Vilify

Album: Device (2013)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • Device is the name of the Industrial Metal band that David Draiman put together after his regular group, Disturbed, announced their hiatus. This was released as the first single from the eponymous debut album. "It's one of the biggest songs on the record [and] it has a stylistic bridge, if you will," said Draiman to Lithium Magazine. "I figure 'Vilify' is the perfect song to bridge people from Disturbed into Device. There is the familiarity of my melodic vocal delivery and there is the electronic element which is much more prevalent in Device." The song was made available on digital download on February 19, 2013.
  • The accompanying video depicts Device performing the song in a mostly dark environment with flashes of blinding white light as an android-like creature appears to be born. Draiman told Lithium Magazine he didn't have any input in the clip's concept. "I stay away from that completely," he said. "Pretty much, ever since the 'Prayer' video, I never really get too involved in that too much. I got burnt pretty hard when MTV decided to ban the video I co-directed. Ever since then, I think, 'that way it's not my fault, it's somebody else's fault. I didn't write it!' [laughs] I'm still involved as an artist, but I'm not the guy who comes up with the ideas anymore."
  • David Draiman has been dealing with criticism throughout his whole career. He told Zoiks! Online: "Everybody these days, and in the Internet age, where you have this troll society or predatory animals that get off on picking fights with people left and right and trying to be all big and bad behind a keyboard who wouldn't dare say the majority of the things that they would go ahead and say online to the average individual to a person's face and certainly not mine. It really doesn't faze me. I kind of laugh it off, to be honest with you. Occasionally I'll actually engage with them in a bit of sport. [laughs] 'OK, you wanna go? Let's go for a little bit. Let me show you just how stupid you sound.'"

    "That's really what 'Vilify' is kind of about," Draiman added, "all these guys that try to make me out to be some sort of demogodish egomaniacal prick, I'm so laid back and chill until you cross and then I'm not so laid back and chill anymore. I don't really worry about it too much. It's not worth my time."

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

Robert DeLeo of Stone Temple Pilots

Robert DeLeo of Stone Temple PilotsSongwriter Interviews

Stone Temple Pilots bass player Robert DeLeo names the songs that have most connected with fans and tells the stories behind tracks from their Tiny Music album.

Trucking Songs That Were #1 Hits

Trucking Songs That Were #1 HitsSong Writing

The stories behind the biggest hit songs about trucking.

Producer Ron Nevison

Producer Ron NevisonSong Writing

Ron Nevison explains in very clear terms the Quadrophenia concept and how Heart staged their resurgence after being dropped by their record company.

Dexys (Kevin Rowland and Jim Paterson)

Dexys (Kevin Rowland and Jim Paterson)Songwriter Interviews

"Come On Eileen" was a colossal '80s hit, but the band - far more appreciated in their native UK than stateside - released just three albums before their split. Now, Dexys is back.

Ian Anderson of Jethro Tull

Ian Anderson of Jethro TullSongwriter Interviews

The flautist frontman talks about touring with Led Zeppelin, his contribution to "Hotel California", and how he may have done the first MTV Unplugged.

Hawksley Workman

Hawksley WorkmanSongwriter Interviews

One of Canada's most popular and eclectic performers, Hawksley tells stories about his oldest songs, his plentiful side projects, and the ways that he keeps his songwriting fresh.