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"No One Knows"
Single by Queens of the Stone Age
from the album Songs for the Deaf
B-side
  • "A Song for the Dead" (live)
  • "Avon" (live)
  • "Gonna Leave You" (Spanish)
  • "Tension Head" (live)
  • UNKLE remix
ReleasedNovember 26, 2002 (2002-11-26)
Recorded2001
Genre
Length
LabelInterscope
Songwriters
Producers
Queens of the Stone Age singles chronology
"Feel Good Hit of the Summer"
(2000) 		"No One Knows"
(2002) 		"Go with the Flow"
(2003)
Audio sample
Music video
Queens Of The Stone Age - "No One Knows" (Official Music Video) on YouTube

"No One Knows" is a song by American rock band Queens of the Stone Age, written by band members Josh Homme and Mark Lanegan. It was the first single and second track from their third album, Songs for the Deaf, and was released on November 26, 2002.[6] "No One Knows" was a chart success, becoming the band's first single to chart on the Billboard Hot 100 and their only single to top the US Alternative charts. The song was also critically acclaimed, receiving a nomination for Best Hard Rock Performance at the 2003 Grammy Awards.

Background and writing

[edit]

According to Homme, "No One Knows" existed before the recording sessions for Songs for the Deaf:

We have patience with music, a year or five years down the road it may kind of rewrite itself and become what it's supposed to be. There's two songs on this record that are over five years old, you know? "God Is in the Radio" and "No One Knows".[7]

Recording for Songs for the Deaf began in March 2002 at three studios across California. Though the liner notes credit Homme and Eric Valentine with producing the majority of the album – including "No One Knows" – Homme credits Valentine with merely recording the beginning of the album for contractual reasons.[8]

The main riff is reminiscent of "Cold Sore Super Stars" from Desert Sessions Vol 7 & 8.[citation needed]

Reception

[edit]

"No One Knows" has received critical acclaim from critics. In The Guardian review of Songs for the Deaf, Dave Simpson said "'No One Knows' has killer riffs to spare".[9] Playlouder were similarly enthused, calling the song "soulful, like the last gasp of the hero in an old western".[10] Eric Carr of Pitchfork Media called it an "easy groove" and "four-to-the-floor slime of the highest quality".[11]

"No One Knows" was awarded the number one position on Australian national radio station Triple J's annual Hottest 100 2002, with four other Queens of the Stone Age tracks also charting.[12] The March 2005 edition of Q magazine placed it at number 70 in its list of the 100 Greatest Guitar Tracks, saying of the song, "Possibly the only full-on, legs akimbo guitar great to be based around a rhythm that goes oompah-oompah, here Josh Homme joined the ranks of the immortal."[13] In September 2006, it was placed at number 13 on NME's list of the 50 Greatest Tracks Of The Decade.[14] Rolling Stone placed "No One Knows" at number 97 on their list of the 100 Greatest Guitar Songs of All Time, saying of the track, "QOTSA guitarist and overall mastermind Josh Homme found the sweet spot between hooky hard rock and the pulverizing metal he'd grown up playing."[15] The song was listed at number eleven on the 2002 Pazz & Jop list, a survey of several hundred music critics conducted by Robert Christgau.[16]

"No One Knows" was nominated for Best Hard Rock Performance at the 2003 Grammys and was the band's first, but they lost the award to Foo Fighters for "All My Life",[17] which was credited to Dave Grohl, who was filling in as the drummer for Queens of the Stone Age.

In 2011, NME placed it at number 18 on its list, "150 Best Tracks of the Past 15 Years".[18] In 2013, "BBC 6 Music" placed it at number 16 on its "6 music's greatest hits" voted for by over 100,000 listeners.[19] To celebrate the twentieth anniversary of its "Hottest 100" poll, Australian radio station Triple J ran a "Hottest 100 of the last 20 years" poll in June 2013. Songs that were released between 1994 and 2012 were eligible for the poll and "No One Knows" was voted into eleventh position.[20][21] In 2014, NME placed it at number 99 on its list of the "500 Greatest Songs of All Time".[22] In 2016, Louder Sound ranked the song number one on their list of the 10 greatest Queens of the Stone Age songs,[23] and in 2021, Kerrang ranked the song number two on their list of the 20 greatest Queens of the Stone Age songs.[24]

Chart performance

[edit]

"No One Knows" was released as a single on November 26, 2002 and became the most successful single from Songs for the Deaf. The song's peak placings of number one, number five and number 51 on the US Modern Rock, US Mainstream Rock (where it lasted for twenty-eight weeks) and the Billboard Hot 100 charts respectively remain the highest of the band's career.[25] "No One Knows" is also the band's highest charting single on the Dutch Singles Chart (where it reached number 39) and on[26] the Irish Singles Chart (where it peaked at number 26).[27] It reached number 15 on the UK Singles Chart.[28]

It was voted number one in Australia's Triple J Hottest 100 countdown for 2002.

