Shock to the System (Billy Idol song)

"Shock to the System" is a single by English musician Billy Idol, released to promote his fifth album, Cyberpunk (1993). Released in June 1993 by Chrysalis Records, it became a top-40 hit in six countries, including Idol's native United Kingdom, but did not make it onto the US Billboard Hot 100.

The song was inspired by the 1992 Los Angeles riots. The accompanying music video, set in a dystopian future, features a man who becomes a cyborg after witnessing Cyber-cops brutally beating another individual. Idol aimed to capture the political and economic conflict of the LA Riots, using the camcorder as a metaphor for technology in rebellion. The video, which used special effects supervised by Stan Winston, was nominated for two MTV Video Music Awards in 1993. The song and video have been analyzed for their themes of racial, sexual, and physical trauma. Several singles of the song were released worldwide, featuring various remixes and additional tracks.