This Is War (Thirty Seconds to Mars song)

"This Is War" is a song by American rock band Thirty Seconds to Mars, featured on their third studio album This Is War. Written by lead vocalist Jared Leto,^[1] the song was released as the second single from the album to American radio on March 8, 2010,^[2] and the physical single was released on March 26, 2010.^[3]

"This Is War"
Single by Thirty Seconds to Mars
from the album This Is War
Released	March 26, 2010 (2010-03-26)
Recorded	2008–2009 The International Centre for the Advancement of the Arts and Sciences of Sound (Los Angeles, California)
Genre	Alternative rock progressive rock
Length	5:27
Label	Virgin EMI
Songwriter(s)	Jared Leto
Producer(s)	Flood Thirty Seconds to Mars
Thirty Seconds to Mars singles chronology
"Kings and Queens" (2009) "This Is War" (2010) "Closer to the Edge" (2010)
Music video
"This Is War" on YouTube

Music video

The music video was shot on April 7, 2010. A 30-second teaser was released and the music video was set to premiere in June 2010. However, it was delayed. The film features 30 Seconds to Mars as US Marines deployed to Afghanistan. The video was supposedly leaked on April 1, 2011. In response to the leak, the band stated that they would release the full-length video soon. On April 6, 2011, nearly a year after the video was shot, it was finally released. It shows the band dressed up as American Marines patrolling the desert in an armored Humvee while showing scenes of war and leaders all while some unknown entity observes them and their actions. Near the end of the video, various military vehicles (Humvees, tanks, fighter airplanes, helicopters, battleships) are flying seemingly uncontrollably above the men, toward a pile. The group's own Humvee gets sucked into the pile. The objects smashing into the pile get temporarily crushed but assume their normal un-crushed form after a second. As the camera shows the forming pile from afar, it is revealed that it forms a huge pyramid, hovering over the desert. The video was directed by Edouard Salier. It won the Video of the Year Award on MSN Latinoamérica.^[4]

Track listing

All songs written by Jared Leto.

Promo (February 1, 2010)^[2]

1. "This Is War" (album version) – 5:27

EU CD single (March 26, 2010)^[3]

1. "This Is War" (album version) – 5:27
2. "Hurricane" (LA Mix) By Emma Ford and Natalie Loren aka "Luxury Kills" – 5:49

Digital download EP^[5]

1. "This Is War" (Album Version) – 5:47
2. "This Is War" (Radio Edit) – 4:46
3. "Night of the Hunter" (Static Revenger Redux) – 4:57

In popular culture

• The song has been included on the soundtrack of Dragon Age: Origins,^[6] as downloadable content for Rock Band,^[7] the Formula One video review of the 2010 Italian Grand Prix^[8] and in a promo for the TV shows Camelot and Revolution.
• "This Is War" was used as the theme song for the first season of the fan-made abridged parody series Sword Art Online Abridged by Something Witty Entertainment.^[9]

Charts

Weekly charts Chart (2009–2010) Peak position Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)[10] 73 Canada (Canadian Hot 100)[11] 67 Germany (GfK)[12] 79 Mexico Ingles Airplay (Billboard)[13] 49 Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[14] 52 Scotland (OCC)[15] 43 UK Singles (OCC)[16] 51 US Billboard Hot 100[17] 72 US Hot Rock & Alternative Songs (Billboard)[18] 4 US Rock Airplay (Billboard)[19] 4 US Mainstream Rock (Billboard)[20] 30 US Alternative Airplay (Billboard)[21] 1

Year-end charts Chart (2010) Position US Hot Rock & Alternative Songs (Billboard)[22] 22 US Alternative Airplay (Billboard)[23] 10

Certifications

Region	Certification	Certified units/sales
Brazil (Pro-Música Brasil)[24]	Gold	30,000‡
United Kingdom (BPI)[25]	Silver	200,000‡
United States (RIAA)[26]	Gold	500,000‡
‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Release history

