View source for One Step Closer (Linkin Park song)

{{Short description|2000 single by Linkin Park}}
{{Infobox song
| name       = One Step Closer
| cover      = Linkin Park - One Step Closer CD cover.jpg
| alt        =
| caption    =
| type       = single
| artist     = [[Linkin Park]]
| album      = [[Hybrid Theory]]
| B-side     =
* "My December"
* "High Voltage"
| released   = August 29, 2000<ref name="radio"/>
| recorded   = 2000
| studio     = [[NRG Recording Studios|NRG]] (Los Angeles)
| venue      =
| genre      = *[[Nu metal]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/business/news/linkin-park-rock-band-launch-venture-capital-company-10346101.html|archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220524/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/business/news/linkin-park-rock-band-launch-venture-capital-company-10346101.html|archive-date=2022-05-24|url-access=subscription|url-status=live|title=Linkin Park have launched a venture capital brand, but can such a company ever be rock n' roll?|work=[[The Independent]] |last=Green |first=Chris|date=25 June 2015 }} (June 25, 2015). Retrieved on October 11, 2015</ref><ref>{{cite web| url=http://www.clashmusic.com/feature/top-ten-nu-metal-anthems| title=Top Ten - Nu-Metal Anthems|publisher=[[Clash (magazine)|Clash]]|last=Diver|first=Mike|date=September 6, 2009|access-date=March 13, 2016}}</ref>
* [[rap metal]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://loudwire.com/teen-angst-anthems/|title=20 Teen Angst Anthems to Melt Your Icy, Black Heart|website=[[Loudwire]]|last=Rolli|first=Bryan|date=July 23, 2021|access-date=March 4, 2022}}</ref>
* {{nowrap|[[rap rock]]}}<ref>{{Cite magazine|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-lists/linkin-park-12-essential-songs-200814/one-step-closer-2000-200834/|title=Linkin Park: 12 Essential Songs|magazine=[[Rolling Stone]]|date=July 20, 2017|access-date=November 3, 2021}}</ref>
| length     = 2:35
| label      = [[Warner Records|Warner Bros.]]
| writer     = [[Linkin Park]]
| producer   = Don Gilmore
| prev_title =
| prev_year  =
| next_title = [[Crawling (song)|Crawling]]
| next_year  = 2001
| misc       = {{External music video|{{YouTube|4qlCC1GOwFw|"One Step Closer"}}}}
}}
"'''One Step Closer'''" is a song by American [[rock music|rock]] band [[Linkin Park]], released as the debut [[Single (music)|single]] and second track of their debut album, ''[[Hybrid Theory]].''<ref>[{{AllMusic|class=album|id=r1847852|pure_url=yes}} Allmusic.com]</ref>
A remixed version of the song entitled "1Stp Klosr", featuring [[Korn]] frontman [[Jonathan Davis]], was featured on Linkin Park's remix album, ''[[Reanimation (Linkin Park album)|Reanimation]]''. In 2021, Linkin Park released a new remix of the song by electronic duo [[100 gecs]].<ref>{{Cite magazine|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/100-gecs-linkin-park-one-step-closer-hybrid-theory-1111584/|title=100 Gecs Turn Linkin Park's 'One Step Closer' Into Wild Genre Collage|magazine=[[Rolling Stone]]|last=Blisten|first=Jon|date=January 8, 2021|access-date=November 3, 2021}}</ref>
The song was [[Mashup (music)|mashed up]] with another song by the band from ''Hybrid Theory'', "[[Points of Authority]]", and a collaboration of the song "[[99 Problems]]" from ''[[The Black Album (Jay-Z album)|The Black Album]]'' by [[Jay-Z]] on the [[extended play|EP]] ''[[Collision Course (EP)|Collision Course]]''.
==Live performances==
{{unsourced-section|date=September 2024}}
In 2001, Linkin Park performed "One Step Closer" on ''[[Late Night with Conan O'Brien]]''.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.revolvermag.com/music/see-linkin-park-play-explosive-one-step-closer-conan-2001|title=SEE LINKIN PARK PLAY EXPLOSIVE "ONE STEP CLOSER" ON 'CONAN' IN 2001|website=[[Revolver (magazine)|Revolver]]|last=Chapstick|first=Kelsey|date=October 24, 2019|access-date=March 4, 2022}}</ref>
Until 2007, Linkin Park closed every concert with "One Step Closer", excluding [[Live 8 Philadelphia|Live 8]], and their live performances at Summer Sonic. In 2007, Linkin Park played "One Step Closer" toward the beginning of their live performances and sometimes at the end. The song is always played in [[Drop C# tuning|Drop C#]]. In 2008, they ended some of their shows with either "One Step Closer" or "[[Bleed It Out]]". In 2009, every show they played was ended with "One Step Closer", excluding the ''[[Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen]]'' premiere.
