Faint (song)

2003 single by Linkin Park

"Faint"

Single by Linkin Park
from the album  Meteora
B-side|

* "Lying from You" (Live)
* "One Step Closer" (Reanimated Live)

Released| June 9, 2003
Recorded| 2002
Genre|

* Nu metal[1][2]
* rap rock[3]
* alternative rock[4]
* pop rock[5]

Length| 2:42
Label| Warner Bros.
Songwriter(s)| Linkin Park
Producer(s)|

* Don Gilmore
* Linkin Park

Linkin Park singles chronology
| "Somewhere I Belong"
(2003)  | "Faint"
(2003)  | "Numb"
(2003)

|
|

Music video
"Faint" on YouTube

"Faint" is a song by American rock band Linkin Park from their second studio album, Meteora. The song was released as the album's second single on June 9, 2003, and is the seventh track. It entered the top thirty on the majority of the charts it appeared on. On the Hot 100, it peaked at #48. The song reached #1 on the US Modern Rock Tracks, becoming the band's third number-one hit on the chart. The song would later be featured on the group's mashup EP with Jay-Z, Collision Course, where it was mashed up with lyrics of the song Nigga What from Vol. 2... Hard Knock Life.

"Faint" is considered one of Linkin Park's most iconic and most covered songs, with its intro and primary guitar riff being widely recognizable.[citation needed]

## Overview

[edit]

This song was released as two singles, "Faint 1" and "Faint 2." They differed in cover color and track listing ("Faint 1" is blue, and "Faint 2" is a brownish-green mixture). "Faint 1" was also released as a Canadian version that includes the tracks, but does not include the music video. "Faint 1" lists the length of "Lying from You" as 3:43 but is actually 3:04. "One Step Closer", on "Faint 2", is 3:43 long. A promotional sampler was given to members of the street team and some members of the LPU, the band's official fan club. A demo for the song can be found on the Underground 9.0 Fan Club release. It features Mike Shinoda rapping with different lyrics, with only some backing input from Chester Bennington. A live version of the track was featured as a b-side for "What I've Done".

The success of this single, and the success of Linkin Park's "Numb/Encore" mashup with Jay-Z, led MTV to produce a mashup of "Faint" with "Toxic" by Britney Spears. This was done by DJ Rob Boskamp and can be found on MTV's MTV Mash Up - Amazing Remixes! CD.

## Music video

[edit]

The video, directed by Mark Romanek and shot in downtown Los Angeles, consists of the band performing in front of an audience and a floodlight. The audience consisted of members from the LPU. Almost the entire video is shot from behind the band, allowing the strong lighting to portray them in silhouettes. Therefore, the faces of the band are not shown throughout most of the video, except at the final chorus where the band is then shown from the front. They perform in front of a derelict building structure with graffiti, such as a monstrous version of the Hybrid Theory Soldier and some Linkin Park symbols.

A director's cut was made that features an extended ending where Mike Shinoda spray paints the words En Proceso (Spanish for In Process) on a garage door.[6][7]

## Commercial performance

[edit]

"Faint" was officially released to US radio on July 1, 2003. The song reached the top twenty on the Hot 100 Recurrent Airplay, and the following week it debuted on the Hot 100, the official US chart. "Faint" peaked at number forty-eight in its eighth week and remained on the chart until its twentieth week. The song entered the top twenty on the majority of the Billboard charts on which it appeared. "Faint" proved popular on Modern Rock Tracks radio, attaining the number one position on that chart for six weeks (with 37 weeks on the chart), and peaked at number forty-eight on the Hot 100 Airplay format and number two for two weeks on the US Mainstream Rock Tracks.

"Faint" reached the top thirty on the Canadian Singles Chart where it peaked at 21.

The song was released in Australia, Europe and New Zealand on July 22, 2003. "Somewhere I Belong" reached the UK top ten, while "Faint" reached the top twenty. "Faint" continued the trend of lower-charting singles when it debuted and peaked at number fifteen, and remained in the chart for 8 weeks. "Faint" peaked at number twenty-five on the Australian Singles Chart and stayed at its peak for two weeks.