Music video

[edit]

The music video for "No One Knows" was directed by Dean Karr and Michel Gondry;[29] Gondry filmed the first half in June with Karr taking over in July.[30] Josh Homme has said Gondry was chosen because he "did all those videos for Björk and we're huge fans of Björk, so we're excited".[31]

The video is split into two sections and switches between them throughout. The first has band members Homme, Nick Oliveri and Mark Lanegan driving a truck at night, whereupon they hit a deer. When they get out to inspect, the deer proceeds to attack them before going on a rampage in their International Scout, with the three band members tied to the hood of the car. The deer's rampage only stops when it falls in love with a doe statue decorating a garden, proceeding to make love with it after mounting the heads of the band members on the wall like trophies. The second section of the video is of Homme, Oliveri, Troy Van Leeuwen and Dave Grohl performing the song against a black background.

"No One Knows" received heavy rotation on music video channels culminating in a nomination for the MTV2 Award at 2003 MTV Video Music Awards, where it lost to AFI for "Girl's Not Grey".[32]

Subsequent recordings

[edit]

"No One Knows" has been covered by numerous groups, including The Section Quartet on their 2007 album, Fuzzbox,[33] and Franco Saint de Bakker,[34] with the song appearing on their 2004 release Live At The Ancienne Belgique.[35] It was also covered by Razorlight as part of Jo Whiley's Live Lounge Tour on September 26, 2008.[36] The Divine Comedy often covered "No One Knows" at live shows and one such performance appears on their 2004 DVD, Live at the Palladium.[37] British DJ and producer Mark Ronson also covered the song as a B-side to his single "Stop Me", featuring Domino Kirke on vocals, and it later charted in the UK by itself.[38] Ronson subsequently produced Queens of the Stone Age's 2017 studio album Villains.[39] The Vaccines released their cover version in January 2021.[40]

The song was the first Queens of the Stone Age track to be remixed by British musical outfit Unkle. The "No One Knows" remix appeared as a B-side on the follow-up single, "Go with the Flow", as well as on the EP Stone Age Complication.[41][42]

Track listing

[edit]

Personnel

[edit]

Queens of the Stone Age

Additional musicians

Charts

[edit]
Chart (2002–2003) Peak
position
Ireland (IRMA)[43] 26
Italy (FIMI)[44] 27
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[45] 39
Netherlands (Single Top 100)[46] 39
Scotland Singles (OCC)[47] 14
UK Singles (OCC)[48] 15
UK Rock & Metal (OCC)[49] 1
US Billboard Hot 100[50] 51
US Alternative Airplay (Billboard)[51] 1
US Mainstream Rock (Billboard)[52] 5

Certifications

[edit]
Region Certification Certified units/sales
Brazil (Pro-Música Brasil)[53] Gold 30,000‡
Italy (FIMI)[54] Gold 35,000‡
New Zealand (RMNZ)[55] 2× Platinum 60,000‡
Spain (Promusicae)[56] Gold 30,000‡
United Kingdom (BPI)[57] Platinum 600,000‡

‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Accolades

[edit]
Year Publication Country Accolade Rank
2019 The Guardian United Kingdom Dave Grohl's Landmark Songs[58] N/A

References

[edit]
[edit]
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No One Knows

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"No One Knows" is a song by the American rock band Queens of the Stone Age, written by band members and and released on November 26, 2002 as the lead single from their third studio album, . The track, featuring Homme on vocals and guitar, on bass, and on drums, is characterized by its driving rhythm, catchy riff, and themes alluding to hallucinatory experiences and trips, though Homme has described its meaning as a deliberate mystery: "It's a mystery what that song's about. No one knows." It achieved significant commercial success, topping the US Billboard Modern Rock Tracks chart for four weeks, reaching number five on the Mainstream Rock chart, and peaking at number 51 on the , marking the band's first entry on that chart. The song also received critical acclaim, earning a for Best Performance at the and solidifying Queens of the Stone Age's breakthrough in the early rock scene. Its music video, directed by Dean Karr, depicts a surreal scenario involving the band members and a vengeful deer, which contributed to its heavy rotation on and further boosted its popularity.

