Undead (Hollywood Undead song)

Reception

The song reached number 10 on the Hot Mainstream Rock Tracks chart, number 12 on the Hot Modern Rock Tracks chart, and number 4 on the Bubbling Under Hot 100 chart. "Undead" was issued as a 7-inch single in the United Kingdom through HMV, with "Circles" as the B-side. The track was featured in a trailer for the film G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra that aired during Super Bowl XLIII. It also appeared in the video game UFC 2009 Undisputed from THQ and was part of the soundtrack for Madden NFL 09.

Mixed martial artist Josh Neer used the song as his entrance music at UFC 101. The New York Knicks employed it in their 2009–2010 season intro video, and NBC included it in their telecast of WrestleMania XXV during the match between The Undertaker and Shawn Michaels. A television spot for the 2011 remake Conan the Barbarian used the song, and wrestler Shiima Xion used it during his independent circuit run. For the 2011–2012 season, the Milwaukee Admirals of the American Hockey League played it during pre-game player introductions.

In 2012, former Hollywood Undead frontman Deuce remixed the song under the title "Nine Lives". This version features Deuce performing the original chorus and yelling "Nine Lives" instead of "Undead". Deuce also sings over Johnny 3 Tears' verse with slight lyrical changes. The remix was used as a promotional release for Deuce's debut solo album Nine Lives.

Arrangement

The song's main riff borrows from Ozzy Osbourne's "Crazy Train," but swaps the guitar for a synthesizer and shifts to a different key. Deuce handles the chorus vocals, as he does on every track from the band's first album. Johnny 3 Tears leads the opening and closing shouts of "Undead!" with the rest of the group, and also delivers the first and fourth rap verses. Charlie Scene takes the second verse, while J-Dog handles the third. A longer version, where J-Dog insults Jeffree Star, gets played live but was left off Swan Songs. Da Kurlzz joins Deuce on the chorus screams and adds backing shouts during Charlie Scene and J-Dog's parts.