Crawling (song)

This article is about the Linkin Park song. For other songs, see Crawl § Songs.

"Crawling"
Single by Linkin Park
from the album Hybrid Theory
B-side	"Papercut" (Live from the BBC)
Released	April 2, 2001[1]
Recorded	1998 - 2000
Studio	NRG (Los Angeles)
Genre	Nu metal[2][3] rap metal[4] rap rock[3]
Length	3:29
Label	Warner Bros.
Songwriter(s)	Linkin Park
Producer(s)	Don Gilmore
Linkin Park singles chronology
"One Step Closer" (2000) "Crawling" (2001) "Papercut" (2001)
Audio sample
file help
Music video
"Crawling" on YouTube

"Crawling" is a song by American rock band Linkin Park. It is the second single from their debut album, Hybrid Theory. This song was released in 2000, it won a Grammy Award for Best Hard Rock Performance in 2002. In January 2011, "Crawling" was released in a Linkin Park DLC pack for Rock Band 3.

Background

"Crawling" is one of the few songs on Hybrid Theory to not prominently feature Mike Shinoda's rapped lyrics. The intro to "Crawling" has been remixed in live versions over the years. Since 2008's Projekt Revolution, Mike Shinoda has rapped the first verse of "Hands Held High" over the intro to Reanimation version of "Crawling", titled "Krwlng" (featuring Staind frontman Aaron Lewis). In 2009, Shinoda rapped two verses of "Hands Held High" over the intro of "Crawling", which first verse started with an a cappella or a bassline before the Reanimation intro started, in which Shinoda raps the second verse. Singer Chester Bennington remarked that "Crawling" was the most difficult Linkin Park song to sing live, stating "Crawling has caused me the most trouble live more than any other song." Bennington also commented on the meaning of "Crawling" by stating it was inspired by his own battles with substance abuse. "Crawling is about feeling like I had no control over myself in terms of drugs and alcohol, hence the line "These wounds they will not heal...".[5] The song is recorded in the key of C♯ minor.

A live version of "Crawling" was included as a B-side to "Breaking the Habit".

Music video

The video was directed by the Brothers Strause. It portrays a young woman's inner conflict dealing with an abusive relationship. The woman (portrayed by Katelyn Rosaasen) closes off to the rest of the world, represented with the special effects of crystals forming around her. By the end, the crystals recede.

This video was supposed to have a "darker" ending to it when the first synopsis was written, being a take on Species where a psycho fan kills the band, but Warner Bros. rejected the idea, and the final ending was written in its place.[6]

"Crawling" was the first music video with Dave Farrell in the band. Phoenix returned to Linkin Park just before they began work on this video.

The video was nominated for Best Rock video on MTV's Video Music Awards. It lost to Limp Bizkit's "Rollin".[7]

Bonus content

The bonus feature on the CD is the same footage that is a hidden easter egg on Frat Party at the Pankake Festival. However, the footage here is uncensored, while the footage on "Frat Party" is censored.

A "Strictly Limited Numbered Edition" DVD single was also released which includes a live version of "Crawling" that was performed at the Dragon Festival, though the audio is dubbed with the studio version of the song. The video has a multiple camera angle feature which allows viewers to see different camera angles of the performance with the use of the DVD remote control. The DVD also has four 30-second live snippets of "One Step Closer", "By Myself", "With You", and "A Place for My Head". The live video of "Crawling" is available on Warner Bros. Records YouTube channel, which was uploaded on February 9, 2010.[8] The video is also available as a DVD extra to "Frat Party at the Pankake Festival".

Notable cover versions

Coldplay frontman Chris Martin performed a solo piano rendition of "Crawling" live in early August 2017. The performance was a tribute to Chester Bennington, who died by suicide on July 20, 2017.[9]

Staind frontman Aaron Lewis performed a tribute version of "Crawling" live on stage on August 10, 2017, at Look Park in Florence, Massachusetts.[10]

Jared Leto of 30 Seconds to Mars included "Crawling" in a mashup tribute to Bennington.[11]

In other media

At the Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympics, John and Sinead Kerr representing Great Britain performed the Reanimation version of "Krwling" in the figure skating ice dance final.[12]

Commercial performance

The song has seen a success in many countries. In the United Kingdom, the song debuted and peaked at number 16 and stayed on the chart for eight weeks. It reached the top ten in Canada and Austria. It reached the top thirty and top forty in many countries, it was more successful than "One Step Closer". However, it peaked only at number 79 in the United States, becoming their lowest charting single until they released "Given Up", which peaked at number 99, although it managed to peak at number five on the Modern Rock Track Chart and number three on the Mainstream Rock Track Chart. Despite the low peak, the song remained for 20 weeks at the bottom of the chart, which is longer than the 18 weeks spent by "One Step Closer".