"Faint" reached 67 on the Japanese singles chart and 48 on the Eurochart Hot 100 Singles and it would also peak at forty in seven countries and reached the top twenty in the United Kingdom and Spain. It was a moderate top ten success on the LAUNCH Music Videos Top 100.

To date, it has been less successful than its predecessor "Somewhere I Belong" and the following single "Numb" where both singles charted higher. However, it has peaked higher than "Numb" in the Belgium Singles Chart (#44) and Italian Singles Chart. Additionally, it was more successful on the Mainstream Rock Track and the Modern Rock Track chart than the other singles from Meteora. It was the 8th Best performing song of the decade on the Modern Rock Track chart, and the 13th best performing song of the decade on the Mainstream rock Track Chart. It is their second most successful single behind "In the End" on the rock charts. Moreover, the single peaked at #15 in the UK, charting for 8 weeks, being their second-most successful song from Meteora in the UK after "Somewhere I Belong".

In September 2023, for the 35th anniversary of Modern Rock Tracks (which by then had been renamed to Alternative Airplay),[8] Billboard ranked "Faint" at number 92 on its list of the 100 most successful songs in the chart's history.[9]

## Track listing

[edit]

All tracks are written by Linkin Park

Part 1No.| Title| Length

|
|

1.| "Faint"| 2:43
2.| "Lying from You" (Live)| 3:07
3.| "Somewhere I Belong" (Video)|

All tracks are written by Linkin Park

Part 2No.| Title| Length

|
|

1.| "Faint"| 2:43
2.| "One Step Closer" (Reanimated Live)| 3:43
3.| "Faint Live" (Video)|

All tracks are written by Linkin Park

Maxi singleNo.| Title| Length

|
|

1.| "Faint"| 2:43
2.| "Lying from You" (Live)| 3:06
3.| "One Step Closer" (Reanimated Live)| 3:41

All tracks are written by Linkin Park

10" vinyl picture discNo.| Title| Length

|
|

1.| "Faint"| 2:43
2.| "Lying from You" (Live)| 3:07

## Personnel

[edit]

Linkin Park

* Chester Bennington – vocals
* Mike Shinoda – strings arrangement, rap vocals, rhythm guitar, sampler
* Brad Delson – lead guitar
* Dave "Phoenix" Farrell – bass guitar
* Joe Hahn – turntables, samplers, synthesizers
* Rob Bourdon – drums

Additional musicians

* Joel Derouin, Charlie Bisharat, Alyssa Park, Sara Parkins, Michelle Richards, Mark Robertson – violins
* Evan Wilson, Bob Becker – violas
* Larry Corbett, Dan Smith – cellos
* David Campbell – strings arrangement

## Charts

[edit]

### Weekly charts

[edit]

2003 weekly chart performance for "Faint"  Chart (2003–2004)  | Peak
position

|

Australia (ARIA)[10] | 25
Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)[11] | 27
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[12] | 44
Belgium (Ultratip Bubbling Under Wallonia)[13] | 5
Canada (Nielsen SoundScan)[14] | 21
Chile (Notimex)[15] | 2
Croatia (HRT)[16] | 8
Ecuador (Notimex)[17] | 1
Europe (European Hot 100 Singles)[18] | 35
Germany (Official German Charts)[19] | 40
Hungary (Single Top 40)[20] | 3
Ireland (IRMA)[21] | 26
Italy (FIMI)[22] | 29
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[23] | 40
Netherlands (Single Top 100)[24] | 20
Paraguay (Notimex)[25] | 2
Scotland (OCC)[26] | 15
Spain (PROMUSICAE)[27] | 18
Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)[28] | 49
Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[29] | 32
UK Singles (OCC)[30] | 15
UK Rock & Metal (OCC)[31] | 3
US Billboard Hot 100[32] | 48
US Alternative Airplay (Billboard)[33] | 1
US Mainstream Rock (Billboard)[34] | 2
2017 weekly chart performance for "Faint"  Chart (2017)  | Peak
position

|

Czech Republic (Singles Digitál Top 100)[35] | 71
Slovakia (Singles Digitál Top 100)[36] | 86
US Hot Rock & Alternative Songs (Billboard)[37] | 15
2024 weekly chart performance for "Faint"  Chart (2024)  | Peak
position

|

Global 200 (Billboard)[38] | 102
Greece International (IFPI)[39] | 86

## Certifications

[edit]