Background and Development

Songwriting Process

The song "No One Knows" originated from a guitar riff developed by Queens of the Stone Age frontman during his collaborative project, where it first appeared in instrumental form as part of the track " Superstars" on Volumes 3 & 4, released in 1998. Homme, drawing from his roots in the desert rock scene established through his earlier band Kyuss, refined the riff over several years, allowing it to evolve organically as he described in interviews: "We have patience with music... a year or five years down the road it may kind of rewrite itself." This iterative process transformed the initial idea into the song's hypnotic, driving foundation, reflecting broader desert rock influences through its raw, expansive sound and thematic imagery of aimless journeys. Mark Lanegan, who became a full-time Queens of the Stone Age member in 2001 after contributing to prior albums, co-wrote the track with Homme, providing key lyrical input that emphasized themes of uncertainty and existential drift—evident in lines about following inscrutable rules, swallowing bitter pills, and wandering without destination. Homme has noted the lyrics' intentional ambiguity, stating in a 2002 interview that the song's meaning remains a "mystery" even to him, potentially alluding to personal struggles, love, or hallucinatory experiences without explicit resolution. The collaboration finalized the lyrics during the buildup to the band's third album, Songs for the Deaf, completed in 2002. From its roots as a loose riff in the improvisational , the composition grew into a tightly structured piece in 4/4 time at 170 beats per minute, centered on a main in C minor with progressions cycling through Cm, G, , and back to Cm for a tense, propulsive feel. This evolution maintained the song's raw energy while adding layered vocal harmonies and rhythmic drive, marking a pivotal step in Homme's songwriting approach of letting ideas mature across projects.

Recording Sessions

The recording sessions for "No One Knows" occurred between late and early , with development and demos taking place at in , during collaborative jams organized by . The final tracking and mixing were completed at multiple Los Angeles-area studios, including and Barefoot Recording in Hollywood, as well as The Site in San Rafael for pre-production. The album, including this track, was produced by and , who handled engineering and mixing to craft its raw, desert-rock edge. The core lineup for the track consisted of Homme on guitar and lead vocals, on bass guitar, and on drums, with additional contributions from multi-instrumentalist , who added other textures. Homme's guitar work featured extensive multi-layering, often using a combination of Gibson Les Pauls and Fender Stratocasters through Marshall and amps, blended with subtle effects like the E-Bow for sustained tones, to build the song's riff-driven intensity. Vocal production emphasized Homme's layered harmonies, recorded with close-miking techniques using U47 and ELA M 251 microphones to capture a gritty yet melodic stack. A key challenge arose with Grohl's tracking, stemming from his concurrent commitments to , which limited cohesive band sessions and necessitated a piecemeal approach. To accommodate this and achieve the track's punchy, isolated sound in Barefoot's compact isolation booth—described by Valentine as an "acoustically dead" 8'x12' space with cork walls and carpet—Grohl first laid down the kick, snare, and toms using electronic pads for triggering, followed by a separate overdub pass for the actual cymbals on a dummy kit setup. This remote-style separation, using Sony C37A overhead mics positioned high above the kit, allowed for precise control but required multiple takes; Valentine noted it initially "sounded ridiculous" until the real cymbal recordings were integrated, highlighting Grohl's consistent hitting as crucial to the final groove.

Musical Composition

Structure and Instrumentation

"No One Knows" employs a classic verse-chorus form common to , consisting of an introduction , two verses, two choruses, an interlude with bass and features leading into a over the main , and final chorus repetitions that build intensity. The track's total runtime is 4:38, allowing space for dynamic progression without unnecessary extension. The instrumentation centers on dual electric guitars played by , featuring palm-muted riffs in the verses that create a tight, rhythmic foundation with a sense of urgency. The guitars are tuned to C standard (C-F-B♭-E♭-G-C), which supports the heavy, riff-driven sound. A driving bassline from provides groovy propulsion, locking tightly with Dave Grohl's heavy, fill-laden drum patterns that emphasize shuffle grooves and powerful downbeats. This contributes to the song's rock-funk hybrid style, blending aggressive guitar tones with syncopated rhythms and bass-driven grooves for a propulsive, danceable energy. Harmonically, the composition revolves around a repeating in C minor, with the iconic chorus motif incorporating a descending line built on notes such as , F, and Eb relative to the key, delivered via power chords and melodic phrasing. Dynamic contrasts are pronounced, shifting from restrained, muted verses that build tension to explosive choruses where full-band intensity erupts, underscoring the track's emotional arc.