Track listing

All tracks are written by Linkin Park

CD single

No.	Title	Length
1.	"Crawling" (Album Version)	3:29
2.	"Papercut" (Live from the BBC)	3:08
3.	"Backstage Video Footage" (Video)	9:56

DVD single

No.	Title	Length
1.	"Crawling" (Live Video)	3:31
2.	"Crawling" (Album Version)	3:29
3.	"4x30 Second Live Video Snippets"	2:00

Personnel

Credits adapted from AllMusic for original release only.[13]

Linkin Park Chester Bennington – vocals Mike Shinoda – backing rap vocals, keyboards, programming, samples, rhythm guitar, artwork and production Brad Delson – guitars, bass guitar Joe Hahn – turntables, samples, synthesizers, artwork Rob Bourdon – drums, percussion Production Don Gilmore – producer, engineering Steve Sisco – Engineering John Ewing Jr. – Additional engineering, Pro Tools Matt Griffin – Engineering assistance Andy Wallace – mixing Brian Gardner – Audio mastering, digital editing Jeff Blue – executive producer Artwork Frank Maddocks – graphic design James Minchin III – photography

Charts

Weekly charts Weekly chart performance for "Crawling" Chart (2001–2002) Peak position Australia (ARIA)[14] 33 Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)[15] 8 Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[16] 25 Europe (Eurochart Hot 100)[17] 52 Germany (GfK)[18] 14 Ireland (IRMA)[19] 16 Netherlands (Dutch Top 40 Tipparade)[20] 5 Netherlands (Single Top 100)[21] 45 New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[22] 37 Scotland (OCC)[23] 15 Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)[24] 27 Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[25] 43 UK Singles (OCC)[26] 16 UK Rock & Metal (OCC)[27] 2 US Billboard Hot 100[28] 79 US Alternative Airplay (Billboard)[29] 5 US Mainstream Rock (Billboard)[30] 3 2017 weekly chart performance for "Crawling" Chart (2017) Peak position Canada Digital Songs (Billboard)[31] 41 Czech Republic (Singles Digitál Top 100)[32] 73 France (SNEP)[33] 106 Hungary (Single Top 40)[34] 30 Portugal (AFP)[35] 81 Slovakia (Singles Digitál Top 100)[36] 74 US Hot Rock & Alternative Songs (Billboard)[37] 8

Year-end charts 2001 year-end chart performance for "Crawling" Chart (2001) Position Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)[38] 31 Belgium (Ultratop Flanders)[39] 97 Germany (Official German Charts)[40] 47 Ireland (IRMA)[41] 88 UK Singles (OCC)[42] 190 2017 year-end chart performance for "Crawling" Chart (2017) Position US Hot Rock Songs (Billboard)[43] 85

Certifications

Certifications for "Crawling"

Region	Certification	Certified units/sales
Austria (IFPI Austria)[44] Video	Gold	5,000^*
Italy (FIMI)[45]	Platinum	100,000^‡
Spain (PROMUSICAE)[46]	Gold	30,000^‡
United Kingdom (BPI)[48]	Platinum	753,000[47]
United States (RIAA)[49]	Gold	500,000^‡
^* Sales figures based on certification alone. ^‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Release history

Release history and formats for "Crawling"

Region	Date	Format	Ref.
United States	April 2, 2001	CD	[1]
United Kingdom	April 9, 2001	CD DVD cassette	[50]
United States	April 17, 2001	Rock radio active rock radio alternative radio	[51]