Region  | Certification | Certified units/sales

|
|

Italy (FIMI)[40] | Gold  | 35,000‡
Portugal (AFP)[41] | 2× Platinum  | 20,000‡
Spain (PROMUSICAE)[42] | Gold  | 30,000‡
United Kingdom (BPI)[44] | Platinum  | 644,000[43]
United States (RIAA)[45] | Platinum  | 1,000,000‡

‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "Concert review: Linkin Park, Vector Arena". February 22, 2013. Retrieved August 15, 2016 - via New Zealand Herald.
2. ^ "10 Nü-Metal Songs That Don't Totally Suck". Consequence of Sound. 12 September 2019. Retrieved 1 April 2021.
3. ^ Weiss, Dan (April 6, 2012). "Ten Rap-Rock Songs That Are Actually Awesome". LA Weekly. Retrieved August 9, 2016.
4. ^ "Ranking Every Alternative Rock No. 1 Hit from Worst to Best". Consequence of Sound. 5 July 2017. Retrieved 9 October 2019.
5. ^ Law, Sam (April 17, 2020). "The 20 greatest Linkin Park songs – ranked". Kerrang!. Retrieved November 3, 2021.
6. ^ "Faint (Original Official Video) on Youtube". YouTube. from Linkin Park's Youtube Channel
7. ^ "Faint (Official Duplicate Video) on Youtube". YouTube. from Linkin Park's Youtube Channel
8. ^ Rutherford, Kevin (September 7, 2023). "Alternative Airplay Chart's 35th Anniversary: Foo Fighters Remain No. 1 Act, 'Monsters' New Top Song". Billboard. Retrieved November 15, 2023.
9. ^ "Greatest of All Time Alternative Songs". Billboard. Archived from the original on October 6, 2023. Retrieved November 29, 2023.
10. ^ "Linkin Park – Faint". ARIA Top 50 Singles. Retrieved August 26, 2020.
11. ^ "Linkin Park – Faint" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved August 26, 2020.
12. ^ "Linkin Park – Faint" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved August 26, 2020.
13. ^ "Linkin Park – Faint" (in French). Ultratip. Retrieved September 28, 2020.
14. ^ "Top 50 Singles". Jam!. Archived from the original on February 15, 2004. Retrieved November 21, 2023.
15. ^ "Linkin Park anda popular". El Siglo de Torreón. August 24, 2003. Archived from the original on May 4, 2023. Retrieved May 4, 2023.
16. ^ "Top Lista Hrvatskog Radija". Croatian Radiotelevision. Archived from the original on August 10, 2003. Retrieved April 14, 2023.
17. ^ "Linkin Park anda popular". El Siglo de Torreón. August 24, 2003. Archived from the original on May 4, 2023. Retrieved May 4, 2023.
18. ^ "European Hot 100 Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 21, no. 15\. July 5, 2003. p. 13. Retrieved August 26, 2020.
19. ^ "Linkin Park – Faint" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved August 26, 2020.
20. ^ "Archívum – Slágerlisták – MAHASZ" (in Hungarian). Single (track) Top 40 lista. Magyar Hanglemezkiadók Szövetsége. Retrieved September 29, 2023.
21. ^ "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Faint". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved August 26, 2020.
22. ^ "Linkin Park – Faint". Top Digital Download. Retrieved September 26, 2020.
23. ^ "Nederlandse Top 40 – week 27, 2003" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved September 28, 2020.
24. ^ "Linkin Park – Faint" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved August 26, 2020.
25. ^ "Linkin Park anda popular". El Siglo de Torreón. August 24, 2003. Archived from the original on May 4, 2023. Retrieved May 4, 2023.
26. ^ "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved August 26, 2020.
27. ^ "Linkin Park – Faint" Canciones Top 50. Retrieved August 26, 2020.
28. ^ "Linkin Park – Faint". Singles Top 100. Retrieved August 26, 2020.
29. ^ "Linkin Park – Faint". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved August 26, 2020.
30. ^ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved August 26, 2020.
31. ^ "Official Rock & Metal Singles Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved June 21, 2020.
32. ^ "Linkin Park Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved August 26, 2020.
33. ^ "Linkin Park Chart History (Alternative Airplay)". Billboard. Retrieved August 26, 2020.
34. ^ "Linkin Park Chart History (Mainstream Rock)". Billboard. Retrieved August 26, 2020.
35. ^ "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.
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 August 3, 2017.
38. ^ "Linkin Park Chart History (Global 200)". Billboard. Retrieved September 17, 2024.
39. ^ "Official IFPI Charts − Digital Singles Chart (International) − Εβδομάδα: 37/2024" (in Greek). IFPI Greece. Archived from the original on September 18, 2024. Retrieved September 19, 2024.
40. ^ "Italian single certifications – Linkin Park – Faint" (in Italian). Federazione Industria Musicale Italiana. Retrieved July 12, 2021.
41. ^ "Portuguese single certifications – Linkin Park – Faint" (PDF) (in Portuguese). Associação Fonográfica Portuguesa. Retrieved September 18, 2024.
42. ^ "Spanish single certifications – Linkin Park – Faint". El portal de Música. Productores de Música de España. Retrieved February 14, 2024.
43. ^ 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.
44. ^ "British single certifications – Linkin Park – Faint". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved May 17, 2024.
45. ^ "American single certifications – Linkin Park – Faint". Recording Industry Association of America.

