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"Paralyzer"
Single by Finger Eleven
from the album Them vs. You vs. Me
ReleasedMarch 1, 2007
Recorded2006
StudioGroovemaster (Chicago)
Metalworks (Mississauga)
Genre
Length3:28
LabelWind-up
Songwriters
  • Scott Anderson
  • Sean Anderson
  • Rich Beddoe
  • James Black
  • Rick Jackett
ProducerJohnny K
Finger Eleven singles chronology
"Thousand Mile Wish"
(2004)
"Paralyzer"
(2007)
"Falling On"
(2007)
Music video
"Paralyzer"

"Paralyzer" is a song by Canadian rock band Finger Eleven. It was released as the lead single from their fourth studio album, Them vs. You vs. Me, on March 1, 2007. The song's release as a single preceded the release of Them vs. You vs. Me by five days. The song received high airplay in both the United States and Canada, and was performed live on the March 14, 2007 episode of The Tonight Show with Jay Leno and again ten months later on January 9, 2008. The song has surpassed "One Thing" to be Finger Eleven's most successful single.

Composition

[edit]

Finger Eleven's frontman Scott Anderson has said that the single has a feel distinct from the rest of Finger Eleven's music, possessing more of a funk rock[1] or dance-rock[2] sound. However, the song has also been characterized as alternative rock,[3] hard rock,[4] and post-grunge.[5] The style of the song has been compared to (though inspired by) "Take Me Out", a 2004 single by indie rock band Franz Ferdinand. Finger Eleven occasionally performed "Take Me Out" during the middle of Paralyzer in live performances as a part of a medley along with "Trampled Under Foot" by Led Zeppelin and "Another Brick in the Wall (Part II)" by Pink Floyd.[6] "Paralyzer" is about feeling uncomfortable in a dance club.[7] Drummer Rich Beddoe said "It's something the whole band feels". He added,

You’re always the guy in the corner that feels awkward and just drinks too much and then says something stupid and goes home lonely. (laughs) We were all coming from that place, so when he [singer Scott Anderson] wrote that song, it was like, ‘Oh, man. It’s so cool that finally that’s being said.’ ... I don’t know if he had a particular experience about that or just it’s every fucking time you go to a bar that’s what happens. Obviously there is a big difference between like a pub and a club. We belong in a dirty little bar in the corner drinking. That’s our place – where we feel comfortable. A bunch of laser lights and girls dancing to Lil’ Wayne – we’re screwed.[7]

The single has three versions; one is the original CD version, while the other two are radio edit versions, in which the line containing the word "shitty" is either censored or replaced with "shady". The song alludes to the band's prior hit "One Thing" with the lyric "I should just stay home, if one thing really means one".

Music video

[edit]

The video was released on YouTube. It starts with a man, walking, who begins to intersperse his steps with dance moves. He looks into windows and in the reflection, he sees himself with dancers around him, but when he turns he sees a woman. The two begin to dance with the symbolic dancers returning in greater numbers every time the chorus repeats. The video alternates between shots of the band playing on a rooftop that overlooks the dancers in a seemingly abandoned street.

The video reached number eight on VH1's weekly VSpot Top 20 Countdown. On the channel's year-end Top 40 Videos of 2007, it placed at number 23, despite only having spent (at the time) one week on its weekly Top 20 Countdown.

Chart performance

[edit]

"Paralyzer" debuted on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 at number 97 in June 2007.[8] It proceeded to slowly gain in airplay and digital sales over the months. For the chart week of November 24, 2007 (over six months after the song was released), it became the band's first-career top 10 hit on the Billboard Hot 100, rising from number 14 to number 10. The song then rose to peak at number six on the Hot 100 over a month later, for the chart week of January 5, 2008. The song became the band's first number one on the Mainstream Rock and Alternative charts. It also became their second top five song on the Alternative Chart after "One Thing", which had peaked at number five, and it later tied 30 Seconds to Mars "The Kill (Bury Me)" and Red Jumpsuit Apparatus "Face Down" for the record of spending the most weeks on that chart (52 weeks). The record has since been broken by Rise Against's "Savior". It also found great success on the Billboard Adult Top 40, eventually climbing peaking at number three, their second top three song on that chart after "One Thing", which had reached number two. It also hit number one on its recurrent chart. The song topped three million digital downloads in the United States in late December 2010,[9] and as of January 2015, the song has sold 3.4 million copies in the U.S.[10]

The track peaked at number 12 on the Australian Singles Chart based on downloads alone; an amazing achievement considering eighty percent of single sales come from physical releases. "Paralyzer" is one of the most successful hits for the band. At the end of the year, the single ranked number 58 for the year in Australia.