References

1. "'Crawl' or Nothing!". NME. March 2, 2001. Archived from the original on October 27, 2021. Retrieved March 16, 2024.
2. "Linkin Park Reveal Powerful Live Video For Crawling". Kerrang!. December 4, 2017. Retrieved October 29, 2021.
3. Green, Chris (25 June 2015). "Linkin Park have launched a venture capital brand, but can such a company ever be rock n' roll?". The Independent. Retrieved October 11, 2015.
4. Edwards, Luke (March 20, 2022). "Best Linkin Park Songs: 20 Classics That Launched A Nu-metal Revolution". Dig!. Retrieved March 20, 2022.
5. Hyclak, Anna (2009-07-17). "Linkin Park's Bennington Discusses His Drug Addiction | SPIN | Newswire". SPIN. Retrieved 2013-04-13.
6. Linkin Park - The making of Crawling on YouTube
7. "Crawling". Songfacts.com. Retrieved 2009-03-13.
8. "Crawling (Live Video Version) on YouTube". YouTube. From the Warner Bros. Records YouTube Channel
9. "Watch Coldplay's Chris Martin Cover Linkin Park's 'Crawling'". Rolling Stone. 2 August 2017. Retrieved 3 August 2017.
10. "Staind Reunion and Bennington + Cornell Tributes Highlight Aaron Lewis Charity Gig". Loudwire. 5 August 2017. Retrieved 2018-11-12.
11. "Jared Leto Leads Moving Tribute to Chester Bennington, Chris Cornell, David Bowie, and More". Entertainment Weekly.
12. Anderson, Kyle (February 23, 2010). "OLYMPIC ICE DANCING FEATURES CANADIAN VICTORY, LINKIN PARK". MTV News. Archived from the original on February 8, 2022. Retrieved February 8, 2022.
13. "Hybrid Theory - Linkin Park - Credits". AllMusic. Archived from the original on October 12, 2020. Retrieved March 7, 2021.
14. "Linkin Park – Crawling". ARIA Top 50 Singles.
15. "Linkin Park – Crawling" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40.
16. "Linkin Park – Crawling" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50.
17. "Eurochart Hot 100 Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 19, no. 33. August 11, 2001. p. 7. Retrieved 12 August 2020.
18. "Linkin Park – Crawling" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts.
19. "Irish-charts.com – Discography Linkin Park". Irish Singles Chart.
20. "Tipparade-lijst van week 18, 2002" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved March 26, 2023.
21. "Linkin Park – Crawling" (in Dutch). Single Top 100.
22. "Linkin Park – Crawling". Top 40 Singles.
23. "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved August 9, 2020.
24. "Linkin Park – Crawling". Singles Top 100.
25. "Linkin Park – Crawling". Swiss Singles Chart.
26. "Linkin Park: Artist Chart History". Official Charts Company.
27. "Official Rock & Metal Singles Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved June 21, 2020.
28. "Linkin Park Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard.
29. "Linkin Park Chart History (Alternative Airplay)". Billboard.
30. "Linkin Park Chart History (Mainstream Rock)". Billboard.
31. "Linkin Park Chart History (Canadian Digital Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved November 13, 2023.
32. "ČNS IFPI" (in Czech). Hitparáda – Digital Top 100 Oficiální. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: Select 30. týden 2017 in the date selector. Retrieved August 1, 2017.
33. "Le Top de la semaine : Top Singles Téléchargés – SNEP (Week 30, 2017)" (in French). Syndicat National de l'Édition Phonographique. Archived from the original on 2017-07-30. Retrieved August 2, 2017.
34. "Archívum – Slágerlisták – MAHASZ" (in Hungarian). Single (track) Top 40 lista. Magyar Hanglemezkiadók Szövetsége. Retrieved August 3, 2017.
35. "Linkin Park – Crawling". AFP Top 100 Singles. Retrieved August 5, 2017.
36. "ČNS IFPI" (in Slovak). Hitparáda – Singles Digital Top 100 Oficiálna. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: Select 30. týden 2017 in the date selector. Retrieved August 1, 2017.
37. "Linkin Park Chart History (Hot Rock & Alternative Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved April 6, 2024.
38. "Jahreshitparade Singles 2001". austriancharts.at. Retrieved July 17, 2020.
39. "Jaaroverzichten 2001". Ultratop. Retrieved November 29, 2019.
40. "Top 100 Single-Jahrescharts". GfK Entertainment (in German). offiziellecharts.de. Retrieved January 13, 2020.
41. "Ireland-Top Singles for 2001". C&R. Archived from the original on 2012-05-05. Retrieved September 14, 2022.
42. "The Official UK Singles Chart 2001" (PDF). UK Singles Chart. ChartsPlus. Retrieved March 18, 2020.
43. "Hot Rock Songs – Year-End 2017". Billboard. Retrieved September 20, 2019.
44. "Austrian video certifications – Linkin Park – Crawling" (in German). IFPI Austria. Retrieved June 28, 2022.
45. "Italian single certifications – Linkin Park – Crawling" (in Italian). Federazione Industria Musicale Italiana. Retrieved September 9, 2024.
46. "Spanish single certifications – Linkin Park – Crawling". El portal de Música. Productores de Música de España. Retrieved July 22, 2024.
47. Official Charts Company (September 15, 2024). "They just scored their highest Singles Chart peak EVER with #TheEmptinessMachine, but what are @linkinpark's all-time biggest songs in the UK?". Instagram. Retrieved September 15, 2024.
48. "British single certifications – Linkin Park – Crawling". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved March 17, 2023.
49. "American single certifications – Linkin Park – Crawling". Recording Industry Association of America.
50. "New Releases - For Week Starting April 9, 2001/In-Store Next Week" (PDF). Music Week. October 6, 2001. pp. 22, 26. Retrieved June 13, 2022.
51. "Going For Adds". Radio & Records. April 2001. pp. 109, 112, 119.

External links

• "Crawling" official music video