## External links

[edit]

* Faint official lyrics

* v
* t
* e

Linkin Park songs

* Discography
* Awards and nominations

Hybrid Theory|

* "Papercut"
* "One Step Closer"
* "Points of Authority"
* "Crawling"
* "Runaway"
* "In the End"
* "She Couldn't" (20th Anniversary Edition)

Reanimation|

* "Pts.OF.Athrty"

Meteora|

* "Somewhere I Belong"
* "Lying from You"
* "Faint"
* "Breaking the Habit"
* "From the Inside"
* "Numb"
* "Lost" (20th Anniversary Edition)
* "Fighting Myself" (20th Anniversary Edition)

Collision Course|

* "Numb/Encore"

Minutes to Midnight|

* "Given Up"
* "Leave Out All the Rest"
* "Bleed It Out"
* "Shadow of the Day"
* "What I've Done"

A Thousand Suns|

* "Burning in the Skies"
* "Waiting for the End"
* "Blackout"
* "Wretches and Kings"
* "Iridescent"
* "The Catalyst"

Living Things|

* "Lost in the Echo"
* "In My Remains"
* "Burn It Down"
* "Lies Greed Misery"
* "I'll Be Gone"
* "Castle of Glass"
* "Powerless"

Recharged|

* "A Light That Never Comes"

The Hunting Party|

* "Keys to the Kingdom"
* "All for Nothing"
* "Guilty All the Same"
* "Wastelands"
* "Until It's Gone"
* "Rebellion"
* "Final Masquerade"

One More Light|

* "Good Goodbye"
* "Talking to Myself"
* "Battle Symphony"
* "Invisible"
* "Heavy"
* "One More Light"

Papercuts|

* "Friendly Fire"
* "Qwerty"

From Zero|

* "The Emptiness Machine"
* "Heavy Is the Crown"

Featured songs|

* "We Made It"
* "Darker Than Blood"

Other songs|

* "New Divide"
* "Not Alone"
* "Rolling in the Deep"
* "White Noise"
* "Darker Than the Light That Never Bleeds"

* Category

Authority control databases |

* MusicBrainz release group

|

*[No.]: Number
*[v]: View this template
*[t]: Discuss this template
*[e]: Edit this template