San Quentin (song)

"San Quentin" is a song by Canadian rock band Nickelback from their tenth studio album, Get Rollin'. It was released as the album's lead single on September 7, 2022.

"San Quentin"
Single by Nickelback
from the album Get Rollin'
Released	September 7, 2022
Recorded	2021
Genre	Hard rock[1] heavy metal[2]
Length	3:31
Label	Nickelback II Productions Inc. BMG
Songwriter(s)	Chad Kroeger
Producer(s)	Nickelback Chris Baseford[3]
Nickelback singles chronology
"The Devil Went Down to Georgia" (2020) "San Quentin" (2022) "Those Days" (2022)

Musical style

"San Quentin" is described as a hard rock and heavy metal song^[4][5][6] with elements of metalcore.^[7]

Background

During an interview with WRAT radio station, lead vocalist Chad Kroeger spoke about the lyrical inspiration for “San Quentin”, saying: “I met the San Quentin prison warden at a party. And I couldn’t believe how young he was. I was, like, ‘There’s just no way that you’re the warden of San Quentin,’ and everyone was, like, ‘Yup. He is.’ Guy Fieri’s a buddy of mine, and I was at his birthday party a few years back. And the entire time we were talking, I’m speaking to this guy, but in my head all I could think about was, ‘I’m gonna write a song called 'San Quentin’. That’s it.‘ And I stuck it in my notes in my phone. And then once the riff was down, I think I screamed out this line, 'Can somebody please keep me the hell out of San Quentin?’ And we just took it from there.”^[8][9]

Release

On August 26, 2022, students attending school at Simon Fraser University in Burnaby, British Columbia received a newsletter stating they were invited to attend and participate in a video shoot Nickelback will be hosting on August 30, 2022 for their forthcoming single, outside the Convocation Mall on campus.^{[10][11][12][13]}

In August 2022, Nickelback began posting small snippets and teasers of new music via their official social media accounts with the date "09.07.2022" being branded on the posts.^{[14][15][16][17]} "San Quentin" was officially released to radio and digital music retailers along with the official lyric video via YouTube on September 7, 2022.^[18][19][20] On September 14, 2022, a music video for the song was released.^[21]

Charts

Weekly charts

Weekly chart performance for "San Quentin"

Chart (2022–2023)	Peak positions
Canada (Canadian Hot 100)[22]	64
Canada Rock (Billboard)[23]	2
New Zealand Hot Singles (RMNZ)[24]	35
UK Singles Downloads (OCC)[25]	77
UK Singles Sales (OCC)[26]	77
US Hot Rock & Alternative Songs (Billboard)[27]	26
US Rock Airplay (Billboard)[28]	8

Year-end charts

Year-end chart performance for "San Quentin"