Lyrics and Themes

The lyrics of "No One Knows," co-written by and , revolve around a repetitive chorus that underscores a sense of profound isolation: "And what you do to me / No one knows," repeated to emphasize and . The verses paint images of aimless searching and disorientation, beginning with societal constraints and pharmaceutical imagery—"We get some rules to follow / That and this, these and those / We get these pills to swallow / How they stick in your throat / Tastes like gold / Oh, what you do to me"—before shifting to introspective journeys: "I journey through the desert of the mind / And realise you're mine / Indeed, you're mine / I drift along the ocean / Dead lifeboats in the sand," evoking a hallucinatory quest for connection amid uncertainty. Central themes include alienation, , and fractured relationships, drawn from the personal struggles of Homme and Lanegan, both of whom navigated substance issues and the rock lifestyle's toll. The pill references allude to narcotics and their seductive yet choking grip, while the desert and ocean motifs symbolize internal voids and elusive bonds, reflecting Lanegan's history of and Homme's desert-rooted upbringing in Palm Springs. Homme has described the song's essence as inherently ambiguous, stating in a 2002 interview, "It’s a mystery what that song’s about. No one knows," leaving room for listener projection onto experiences of . Interpretations often frame the track as a for the of fame, with its elusive "you" representing unattainable intimacy amid public scrutiny, or broader existential , where the " of the mind" captures disorientation in a chaotic world. These elements align briefly with the overarching isolation motifs in the album , enhancing its thematic cohesion without overshadowing the song's standalone ambiguity.

Release and Promotion

Single Formats

"No One Knows" was released as the lead single from Queens of the Stone Age's third studio album, Songs for the Deaf, on November 26, 2002. In Europe and the UK, some editions appeared slightly earlier, on November 4, 2002. The single was distributed in multiple physical and digital formats to support the album's promotion. The primary physical format was the enhanced CD single, available across Europe, the UK, Canada, and other regions. The European edition (Interscope 497 808-2) included the album version of "No One Knows" (4:18), alongside B-sides consisting of live recordings from the band's June 25, 2002, performance at The Mean Fiddler in London: "A Song For The Dead" (7:01) and "Avon" (3:27). This version also featured multimedia content, including the official music video (4:17), and was packaged in a standard jewel case with a double-sided poster designated "#2 in the Dirk Deafman Series." A companion UK CD single (CD2 edition, Interscope 497 812-2) offered additional B-sides, such as a Spanish-language version of "Gonna Leave You." Vinyl collectors' editions included a limited 7-inch 45 RPM single (Interscope 497 812-7), pressed in grey opaque vinyl and released in the UK and on November 4, 2002, with "No One Knows" on the A-side and the live "A Song For The Dead" on the B-side. In Canada, a maxi-single CD (Interscope 6024980016) provided remix variations, featuring the UNKLE reconstruction in radio edit (4:41), full-length (7:01), and instrumental (7:00) forms, along with the album version and music video. Digital formats emerged alongside physical releases, with a 2×File AAC single (256 kbps) made available in 2002 through , containing the album version and select B-sides. International variations were limited but notable; for instance, the Canadian maxi-single emphasized electronic remixes tailored for broader appeal, while European pressings prioritized live content to highlight the band's touring energy. Packaging across formats generally incorporated band photography and artwork echoing the album's surreal desert imagery, though specifics varied by region.

Marketing and Touring Tie-Ins

spearheaded an aggressive radio campaign for "No One Knows," targeting formats to build momentum ahead of the album release, resulting in widespread airplay that propelled the track to number one on the Modern Rock Tracks chart. The band supported the single with high-profile television appearances, including a performance of "No One Knows" on on September 9, 2002, which showcased the song's raw energy to a national audience. During the tour, "No One Knows" was frequently positioned early in the setlist, often serving as an opener to energize crowds and tie the live shows directly to the single's promotion. The track's reach extended to merchandising and licensing opportunities, appearing in early video game soundtracks such as , where it featured in the game's intro sequence, exposing the song to gaming audiences.

Commercial Performance

Chart Success

"No One Knows" marked Queens of the Stone Age's greatest chart success to date, topping the US alternative rock chart and reaching the top 20 in several international markets. In the United States, the single debuted on the Billboard Alternative Airplay chart in October 2002 and ascended to number 1, where it held the position for four consecutive weeks from February 8 to March 1, 2003. It remained on the chart for a total of 28 weeks, establishing it as one of the band's most enduring radio hits. The song also crossed over to the Billboard Hot 100, peaking at number 51 during its 20-week run from late 2002 into 2003. It also peaked at number 5 on the Billboard Mainstream Rock chart. On the UK Singles Chart, "No One Knows" entered at number 85 in the week ending November 10, , before climbing to a peak of number 15 three weeks later in . It spent eight weeks in the top 100 overall. The track performed even stronger on the Official Rock & Metal Singles Chart, reaching number 1 and logging 14 weeks. Internationally, the song achieved top 20 status in , peaking at number 27 on the MuchMusic Countdown in , and peaked at number 39 on the Dutch Singles Top 100 chart. Although it did not crack the top 50 on the ARIA Singles Chart in —peaking at number 48—it topped Triple J's Hottest 100 poll for , underscoring its cultural resonance Down Under.

