Drowning Pool faced a huge backlash for their song ‘Bodies,’ which was released in 2001 as a part of their debut album ‘Sinner.’ Today, we’re here to delve deep into the controversy and reactions surrounding the track.
The Reason ‘Bodies’ Was Controversial
Drowning Pool released ‘Bodies’ in 2001. The song quickly gained popularity for its energetic tempo and catchy chorus, and it climbed the rock charts rapidly. However, with popularity came scrutiny, especially concerning the song’s lyrics and the contexts in which it was used.
The point of contention around ‘Bodies’ centered on its lyrics, especially the repeated line, ‘Let the bodies hit the floor.’ Some listeners and critics interpreted the lyrics as promoting violence or having the potential to incite violent acts.
The Tragic Events Surrounding ‘Bodies’
The timing of the song’s release coincidentally overlapped with the tragic events of September 11, 2001. In the wake of 9/11, several radio stations pulled ‘Bodies’ from their playlists, deeming it inappropriate given the national mood and the imagery the title might evoke.
It’s worth noting that Drowning Pool was not the only artist affected by this shift in radio play post-9/11, as many songs with potentially sensitive lyrics were temporarily shelved.
In 2011, the song was linked to the shooting of Congresswoman Gabby Giffords. The perpetrator, Jared Lee Loughner, had saved an unofficial video featuring the song on his YouTube. The band issued a statement expressing devastation over the tragic event and clarified again that ‘Bodies’ was about the moshpit and not about violence.
Bodies’ Use in Guantanamo Bay Detention Camps and a Double Murder
‘Bodies’ was used by interrogators at the Guantanamo Bay detention camps in 2003 during the interrogation of Mohamedou Ould Salahi. The song was played over a 10-day period during the interrogation, while Salahi was also exposed to variable lighting patterns.
The same year, the song also served as the soundtrack to a double murder in Oakton, where Joshua Cooke killed his parents.
Drowning Pool’s Reaction to the Controversy
Drowning Pool has addressed the backlash numerous times over the years, consistently expressing that their intent was never to glorify violence but rather to capture the raw energy and emotion of live rock performances.
Interestingly, while there was controversy on the front, ‘Bodies’ found an audience among the U.S. armed forces. Some units used the song as a pump-up track before missions. The band also expressed gratitude towards the armed forces for their service and performed for troops on several occasions.
In an interview with Metal Hammer, Stevie Benton stated that Clear Channel’s decision to strike the song off following the 9/11 attacks took away the ambiguity of the song:
“It’s always really frustrated me that people took this song – that was about kids at a rock show – and put all these negative connotations on it. When Clear Channel just struck it off, they made it seem like there was a reason for it to be banned. It took away the ambiguity of the song and people’s ability to decide on the meaning for themselves.”
More recently, in 2017, Drowning Pool performed at Guantánamo Bay during the 4th of July ‘Freedom Fest’ in 2017 and found themselves at the center of controversy for this. Still, the band doesn’t resent being immediately associated with ‘Bodies.’ In the same interview with Metal Hammer, CJ mentioned he’d play the song multiple times in a show if the audience wanted to.
You can listen to ‘Bodies’ below.