The single has been certified double platinum (2,457,058 downloads) by the RIAA.[11]

On the Canadian Singles Chart, the song became the band's second number one following 2003's "One Thing." It also did well on the Canadian Hot 100, reaching number three. The song later debuted at number 10 on the New Zealand RIANZ chart in February 2008, becoming the band's first charting song there. It climbed to number seven the following week.

In September 2023, for the 35th anniversary of Alternative Airplay,[12] Billboard published a list of the top 100 most successful songs in the chart's history; "Paralyzer" was ranked at number 45.[13]

Usage in media

[edit]

The song has been featured on the television series Gossip Girl and Greek. It is also a playable song in the rhythm game Rock Revolution by Konami;[14] although the game's producers have stated that all songs will be covers, the song is one of two for which the game uses the original master recording (the other being "Given Up" by Linkin Park). The song is also a playable song in the rhythm game Band Hero by Activision.[15] The song is also on the Rock Band Network, and was introduced as DLC into Rocksmith by Ubisoft.[16] The song is also part of the third game in the Guitar Hero On Tour Series for the Nintendo DS, Guitar Hero On Tour: Modern Hits.

Charts

[edit]

Certifications

[edit]
Certifications for "Paralyzer"
Region Certification Certified units/sales
Canada (Music Canada)[37] 5× Platinum 400,000
Canada (Music Canada)[38]
Ringtone
Platinum 40,000*
New Zealand (RMNZ)[39] Platinum 30,000
United Kingdom (BPI)[40] Silver 200,000
United States (RIAA)[41] 2× Platinum 2,000,000*
United States (RIAA)[42]
Mastertone
Platinum 1,000,000*

* Sales figures based on certification alone.
Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

References

[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia
from Grokipedia
"Paralyzer" is a rock by the Canadian band , released on March 1, 2007, as the from their fourth studio album, . The track, written by band members Scott Anderson, Sean Anderson, Rick Jackett, Rich Beddoe, and James Black, features lyrics exploring themes of and nightlife hesitation, set to an energetic arrangement with prominent synth elements. The song achieved significant commercial success, peaking at number six on the US chart, where it spent 52 weeks, and topping both the Mainstream Rock and Alternative Songs charts. In , it reached number one on the Canadian Hot 100, marking the band's first chart-topper there. iTunes recognized "Paralyzer" as the top rock song and eighth overall song of , underscoring its widespread popularity; as of 2025, it has surpassed 500 million streams on . Beyond charts, "Paralyzer" earned quintuple platinum certification in in 2022 for over 400,000 units sold and has amassed over one million spins across radio formats. It has been featured in media such as the video games and , extending its cultural footprint. The song's enduring appeal lies in its catchy chorus and relatable lyrics, solidifying Finger Eleven's breakthrough in the mid-2000s rock scene.

Background and development

Writing and inspiration

"Paralyzer" was written collaboratively by all five members of —Scott Anderson, Sean Anderson, Rich Beddoe, James Black, and Rick Jackett—as part of their standard songwriting process, where credits are split equally among the band. The song's inspiration stemmed from frontman Scott Anderson's personal discomfort in settings, where he felt immobilized by the awkward social interactions and pretentious atmosphere of club culture. This theme resonated with the entire band, as drummer Rich Beddoe explained that it captures a shared experience of feeling out of place in dance clubs, often preferring casual pubs and ending up isolated after overindulging. The idea for "Paralyzer" emerged spontaneously during a for the , when began jamming a to give their friend something dynamic to capture; this improvisation quickly evolved into the chorus, with the group recognizing its potential as a full . An initial demo of the track was developed in 2006 during sessions for Them vs. You vs. Me, fourth studio .

Recording process

The song "Paralyzer" by was recorded at Groovemaster Studios in , , during 2006. It originated from an initial demo developed spontaneously during a band . The production was handled by Johnny K, a -based producer and engineer who owns Groovemaster Studios and has worked on albums for acts including Disturbed and . Johnny K also served as the recording and for the track. The final version of "Paralyzer" runs approximately 3:28 in length and was selected as the from the band's fourth studio album, .