Sales Certifications

"No One Knows" has achieved notable sales certifications internationally, primarily driven by its strong performance in the , where streaming equivalents have significantly boosted retrospective awards. The (BPI) first certified the single Silver for sales and streaming equivalent to 200,000 units on July 22, 2013. This was upgraded to for 400,000 units on September 22, 2017, followed by for 600,000 units on January 31, 2020, and most recently to 2× Platinum for 1,200,000 units on July 4, 2025, reflecting the track's sustained digital popularity. In , while the parent album earned ARIA Platinum certification for 70,000 shipments in 2003, the single itself has not received a separate ARIA award as of 2025. The song's modern success is further evidenced by streaming milestones, with over 565 million streams on as of November 2025, underscoring its role in driving retrospective certifications through on-demand audio and video streams. These figures highlight a digital resurgence in the and beyond, where equivalent units from streams have equated to traditional sales in certification calculations across markets.

Critical and Cultural Reception

Initial Reviews

Upon its release in late 2002 as the from , "No One Knows" received widespread critical acclaim for its driving and raw energy, marking a pivotal moment in Queens of the Stone Age's rising profile. praised the track within the album's context as part of a bolder, more experimental sound that amplified the band's roots with unpretentious intensity. Similarly, highlighted the song's "killer to spare," evoking influences from early and while positioning it as a standout in the album's heavy, foreboding suite. NME lauded "No One Knows" for imprinting a dark, disorienting mood on the record, contributing to its woozy atmosphere and earning it a spot among the outlet's top tracks of 2002. described the single as an "easy groove" and "four-to-the-floor slime of the highest quality," noting its sleazy, seductive shift in pace that propelled the album's early momentum. commended Dave Grohl's thunderous drumming on the track, which lent it a propulsive force, though some observers noted the lyrics' abstract vagueness as a stylistic choice rather than a anchor. In aggregate, the song's reception underscored its role in broadening Queens of the Stone Age's mainstream appeal, finishing at number 11 on the Village Voice's 2002 Pazz & Jop critics' poll for singles.

Long-Term Impact and Accolades

Over two decades after its release, "No One Knows" has been recognized as a pivotal track in the evolution of alternative rock, exemplifying Queens of the Stone Age's fusion of stoner rock grooves with punk-infused energy that helped reinvigorate the genre during the early 2000s post-grunge landscape. Critics have noted its role in bridging underground desert rock scenes with mainstream accessibility, influencing subsequent acts in alternative and hard rock by prioritizing riff-driven propulsion over nu-metal's rap elements while echoing the revival of raw, guitar-centric sounds. The song earned a for Best Hard Rock Performance at the in 2003, highlighting its immediate technical and artistic merit among contemporaries like and , though it ultimately lost to the former's "All My Life." This accolade underscored the track's breakthrough status, as it propelled Songs for the Deaf toward platinum certification and cemented Queens of the Stone Age's shift from cult favorites to arena headliners. In retrospective rankings, such as Kerrang!'s 2021 list of the band's top songs and Ticketmaster's 2024 compilation of their best tracks, "No One Knows" consistently tops or nears the top, affirming its enduring status within the group's catalog. Josh Homme has reflected on the song's transformative impact in interviews throughout the 2020s, crediting it with elevating the band from indie obscurity to sustained commercial viability in an era when physical album sales were declining. The breakthrough with the single "No One Knows," described as a "gold-standard hit," allowed the group to tour larger venues and collaborate with high-profile guests like , marking a career pivot that sustained their relevance amid industry shifts. The track's cultural longevity was evident in 2024 retrospectives and live performances, where it featured prominently during the band's extensive tour amid a broader rock resurgence reminiscent of high-profile acts' comeback cycles. "No One Knows" remained a setlist staple during the band's 2025 tours, including performances at festivals like Way Out West and , further affirming its enduring appeal. Outlets highlighted its hypnotic and surreal video as timeless elements that continue to draw new audiences, reinforcing Queens of the Stone Age's position in contemporary rock discourse.

