Clown (Korn song)

"Clown"
Single by Korn
from the album Korn
Released February 2, 1996
Format CD5"[1]
Recorded 1994 at Indigo Ranch Studios, Malibu, California[2][3][4]
Genre Nu metal[5][6]
Length 4:36[7]
Label Epic Records/Immortal Records[8]
Writer(s) Reginald Arvizu, Jonathan Davis, James Shaffer, David Silveria, Brian Welch
Producer(s) Ross Robinson
Korn singles chronology
"Shoots and Ladders"
(1995)		 "Clown"
(1996)		 "No Place to Hide"
(1996)
Korn track listing
"Need To"
(3)		 "Clown"
(4)		 "Divine"
(5)

"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 skinhead 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 skinhead 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 in a high school and a clown as well sometimes holding something on his nose. Then 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 is sitting in the locker room in the dry shower but with a few people spraying a little tiny 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 and clips of jocks in their football jerseys and cheerleaders seen by someone who walks in the halls. One of the cheerleaders goes into the bathroom and starts smiling in the dark room with a little light and starts brushing her hair with her hands. Clips also show the band performing in a dark room. The video ends off with the cheerleader in the bathroom taking off her shirt showing a tattoo on her back showing the band's logo. The music video most likely could be them in a school after a football game at night.[12] The music video aired in 1996 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

  1. "Clown" – 4:36

Note: the back cover does not state which version this is however it is identical to the Radio Edit on the below European promo.

European Radio Promo

  1. "Clown" (Radio Edit) – 3:52

References

  1. ↑ "Korn - Clown (CD) at Discogs". Discogs.com. Retrieved 2013-02-18.
  2. ↑ Small 1998, p. 16.
  3. ↑ Arvizu 2009, p. 69.
  4. ↑ "Indigo Ranch Studios - CDs and Vinyl at Discogs". Discogs.com. Retrieved 2013-02-18.
  5. ↑ Wiederhorn, Jon (July 1, 2013). "NOISEY VS. METALSUCKS - THREATEN MY FAMILY IF YOU MUST, BUT I STILL SAY KORN RULES". Vice.
  6. ↑ 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.
  7. ↑ Thomas, Stephen (1994-10-11). "Korn - Korn : Songs, Reviews, Credits, Awards". AllMusic. Retrieved 2013-02-18.
  8. ↑ Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. "Korn – Korn : Songs, Reviews, Credits, Awards : AllMusic". AllMusic. Retrieved October 17, 2012.
  9. ↑ Furman 2000, pp. 49–52.
  10. ↑ "GEAR". Kornseed.cro.net. Retrieved 2013-02-18.
  11. ↑ "Korn - Clown". Shelf3d. Retrieved Feb 18, 2013.
  12. ↑ "Korn - Clown". VEVO. October 25, 2009. Retrieved Feb 18, 2013.
  13. ↑ "Korn "Clown"". Scotthen Riksen. Retrieved Feb 17, 2013.
  14. ↑ http://www.diary.ru/~dariashelpfulcorn/p182565054.htm?oam
  15. ↑ http://www.tv.com/shows/daria/that-was-then-this-is-dumb-7478/
  16. ↑ "Clown US Radio Promo (ESK 6580)". Korn.simpol.net. Retrieved November 20, 2011.
  17. ↑ "Clown European Radio Promo (ESK 7735)". Korn.simpol.net. Retrieved November 20, 2011.
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