"Bully" is the lead single from American rock band Shinedown's fourth studio album, Amaryllis.

"Bully"
Single by Shinedown
from the album Amaryllis
ReleasedJanuary 3, 2012
Recorded2011
Studio
Length4:01[1]
LabelAtlantic
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)Rob Cavallo
Shinedown singles chronology
"Diamond Eyes (Boom-Lay Boom-Lay Boom)"
(2010)
"Bully"
(2012)
"Unity"
(2012)
Music video
"Bully" on YouTube

Meaning

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Speaking to Rolling Stone, Shinedown front man Brent Smith discussed the lyrics of the song as "about not feeling like you can't stand up for yourself and take back your self respect if you feel as if someone is belittling you or trying to push you around. The song is not condoning violence. What it is condoning is survival. I don't think that anyone should ever have their self-respect or their dignity taken from them."

He also mentioned that his father had instructed him on how to defend himself against bullies. "When I was ten years old, my dad took me to the garage and put a pair of boxing gloves on me and said, 'I don't ever want it to come to this, but you need to learn how to fight.' And I got my butt kicked sometimes, but I always stood up for myself. By nature I've just never backed down from what I believed in, and I'll be damned if I'm going to let someone push me around. It's the same thing with my family, too. I wouldn't let someone come into my house and mess with my girlfriend or my son."[2]

Release

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The song was released on January 3, 2012.

Music video

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The official video premiered on the band's YouTube channel on March 6, 2012. The video was directed by Darren Doane, who previously directed the video for "Sound of Madness".

As of September 2023, the music video for "Bully" has 29.8 Million Views.

The Ohio State University Marching and Athletic bands

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A version of "Bully" was arranged by John Brennan for the 2012 football season for the Ohio State University Marching and Athletic bands. It is played as a pep song by the marching band at football games and by the athletic band at basketball (and hockey) games.[citation needed]

Charts

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Certifications

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Certifications for "Bully"
Region Certification Certified units/sales
United States (RIAA)[10] Gold 500,000

Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

References

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  1. ^ "iTunes Store". itunes.apple.com. Retrieved February 1, 2014.
  2. ^ Steve Baltin (April 5, 2012). "Shinedown Top the Charts, Stand Up to Bullies | Music News". Rolling Stone. Retrieved February 1, 2014.
  3. ^ "Shinedown Chart History (Canada Rock)". Billboard. Retrieved June 5, 2021.
  4. ^ "Shinedown Chart History (Mexico Ingles Airplay)". Billboard. Retrieved May 10, 2024.
  5. ^ "Official Rock & Metal Singles Chart". Official Charts Company. January 29, 2012. Retrieved May 10, 2024.
  6. ^ "Shinedown Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved May 10, 2024.
  7. ^ "Shinedown Chart History (Hot Rock & Alternative Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved June 5, 2021.
  8. ^ "Shinedown Chart History (Rock & Alternative Airplay)". Billboard. Retrieved May 10, 2024.
  9. ^ "Year-End Charts: Hot Rock & Alternative Songs (2012)". Billboard. Retrieved October 13, 2021.
  10. ^ "American single certifications – Shinedown – Bully". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved June 5, 2021.