In a recent interview with Metal Hammer, System of a Down bassist Shavo Odadjian revealed which of the band’s songs has the most perplexing lyrics — and the answer is unsurprisingly one of their wildest tracks: Bounce.
When asked by a fan if any of frontman Serj Tankian’s lyrics ever made him say “WTF?”, Odadjian quickly pointed to the seventh track from their 2001 breakthrough album Toxicity. He explained that he wrote the music for the song, while Tankian handled the vocals. The original working title was “PJs”, and Odadjian recalled reacting to the bizarre early vocal lines, saying, “What the fuck are you saying, bro?!”
The song “Bounce” is known for its metaphorical and sexually charged content, using pogo sticks as symbols in a narrative about group sex. Lyrics such as “Unannounced twister games / All players with no names / They lined up double quick / But just one pogo stick” highlight the surreal and provocative tone that Odadjian referred to.
He added that this kind of lyrical confusion is not uncommon with Tankian’s writing, saying, “Actually, every album has stuff where I say, what the fuck is he talking about? But that’s part of the beauty of Serj. He does that but there’s always something there for everyone to read into.”
*Metal Hammer* also noted that Serj Tankian once discussed his lyrical process on his Patreon page, explaining that he often begins with the music and looks for inspiration from there — whether the song evokes images of a bird, the Earth, love, or politics. Once the theme is identified, it provides the focus for his writing.
Despite its mature subject matter, “Bounce” was unexpectedly featured in the trailer for the 2015 animated children’s film The Secret Life of Pets.
According to data from setlist.fm, “Bounce” has remained a staple in System of a Down’s live shows, proving that even the most eyebrow-raising lyrics have found a place in the hearts of fans.
