Twisted Transistor

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“Twisted Transistor”
“Twisted Transistor” cover
Single by Korn
from the album
See You on the Other Side
Released November 21, 2005
Format 7", CD single, digital download
Recorded 2005
Genre Alternative metal
Length 3:02 (radio edit), 4:12 (album version)
Label Sony BMG
Producer The Matrix, Jonathan Davis
Korn singles chronology
"Another Brick in the Wall"
(2004)
"Twisted Transistor"
(2005)
"Coming Undone"
(2006)

"Twisted Transistor" is a song written and recorded by American rock band Korn and The Matrix for Korn's seventh studio album, See You on the Other Side. It was released as the album's first single in September 2005.

Contents

[edit] Music and structure

The song introduces a clear change in direction for the band, embracing a more pop-tinged, bouncy sound, free of most of lead singer Jonathan Davis's throaty rage that characterized the group's previous albums, while ex-guitarist Brian "Head" Welch's pummeling, seven-string guitar riffs are replaced entirely with James "Munky" Shaffer's simplistic power chords and a more hook-heavy, catchy chorus.

The sample of a radio frequency signal, previously implemented on Coil and Danny Hyde's remix of Nine Inch Nails' "Closer", can be heard at the end of the bridge section of "Twisted Transistor".

[edit] Concept

"You know that feeling when you're alone in your room, you feel bad and nothing around you seems to be going well then suddenly when you turn on your radio, you are immediately 'deep in the music'. That's exactly the subject of Twisted Transistor with the lyrics: "A lonely life where no one understands you but don't give up because the music does". – Jonathan Davis

[edit] Chart performance

The song has become Korn's second most successful single to date on the Billboard Hot 100, reaching number 64,[1] and is their highest charting single on the Billboard's Hot Mainstream Rock Tracks, with a peak of number 3.[1] The song has also managed to peak elsewhere on the Billboard charts — the Pop 100 at number 63, Hot Modern Rock Tracks at number 9, Hot Dance Club Play at number 24, and Hot Digital Songs at number 60.[1] Its success was continued overseas, where it charted in many countries, including number 27 in the UK, and number 24 in Australia.


Chart (2005/2006) Peak
position
U.S. Billboard Hot 100 64
U.S. Billboard Pop 100 63
U.S. Billboard Hot Digital Songs 60
U.S. Billboard Hot Modern Rock Tracks 9
U.S. Billboard Hot Mainstream Rock Tracks 3
U.S. Billboard Hot Dance Club Play 24
United Kingdom 27
Germany 66
Finland 6
Austria 37
Australia 24
Switzerland 60
Netherlands 27
Italy 35
Ireland 24

[edit] Music video

The video for the song features a Spinal Tap-esque mockumentary where four rappers play the parts of Korn: Lil' Jon as Jonathan Davis, Xzibit as Fieldy, David Banner as David Silveria, and Snoop Dogg as Munky. 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".[2]

[edit] Possible spin-off

Jonathan Davis has said that rapper Xzibit, who appeared in the video for Twisted Transistor as Fieldy, enjoyed making the video so much, that he and Davis are currently talking about making a This Is Spın̈al Tap-style mockumentary featuring the rappers playing Korn in their day to day life.[3]

Jonathan has said he has many ideas in store for the movie, and both Xzibit and Snoop Dogg have put forward ideas as well.

[edit] Appearances in media

[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. "Appears"
  3. "Twisted Transistor" (Kupper's Elektro-tek radio edit)

[edit] External links

[edit] References