"Twisted Transistor"
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 nu metal 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. It was also used for the WWE pay per view Taboo Tuesday in 2005.

[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 do". – 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.

[edit] Music video

The video for the song was directed by Dave Meyers and 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'". There is also a section in the video featuring 'Jonathan' recording vocals in "Big Rick's Studio," a reference to metal and hip-hop producer Rick Rubin, as Big Rick himself as he appears in the video bears a resemblance to Rick Rubin.

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

• The song was featured in EA Sports' Arena Football as part of EA Trax.
• The song was also the theme song for WWE's PPV, Taboo Tuesday 2005.
• The song appeared once in Criss Angel Mindfreak while Criss was visiting Korn Studios.
• Part of the song was used in a season 3 episode of NCIS titled Head Case.

[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] Promotion release (Vinyl)

• 12" VUSTDJ316

1. "Twisted Transistor" (Dummies Club Mix)
2. "Twisted Transistor" (Album version)
3. "Twisted Transistor" (Kupper's Elektro-tek Klub Mix)
4. "Twisted Transistor" (Josh Harris F=ck The Club Mix)

[edit] References