellas and Instrumentals) 3:50 2012 September 11, 2012
  • Official instrumental version.
Burn It Down (Instrumental) Burn It Down Remixes 4:11 2012 2012
  • Extended instrumental version.
  • Unofficial.
Burn It Down (Acapella) Living Things (Acapellas and Instrumentals)

Burn It Down Remixes

2:56 2012 September 11, 2012
  • Official acapella version.

Remix

Title Album Length Recorded Released Notes
Burn It Down (RAC Remix) Living Things Remixed

Burn It Down Remixes

3:33 2012 January 6, 2012
  • Remix by André Allen Anjos.
  • Released as part of the Living Things Remix Subscription on January 6, 2012.
Burn It Down (Swoon Remix) Living Things Remixed

Recharged

4:47 2012 August 7, 2012
  • Remix by Tom Swoon.
  • Released as part of the Living Things Remix Subscription on August 7, 2012.
  • Listed on Recharged as "Burn It Down (Tom Swoon Remix)".
Burn It Down (Bobina Remix) Living Things Remixed

Burn It Down Remixes

5:21 2012 September 13, 2012
Burn It Down (Paul Van Dyk Remix) Living Things Remixed

Burn It Down Remixes

Recharged

8:00 2012 July 7, 2012
  • Remix by Paul Van Dyk.
  • Released as part of the Living Things Remix Subscription on July 7, 2012.
Burn It Down (Paul Van Dyk Radio Edit) (No Rap) Burn It Down Remixes 4:03 2012 2012
  • Remix by Paul Van Dyk.
  • Radio edit.
  • Lacks Mike's rap.
  • Used in the alternative "Burn It Down" music video for the remix.
Burn It Down (Paul Van Dyk Remix) (No Rap) Burn It Down Remixes 7:32 2012 2012
  • Remix by Paul Van Dyk.
  • Lacks Mike's rap.
Burn It Down (Hann With Gun Remix) Burn It Down Remixes 4:11 2012 June 22, 2012
  • Remix by Hann With Gun.
  • Released on PromoDJ.com for free download on June 22, 2012.
Burn It Down (Double Dust Remix) Burn It Down Remixes 5:00 2012 May 8, 2012
Burn It Down (Heavy Burn Remix) Burn It Down Remixes 6:27 2012 2012
  • Remix by Heavy Burn.
Burn It Down (Arya Shani Remix) Burn It Down Remixes 6:02 2012 July 2, 2012
Burn It Down (John Reaper Remix) Burn It Down Remixes 3:12 2012 2012
  • Remix by John Reaper.
Burn It Down (feat. Linkin Park) Burn It Down (feat. Linkin Park)

Club Fever 2016

3:13 2015 November 13, 2015
  • Remix by Charly Beck.
  • Produced by Martin Von Auen.

Live

Title Album Length Recorded Released Notes
Burn It Down (Live Rock Im Park 2012) Living Things (AU Tour Edition)

Castle Of Glass (Digital EP)

4:01 June 03, 2012 February 11, 2013
Burn It Down Live At Admiralspalast Berlin, Germany June 05, 2012 March 29, 2013
  • DVD only.
  • Living Things+ bonus DVD.
Burn It Down Live In Monterrey September 12, 2012 June 13, 2014
  • DVD only.
  • The Hunting Party bonus DVD.
  • Live show filmed at Arena Monterrey in Monterrey, Mexico on September 12, 2012.
Burn It Down (Live In LA 9.8.12) The Hunting Party (Xbox Music) 3:57 September 08, 2012 June 21, 2014

Live

"Burn It Down" got its live debut during the band's KROQ Dressing Room rehearsal, from which point onwards, it was a staple in the band's live set. It was played at every full show, and most shortened and award shows, throughout the Living Things cycle. During the band's European festival run in 2012, "Burn It Down" was used to open the encore at headlining shows, and followed "The Catalyst" at the festival shows. It was the only full song to be played during the band's short run in Japan following the European tour, and was performed twice when the band performed on Jimmy Kimmel Live. The position of "Burn It Down" in the sets for Honda Civic Tour's setlists was very similar to its positions during the European tour, opening the encore in Set A, following "Numb", and later "What I've Done", in Set B, and being played after "The Catalyst", and later "What I've Done", in Set C. The sets for 2013 kept "Burn It Down" in the same position, except it didn't open the encore in festival Set A, since that set didn't have an encore. Instead, it was played after "What I've Done".

