"Rx (Medicate)" is a song performed by Canadian

rock Rock most often refers to: * Rock (geology), a naturally occurring solid aggregate of minerals or mineraloids * Rock music, a genre of popular music Rock or Rocks may also refer to: Places United Kingdom * Rock, Caerphilly, a location in Wale ...

band Theory of a Deadman, a track on their sixth studio album, '' Wake Up Call'' (2017). The song's lyrics were co-written by all four members of the band and address the prescription drug abuse epidemic occurring in North America. It was produced by

Martin Terefe Martin Terefe (born 18 April 1969, Stockholm, Sweden) is a Swedish record producer and songwriter, now living and working in London, who has produced Grammy, Brit and Juno award -winning albums with artists like Jason Mraz, James Morrison and K ...

and recorded at Terefe's Kensaltown Studios in London. Along with the group's usual

hard rock Hard rock or heavy rock is a heavier subgenre of rock music typified by aggressive vocals and Distortion (music), distorted electric guitars. Hard rock began in the mid-1960s with the Garage rock, garage, Psychedelic rock, psychedelic and blues ...

sound, the song uses elements of

pop Pop or POP may refer to: Arts, entertainment, and media * Pop music, a musical genre Artists * POP, a Japanese idol group now known as Gang Parade * Pop! (British group), a UK pop group * Pop! featuring Angie Hart, an Australian band Album ...

and

country A country is a distinct part of the world, such as a state, nation, or other political entity. When referring to a specific polity, the term "country" may refer to a sovereign state, state with limited recognition, constituent country, ...

music genres. The band's transition into the pop genre has been associated with lead singer Tyler Connolly's newly acquired piano-playing ability, which forced a change in his songwriting style. "Rx (Medicate)" was released alongside its music video on July 27, 2017, as the

lead single A lead single (or first single) is the first single to be released from a studio album by an artist or a band, usually before the album itself is released and also occasionally on the same day of the album's release date. A similar term, "debut ...

from ''Wake Up Call'' and served as an instant download on pre-orders of the album. It received mixed reviews from music critics and was praised for being socially aware but criticized for aspects of its music and lyrics. The single became Theory of a Deadman's third single to top the ''

Billboard A billboard (also called a hoarding in the UK and many other parts of the world) is a large outdoor advertising structure (a billing board), typically found in high-traffic areas such as alongside busy roads. Billboards present large advertis ...

'' U.S.

Mainstream Rock Mainstream rock (also known as heritage rock) is a radio format used by many commercial radio stations in the United States and Canada. Format background Mainstream rock stations represent a cross between classic rock, active rock and alternativ ...

chart, and was certified 4× platinum by

Music Canada Music Canada is a non-profit Industry trade group, trade organization that was founded 9 April 1963 in Toronto to represent the interests of companies that record, manufacture, produce, and distribute music in Canada. It also offers benefits to s ...

and 3× platinum by the

Recording Industry Association of America The Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) is a trade organization that represents the music recording industry in the United States. Its members consist of record labels and distributors that the RIAA says "create, manufacture, and/o ...

. It earned the band a No. 1 Song Award from the

Society of Composers, Authors and Music Publishers of Canada The Society of Composers, Authors and Music Publishers of Canada (SOCAN) is a Canadian performance rights organization that represents the performing rights of more than 175,000 songwriters, composers and music publishers. The organization collect ...

(SOCAN) and was nominated for "Rock Song of the Year" at the 2018 iHeartRadio Music Awards. Theory of a Deadman partnered with Shatterproof, a

nonprofit organization A nonprofit organization (NPO), also known as a nonbusiness entity, nonprofit institution, not-for-profit organization, or simply a nonprofit, is a non-governmental (private) legal entity organized and operated for a collective, public, or so ...

focused on education about alcohol and drug dependence, helping addicts' families, and reducing the stigma associated with drug abuse. At live concerts, the band encourage their audience to seek help if they are battling addiction and invite their fans to share their personal stories. They also sell lapel pins bearing the song's title to benefit Shatterproof at their concerts.

