Shot in the Dark (AC/DC song)

"Shot in the Dark" is a single by Australian rock band AC/DC from their seventeenth studio album Power Up. The song was recorded late 2018 to early 2019.^[1] It was released on 7 October 2020,^[2] and is the band's first single released since 2015's "Rock the Blues Away" from their album Rock or Bust. The song was used as the official theme for WWE Survivor Series.^[3]

"Shot in the Dark"
Single by AC/DC
from the album Power Up
Released	7 October 2020
Recorded	August – September 2018 Early 2019
Genre	Hard rock
Length	3:06
Label	Columbia Sony Australia
Songwriter(s)	Angus Young Malcolm Young
Producer(s)	Brendan O'Brien
AC/DC singles chronology
"Rock the Blues Away" (2015) "Shot in the Dark" (2020) "Realize" (2020)
Music video
"Shot in the Dark" on YouTube

The song was nominated for two Grammys for the 64th Grammy Awards, Best Rock Performance and Best Music Video.^[4]

At the APRA Music Awards of 2022, the song was nominated for Most Performed Rock Work.^[5]

Music video

The music video, directed by David Mallet, premiered on AC/DC's YouTube channel on 26 October 2020.^[6]

Release

On 1 October 2020, the band teased the new single in a 30-second video posted on Twitter, appearing to power up the amp with its iconic lightning bolt logo while playing the song, and noting PWR/UP, short for Power Up.^[7] AC/DC went on hiatus after completing their Rock or Bust tour in 2016, which featured Guns N' Roses singer, Axl Rose. In 2018, members Brian Johnson, Phil Rudd, and Cliff Williams rejoined the band after the two-year hiatus. On 5 October 2020, the band shared another short clip composed of behind-the-scenes footage featuring brief appearances by all five members of the band.^[8]

Personnel

AC/DC

• Brian Johnson – lead vocals
• Angus Young – lead guitar
• Stevie Young – rhythm guitar, backing vocals
• Cliff Williams – bass, backing vocals
• Phil Rudd – drums

Additional personnel

• Brendan O'Brien – production
• Mike Fraser – engineering, mixing
• Ryan Smith – mastering
• Billy Bowers – additional engineering

Charts

Weekly charts Weekly chart performance for "Shot in the Dark" Chart (2020) Peak position Australia Digital Song Sales (Billboard)^[9] 3 Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)^[10] 67 Belgium (Ultratip Bubbling Under Flanders)^[11] 21 Belgium (Ultratip Bubbling Under Wallonia)^[12] 31 Canada (Canadian Hot 100)^[13] 50 Canada Rock (Billboard)^[14] 2 Finland (Suomen virallinen lista)^[15] 43 El Salvador (Monitor Latino)^[16] 12 Euro Digital Song Sales (Billboard)^[17] 6 Germany (Official German Charts)^[18] 79 Global 200 (Billboard)^[19] 150 New Zealand Hot Singles (RMNZ)^[20] 5 Scotland (OCC)^[21] 13 Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)^[22] 19 UK Singles Sales (OCC)^[23] 30 UK Singles Downloads (OCC)^[24] 25 UK Rock & Metal (OCC)^[25] 10 US Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles (Billboard)^[26] 16 US Hot Rock & Alternative Songs (Billboard)^[27] 12 US Rock Airplay (Billboard)^[28] 3

Year-end charts Year-end chart performance for "Shot in the Dark" Chart (2021) Position US Rock Airplay (Billboard)^[29] 24

References

1. Andy Greene (7 October 2020). "Exclusive: Angus Young, Brian Johnson, and Cliff Williams on the Resurrection of AC/DC". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 8 October 2020.
2. "AC/DC's 'Shot In The Dark' Single To Arrive On Wednesday; New Teaser Available". BlabberMouth.net. 5 October 2020. Retrieved 8 October 2020.
3. "Untitled". Twitter. WWE. 22 November 2020. Retrieved 24 November 2020.
4. "Grammy Nominations 2022: See the Full List Here". Pitchfork. 23 November 2021. Retrieved 23 November 2021.
5. "Nominees Revealed for 2022 APRA Music Awards". The Industry Observer. 7 April 2022. Retrieved 9 April 2022.
6. "AC/DC share teaser video for new single Shot In The Dark". Metal Hammer. 23 October 2020. Retrieved 26 October 2020.
7. Sommer Brokaw (1 October 2020). "AC/DC teases new single 'Shot in the Dark'". UPI. Retrieved 8 October 2020.
8. Sam Moore (7 October 2020). "AC/DC release new single 'Shot In The Dark' and announce release date for 'POWER UP' album". NME. Retrieved 8 October 2020.
9. "Australia Digital Song Sales Chart: October 24, 2020". Billboard. Retrieved 29 October 2020.
10. "AC/DC – Shot in the Dark" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved 22 October 2020.
11. "AC/DC – Shot in the Dark" (in Dutch). Ultratip. Retrieved 6 November 2020.
12. "AC/DC – Shot in the Dark" (in French). Ultratip. Retrieved 23 October 2020.
13. "AC DC Chart History (Canadian Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved 20 October 2020.
14. "AC DC Chart History (Canada Rock)". Billboard. Retrieved 18 November 2020.
15. "AC/DC: Shot in the Dark" (in Finnish). Musiikkituottajat. Retrieved November 25, 2022.
16. "Top 20 El Salvador – Del 12 al 18 de Octubre, 2020" (in Spanish). Monitor Latino. Retrieved 9 December 2020.
17. "AC DC Chart History (Euro Digital Song Sales)". Billboard. Retrieved 18 November 2020.
18. "AC/DC – Shot in the Dark" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved 16 October 2020.
19. "AC DC Chart History (Global 200)". Billboard. Retrieved 22 October 2021.
20. "NZ Hot Singles Chart". Recorded Music NZ. 19 October 2020. Retrieved 16 October 2020.
21. "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 11 October 2020.
22. "AC/DC – Shot in the Dark". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved 18 October 2020.
23. "Official Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. 9 October 2022. Retrieved 7 November 2022.
24. "Official Singles Downloads Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. 9 October 2020. Retrieved 7 November 2022.
25. "Official Rock & Metal Singles Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 18 November 2020.
26. "AC DC Chart History (Bubbling Under Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved 20 October 2020.
27. "AC DC Chart History (Hot Rock & Alternative Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved 24 November 2020.
28. "AC DC Chart History (Rock Airplay)". Billboard. Retrieved 18 November 2020.
29. "Rock Airplay Songs – Year-End 2021". Billboard. Retrieved 2 December 2021.