From 2003 to 2006, performances of the song include a verse originally sung by Jonathan Davis in the ''Reanimation'' remix of the song before the "Shut up when I'm talking to you!" [[Bridge (music)|bridge]], which can be heard on ''[[LP Underground 4.0]]''. At the end of the verse, Davis repeats the line "Blood is pouring" while the song builds up to the bridge. During the [[Projekt Revolution]] 2004 Tour, as Korn was part of the tour's line up, Davis would come out to sing his part on the song before [[Chester Bennington]] starts screaming his part.
On October 27, 2017, during the [[Linkin Park and Friends: Celebrate Life in Honor of Chester Bennington]], Jonathan Davis performed the song again with the remaining Linkin Park members alongside [[Ryan Shuck]] and [[Amir Derakh]] of [[Julien-K]] and [[Dead by Sunrise]]. The performance retained the 2017 Intro, but the extended outro was not played for the first time since 2008.
==Music video==
[[Joe Hahn]] of Linkin Park and director [[Gregory Dark]] came up with the concept for the video.
Directed by Dark<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/one-step-closer-mw0000728479|title = One Step Closer - Linkin Park &#124; Songs, Reviews, Credits &#124; AllMusic|website = [[AllMusic]]}}</ref> and shot in [[Los Angeles]], sixty-three feet underground in the abandoned [[Hollywood Subway]] underneath [[Bunker Hill, Los Angeles|Bunker Hill]], the video begins with a group of teenage friends hanging out around a dark alley. Two of them follow a strange man wearing a black hooded robe into a door which leads them to a dark, misty room where the band is playing. [[Monk]]-like men are performing martial arts moves throughout the video. Midway through the song, they knock over a crate, startling the monk-like men, and then flee the tunnel. Eventually, the strange man appears at the end of the video. While Bennington screams the song's bridge, he is also upside-down.<ref>{{cite web | url = https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pmUTBDuUGz8&ob=av2e | title = One Step Closer (Official Video) on YouTube| website = [[YouTube]]}} from the Warner Bros. Records YouTube Channel</ref>
Stand-in bassist Scott Koziol can be seen playing with the band. Mike Shinoda sings some of the lines, although he does not sing on the record.
==Track listing==
{{Track listing
| headline = Maxi single (Europe, Australia)
| title1 = One Step Closer
| writer1 = Linkin Park
|length1 = 2:39
| title2 = My December
| writer2 = [[Mike Shinoda]]
|length2 = 4:21
| title3 = High Voltage
| writer3 = {{hlist|Shinoda|[[Joe Hahn]]|[[Brad Delson]]}}
|length3 = 3:45
| title4 = One Step Closer
|note4 = Video
|writer4 = Linkin Park
|length4 = 2:55
}}
{{Track listing
| headline = 10" vinyl (UK), cassette (UK), cardboard sleeve CD (Europe)
| title1 = One Step Closer
| writer1 = Linkin Park
|length1 = 2:39
| title2 = My December
| writer2 = Shinoda
|length2 = 4:21
}}
{{Track listing
| headline = [[100 gecs]] remix
| title1 = One Step Closer
| note1 = [[100 gecs]] Reanimation
| writer1 = Linkin Park
|length1 = 2:21
}}
{{Track listing
| headline = Early promo CD
| title1 = Plaster
| note1 = David Kahne Mix 1 of 4
| writer1 = Linkin Park
|length1 = 2:36
}}
{{Track listing
| headline = US promo
| title1 = One Step Closer
| note1 = Album Version
| writer1 = Linkin Park
| length1 = 2:36
| title2 = One Step Closer
| note2 = Rock Mix
| writer2 = Linkin Park
| length2 = 2:36
}}
{{Track listing
| headline = One-track promo (US, UK)
| title1 = One Step Closer
| writer1 = Linkin Park
| length1 = 2:39
}}
{{Track listing
| headline = [[Humble Brothers]] Remixes promo CD
| title1 = One Step Closer
| note1 = Humble Brothers Remix Extended
| writer1 = Linkin Park
|length1 = 6:13
| title2 = One Step Closer
