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Alive (P.O.D. song)

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Wikipedia article




"'Alive'" is a song by American Christian metal band P.O.D. It was released on July 31, 2001, as the lead single from their second major-label studio album, 'Satellite' (2001). It is one of the band's most popular songs. The "Alive" CD single was first released in 2001 and then again in 2002 with alternative cover art and tracks. A semi-acoustic remix was included as a bonus track on the special edition re-release of 'Satellite' available August 27, 2002.

Background



The lyrics to the track were written by vocalist Sonny Sandoval and were inspired by a moment when he recognised his own features in those of his young daughter for the first time.MacIntosh, Dan [https://www.songfacts.com/blog/interviews/sonny-sandoval-of-pod "Songwriter Interviews - Sonny Sandoval of P.O.D."] Songfacts.com (July 2012). Retrieved November 7, 2019.

The song debuted just prior to the September 11, 2001, attacks and benefited by offering a positive message during hard times.Weiss, Neal [http://music.yahoo.com/p-o-d/news/singles-by-artist-name-p-o-d-id-1041052-dave-matthews-others-affected-by-terrorist-attacks--12049226 "Singles By P.O.D., Dave Matthews, Others Affected By Terrorist Attacks?"] Yahoo! Music (September 17, 2001). Retrieved on April 6, 2008. As such, "Alive" went on to become one of MTV's and MTV2's most played videos of 2001 and became a huge pop hit. Guitarist Marcos Curiel mentioned the song's relevance in a 2008 interview: "There's just way too much negativity going on in our everyday lives. When you can hear something that's going to uplift you like 'Alive' or something that's going to bring out knowledge like 'Youth of the Nation,' we've done our jobs as an artist. We're trying to be relevant with the people."Blatt, Mitchell [http://juicedsportsblog.com/2008/03/marcos-curiel-interview.html "P.O.D. Interview: Back Together, New Album in April"] JuicedSportsBlog.com (2008). Retrieved on April 5, 2008.

Sonny Sandoval stated, "We didn't have a name for it, but we were calling it 'Beautiful' because it made us feel beautiful. And that drove the direction of the lyrical content, because we wanted people to go, 'Hey, this makes me feel good.' We recorded the chorus I don't know how many times, because it was like, 'Let's take it up a notch. Let's take it higher.'"[https://web.archive.org/web/20110708092230/http://hk.breathecast.com/Christian.Music.Artist/profile.htm?id=244 P.O.D. Profile] BreatheCast.com. Retrieved on April 6, 2008.

Music video



Directed by Francis Lawrence with special effects by Pixel Envy, the "Alive" video made its television debut on August 20, 2001. It boasts a massive car wreck filmed under a freeway intersection in the San Fernando Valley in the summer of 2001. Lawrence had conceived the idea years prior but was unsuccessful in pitching it to bands. Upon filming "Alive," Lawrence stated "I'm so glad I didn't get those jobs, because this was so perfect." His idea developed further upon shooting the video by focusing on a wild day in the life of a teenager. Lawrence elaborate:

:"I've done emotional videos before, but having kid stuff like surfing, skating, making out plus the visual punch of the car accident. It packs it all."

Lawrence also modified scenes from his original concept; the boy is shown emerging from the demolished car unscathed rather than not appearing at all, and he makes out with his girlfriend in a train tunnel rather than implying sex in a bedroom as Lawrence previously envisioned. All of the effects and work behind "Alive" were detailed in a retrospective MTV article in August 2002.Moss, Corey and Wiederhorn, Jon [http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1457092/20020819/pod.jhtml "VMA Lens Recap: The Story Behind P.O.D.'s 'Alive'"] MTV.com (August 20, 2002). Retrieved on June 19, 2008.Rosen, Craig [http://music.yahoo.com/read/news/12045131 "P.O.D. Warriors Are 'Alive' In Force For Video Clip"] Yahoo! Music (August 30, 2001). Retrieved on April 5, 2008.

While it did not win any, "Alive" was one of the most nominated videos at the 2002 MTV Video Music Awards ceremony. However, it did win two other awards in addition to the five VMA nominations. The video was also No. 2 on TVU's 50 Best Videos of All Time list.

Performances



When the song became the most requested video on 'TRL' in September 2001, rather than simply having the video aired, P.O.D. performed a live, hour-long set at Battery Park. This was despite Sandoval battling a severe cold.Wiederhorn, Jon [http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1448691/20010906/pod.jhtml "P.O.D. Set New York Alive With Free VMA Show"] MTV.com (September 6, 2001). Retrieved on April 6, 2008.

The song was performed on 'The Tonight Show with Jay Leno' on October 5, 2001. It was originally planned for the prior month but rescheduled due to the September 11 attacks.[http://www.jesusfreakhideout.com/news/September01.asp Music News Archive Thursday, September 27, 2001] JesusFreakHideout.com (September 27, 2001). Retrieved on April 6, 2008.

Not including encores, "Alive" typically ends P.O.D.'s concert setlist.[http://www.epinions.com/content_4205748356 "P.O.D. / Blindside / Lacuna Coil / Hazen ST. May 4th, 2004"] Epinions.com (January 3, 2005). Retrieved on April 6, 2008.

Awards



'2001 San Diego Music Awards'

* Song of the Year

'2002 Grammy Awards'

* Best Hard Rock Performance (nomination)

'2002 MTV Video Music Awards'

* Video of the Year (nomination)

* Best Group Video (nomination)

* Best Direction in a Video Francis Lawrence (nomination)

* Best Special Effects in a Video Pixel Envy (nomination)

* Viewer's Choice (nomination)

'2002 MVPA Awards'

* Rock Video of the Year

Track listings



'UK enhanced CD single'

# "Alive" (album version) 3:22

# "School of Hard Knocks" 4:04

# "Lie Down" (demo) 4:20

# "Alive" (enhanced video)

'UK cassette single'

# "Alive" (album version) 3:22

# "School of Hard Knocks" 4:04

# "Lie Down" (demo) 4:20

'European CD single'

# "Alive" (album version)

# "School of Hard Knocks"

'Australian CD single'

# "Alive" (album version)

# "Lie Down" (demo)

# "Sabbath"

Charts



Weekly charts



Year-end charts



Release history



References



Category:P.O.D. songs

Category:2001 singles

Category:Music videos directed by Francis Lawrence

Category:2001 songs

Category:Song recordings produced by Howard Benson

Category:Atlantic Records singles

Category:Songs written by Noah Bernardo

Category:Songs written by Marcos Curiel

Category:Songs written by Traa Daniels

Category:Songs written by Sonny Sandoval

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