Happy 20th Anniversary to P.O.D.’s fourth studio album Satellite, originally released September 11, 2001.
Every generation has its songs and albums that helped to soothe their most tumultuous times, and for those of us who came of age at the turn of the 21st century, P.O.D.’s Satellite was one of our major healing agents.
Like other infamous dates such as December 7, 1941 and November 22, 1963, September 11, 2001 is a day that marks time and allows for the memory of exactly where you were the moment you witnessed or received the news that great tragedy had struck the United States of America. I was a 19-year-old PFC, only thirteen months into my first US Army enlistment. I was stationed hundreds of miles away from events surrounding what we would learn was four hijacked airplanes used in the September 11th attacks against the US. Like many other Americans, I watched and waited for more information, while checking on my loved ones back home on the East Coast.
As information regarding the attacks was confirmed, and the gravity of the full catastrophe set in, I personally remember going through the full gamut of emotions over the following days. Throughout that experience, I honestly don’t remember having a conscious thought of what new albums had been released, however life doesn’t stand still for very long, particularly for a 19-year-old, let alone one who is a professional soldier. In the ensuing days after the attacks, I attempted to process the great tragedy, what it meant for the future of our Nation, and for people like myself, who had taken an oath to protect it. I do remember settling on a song that had been released a few months prior, during the summer of 2001.
“Alive” by P.O.D. would turn out to be the musical pick-me-up that I didn’t even know I needed at the time. The lyrics from the first verse alone grabbed me (“Every day is a new day, I'm thankful for every breath I take / I won't take it for granted / So I learn from my mistakes / It's beyond my control, sometimes it's best to let go / Whatever happens in this lifetime / So I trust in love, You have given me peace of mind”). Along with the song’s highly infectious chorus, I had found an empowering theme of optimistic contemporary rock to help fuel me through the following weeks of gruelingly long shifts required in securing my assigned military installation during this time of uncertainty. As Satellite’s lead single, “Alive” extended P.O.D.’s commercial success following their 1999 album (and major-label debut LP) The Fundamental Elements of Southtown.
“Alive” endured as one of the more uplifting songs throughout the mostly somber autumn of 2001 and lingered as a mainstay on national radio and music television. By winter, P.O.D. released Satellite’s sophomore single “Youth of a Nation.” Many of the band’s contemporaries tackled subjects such as teenage and young adult violence, but P.O.D.’s rapidly growing notoriety elevated the band’s unique sound and delivery to a worldwide audience. The chemistry between guitarist Marcos Curiel, bassist Traa Daniels, drummer Wuv Bernardo, and vocalist Sonny Sandoval effectively fuse; hard rock, hip-hop, reggae and funk to add sonic diversity to the growing Nu-Metal movement.
By the Spring of 2002, P.O.D. released their third single from Satellite, “Boom,” a more traditional hard rock party anthem. More than six months removed from the September 11th attacks, it was becoming apparent that some previous American norms, such as non-invasive air travel and unchallenged military base entry, would never resume to previous practice. My military training intensified as commanders awaited official warning orders to deploy their units to Afghanistan in support of what became known as Operation Enduring Freedom. “Boom,” with its fast tempo and heavy bass, was a frequent selection on the young soldier playlist along with songs from System of a Down and Linkin Park.
Many of the other highlights of Satellite came with the band’s reggae influence. “The Messenjah” is a strong example of P.O.D.’s faith-based origin and instrumental synchronicity. Similarly, “Ridiculous” adds to the band’s rock/reggae resume but has the added excitement of featuring reggae icon Eek-A-Mouse. “Without Jah, Nothin” speeds the pace and features hardcore-punk pioneer H.R. from the legendary band Bad Brains.
By the time the title track “Satellite” had been rolled out as the fourth and final single from P.O.D.’s breakthrough LP, America and the entire world were markedly different places than they had been 12 months prior. The 9/11 attacks had exposed US vulnerabilities in an unrelentingly manner and would forever reshape US Foreign Policy, geopolitically. For a 19-year-old teen, who was still trying to figure out who he was, I now had to finish that process within the faster-paced US military. When I look back at that period of my life, Satellite not only provided the much-needed musical encouragement, but also at times helped me recalibrate spiritually.
P.O.D.’s unique fusion of various musical genres provided a sound unlike any other at the time or since. Their message of optimism was equally refreshing, particularly during a solemn time, that is perhaps the defining event for my generation. As we prepare to reflect on the great tragedy of September 11, 2001 on its 20th anniversary, we also honor the great heroism exhibited during and after the events. In the back of my mind, I hear songs like “Alive,” which became one of, if not the, definitive survivor’s anthem.
P.O.D. would go on to have a prosperous and influential career, particularly during the height of the Nu-Metal movement. Their most successful project to date however is still their 2001 breakout LP Satellite, which was timely with both its distinctive sound and refreshingly positive message.
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