Region	Date	Label
Austria[3]	March 26, 2010	EMI
Italy		EMI Virgin
Germany[27]		EMI
Switzerland[28]
United Kingdom[29]	March 28, 2010	EMI Virgin
United States

See also

• List of Billboard Alternative Songs number ones of the 2010

References

1. "This Is War" (booklet). Thirty Seconds to Mars. Virgin Records. 2009. 9651112.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
2. "FMQB: Modern Rock - Available for Airplay". FMQB. March 8, 2010. Archived from the original on June 20, 2012. Retrieved March 7, 2010.
3. "This Is War - EMI - Gute Musik ist besser". EMI Music Austria. Archived from the original on June 2, 2012. Retrieved March 7, 2010.
4. "Elige los mejores clips de 2011 en los Premios MSN Video - MSN Latinoamérica | Entretenimiento". Archived from the original on May 1, 2012. Retrieved December 24, 2011.
5. "This Is War – EP". iTunes. January 2010. Archived from the original on November 7, 2012. Retrieved March 30, 2010.
6. "30 Seconds To Mars - Dragon Age: Origins trailer". The In Sound From Way Out. November 3, 2009. Archived from the original on February 27, 2012. Retrieved November 4, 2009.
7. Rainier (December 11, 2009). "Rock Band (ALL) Gets Green Day, 30 Seconds to Mars and All-American Rejects". Worthplaying. Archived from the original on October 10, 2010. Retrieved December 22, 2009.
8. "Formula 1™ - the Official F1™ Website". Archived from the original on April 7, 2011. Retrieved April 2, 2011.
9. Something Witty Entertainment (March 29, 2013). "SAO Abridged Parody: Episode 01". YouTube. Archived from the original on September 23, 2017. Retrieved May 18, 2017.
10. "Thirty Seconds To Mars – This Is War" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved October 31, 2021.
11. "Thirty Seconds To Mars Chart History (Canadian Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved October 31, 2021.
12. "Thirty Seconds To Mars – This Is War" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved October 31, 2021.
13. "Thirty Seconds To Mars Chart History (Mexico Ingles Airplay)". Billboard. Retrieved October 31, 2021.
14. "Nederlandse Top 40 – Thirty Seconds To Mars" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved October 31, 2021.
15. "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved January 26, 2022.
16. "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved October 31, 2021.
17. "Thirty Seconds To Mars Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved October 31, 2021.
18. "Thirty Seconds To Mars Chart History (Hot Rock & Alternative Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved October 31, 2021.
19. "Thirty Seconds To Mars Chart History (Rock & Alternative Airplay)". Billboard. Retrieved September 19, 2023.
20. "Thirty Seconds To Mars Chart History (Rock & Alternative Airplay)". Billboard. Retrieved September 19, 2023.
21. "Thirty Seconds To Mars Chart History (Alternative Airplay)". Billboard. Retrieved September 19, 2023.
22. "Year End Charts: Hot Rock & Alternative Songs (2010)". Billboard. Retrieved October 31, 2021.
23. "Year End Charts: Hot Rock & Alternative Songs (2010)". Billboard. Retrieved October 31, 2021.
24. "Brazilian single certifications – Thirty Seconds to Mars – This Is War" (in Portuguese). Pro-Música Brasil. Retrieved July 13, 2024.
25. "British single certifications – 30 Seconds to Mars – This Is War". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved August 2, 2019.
26. "American single certifications – 30 Seconds to Mars – This Is War". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved May 19, 2013.
27. "This Is War - EMI - Gute Musik ist besser". EMI Music Germany. Archived from the original on May 19, 2010. Retrieved March 7, 2010.
28. "This Is War - EMI - Gute Musik ist besser". EMI Music Switzerland. Archived from the original on October 29, 2021. Retrieved March 7, 2010.
29. Dan (March 23, 2010). "Kerrang! The Playlist - This Week's Essential Tracks!". Kerrang!. Archived from the original on March 29, 2010. Retrieved March 27, 2010.