Powerless (Linkin Park song)
- 2011–2012 at NRG Recording Studios
- (North Hollywood, California)
- Electronic rock
- alternative rock
- Mike Shinoda
- Rick Rubin
"Lost in the Echo" (2012) | "Powerless" (2012) | "Castle of Glass" (2012) |
"Powerless" is a song by American rock band Linkin Park. The song was written by the band and produced by co-lead vocalist Mike Shinoda and Rick Rubin. Its working title was "Tinfoil", which instead ended up serving as the intro to the song. It was released on iTunes as a digital single from the soundtrack of Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter on October 31, 2012, in Japan. The song was also released as a single worldwide through the official website of the band. The song was released as the third single from the album Living Things.[1][2] The release included the "Powerless" artwork and featured just the one track.
Composition
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"Powerless" is a mid-tempo song[3] that features "lock-step beats, soaring harmonies, and synthesizer whispers".[4] The song has a piano-based production and is described by Spin as having an "electro-goth atmosphere like Bruno Mars on the most recent Twilight soundtrack".[5] The Silver Tongue Online described the song as "a foundation of busy percussion and electronica, a sweeping chorus and Coldplay-worthy bridge".[6] It has also been described as a "surging, slow-burning, classically Linkin Park anthem".[7] Lyrically, the song is about a self-destructive friend or lover.[8]
The verses are in 7/4 time, while the choruses are in 4/4. Guitarist Brad Delson does not play on the track, with Mike Shinoda playing the guitars.
Promotion
"Powerless", the twelfth and closing track of the album, is featured in the closing credits to the film Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter.[9] A performance music video of "Powerless" featuring scenes from the film was released on Yahoo!, serving as the film's music trailer.[10] The music video was directed by Timur Bekmambetov, director of Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter.[11] The video was filmed in Berlin, Germany.[11] Bekmambetov screened the film for the band, who reacted positively to the film, and believed that the band had a song that would fit into the film; hence, "Powerless" was chosen.[11]
It was used in a commercial promoting the second season of the NBC show Revolution, following the usage of "Roads Untraveled" in a commercial promoting the first season.
Despite being released as a single, the song has never been performend live.
Reception
Billboard lists "Powerless" as an example "of why Linkin Park remains vital while its nu-metal compatriots have more or less fallen by the wayside".[4] AltSounds.com says the song is "certainly bigger and bolder than the majority of the album's songs, but it still doesn't shake you to your core like I wish it would".[12]
Music video
Chester Bennington has confirmed in an interview that a music video will be shot for "Powerless".[13] Music for Relief premiered the promotion video of "Powerless" on November 27, 2012.[14] The two-minute video was a compilation between the "Powerless" footage filmed for the trailer of Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter and clips of the Music for Relief's Power the World campaign.[14]
As of November 2021, the song has 4.5 million views on YouTube.
Track listing
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
---|---|---|---|
1. | "Powerless" | Linkin Park | 3:44 |
Personnel
- Chester Bennington – lead vocals
- Mike Shinoda – keyboards, piano, backing vocals, guitars
- Dave Farrell – bass guitar
- Joe Hahn – turntables, samplers, synthesizers
- Rob Bourdon – drums, percussion
Charts
Chart (2012) | Peak position |
---|---|
UK Rock & Metal (OCC)[15] | 40 |
Release history
Region | Date | Format | Label |
---|---|---|---|
Japan[16] | October 31, 2012 | Digital download | Warner Bros. |
Worldwide[1] |
References
- ^ a b Linkin Park - Powerless Linkin Park.
- ^ Discography : Singles : Linkin Park Archived 2015-11-20 at the Wayback Machine Linkin Park
- ^ "Linkin Park News - Linkin Park - Living Things Review". Artists.letssingit.com. Retrieved 2012-07-10.
- ^ a b "New Music Releases, Music Reviews, Album Releases & Song Releases". Billboard.com. Retrieved 2012-07-10.
- ^ Wood, Mikael. "Linkin Park, 'Living Things' (Warner Bros./WEA) | SPIN | Albums | Critical Mass". SPIN. Retrieved 2012-07-10.
- ^ Wesley, Justin (2012-06-21). "Linkin Park – Living Things". Thesilvertongueonline.com. Archived from the original on 2012-06-23. Retrieved 2012-07-07.
- ^ Grimmie, Destiny (2012-06-19). "Album Review: Linkin Park – 'Living Things'". Ology. Archived from the original on 2012-06-22. Retrieved 2012-07-10.
- ^ "Linkin Park - Living Things Review". Rock.about.com. 2012-06-26. Archived from the original on 2012-11-19. Retrieved 2012-07-10.
- ^ Gallo, Phil (2012-06-13). "Linkin Park Score 'Abe Lincoln' End Credits". Billboard. Retrieved 2012-06-14.
- ^ "Linkin Park & Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter Exclusive". Yahoo!. 2012-06-16. Archived from the original on 2012-06-19. Retrieved 2012-06-16.
- ^ a b c "Linkin Park song featured in end credits of 'Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter'". The Philippine Star. PhilStar Daily. 2012-06-24. Retrieved 2012-07-13.
- ^ "Review: Linkin Park – Living Things [Album] | Altsounds.com Reviews". Hangout.altsounds.com. 2012-07-03. Archived from the original on 2012-07-10. Retrieved 2012-07-10.
- ^ "VMusic - Music News - Latest local and international music news". [V] Music. Archived from the original on 2012-09-10. Retrieved 2012-08-18.
- ^ a b "Music For Relief premiered the new POWERLESS Video 11/27". Lpassociation.com. Retrieved 2012-11-22.
- ^ "2012-07-07 Top 40 Rock & Metal Singles". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 2012-07-10.
- ^ "Powerless - Single". iTunes Japan. Apple, inc. 31 October 2012. Retrieved 3 November 2012.
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