My Sunday Song #423 is from the Rap Metal/Nu Metal band Hollywood Undead. The song is “Been to Hell” and is off their 2011 album ‘American Tragedy’. “Been to Hell” was released as a single on February 5, 2001 as a free download, 2 months prior to the album, and as a single on March 15 of the same year. It went to #13 on the US Heatseeker Songs and #2 on the Bubbling Under Hot 100 chart just missing the Hot 100. It was #5 on the AOL Top 10 Rock Songs of 2011. All-in-all, it did quite well as it even caught my ear. Not a genre I got in to much, but there is something about this band that I just love.
The song was written by the band and was inspired during the 2010 US Recession which hit California hard, which is where these guys are from. The song is about how so many come out to L.A. and Hollywood looking for fame and fortune and yet get eaten alive and spit right back out. It is a place where dreams become nightmares. It is the truth they want to tell to make sure people know what really goes on in Tinsel town.
The band is Daniel “Danny” Murillo – lead vocals, Jorel “J-Dog” Decker – rap vocals, Matthew “Da Kurlzz” Busek – Hype vocals, Dylan “Funny Man”/”King Kong” Alvarez – rap vocals, George “Johnny 3 Tears” Ragan – Rap vocals and Joron “Charlie Scene” Terrell – vocals & guitar. I love how they share the vocals and each verse is rapped by someone different. The guitars are heavy as hell, the electronics programming is simply stellar giving a great beat, a catchy melody and the percussion is powerful. Like I said, not a genre I follow, but there is something powerful about the lyrics and the music that sucks you right in. There is an honesty to it and an authenticity that comes through that will speak to you. And it makes a great song to cruise down the road with the windows down and turned up to 11.
Give the song a listen and let me know what you think. I am sure it won’t be for everyone, but I think they are worth hearing and you never know, maybe you’ll dig it like I do!!
“BEEN TO HELL”
Welcome to a city that’ll bring you to your knees
It’ll make you beg for more until you can’t even breathe
Your blindfold is on tight, but you like what you see
So follow me into the night ’cause I got just what you need
We’re all rolling down the boulevard full of pimps and sharks
It’s a motherfucking riot we’ve been dying to start
You better grab a hold ’cause now you know you’re falling apart
You thought these streets were paved in gold, but they’re dirty and dark
Been to hell, I can show you the devil
Down you fell, can’t hold yourself together
Soul to sell, down here you live forever
Welcome to a world where dreams become nightmares
Been to hell, I can show you the devil
Down you fell, can’t hold yourself together
Soul to sell, down here you live forever
Welcome to a world where dreams become nightmares
Welcome
Welcome
In the belly of the beast, I’m a wolf amongst the sheep
At the bottom of the hill, but at the top of the street
Above the boulevard, schoolyard, victim of deceit
And you’re running hard, but this wolf, it’s always at your feet
Yeah, you’ve seen it all before, but the wolf’s outside your door
And you’re old enough to run, you ain’t hiding anymore
Another victim of the Star-Spangled Banner of the street
Now you’re in the world of wolves, and we welcome all you sheep
Been to hell, I can show you the devil
Down you fell, can’t hold yourself together
Soul to sell, down here you live forever
Welcome to a world where dreams become nightmares
Been to hell, I can show you the devil
Down you fell, can’t hold yourself together
Soul to sell, down here you live forever
Welcome to a world where dreams become nightmares
Welcome
Welcome
You need to wake up and face it so you can taste my reality
Now you’re stuck in this place you hate, and you came here so happily
Then it made you lose your faith, and that’s what fucked with your sanity
Say goodbye to your soul and say hello to your vanity
Hollywood is your friend, and the Undead are your family
We’ll take you to the edge and turn your regret into agony
And I’ll never let you go ’cause I know you’ll come back to me
I’m the reason you came here, I’m the American Tragedy
Been to hell, I can show you the devil
Down you fell, can’t hold yourself together
Soul to sell, down here you live forever
Welcome to a world where dreams become nightmares
Been to hell, I can show you the devil
Down you fell, can’t hold yourself together
Soul to sell, down here you live forever
Welcome to a world where dreams become nightmares
Welcome
Welcome
Welcome
Welcome to a world where dreams become nightmares
Welcome
Songwriters: Jordon Kristopher Terrell / George Arthur Ragan / Jorel Decker / Dylan Peter Alvarez / Matthew Busek / Daniel Murillo / George Don Gilmore