Recording and release

"Rx (Medicate)" was co-written by all four members of Theory of a Deadman and was produced by

. '' Wake Up Call'' is the first album on which the band collaborated with Terefe rather than

Howard Benson Howard Michael Benson (born July 20, 1956) is an American record producer from Havertown, Pennsylvania. He has been nominated for two Grammy Awards for Producer of the Year, Non-Classical in 2007 and 2008, among two wins and 16 total nominati ...

, who produced their previous four albums. The song was recorded at Terefe's Kensaltown Studios in London and was mixed by Oskar Winberg, while engineering was done by George Murphy and Bobby Shin. The single was released alongside its

music video A music video is a video that integrates a song or an album with imagery that is produced for promotion (marketing), promotional or musical artistic purposes. Modern music videos are primarily made and used as a music marketing device intended to ...

on July 27, 2017; the same day, Theory of a Deadman announced the name of their pending album. It was included as an instant download with pre-orders of ''Wake Up Call'', which were accepted the next day. According to lead singer Tyler Connolly, the song was originally titled "Rx" but the band decided to change it after finding out fans were searching for a song called "Medicate" upon its release. On November 3, 2017, the band released a "symphonic acoustic" version of the song that included an acoustic and orchestral background.

Composition and lyrics

The lyrics of the single discuss the

opioid epidemic The opioid epidemic, also referred to as the opioid crisis, is the rapid increase in the overuse, misuse or abuse, and overdose deaths attributed either in part or in whole to the class of drugs called opiates or opioids since the 1990s. It inc ...

that has affected North America, particularly the United States. The first part of the track's chorus consists of Connolly singing, "I am so freaking bored / Nothing to do today". Connolly said the chorus had been written before the rest of the song; he told

iHeartRadio iHeartRadio (often shortened to just "iHeart") is an American freemium broadcast, podcast, radio streaming and Music Streaming platform owned by iHeartMedia. Founded in August 2008, iHeartRadio serves as the national umbrella brand for iHeart ...

he was "bored and sitting around", and told ''

'', "I probably could have talked about anything and made the song silly and stupid". The chorus shifts into more serious subject matter, finishing with the lyrics, "I guess I'll sit around and medicate". The decision to write about drug abuse came after the death of a friend's wife, who took a cocktail of pills. Connolly said he wanted to be sure the lyrics did not convey the message that it is "cool to be high" or that the band were taking advantage or "poking fun" at issues surrounding

substance abuse Substance misuse, also known as drug misuse or, in older vernacular, substance abuse, is the use of a drug in amounts or by methods that are harmful to the individual or others. It is a form of substance-related disorder, differing definition ...

. Further inspiration came from Connolly's experience of seeking therapy following his divorce in 2010; he told ''Billboard'', "...the first thing he therapistsaid was, 'I want to put you on some beta blockers or some sort of anti-depressant stuff' and I'm like, 'No! No way! What? How is that the first thing you want to do?'" These experiences motivated Connolly to write about society's over-dependence on prescription drugs; he said, "I just feel like something’s wrong and I felt like the song needed to be written and people needed to hear it. It seems like every week something terrible is happening". The music of "Rx (Medicate)" contains an acoustic guitar riff, a distinctive whistling tune performed by Connolly, the sound of strings in the background, and elements of

country music Country (also called country and western) is a popular music, music genre originating in the southern regions of the United States, both the American South and American southwest, the Southwest. First produced in the 1920s, country music is p ...

. ''

Classic Rock Classic rock is a radio format that developed from the album-oriented rock (AOR) format in the early 1980s. In the United States, it comprises rock music ranging generally from the mid-1960s through the early-1990s, primarily focusing on comm ...

'' called the track "an atmospheric piece of acoustic pop-rock", and ''Billboard'' and ''

Loudwire ''Loudwire'' is an American online media magazine that covers news of hard rock and heavy metal artists. It is owned by media and entertainment business Townsquare Media. Since its launch in August 2011, ''Loudwire'' has secured exclusive i ...

'' both said it leans more towards the pop genre rather than the band's usual hard-rock sound. This has been attributed to Connolly's learning to play the piano, which he said forced him to write music differently. He rejected the notion that he was abandoning rock and said the song's change of musical direction had occurred naturally.

