Clown (Korn song)
"Clown" | ||||
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Single by Korn | ||||
from the album Korn | ||||
Released | July 12, 1995 | |||
Recorded | 1994 at Indigo Ranch Studios, Malibu, California[1][2][3] | |||
Genre | Nu metal[4][5] | |||
Length |
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Label | ||||
Songwriter(s) | ||||
Producer(s) | Ross Robinson | |||
Korn singles chronology | ||||
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"Clown" is the fourth single by the American nu metal band Korn from their self-titled debut album.
Meaning
What inspired Jonathan Davis to write this song though, was an early gig in San Diego where a person in the audience was booing them and telling them to "go back to Bakersfield!" Jonathan knelt down to hear him and the guy took a swing at him. He missed and the band's manager assaulted him. The person was all tattooed and looked like a "clown" to Jonathan Davis, inspiring the title of the song and also the line "Hit me clown, because I'm not from your town."[9] Preceding the song is a conversation with Korn fooling around at the song's recording. A quote taken from Korn's Who Then Now?' video, which serves as an introduction for the music video:
I wrote a song about a guy in San Diego who took a swing at me. He's all "Fuck you! Go back to Bakersfield!" Well I didn't understand that, so I bent down and he tried to swing at me, and our road manager Jeff knocked his ass out, that song is Clown.[10][11]
Music video
The video begins with the band walking in a hallway of a high school. There are shots of a clown balancing something on his nose. Soon, the band starts playing in a locker room which appears to be happening at night. Jonathan Davis is seen singing and, in some clips, he's sitting in a locker room inside one of the dry showers. With a few people spraying a little bit of water on his hair to tease him. This represents some of his painful experiences in high school of being teased. It also features the band in a gym with clips of jocks in their football jerseys and cheerleaders seen by someone in the halls. One of the cheerleaders goes into a bathroom and starts smiling in the dark room. She proceeds to brush her hair with her hands. Clips also show the band performing in a dark room. The video ends with the cheerleader in the bathroom taking off her shirt, showing a tattoo on her back which is the band's logo. The music video most likely could be them in the school after a football game at night.[12] The music video aired in 1995 and was directed by McG.[13]
Appearances in other media
The song can be heard playing in the character Trent's car in a Season 1 episode of the animated series Daria.[14][15]
Track listing
US Radio Promo
- "Clown" – 4:36
Note: the back cover does not state which version this is. However, it's identical to the Radio Edit on the below European promo.
European Radio Promo
- "Clown" (Radio Edit) – 3:52
References
- ^ Small 1998, p. 16.
- ^ Arvizu 2009, p. 69.
- ^ "Indigo Ranch Studios - CDs and Vinyl at Discogs". Discogs.com. Retrieved 2013-02-18.
- ^ Wiederhorn, Jon (July 1, 2013). "NOISEY VS. METALSUCKS - THREATEN MY FAMILY IF YOU MUST, BUT I STILL SAY KORN RULES". Vice.
- ^ McIver, Joel (2002). "How did we get to nu-metal from old metal?". Nu-metal: The Next Generation of Rock & Punk. Omnibus Press. pp. 10, 12. ISBN 0-7119-9209-6.
- ^ Thomas, Stephen (1994-10-11). "Korn - Korn : Songs, Reviews, Credits, Awards". AllMusic. Retrieved 2013-02-18.
- ^ Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. "Korn – Korn : Songs, Reviews, Credits, Awards : AllMusic". AllMusic. Retrieved October 17, 2012.
- ^ "Korn - Clown (CD) at Discogs". Discogs.com. Retrieved 2013-02-18.
- ^ Furman 2000, pp. 49–52.
- ^ "GEAR". Kornseed.cro.net. Archived from the original on 2016-03-04. Retrieved 2013-02-18.
- ^ "Korn - Clown". Shelf3d. Retrieved Feb 18, 2013.
- ^ "Korn - Clown". VEVO. October 25, 2009. Retrieved Feb 18, 2013.
- ^ "Korn "Clown"". Scotthen Riksen. Archived from the original on February 25, 2012. Retrieved Feb 17, 2013.
- ^ "12.06.2012 в 08:49Пишет Niaka: Безусловно, один из лучших моментов в Дарье - музыка ^^ [изображение] Это список песен, играющих в сериале и полнометражках - Daria: Season 1 Episode 01 - Esteems... :: Mystic Spiral fansite :: @дневники: асоциальная сеть". www.diary.ru.
- ^ TV.com. "Daria: That Was Then, This is Dumb". TV.com.
- ^ "Clown US Radio Promo (ESK 6580)". Korn.simpol.net. Retrieved November 20, 2011.
- ^ "Clown European Radio Promo (ESK 7735)". Korn.simpol.net. Retrieved November 20, 2011.
External links
- Songs about clowns
- 1994 songs
- 1995 singles
- Korn songs
- Music videos directed by McG
- Immortal Records singles
- Songs based on actual events
- Epic Records singles
- Songs written by Reginald Arvizu
- Songs written by Jonathan Davis
- Songs written by James Shaffer
- Songs written by David Silveria
- Songs written by Brian Welch