Twisted Transistor

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"Twisted Transistor"
Single by Korn
from the album See You on the Other Side
Released	November 21, 2005
Format	7", CD
Recorded	2005
Genre	Nu Metal
Length	4:12
Label	Virgin Records
Producer(s)	Jonathan Davis, The Matrix
Chart positions
#27 (UK Singles Chart) #3 (US Mainstream Rock Tracks) #9 (US Modern Rock Tracks) #64 (US Billboard Hot 100) #63 (US Billboard Pop 100) #24 (E. Kupper/J. Harris/Dummies Mixes) (US Hot Dance Club Play)
Korn singles chronology
"Another Brick in the Wall, Pts. 1-3" (2004)	"Twisted Transistor" (2005)	"Coming Undone" (2006)

"Twisted Transistor" is the opening track to the seventh studio album by the nu metal band Korn, See You on the Other Side. It was also released as the first single from the album on 21 November 2005 (see 2005 in music). It was also the theme song for WWE Taboo Tuesday 2005.

[edit] Success

The song has become Korn's third most successful single to date, reaching number 64 on the Billboard's mainstream Hot 100 countdown. It has also become one of Korn's most recognizable songs, along with Did My Time, from 2003's Take A Look in the Mirror (featured in Tomb Raider: The Cradle of Life), Falling Away From Me (which premiered on the South Park episode Korn's Groovy Pirate Ghost Mystery) and Freak On A Leash, which is generally regarded as Korn's most well-known and recognizable.

The song also introduces a clear change in direction for the band, embracing a more poppy, bouncy sound, free of most of lead singer Jonathan Davis's throaty rage that characterized the group's previous albums, while Brian Welch's pummeling, seven-string guitar riffs (Head is no longer with the band) are replaced entirely with new lead guitarist James Shaffer's more simplistic power chords and a more hook-heavy, catchy chorus. Some think the song to be somewhat reminiscent of Nine Inch Nails.

[edit] Video

The video for the song features a Spinal Tap-esque style mockumentary where four rappers play the parts of Korn: Lil Jon as Jonathan Davis, Xzibit as Reginald "Fieldy" Arvizu, David Banner as David Silveria, and Snoop Dogg as James "Munky" Shaffer. The real Korn appears at the end of the video as representatives of "Fony Music", complaining about how the music video isn't going to sell because it lacks "bling-bling" and "booty shakin'".

The rappers have jokingly noted in interviews that "It might be a [new] band coming towards you". [1]

[edit] Subliminal Messaging

When played backwards, the song Twisted Transistor supposedly contains a backwards message (possible subliminal messaging) that plays 'Foolishness, Foolishness... God won't save you, God don't want you...', thought to be in reference to the band's departed member, Brian Welch. An audio file can be found here.

However, it is thought to be a pure coincidence. Singer Jonathan Davis already made clear he didn't feel like writing about or against the ex-member. The remained musicians are happy for him and still see him as a brother, plus subliminal messaging has never been part of Korn's music. Also, Jonathan's wife is a Christian and both of his sons are raised Christian. Bassist Fieldy became a motivated Christian around the time/after Brian left the band, so this subliminal message does not seem to represent Korn's opinion.

• Note: the part that is being played backwards is:
  

"This won't hurt a bit, this won't hurt. Says who, Says who"

It occurs about 3:30 in the song.

[edit] Track listing

[edit] UK release

• 7" VUS316, CD VUSCD316

1. "Twisted Transistor" (radio edit)
2. "Too Late I'm Dead"

[edit] Australian release

• CD 3474592

1. "Twisted Transistor" (radio edit)
2. "Too Late I'm Dead"
3. "Twisted Transistor" (Kupper's Elektro-tek radio edit)

[edit] External links

• Lyrics