Music Video and Visual Media

Production Details

The music video for "No One Knows" was co-directed by acclaimed filmmakers and Dean Karr, with production occurring in 2002 to coincide with the single's release from the album . , known for his innovative and surreal visual style in videos for artists like , handled the initial filming sessions, while Karr oversaw the latter portion, resulting in a composite of two distinct segments: a performance clip featuring the band and a sequence set in a desert landscape. Queens of the Stone Age frontman personally selected for the project, citing his fandom of the director's work as a key influence in pursuing a dreamlike, otherworldly aesthetic that blended live-action performance with whimsical, stop-motion-inspired elements. Filming took place on June 26–28, 2002, across multiple days in two separate setups: the performance segment capturing Homme on guitar and vocals, Oliveri on bass, guest drummer , and touring guitarist ; and the narrative portion featuring Homme, Oliveri, and guest vocalist . The narrative portion incorporated the band members driving a through a barren terrain, encountering bizarre obstacles that emphasized the surreal tone, with additional elements like animated creatures and props requiring coordination of practical effects and editing to merge the sequences seamlessly. This approach highlighted Homme's vision for an unconventional, visually inventive clip that avoided standard rock video tropes, drawing on Gondry's expertise in creating low-fi illusions through high-concept creativity. The production was supported by a substantial budget from , reflecting the label's confidence in the track's breakout potential following its radio success, allowing for elaborate desert location shoots and specialized despite the tight timeline around the album's promotional cycle. The video's distinctive style contributed to its heavy rotation on and other outlets, earning nominations for Best Rock Video and the Award at the , where it competed against entries like ' "Fell in Love with a Girl" and The Darkness' "I Believe in a Thing Called Love."

Content and Symbolism

The music video for "No One Knows" intercuts between a live performance by the band and a surreal sequence. In the performance segment, Queens of the Stone Age—featuring on guitar and vocals, on bass, and on drums—play the song in a dimly lit room bathed in shifting multicolored glows of orange, blue, and white, creating an intense, otherworldly atmosphere, with on guitar. The follows Homme, Oliveri, and guest vocalist driving a through the night, where they collide with a deer; the animal revives, punches Homme, commandeers the vehicle, and heads to a bizarre burlesque club in the desert, where it mounts the band's severed heads (except Lanegan's) as trophies, adorned with garden gnomes and a seductive female deer statue. Symbolically, the video's vengeful deer and chaotic revenge plot evoke themes of unexpected retribution and the blurring of reality with fantasy, mirroring the song's enigmatic about hidden emotions and unknowable experiences. The deer's eerie, unnatural movements and the night's isolation amplify a sense of hallucinatory disorientation, interpreted by some as a for drug-fueled escapades or the perils of reckless abandon in the American Southwest. Homme emphasized that the visuals capture the band's ethos of "looseness," incorporating elements of absurdity, sexuality, and excess to reflect a party-driven, unscripted lifestyle. Stylistically, the video employs a pop-surrealist approach, blending live-action absurdity with disjointed editing to produce a dreamlike quality that contrasts the track's raw, riff-driven energy and driving rhythm. This technique, evident in the deer's improbable actions and the seamless fusion of performance and story, fosters a psychedelic tone reminiscent of early 2000s alternative rock visuals. Critics have praised how these choices extend the desert rock genre's motifs of alienation and unpredictability, positioning the video as a hallucinogenic companion to the album Songs for the Deaf's road-trip concept. Fans often view it as an extension of the band's isolated, rebellious spirit, with the deer's dominance symbolizing nature's backlash against human hubris.

Legacy and Covers

Subsequent Versions

Following the original release of "No One Knows" on the 2002 album , several official variants emerged, including remixes and live recordings. The most notable remix is the "UNKLE Reconstruction," produced by and Rich File of the electronic group , which transforms the track into a , atmospheric electronic piece emphasizing layered synths and a slower tempo while retaining Homme's vocals. This version appeared on a promotional released by in the UK in 2003, featuring radio edit, full-length vocal, and instrumental editions, and it gained exposure through inclusion on video game soundtracks like . Live recordings of "No One Knows" have been featured on releases capturing the band's high-energy . A prominent version was recorded during the band's November residency at London's and included on the live album ...Over the Years and Through the Woods, which documents their setlist from that tour supporting . This rendition extends the song to over seven minutes, showcasing extended guitar solos and the full band's dynamic interplay, with drummer and bassist contributing to its raw, venue-specific intensity. The album, released on , , by Interscope, highlights the track's evolution in a concert setting, emphasizing its riff-driven structure amid audience interaction. These variants underscore the song's adaptability, from electronic reinterpretations to amplified live interpretations, all authorized by the band and their label.

