Falling Away from Me
"Falling Away from Me" is a song by American nu metal band Korn. It was released as the first single from their fourth album Issues, debuting in an episode of Comedy Central's animated series South Park, entitled "Korn's Groovy Pirate Ghost Mystery". The song went on to become one of Korn's most popular singles, with an anti-child abuse themed video topping MTV's Total Request Live for ten days.
"Falling Away from Me" | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Single by Korn | ||||
from the album Issues | ||||
Released |
| |||
Recorded | 1999 | |||
Genre | Nu metal[1][2] | |||
Length | 4:31 | |||
Label | ||||
Songwriter(s) | ||||
Producer(s) | Brendan O'Brien | |||
Korn singles chronology | ||||
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Concept
Jonathan Davis explained: "The song is about domestic abuse and that there are ways to get help whether it's telling someone or calling a help line, there are ways to get out of those situations. No one has to be treated like that."[3]
Music video
The music video for "Falling Away from Me" received its world premiere on MTV in November 26, 1999 during Spankin' New Music Week.[4] It begins as a continuation of the famous video for "Freak on a Leash", starting with its closing animation. The video then transitions into live action as it shows a young girl (played by actress Jill Noel) clearly distraught by her abusive father. Inside her room, she opens a box and appears to see the band inside, performing below hanging lightbulbs. A crowd of young people have gathered outside the window, raising their arms in time to the beat as the band is then surrounded by flashes of green electricity, and then appear inside her bedroom with flashes of red electricity. As her father angrily approaches her room with a belt in his hand, one of the youths appears outside her window and helps her get outside. She leaves the house as the song ends and the crowd scatters. The band dissolves into red electricity and goes straight back into the box in her hands. She then runs off into the night just as her father finally opens the door to see her empty bedroom. The video ends with a shot of the neighborhood with red lights showing in one bedroom in every house.
In the original version of the video, shortly before the band disappears into the box (once the teenage girl escapes through the window), Fred Durst made a "cameo" appearance in the video – his face appearing for a brief moment during one of the close-up shots of Jonathan Davis. Due to reasons which are somewhat unclear (it's rumoured that Davis spotted the cameo and objected), subsequent versions of the video have had the Fred Durst cameo removed.
The video enjoyed similar success to its predecessor, "Freak on a Leash", debuting on MTV's Total Request Live at number three,[5] and reaching number one on its seventh day.[4] It would eventually become Korn's third "retired" video on the program,[6] with ten non-consecutive days at number one.[7]
As of May 2022, the video has over 125 million views on YouTube.
MTV Unplugged rendition
Korn performed a memorable version of "Falling Away from Me" for the filming of MTV Unplugged in December 2006, featuring hand bells and a glass harmonica.[8] It was also performed at the 2006 Download Festival with M Shadows, lead singer of Avenged Sevenfold, when lead vocalist Jonathan Davis had fallen ill.
Critical reception
"Falling Away from Me" is widely considered to be one of Korn's best songs. In 2019, Loudwire ranked the song number four on their list of the 50 greatest Korn songs,[9] and in 2021, Kerrang ranked the song number two on their list of the 20 greatest Korn songs.[10]
Appearances in media
- The song was first played on Comedy Central's animated series, South Park, in the episode "Korn's Groovy Pirate Ghost Mystery".[11] The band members had a primary role in the Scooby-Doo-esque plot and performed the song at the end of the episode.
- The song is playable on Rock Revolution.
- The song is available as downloadable content for Rock Band 3
- The song is sampled in the song "Hammer Dance" by the hip-hop group Slaughterhouse.