Composition

Musical style and structure

"Paralyzer" is classified within the genres of , , and , incorporating and elements that contribute to its energetic, radio-friendly appeal. The song's production by Johnny K lends it a polished, commercial sheen that enhances its blend of rock aggression and danceable rhythms. The track follows a conventional verse-chorus structure, opening with a distinctive guitar riff that sets a groovy, syncopated tone before transitioning into verses and building tension toward an explosive chorus. Written in the key of E minor at a tempo of 106 beats per minute, it maintains a driving pace that supports its rhythmic intensity. Instrumentation features prominent electric guitar riffs, a tight bass line, and military-style driving drums that create a solid rock foundation, while the chorus introduces anthemic, layered vocals. A key distinctive element is the chorus "drop," where falsetto vocals by lead singer Scott Anderson combine with the song's rhythmic groove to deliver a euphoric, paralyzing lift that defines its hook. This fusion of live band dynamics and subtle electronic-tinged production elements underscores the track's hybrid rock style.

Lyrics and themes

The lyrics of "Paralyzer" center on the core theme of and empowerment within settings, depicting the narrator's internal struggle with awkwardness and hesitation in a pretentious club environment, ultimately finding a surge of confidence propelled by the infectious rhythm of the music. Lead singer Scott Anderson crafted the words from a place of shared band discomfort, portraying the as the outsider clinging to his drink amid a scene of superficial glamour, yearning for genuine connection but paralyzed by self-doubt. As Anderson and his bandmates reflected in a 2008 interview, the song captures the universal frustration of being "the guy in the corner that feels awkward and just drinks too much and then says something stupid and goes home lonely," highlighting a raw vulnerability that resonates with those ill at ease in high-energy club atmospheres. Key lyrics underscore this narrative tension, beginning with the opening verse that evokes immediate unease: "I hold on so nervously to me and my drink / I wish it was cooling me / But so far has not been good / It's been shitty / And I feel awkward as I should / You're so beautiful and I'm not that cool." These lines establish the narrator's hesitation and self-deprecating isolation, refusing to "open up that door" to approach an alluring figure, symbolizing the barrier of intimidation in social settings. The chorus shifts toward empowerment, with the pulsating beat acting as a catalyst: "Well, it's hot and dangerous / If you're one of us, then roll with us / 'Cause we roll tight / Ooh, on a fair night / Well, I'm not paralyzed, but I seem to be struck by you / I want to make you move / Because you're standing still." Here, the music's energy transforms paralysis into action, inviting inclusion in a tight-knit group while expressing a desire to break through stagnation and forge an intimate bond. Symbolism in the lyrics layers the title "Paralyzer" as a for the overwhelming, immobilizing of attraction and the club's chaotic vibe, which the narrator resists through rhythmic liberation. The motif recurs as a for cooling nerves yet failing to alleviate discomfort, mirroring how alcohol in culture promises escape but often amplifies isolation. This duality evolves in the bridge and outro, where bravado emerges—"I'll pretend that I know you / And we'll make a good connection"—balancing initial with assertive fantasy, as if the beat itself unparalyzes the soul.

Release and promotion

Single release

"Paralyzer" was released on March 1, 2007, as the from Finger Eleven's fourth studio album, , by . The single was made available in multiple formats, including digital download, , and a promotional . In some international markets, CD releases featured B-sides consisting of other tracks from the album. The initial rollout began with airplay on rock radio stations in late 2006, building anticipation ahead of the album's release on , 2007.

Marketing and promotion

Wind-Up Records launched an intensive radio campaign for "Paralyzer" targeting alternative and mainstream rock stations across , which drove significant early airplay and helped establish the song's momentum shortly after its March 1, 2007 release. The track appeared on promotional compilations like Promo Only Mainstream Radio in June 2007, facilitating broader exposure on stations and playlists. The band supported the single with live performances beginning in early 2007, including a high-profile debut on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno on March 14, 2007. During their 2007 tour promoting the album Them vs. You vs. Me, "Paralyzer" became a staple, often closing sets to capitalize on its energetic close; for instance, it concluded the show at Louisville Gardens in Kentucky on March 27, 2007, and similarly at JRRBQ in Orlando on November 18, 2007. Promotion included strategic tie-ins with early advertisements and digital playlists, amplifying the song's reach beyond traditional radio.

Music video

Production and direction

The music video for "Paralyzer" by was directed by Barnaby Roper, a visual artist known for his innovative and surreal style in music videos. Production was handled by Thom Fennessey, with involvement from the companies Collaboration Factory and Flynn Productions. Filming took place in 2007 in , where the band performed on a rooftop set overlooking the city streets, capturing an urban atmosphere that loosely echoes the song's themes of discomfort in a club-like social scene. Casting featured professional dancers, including lead performers and Nathan Kim, alongside approximately 40 additional dancers choreographed by Tracy Phillips to create synchronized, reflective movements. The production emphasized practical filming logistics with a focus on dynamic street-level and elevated shots, utilizing the skyline for authenticity without extensive set builds beyond the rooftop. Post-production was edited by Mike Calao, incorporating to enhance the mirroring and surreal dance sequences, though specific details on techniques like green screen usage remain undocumented in primary sources. The project aligned closely with the single's release timeline, allowing for a swift rollout following the album in March 2007.