| note2 = Humble Brothers Remix FM Radio
| writer2 = Linkin Park
|length2 = 3:12
| title3 = One Step Closer
| note3 = Humble Brothers Remix LP
| writer3 = Linkin Park
|length3 = 2:35
}}
==Personnel==
Credits adapted from AllMusic for original release only.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/hybrid-theory-mw0000102770/credits|title=Hybrid Theory - Linkin Park - Credits|publisher=[[AllMusic]]|access-date=March 7, 2021|archive-date=October 12, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201012175900/https://www.allmusic.com/album/hybrid-theory-mw0000102770/credits|url-status=live}}</ref>
{{col-begin}}
{{col-2}}
=== Linkin Park ===
* [[Chester Bennington]] – vocals
* [[Mike Shinoda]] – keyboards, backing vocals, programming, samples, artwork, production
* [[Brad Delson]] – guitars
* [[Joe Hahn]] – [[turntables]], samples, synthesizers, artwork
* [[Rob Bourdon]] – drums
=== Additional personnel ===
* Scott Koziol – bass
=== Production ===
* Don Gilmore – producer, [[Audio engineering|engineering]]
* Steve Sisco – engineering
* John Ewing Jr. – additional engineering, [[Pro Tools]]
* Matt Griffin – engineering assistance
* [[Andy Wallace (producer)|Andy Wallace]] – [[Audio mixing (recorded music)|mixing]]
* [[Brian Gardner]] – [[audio mastering]], digital editing
* [[Jeff Blue]] – executive producer
=== Artwork ===
*Frank Maddocks – graphic design
*James Minchin III – photography
{{col-end}}
==Charts==
{{col-start}}
{{col-2}}
===Weekly charts===
{| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"
|-
! scope="col"| Chart (2000–2001)
! scope="col"| Peak<br />position
|-
{{single chart|Australia|4|artist=Linkin Park|song=One Step Closer|rowheader=true}}
|-
{{single chart|Austria|38|artist=Linkin Park|song=One Step Closer|rowheader=true}}
|-
{{single chart|Germany|32|artist=Linkin Park|song=One Step Closer|songid=4649|rowheader=true}}
|-
{{single chart|Italy|46|artist=Linkin Park|song=One Step Closer|rowheader=true}}
|-
! scope="row"| Netherlands ([[Dutch Top 40|Dutch Top 40 Tipparade]])<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.top40.nl/tipparade/2001/week-15|title=Tipparade-lijst van week 15, 2001|lang=dutch| publisher=[[Dutch Top 40]]|access-date=March 26, 2023}}</ref>
| 3
|-
{{single chart|Dutch100|57|artist=Linkin Park|song=One Step Closer|rowheader=true}}
|-
{{single chart|Scotland|23|date=2001-01-21|rowheader=true|access-date=July 31, 2020}}
|-
{{single chart|Sweden|46|artist=Linkin Park|song=One Step Closer|rowheader=true}}
|-
{{single chart|Switzerland|42|artist=Linkin Park|song=One Step Closer|rowheader=true}}
|-
{{single chart|UK|24|date=2001-01-21|rowheader=true|access-date=July 31, 2020}}
|-
{{single chart|UKrock|3|artist=Linkin Park|date=20010121|song=One Step Closer|rowheader=true|access-date=June 21, 2020}}
|-
{{single chart|Billboardhot100|75|artist=Linkin Park|rowheader=true|access-date=July 31, 2020}}
|-
{{single chart|Billboardalternativesongs|5|artist=Linkin Park|rowheader=true|access-date=July 31, 2020}}
|-
{{single chart|Billboardmainstreamrock|4|artist=Linkin Park|rowheader=true|access-date=July 31, 2020}}
|}
{| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"
|-
! scope="col"| Chart (2017)
! scope="col"| Peak<br />position
|-
{{single chart|Czechdigital|75|year=2017|week=30|rowheader=true|access-date=August 1, 2017}}
|-
{{single chart|Portugal|77|artist=Linkin Park|song=One Step Closer|rowheader=true|access-date=August 4, 2017}}
|-
{{single chart|Billboardrocksongs|14|artist=Linkin Park|rowheader=true|access-date=August 3, 2017}}
|}
{| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"
|-
!scope="col"| Chart (2024)
!scope="col"| Peak<br/>position
|-
{{single chart|Billboardglobal200|184|artist=Linkin Park|rowheader=true|access-date=September 17, 2024}}
|}
{{col-2}}
===Year-end charts===
{| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"
|-
! scope="col"| Chart (2001)
! scope="col"| Position
|-
! scope="row"| Australia (ARIA)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.aria.com.au/charts/2001/singles-chart|title=ARIA Top 100 Singles Chart|publisher=Australian Recording Industry Association|access-date=September 14, 2022}}</ref>
| 42
|}
{{col-end}}
==Certifications==
{{Certification Table Top}}
{{Certification Table Entry|type=single|region=Australia|artist=Linkin Park|title=One Step Closer|award=Gold|relyear=2000|certyear=2001|access-date=July 9, 2024}}
{{Certification Table Entry|type=single|region=Denmark|artist=Linkin Park|title=One Step Closer|award=Gold|relyear=2000|certyear=2024|id=14105|access-date=July 9, 2024}}
{{Certification Table Entry|type=single|region=Italy|artist=Linkin Park|title=One Step Closer|award=Gold|relyear=2000|certyear=2021|id=8606|access-date=July 8, 2024}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=Portugal|artist=Linkin Park|title=One Step Closer|award=Platinum|number=2|type=single|relyear=2000|certyear=2024|id=file_2024-09-18-16-33-27.pdf|access-date=September 18, 2024}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=Spain|type=single|award=Gold|certyear=2024|artist=Linkin Park|title=One Step Closer|accessdate=April 29, 2024}}
{{Certification Table Entry|type=single|region=United Kingdom|artist=Linkin Park|title=One Step Closer|award=Platinum|relyear=2004|certyear=2023|id=4889-2062-1|access-date=August 17, 2023|salesamount=744,000|salesref=<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.instagram.com/p/C_8IWFfN8-4/?hl=en|title=They just scored their highest Singles Chart peak EVER with #TheEmptinessMachine, but what are @linkinpark’s all-time biggest songs in the UK?|publisher=[[Instagram]]|author=[[Official Charts Company]]|date=September 15, 2024|access-date=September 15, 2024}}</ref>}}
{{Certification Table Entry|type=single|region=United States|artist=Linkin Park|title=One Step Closer|award=Platinum|relyear=2000|certyear=2017|access-date=July 8, 2024}}
{{Certification Table Bottom|nosales=true|streaming=true}}
== Release history ==
{| class="wikitable plainrowheaders"
! scope="col"| Region
! scope="col"| Date
! scope="col"| Format
! scope="col"| {{abbr|Ref.|Reference}}
|-
! scope="row" rowspan="2"| United States
| August 29, 2000
| {{hlist|[[Mainstream rock|Rock radio]]|[[Active rock|active rock radio]]|[[alternative radio]]}}
| {{center|<ref name="radio">{{cite magazine|title=Going For Adds|magazine=[[Radio & Records]]|page=104, 108, 116|date=August 25, 2001}}</ref>}}
|-
| September 28, 2000
| [[CD]]
| {{center|<ref name="RIAA">{{cite web|url=https://www.riaa.com/gold-platinum/?tab_active=defaultaward&ar=Linkin+Park&ti=One+Step+Closer#search_section|title = Gold & Platinum|website = [[Recording Industry Association of America]]}}</ref>}}
|-
! scope="row"| United Kingdom
| January 13, 2001
| {{hlist|CD|[[Phonograph record|12-inch vinyl]]}}
| {{center|<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-Week/2001/Music-Week-2001-01-13.pdf|title=New Releases - For Week Starting January 15, 2001|magazine=[[Music Week]]|page=22|date=January 13, 2001|access-date=June 13, 2022}}</ref>}}
|-
! scope="row"| United States
| February 20, 2001
| [[Contemporary hit radio]]
| {{center|<ref name="USpop">{{cite magazine|title=CHR/Pop:Going For Adds|magazine=[[Radio & Records]]|page=43|date=February 16, 2001}}</ref>}}
|}
== References ==
{{Reflist}}
{{Linkin Park songs}}
{{Authority control}}
[[Category:2000 songs]]
[[Category:2000 debut singles]]
[[Category:Linkin Park songs]]
[[Category:Music videos directed by Gregory Dark]]
[[Category:Songs written by Chester Bennington]]
[[Category:Songs written by Mike Shinoda]]
[[Category:Warner Records singles]]