Influence and Usage in Media

The song "No One Knows" has been prominently featured in soundtracks, enhancing its cultural footprint in gaming culture. The original version appears as a master track in the Guitar Hero (2005), allowing players to perform the song and further embedding it in gaming culture. In 2024, the song experienced renewed visibility on platforms, with numerous user-generated drum covers, live performance clips, and song identification challenges circulating on , contributing to its ongoing viral appeal among younger listeners. A tribute album titled A Tribute to Queens of the , released by , includes a cover of "No One Knows" among its selections of the band's material, underscoring the track's enduring draw for other artists in the rock genre. The riff in "No One Knows" has influenced subsequent rock acts, notably evident in ' use of similar sinewy, bent chord progressions on tracks like "All My Own Stunts," reflecting Queens of the Stone Age's broader impact on alternative and guitar styles.

Credits and Track Listings

Personnel

The original recording of "No One Knows" from the 2002 album featured core band members on lead vocals and guitar, on bass and backing vocals, and on drums. Guest contributors included on backing vocals, on piano and additional guitar, and on keyboard textures. The production team consisted of and as producers, with Valentine also handling mixing, recording by and , additional production by , and mastering by Brian Gardner. Grohl's drumming incorporated distinctive fills tailored to the song's bridge section, contributing to its dynamic structure. Lanegan's backing vocals were prominently layered during the chorus to enhance the harmonic depth.

Standard Track Listing

The "No One Knows" single was released in multiple formats in 2002, with the CD editions serving as the primary commercial releases featuring the album version alongside B-sides.

UK CD1 (Interscope 497 808-2, 2002)

No.TitleDurationWriters
1No One Knows (Album Version)4:38Homme, Lanegan
2A for the Dead (Live from the Mean Fiddler)7:01Homme, Lanegan
3Avon (Live from the Mean Fiddler)3:27Homme

UK CD2 (Interscope 497 812-2, 2002)

No.TitleDurationWriters
1No One Knows4:38Homme, Lanegan
2Gonna Leave You (Spanish Version)2:55Homme, Oliveri
3Tension Head (Live from the Mean Fiddler)3:04Homme, Oliveri
The promotional CD (Interscope INTR-10802-2, 2002) contained a single track: "No One Knows" (4:13). A version, shortened to 4:14 and used for airplay, removes elements of the surrounding radio dialogue from the album context.