Critical reception

James Christopher Monger of

AllMusic AllMusic (previously known as All-Music Guide and AMG) is an American online database, online music database. It catalogs more than three million album entries and 30 million tracks, as well as information on Musical artist, musicians and Mus ...

called "Rx (Medicate)" an "opioid crisis anti-anthem" and one of the songs on the record that felt "rooted in the present", and ''

Alternative Addiction ''Alternative Addiction'' was an American daily Internet publication devoted to music criticism and commentary, music news, and artist interviews. Its focus was on Alternative rock. It was in operation from 1999 to 2020. History The website was ...

'' called it—along with other tracks on the album—"ridiculously fun". In less enthusiastic critiques of ''Wake Up Call'', Über Röck's Jonni D criticized the single, stating that the "auto-tuned whistling hooks wreak aural havoc". Allen J. Miller from Cryptic Rock said the song sounds socially aware but accused Connolly of "lazy songwriting" that seems to "glorify addiction rather than crusade against it" because of the lyrics in the

bridge A bridge is a structure built to Span (engineering), span a physical obstacle (such as a body of water, valley, road, or railway) without blocking the path underneath. It is constructed for the purpose of providing passage over the obstacle, whi ...

: "Your friends are high right now ... And no one’s ever coming down", but added that Connolly's lyrics have often been misinterpreted. Connolly acknowledged the song has drawn "some pushback from fans", but the band has also received positive reception at live performances. Guitarist Dave Brenner supported his statement, saying, "You see fans, like, singing with tears strolling down their face. It's crazy." Connolly said he felt this was the "most important song" the band has ever written; bassist Dean Back stated, "It’s looking like it’s the biggest song of our career right now".

Commercial performance and recognition

In the band's native Canada, "Rx (Medicate)" spent five weeks on the ''Billboard''

Canadian Hot 100 The Canadian Hot 100 is a music industry record chart in Canada for songs, published weekly by ''Billboard (magazine), Billboard'' magazine. It was launched on the issue dated March 31, 2007 as the standard record chart in Canada; a new chart ...

chart, peaking at number 86, and reached number four on the

Canada Rock The ''Billboard'' charts tabulate the relative weekly popularity of songs and albums in the United States and elsewhere. The results are published in ''Billboard'' magazine. ''Billboard'' biz, the online extension of the ''Billboard'' charts, p ...

airplay chart. In the United States, the single debuted at number 32 on the ''Billboard'' US

chart in August 2017. In its tenth week, the single peaked at number one, where it stayed for six consecutive weeks. This made it Theory of a Deadman's third song, following " Bad Girlfriend" and "Lowlife", to top this particular chart. Although it did not appear on the ''Billboard''

Hot 100 The ''Billboard'' Hot 100, also known as simply the Hot 100, is the music industry standard record chart in the United States for songs, published weekly by ''Billboard'' magazine. Chart rankings are based on sales (physical and digital), o ...

, the song peaked at number 10 on the

Bubbling Under Hot 100 Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles (also known as Bubbling Under the Hot 100) is a chart published weekly by ''Billboard'' magazine in the United States. The chart lists the top songs that have not yet charted on the main ''Billboard'' Hot 100. Chart ...

chart, and climbed to number four on both the

Hot Rock Songs Hot Rock & Alternative Songs (formerly known as Rock Songs and Hot Rock Songs) is a record chart published by ''Billboard'' magazine. From its debut on June 20, 2009, through October 13, 2012, the chart ranked the airplay of songs across alternati ...

chart and Rock Digital Songs chart. On the Rock Airplay chart, "Rx (Medicate)" peaked at number eight and reached number 28 in its seventh week on the

Alternative Songs Alternative Airplay (formerly known as Modern Rock Tracks between 1988 and 2009, and Alternative Songs between 2009 and 2020) is a music chart published in the American magazine ''Billboard'' since September 10, 1988. It ranks the 40 most-play ...

chart. The song appeared on the ''Billboard'' Year-End charts for Hot Rock Songs and Mainstream Rock at the end of 2017, reaching positions 27 and 25, respectively. The single was certified 2× platinum by

in 2021, 3× platinum by the

in 2022, and gold by

Recorded Music NZ Recorded Music NZ (formerly the Recording Industry Association of New Zealand (RIANZ)) is a non-profit trade association of record producers, distributors and recording artists who sell recorded music in New Zealand. Membership of Recorded ...