Track listing
German release
- "Falling Away from Me" (radio edit) – 4:31
- "Jingle Balls" – 3:27
- "Falling Away from Me" (a cappella) – 3:45
Australian release
- CD5"
- "Falling Away from Me" – 4:31
- "Falling Away from Me (Krust Remix)" – 8:29
- "Jingle Balls" – 3:27
- "Falling Away from Me (Mantronik Remix)" – 6:05
- "Got the Life (Josh Abraham Remix)" – 4:01
- "Falling Away from Me" (video)
Australian radio promo
- CD5"
- "Falling Away from Me" (radio edit) – 4:31
- "Falling Away from Me (Krust Remix)" – 8:29
- "Jingle Balls" – 3:27
- "Falling Away from Me (Mantronik Extended Remix)" – 6:05
- "Got the Life (Josh Abraham Remix)" – 4:01
Australian Die Cut CD radio promo
- CD5"
- "Falling Away from Me" – 4:31
- "Falling Away from Me (Clean Version)" – 4:31
Swedish release
- CD5"
- "Falling Away from Me" (radio edit) – 4:31
- "Falling Away from Me" (a cappella) – 3:45
UK release
- CD5"
- "Falling Away from Me" (radio edit) – 4:31
- "Falling Away from Me (Krust Remix)" – 8:29
- "Jingle Balls" – 3:27
UK promo
- CD5"
- "Falling Away from Me (Mantronik Beatdown Formula)" – 6:06
- "Falling Away from Me (Krust Remix)" – 8:29
- "Falling Away from Me" – 4:31
Charts
Chart (1999–2000) | Peak position |
---|---|
Australia (ARIA)[12] | 62 |
Belgium (Ultratip Bubbling Under Flanders)[13] | 17 |
Canada Alternative 30 (RPM)[14] | 24 |
Europe (Eurochart Hot 100)[15] | 90 |
Germany (Official German Charts)[16] | 86 |
Iceland (Dagblaðið Vísir Top 20)[17] | 1 |
Latvia (Latvijas Top 40)[18] | 26 |
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40 Tipparade)[19] | 6 |
Netherlands (Single Top 100)[20] | 77 |
Peru (UNIMPRO)[21] | 24 |
Scotland (OCC)[22] | 25 |
UK Singles (OCC)[23] | 24 |
UK Rock & Metal (OCC)[24] | 1 |
US Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles (Billboard)[25] | 8 |
US Alternative Airplay (Billboard)[26] | 7 |
US Mainstream Rock (Billboard)[27] | 7 |
See also
References
- Wiederhorn, Jon (July 1, 2013). "NOISEY VS. METALSUCKS - THREATEN MY FAMILY IF YOU MUST, BUT I STILL SAY KORN RULES". Vice.
- "SAMPLED: Slaughterhouse – "Hammer Dance"". Aux.tv. Archived from the original on 2015-11-17. Retrieved 2015-09-15.
- Davis, Jonathan. "Songfacts.com". Retrieved August 11, 2012.
- "Recap - November 1999". The TRL Archive. Retrieved 2008-03-21.
- "Debuts". The TRL Archive. Archived from the original on 2007-09-28. Retrieved 2008-03-21.
- "Hall of Fame". The TRL Archive. Archived from the original on 2007-11-04. Retrieved 2008-03-21.
- "Number Ones". The TRL Archive. Archived from the original on 2012-10-19. Retrieved 2008-03-21.
- "Korn Quiet Down With The Cure, Amy Lee For 'MTV Unplugged'". MTV News. 2006-12-13. Retrieved 2008-03-21.
- "The Top 50 Korn Songs, Ranked". Loudwire. September 13, 2019. Retrieved March 28, 2022.
- Law, Sam (April 20, 2021). "The 20 greatest Korn songs – ranked". Kerrang. Retrieved March 28, 2022.
- "Korn To Premiere New Track During "South Park" Special". MTV News. 1999-10-11. Retrieved 2008-03-21.
- "Korn – Falling Away from Me". ARIA Top 50 Singles. Retrieved April 19, 2021.
- "Korn – Falling Away from Me" (in Dutch). Ultratip. Retrieved April 19, 2021.
- "Rock/Alternative - Volume 70, No. 14, February 7, 2000" Archived 2012-10-14 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 2022-7-20
- "Eurochart Hot 100 Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 16, no. 20. February 26, 2000. p. 17. Retrieved February 7, 2020.
- "Korn – Falling Away from Me" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved April 19, 2021.
- "Íslenski Listinn (29.06. 2000)". Dagblaðið Vísir (in Icelandic). June 29, 2000. p. 10. Retrieved October 5, 2019.
- "Latvian Airplay Top 500 of 2001" (in Latvian). Lanet.lv. Retrieved December 1, 2022.
- "Tipparade-lijst van week 8, 2000" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved March 19, 2023.
- "Korn – Falling Away from Me" (in Dutch). Single Top 100.
- "PERU – Doble Nueve Ranking Anual 2000" (in Polish). Charts Around the World. 2000-12-31. Retrieved 2022-12-27.
- "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved July 25th, 2022.
- "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved April 19, 2021.
- "Official Rock & Metal Singles Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved April 19, 2021.
- "Korn Chart History (Bubbling Under Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved April 19, 2021.
- "Korn Chart History (Alternative Airplay)". Billboard. Retrieved April 19, 2021.
- "Korn Chart History (Mainstream Rock)". Billboard. Retrieved April 19, 2021.