2014 kept things pretty simple for "Burn It Down" at first. During the short, three show run the band went on in January, "Burn It Down" was played after "In The End" for the private launch show for Harman Infinity One and the Concert for the Philippines benefit show, and was played after "What I've Done" for the headlining show. Despite the experimental start to The Hunting Party touring cycle, "Burn It Down" was one of the few songs that wasn't shortened or given a new intro or outro. The standard, studio version was played after "Joe Solo" until Set B of the Carnivores Tour debuted, where it was shortened to exclude the first chorus and second verse, as well as given a new, short extended intro, since it opened the encore. These sets were played at every full show for the rest of 2014. At the band's first show in Brazil for The Hunting Party cycle, "Burn It Down" was plagued with technical difficulties, including the opening synth being played in the wrong key, the wrong synth playing during the verse and chorus, and Mike forgetting to start his rap bridge, so Chester started singing the second verse. Right as Chester began, though, Mike started the rap. At the 12th LPU Summit in Amsterdam, a new version of "Burn It Down" was played with a different beat dubbed the "Reggae Version". "Burn It Down" was played second at both Live 105's Not So Silent Night and KROQ Almost Acoustic Christmas 2014, right after "Joe Solo". For a private show at LP Underground HQ, "Burn It Down" was played acoustically for the first and only time, alongside "LOATR/SOTD/Iridescent" and "Final Masquerade". The two sets for the 2015 North American tour had "Burn It Down" in the same positions as the sets for Carnivores Tour. At Rock In Rio USA, "Burn It Down" was played after "New Divide" in the shortened, new set. The full version of this set had "Burn It Down" coming out of a shortened form of "Darker Than Blood", which featured only the first verse and chorus acapella over a droning synth.

Variations

Last Updated: December 25, 2015

Type Description First Played Last Played
Intro Swirl Intro August 12, 2014 January 17, 2015
Intro Pre-song Jam November 7, 2014 November 7, 2014
Alternative Reggae Version August 1, 2013 November 7, 2014
Intro Shortened August 12, 2014 January 17, 2015

Live Guests

Last Updated: December 26, 2015

  • Benjamin Chandler (replacing Brad Delson)
  • Warren Willis (replacing Joe Hahn)

Promotion

Awards and Nominations

Year Award Category Status
2012 MTV Video Music Awards Best Rock Video Nominated
2012 MTV Video Music Awards Best Visual Effects Nominated
2014 World Music Awards World's Best Song Nominated
2014 World Music Awards World's Best Video Nominated

Personnel

Lyrics

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The cycle repeated
As explosions broke in the sky
All that I needed
Was the one thing I couldn't find
 
And you were there at the turn
Waiting to let me know
 
We're building it up
To break it back down
We're building it up
To burn it down
We can't wait
To burn it to the ground
 
The colors conflicted
As the flames climbed into the clouds
I wanted to fix this
But couldn't stop from tearing it down
 
And you were caught at the turn
Caught in the burning glow
And I was there at the turn
Waiting to let you know
 
You told me yes / You held me high
And I believed when you told that lie
I played that soldier / You played king
And struck me down when I kissed that ring
You lost that right / to hold that crown
I built you up but you let me down
So when you fall / I'll take my turn
And fan the flames as your blazes burn
 
And you were there at the turn
Waiting to let me know
 
We're building it up
To break it back down
We're building it up
To burn it down
We can't wait
To burn it to the ground
 
When you fall / I'll take my turn
And fan the flames as your blazes burn
We can't wait
To burn it to the ground [x2]

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Wait at the turn [x15]
Wait-ait-ait

We're building it up
To break it back down
We're building it up
To burn it down
We can't wait
To burn it to the ground

(Come)

Wait at the turn [x14]
Whoa

We're building it up
To break it back down
We're building it up

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Template:Collapse top

The cycle repeated
As explosions broke in the sky
All that I needed
Was the one thing I couldn’t find

And you were there at the turn
Waiting to let me know

The colors conflicted
As the flames climbed into the clouds
I wanted to fix this
But couldn’t stop from tearing it down

And you were there at the turn
Caught in the burning glow
And I was there at the turn
Waiting to let you know

We’re building it up
To break it back down
We’re building it up
To burn it down
We can’t wait
To burn it to the ground

You told me yes, you held me high
And I believed when you told that lie
I played soldier, you played king
And struck me down when I kissed that ring
You lost that right to hold that crown
I built you up but you let me down
So when you fall I’ll take my turn
And fan the flames as your blazes burn

And you were there at the turn
Caught in the burning glow
And I was there at the turn
Waiting to let you know

We’re building it up
To break it back down
We’re building it up
To burn it down
We can’t wait
To burn it to the ground

We can’t wait
To burn it to the ground

We can’t wait
To burn it to the ground

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In Other Media

  • "Burn It Down" was released in 2012 as part of a DLC for the 2010 videogame Rock Band 3.
  • "Burn It Down" is featured in the 2012 videogame Linkin Park GP.
  • "Burn It Down" was featured in the promo teaser for the 2012 NBA Playoffs.
  • A remix of "Burn It Down" by Bobina was featured in the 2013 NBA Playoffs.

External Links

  • Burn It Down (Music Video): LPTV | MTV | VK
  • Burn It Down (Lyric Video): LPTV
  • Burn It Down (By Jemga): Genero.tv [winner of Create Your Own "Burn It Down" Music Video [1]contest]
  • Burn It Down (Rio+Social 2012) - The Live Room

References