Content and visual elements

The music video for "Paralyzer" opens with performing energetically on an urban rooftop, interspersed with scenes of a lone man in a business suit navigating city streets, his awkward yet rhythmic movements drawing the attention of . As the narrative unfolds, the man's dance evolves into a choreographed sequence where he is joined by a group of similarly attired figures—professional dancers—who mirror and amplify his actions, creating a surreal of synchronized movement that "infects" others around him, including a woman who engages in a seductive interplay of gestures and steps. This culminates in a proliferation of dancers, symbolizing the contagious pull of the song's central motif, before transitioning back to the band's rooftop set amid an atmospheric backdrop. Visually, the video employs a stark contrast between the elevated, windswept rooftop—bathed in natural daylight and emphasizing the band's isolation high above the city—and the bustling, ground-level street scenes in , where shadows and urban architecture heighten the sense of immediacy and multiplicity. The aesthetic draws on surreal, mime-inspired with the suited dancers' precise, exaggerated motions evoking themes of social paralysis and liberation, directly tying into the song's exploration of anxiety and allure in settings. Neon accents and dynamic during climaxes underscore the "paralyzer" effect, building visual intensity that parallels the track's pulsing rhythm. Directed by Barnaby Roper, the video extends beyond the song's 3:28 runtime to 4 minutes, allowing for elaborated visual motifs that enhance the narrative without altering the audio.

Reception

Critical response

Upon its release in 2007, "Paralyzer" garnered positive attention from critics for its infectious energy and blend of and dance elements, often highlighted as a standout on Finger Eleven's album . In a contemporary album review, critic wakeupdead praised the track as "incredibly catchy and packed full of energy," crediting it with introducing the reviewer to the record and emphasizing its radio dominance in the genre. Some reviews offered mixed assessments, particularly regarding the song's influences and originality. noted its resemblance to Franz Ferdinand's "Take Me Out," stating that "'Paralyzer' sounds more like 'Take Me Out' every time I hear it," while expressing a wary anticipation of its ubiquity on airwaves, which underscored both its hooky appeal and perceived derivativeness. Retrospective analyses have reinforced the song's enduring impact and nostalgic value within rock. In Rolling Stone's 2025 list of the 50 Best One-Hit Wonders of the 2000s, the track was commended for "amping up the jock-jam quotient of Franz Ferdinand's 'Take Me Out,'" positioning it as a high-energy staple that captured the era's alternative radio ethos. While no aggregate exists for the single, the parent Them vs. You vs. Me earned a mixed critic score of 50/100 on Album of the Year, based on three reviews that frequently singled out "Paralyzer" as the project's strongest moment amid broader critiques of the band's formula.

Fan and industry acclaim

"Paralyzer" garnered substantial fan enthusiasm following its release, as evidenced by the strong performance of its on television countdowns. It ranked number 23 on VH1's year-end Top 40 Videos of chart, underscoring the track's enduring popularity throughout the year despite its relatively late entry into rotation. The song's reception extended to industry recognition through award nominations and wins associated with its parent album. At the 2008 , "Paralyzer" earned a nomination for Single of the Year, reflecting its impact on Canadian music scenes. The album won the Juno Award for Rock Album of the Year at the same ceremony, with the success of "Paralyzer" as the contributing significantly to this accolade. Further industry nods came from the 2007 MuchMusic Video Awards, where "Paralyzer" received nominations for Best Rock Video and Best Video, celebrating its visual and musical execution. In live settings, the band enhanced fan engagement by incorporating medleys into performances of the song, such as blending it with Franz Ferdinand's "Take Me Out" to capitalize on shared riff similarities and create extended crowd-pleasing sets.