References

  1. https://www.loudersound.com/features/no-one-knows-by-queens-of-the-stone-age-the-story-behind-the-song
  2. https://www.billboard.com/music/music-news/queens-of-the-stone-age-ready-to-rule-rock-again-63715/
  3. https://americansongwriter.com/the-meaning-behind-no-one-knows-by-queens-of-the-stone-age-and-whether-josh-homme-himself-even-knows/
  4. https://pophits.org/songs/queens-of-the-stone-age-no-one-knows
  5. https://www.musicradar.com/artists/of-course-it-was-gonna-be-a-hit-this-song-is-one-of-the-few-tracks-from-that-period-of-the-noughties-that-really-is-original-its-got-a-super-distinctive-sonic-signature-inside-the-making-of-a-queens-of-the-stone-age-classic
  6. https://songbpm.com/@queens-of-the-stone-age/no-one-knows
  7. https://diffuser.fm/queens-of-the-stone-age-songs-for-the-deaf/
  8. https://riffology.co/2024/08/25/the-making-of-songs-for-the-deaf-by-queens-of-the-stone-age/
  9. https://www.discogs.com/release/545897-Queens-Of-The-Stone-Age-Songs-For-The-Deaf
  10. https://www.discogs.com/release/856937-Queens-Of-The-Stone-Age-Songs-For-The-Deaf
  11. https://tapeop.com/interviews/133/eric-valentine-1
  12. https://www.soundonsound.com/techniques/eric-valentines-electric-guitars-queens-stone-age
  13. https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/dave-grohl-drumming-on-new-queens-of-the-stone-age-album-174248/
  14. https://www.musicradar.com/news/how-dave-grohl-recorded-drums-queens-of-the-stone-age-songs-for-the-deaf-no-one-knows
  15. https://www.ultimate-guitar.com/en/wiki/Queens_of_the_Stone_Age_-_No_One_Knows
  16. http://samples.eduwriter.ai/261834999/an-in-depth-production-analysis-of-ldquono
  17. https://www.hooktheory.com/theorytab/view/queens-of-the-stone-age/no-one-knows
  18. https://genius.com/Queens-of-the-stone-age-no-one-knows-lyrics
  19. https://www.songfacts.com/facts/queens-of-the-stone-age/no-one-knows
  20. https://www.discogs.com/release/1036665-Queens-Of-The-Stone-Age-No-One-Knows
  21. https://www.discogs.com/release/775064-Queens-Of-The-Stone-Age-No-One-Knows
  22. https://www.discogs.com/master/3247-Queens-Of-The-Stone-Age-No-One-Knows
  23. https://www.discogs.com/release/466268-Queens-Of-The-Stone-Age-No-One-Knows
  24. https://www.discogs.com/release/1124208-Queens-Of-The-Stone-Age-No-One-Knows
  25. https://www.discogs.com/release/21501406-Queens-Of-The-Stone-Age-No-One-Knows
  26. https://www.worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Hits/00s/2002/Hits-2002-11-15.pdf
  27. https://www.setlist.fm/setlist/queens-of-the-stone-age/2002/late-show-with-david-letterman-new-york-ny-2bd5c0ea.html
  28. https://www.setlist.fm/stats/average-setlist/queens-of-the-stone-age-1bd689ec.html?year=2002
  29. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MNmfhNUHK2M
  30. https://www.billboard.com/charts/alternative-songs/2003-02-08/
  31. http://hitsofalldecades.com/chart_hits/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1332&Itemid=52
  32. https://www.dutchcharts.nl/showitem.asp?interpret=Queens+Of+The+Stone+Age&titel=No+One+Knows&cat=s
  33. https://www.bpi.co.uk/award/9561-767-1
  34. https://bestsellingalbums.org/album/37189
  35. https://chartmasters.org/most-streamed-songs-spotify/
  36. https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/6606-songs-for-the-deaf/
  37. https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-album-reviews/songs-for-the-deaf-248357/
  38. https://www.theguardian.com/music/2002/aug/23/popandrock.artsfeatures2
  39. https://www.nme.com/reviews/reviews-queens-of-the-stone-age-6631-317548
  40. https://www.nme.com/features/2002-2-1045353
  41. https://www.allmusic.com/album/songs-for-the-deaf-mw0000223645
  42. https://www.robertchristgau.com/xg/pnj/pjres02.php
  43. https://thesoundvault.substack.com/p/queens-of-the-stone-age-no-one-knows
  44. https://articles.boss.info/patch-work-no-one-knows-by-queens-of-the-stone-age/
  45. https://variety.com/2003/music/news/45th-annual-grammy-award-nominations-1117878286/
  46. https://www.kerrang.com/the-20-greatest-queens-of-the-stone-age-songs-ranked
  47. https://discover.ticketmaster.co.uk/music/the-best-queens-of-the-stone-age-songs-ranked-60350/
  48. https://www.ultimate-guitar.com/news/general_music_news/were-one-of-the-last-bands-that-got-in-before-the-door-closed-josh-homme-speaks-on-success-suggests-qotsa-might-have-had-it-easier-than-modern-bands
  49. https://www.straight.com/music/405491/queens-stone-ages-josh-homme-finds-bright-side-terrible-luck
  50. https://www.setlist.fm/setlist/queens-of-the-stone-age/2025/autodromo-hermanos-rodriguez-mexico-city-mexico-2b449cd2.html
  51. https://imvdb.com/video/queens-of-the-stone-age/no-one-knows
  52. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt6800742/
  53. https://www.loudersound.com/features/video-breakdown-queens-of-the-stone-age-no-one-knows
  54. https://www.ultimate-guitar.com/articles/features/the_story_behind_no_one_knows_by_queens_of_the_stone_age-68377
  55. https://www.billboard.com/music/music-news/2003-mtv-video-music-awards-nominees-69818/
  56. https://musicvideo.fandom.com/wiki/No_One_Knows
  57. https://www.discogs.com/release/1258907-Queens-Of-The-Stone-Age-No-One-Knows-Unkle-Reconstruction
  58. https://genius.com/albums/Queens-of-the-stone-age/Over-the-years-and-through-the-woods
  59. https://www.discogs.com/master/3256-Queens-Of-The-Stone-Age-Over-The-Years-And-Through-The-Woods
  60. https://cleorecs.com/products/a-tribute-to-queens-of-the-stone-age-cd
  61. https://music.apple.com/us/playlist/inspired-by-queens-of-the-stone-age/pl.3a86b2bc60a84967a718e86845654c0a
  62. https://www.discogs.com/master/3239-Queens-Of-The-Stone-Age-Songs-For-The-Deaf
  63. https://rateyourmusic.com/release/single/queens-of-the-stone-age/no-one-knows/
  64. https://drumheadauthority.com/articles/dave-grohl/
  65. http://eil.com/shop/moreinfo.asp?catalogid=527159
  66. https://open.spotify.com/track/1AqozxWmqOyUvFvLJBsMhq
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