Chart (2023)	Position
US Rock Airplay (Billboard)[29]	27

References

1. DiVita, Joe (September 7, 2022). "Nickelback Debut Super Heavy New Song 'San Quentin' + Announce 2022 Album". Loudwire. Archived from the original on September 14, 2022. Retrieved September 12, 2022.
2. Keenan, Hesher (September 7, 2022). "Remember That Heavy Nickelback Clip? Here's the Rest of the Song". MetalSucks. Archived from the original on September 8, 2022. Retrieved September 12, 2022.
3. "San Quentin". Archived from the original on 2022-09-07. Retrieved 2022-09-07 – via www.youtube.com.
4. DiVita, Joe (September 7, 2022). "Nickelback Debut Super Heavy New Song 'San Quentin' + Announce 2022 Album". Loudwire. Archived from the original on September 14, 2022. Retrieved September 12, 2022.
5. Keenan, Hesher (September 7, 2022). "Remember That Heavy Nickelback Clip? Here's the Rest of the Song". MetalSucks. Archived from the original on September 8, 2022. Retrieved September 12, 2022.
6. Slingerland, Calum (August 24, 2022). "Nickelback's Tease of New Music Sounds Heavy as Hell | Exclaim!". Exclaim!. Archived from the original on September 8, 2022. Retrieved September 12, 2022.
7. DiVita, Joe (September 7, 2022). "Nickelback Debut Super Heavy New Song 'San Quentin' + Announce 2022 Album". Loudwire. Archived from the original on September 14, 2022. Retrieved January 24, 2024.
8. Lane, Robyn (September 6, 2022). "Watch: Nickelback Back For A Sonic Attack!". 95.9 The RAT. Archived from the original on September 7, 2022. Retrieved September 12, 2022.
9. Schaffner, Lauryn (September 2, 2022). "Nickelback Guitarist Doesn't Think Releasing a Heavy Song Is 'Unusual' for Band". Loudwire. Archived from the original on September 4, 2022. Retrieved September 12, 2022.
10. "Nickelback To Release New Single 'San Quentin' Next Week". Blabbermouth.net. August 31, 2022. Archived from the original on September 3, 2022. Retrieved September 12, 2022.
11. "Nickelback Attract Hundreds of Fans to Video Shoot". August 31, 2022. Archived from the original on September 4, 2022. Retrieved September 12, 2022.
12. Derdeyn, Stuart (August 29, 2022). "Nickelback needs you for a video shoot at SFU Tuesday". Vancouver Sun. Archived from the original on August 30, 2022. Retrieved September 12, 2022.
13. "Diehard Nickelback fans defend their love of the band". CBC. September 1, 2022. Archived from the original on September 8, 2022. Retrieved September 12, 2022.
14. Trapp, Philip (August 23, 2022). "Nickelback Tease New Music That Sounds Very Metalcore". Loudwire. Archived from the original on September 8, 2022. Retrieved September 12, 2022.
15. Lewis, JD (August 24, 2022). "Listen: 10 Seconds of New Nickelback...Which is Apparently Coming Soon". iHeartRadio. Archived from the original on September 4, 2022. Retrieved September 12, 2022.
16. Kennelty, Greg (August 23, 2022). "Nickelback Is Teasing New Music And It Sounds Pretty Heavy". Metal Injection. Retrieved September 12, 2022.
17. Colothan, Scott (August 24, 2022). "Nickelback tease blisteringly heavy new song". Planet Work. Archived from the original on August 24, 2022. Retrieved September 12, 2022.
18. "Nickelback Announces 'Get Rollin Album Details, Shares New Single 'San Quentin'". Blabbermouth.net. September 7, 2022. Archived from the original on September 9, 2022. Retrieved September 12, 2022.
19. Média, Bell (September 7, 2022). "New music from Nickelback - "San Quentin"". iHeartRadio. Archived from the original on September 8, 2022. Retrieved September 12, 2022.
20. Carter, Emily (September 7, 2022). "Nickelback unleash thumping new single San Quentin from upcoming 10th…". Kerrang!. Archived from the original on September 7, 2022. Retrieved September 12, 2022.
21. "Nickelback Shares Music Video For New Single 'San Quentin'". Blabbermouth.net. September 14, 2022. Archived from the original on September 14, 2022. Retrieved September 14, 2022.
22. "Nickelback Chart History (Canadian Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved September 20, 2022.
23. "Nickelback Chart History (Canada Rock)". Billboard. Retrieved September 19, 2022.
24. "NZ Hot Singles Chart". Recorded Music NZ. September 19, 2022. Archived from the original on September 20, 2022. Retrieved September 17, 2022.
25. "Official Singles Downloads Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved September 17, 2022.
26. "Official Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. September 16, 2022. Archived from the original on April 5, 2023. Retrieved September 16, 2022.
27. "Nickelback Chart History (Hot Rock & Alternative Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved September 20, 2022.
28. "Nickelback Chart History (Rock Airplay)". Billboard. Retrieved December 10, 2023.
29. "Rock & Alternative Airplay Songs – Year-End 2023". Billboard. Retrieved December 10, 2023.