in 2024. "Rx (Medicate)" earned Theory of a Deadman a "No. 1 Song Award" from the

(SOCAN) and was nominated for "Rock Song of the Year" at the 2018 iHeartRadio Music Awards, losing to

Foo Fighters The Foo Fighters are an American Rock music, rock band formed in Seattle in 1994. Initially founded as a one-man project by former Nirvana (band), Nirvana drummer Dave Grohl, the band comprises vocalist/guitarist Grohl, bassist Nate Mendel, gu ...

' "

Run Run(s) or RUN may refer to: Places * Run (island), one of the Banda Islands in Indonesia * Run (stream), a stream in the Dutch province of North Brabant People * Run (rapper), Joseph Simmons, now known as "Reverend Run", from the hip-hop group ...

Music video

The music video for "Rx (Medicate)" was filmed in Los Angeles by director Maria Juranic. The video's main narrative focuses on Rose, a teenage girl who is selling her own prescription drugs to financially support her sick mother. Scenes of Rose stopping at various homes to deliver the drugs alternate with scenes of the people who are affected by the drugs she sells. These are interspersed with clips of the band driving through the city in a 1972

Cadillac Eldorado The Cadillac Eldorado is a luxury car manufactured and marketed by the Cadillac Motor Car Division of General Motors from 1952 until 2002, over twelve generations. The Eldorado was at or near the top of the Cadillac product line. The original ...

convertible. At one point, the group and Rose cross paths at an intersection.

Partnership with Shatterproof

In the wake of the song's release, the band partnered with the

Shatterproof, to raise awareness about

addiction Addiction is a neuropsychological disorder characterized by a persistent and intense urge to use a drug or engage in a behavior that produces natural reward, despite substantial harm and other negative consequences. Repetitive drug use can ...

and to form a connection with their fans. Shatterproof focuses on removing the stigma often attached to drug and alcohol dependence and supports affected families and addicts in recovery and treatment programs. Following live performances of "Rx (Medicate)", the organization's website is displayed on a large screen behind the band as they encourage others to seek help if they feel they are battling addiction. Fans are invited to share their stories on faux prescription pads found at merchandise booths at the band's concerts and at Shatterproof's website. Lapel pins that say "Theory Rx" are sold at live events; proceeds from their sale are donated to Shatterproof.

Credits and personnel

Credits adapted from the liner notes of ''Wake Up Call'' and

. Theory of a Deadman * Tyler Connolly – writer, vocals, guitar, whistle * Dave Brenner – writer, guitar, backing vocals * Dean Back – writer,

bass Bass or Basses may refer to: Fish * Bass (fish), various saltwater and freshwater species Wood * Bass or basswood, the wood of the tilia americana tree Music * Bass (sound), describing low-frequency sound or one of several instruments in th ...

, backing vocals * Joey Dandeneau – writer, drums, backing vocals Additional musicians * David Angell – violin * Monisa Angell – viola * David Davidson – violin * Carole Rabinowitz – cello * Nikolaj Torplarsen – piano Production *

– producer * George Murphy –

engineer Engineers, as practitioners of engineering, are professionals who Invention, invent, design, build, maintain and test machines, complex systems, structures, gadgets and materials. They aim to fulfill functional objectives and requirements while ...

* Bobby Shin – engineer * Oskar Winberg – mixer *

Ted Jensen Ted Jensen (born September 19, 1954) is an American mastering engineer, known for having mastered many recordings, including the Eagles' '' Hotel California'', Green Day's '' American Idiot'' and Norah Jones' ''Come Away with Me''. Early life ...

- mastering Location * Recorded at Kensaltown Studios in London, England

Charts

Weekly charts

Year-end charts

Certifications

References

External links

* {{Theory of a Deadman Theory of a Deadman songs 2017 songs 2017 singles Atlantic Records singles Roadrunner Records singles 604 Records singles Song recordings produced by Martin Terefe Songs written by Tyler Connolly Songs about drugs