Commercial performance

Chart achievements

"Paralyzer" achieved significant success on music charts in following its release in March 2007, marking Finger Eleven's breakthrough hit on mainstream formats. In the United States, the song debuted at number 97 on the in June 2007 and climbed to a peak of number 6 in November 2007, spending a total of 52 weeks on the chart. It also topped both the Mainstream Rock Airplay and charts, reaching number 1 for one week each in August 2007. The song ranked number 98 on the 2007 Billboard Hot 100 year-end chart. In Canada, "Paralyzer" peaked at number 3 on the Canadian Hot 100, holding the position for several weeks and totaling 52 weeks on the chart, while also reaching number 1 on the Canada Rock chart. Internationally, the song entered the top 20 in several markets, peaking at number 12 on the Australian Singles Chart in 2008 and number 7 on the New Zealand Top 40 Singles Chart. It performed moderately in the United Kingdom, reaching number 28 on the UK Singles Chart. The track also achieved top 10 status on rock-specific charts in countries such as New Zealand and the Netherlands.
Country/RegionChartPeak PositionWeeks on Chart
Billboard Hot 100652
Mainstream Rock Airplay152
125
352
Canada Rock1N/A
Singles Chart1220
Recorded Music NZ Top 40712
UK Singles Chart28N/A
The song's chart longevity was notable on rock formats, where it held top positions for months, contributing to its enduring radio play. In the 2020s, "Paralyzer" experienced renewed interest through streaming, maintaining presence on popular rock playlists without major re-entries on weekly charts as of 2025, though live performances continued to drive .

Certifications and sales

In the United States, "Paralyzer" was certified 2× Platinum by the RIAA on June 13, 2008, recognizing 2 million units in sales and streaming equivalents. In , the single achieved 5× Platinum status from on November 9, 2022, equivalent to 400,000 units and marking the first time a Canadian rock song reached this certification level; this accolade accounts for combined physical sales, digital downloads, and on-demand audio/video streams, with the track surpassing 700 million global streams by that date. As of November 2025, "Paralyzer" has exceeded 500 million streams on , contributing to Finger Eleven's overall career streams surpassing 1 billion earlier in the year. The song's commercial success drove significant catalog sales for the band, further amplified by live performances such as their set at in May 2025, where "Paralyzer" was a highlight.

Cultural impact

Usage in media

"Paralyzer" by has been prominently featured in various television shows, enhancing scenes of social gatherings and high-energy moments. In the series , the song plays during a party scene in Season 1, Episode 17 ("All About My Brother"), where makes a dramatic entrance, underscoring the episode's themes of teenage drama and nightlife. Similarly, it appears in the pilot episode of the ABC Family series Greek, accompanying a Kappa Tau fraternity rush party, capturing the chaotic excitement of college life. The track has also found a place in rhythm-based video games, allowing players to engage with its driving beat through interactive gameplay. It is included as a playable song in Rock Revolution (2008), developed by , where it serves as one of the master tracks on the expert difficulty level. "Paralyzer" features in Band Hero (2009), a family-friendly spin-off of the Guitar Hero series by , supporting full band play on guitar, bass, drums, and vocals. Additionally, it appears in Guitar Hero On Tour: Modern Hits (2009), a Nintendo DS title in the franchise, extending its reach to portable gaming. In recent years, "Paralyzer" has experienced renewed visibility in digital and live media formats. On , the song has been incorporated into numerous user-generated videos throughout 2025, often in nostalgic montages and dance challenges that highlight its enduring rock energy. In October 2025, performed "Paralyzer" alongside host on the web series (Episode 11), blending the band's original arrangement with Hall's soulful vocals for a fresh collaborative take. These media placements have contributed to occasional boosts in streaming and chart performance for the track.

Legacy and influence

"Paralyzer" stands as Finger Eleven's biggest commercial success to date, eclipsing their prior hit "One Thing" by reaching number six on the and topping both Canadian and U.S. rock charts. As the from the 2007 album , it drove the record to platinum certification in and gold status in the United States, while earning the band the 2008 Juno Award for Rock Album of the Year. The track has solidified its place as an emblem of the rock revival, blending energy with danceable rhythms that captured the era's shift toward more accessible . In the , it evokes widespread nostalgia amid a resurgence of interest in "butt-rock" from that decade, appearing in cultural retrospectives that celebrate its enduring party-anthem vibe. "Paralyzer" pioneered a hybrid rock-dance sound that influenced subsequent tracks merging with electronic and elements, as seen in its characterization as a funk-rock standout. The band has sustained its legacy through live performances, often weaving the into medleys with covers like Led Zeppelin's "" during festival sets. In recent developments, "Paralyzer" anchored the band's first greatest hits compilation released in 2023, which highlighted its multi-platinum status alongside other career milestones. The song remained a setlist staple at events like the festival in May 2025, and continues to resonate with the release of Finger Eleven's 2025 album Last Night on Earth (November 7, 2025), their first studio release in over a decade.

References

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