Killpop

Last updated

"Killpop"
Killpop cover.jpg
Single by Slipknot
from the album .5: The Gray Chapter
ReleasedApril 28, 2015
Genre Gothic metal [1]
Length
  • 3:45(album version)
  • 3:11 (radio edit)
Label Roadrunner
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)
Slipknot singles chronology
"Custer"
(2014)
"Killpop"
(2015)
"Goodbye"
(2016)
Music video
"Killpop" on YouTube

"Killpop" is a single by American heavy metal band Slipknot for their fifth major label studio album .5: The Gray Chapter .

Contents

The song was first released as a promotional single on October 16, 2014. [2] It was the fifth promo and fourth overall single released from the album. [3] [4] [5] The song received a retail single release in April 2015. [6]

Background

The song leaked two weeks prior to being officially released by the band on October 16, 2014. When officially released by the band, it featured original cover art like the other promotional singles released before it. When WGRD 97.9 asked frontman Corey Taylor about "Killpop", Taylor said:

"You know, what’s funny is over the last few weeks, I’ve really gotten everyone’s interpretation of what that song means to them, and it’s nowhere near what I wrote about. So it’s kind of interesting to hear people’s interpretations of what I’m singing about. And I’ll be honest with you: the song is my reflection on my relationship with music. That’s who the ‘she’ is. And not just music, but the music industry in general. So there’s a love-hate relationship there that really kind of comes into view. There's the old adage, 'Be careful what you wish for,' and, 'Be careful doing what you love, because sometimes it will turn on you.' And, you know, anytime you mix something that you love and business, you're gonna find the rusty cracks in there that piss you off. So that song, really, is about how much I still love making music, but also how much I just hate the business side, the numbers side, the people in the suits who try to run stuff, and having to deal with them and having to learn how to talk to them. And, you know, it's frustrating sometimes, but it is what it is. And luckily, we got a great song out of it, and we were able to really paint something really cool with it and just be able to put it out there for people to dig." [7]

Critical reception

Upon release, "Killpop" was met with positive reviews by critics and music sites. Loudwire stated "Today, we were exposed to ‘Killpop,’ which is arguably the poppiest Slipknot cut from ‘.5: The Gray Chapter’ so far. Vocalist Corey Taylor is very front-and-center throughout the track, as Slipknot's new mystery drummer takes a step back from his death metal-inspired parts showcased throughout the new album so far." [8] Metal Injection said "Today, the band released their latest single, "Killpop" and this one builds and builds and builds until it gets really heavy. It's definitely one of the standout tracks on the album." [5]

Music video

After the release of .5: The Gray Chapter, Corey Taylor stated that 'Killpop' would be the next song from the album to get a music video. No information about the video was released between the point Taylor said the song would be getting a music video (circa November 2014) and on June 7, 2015, when the band's official Twitter revealed that the music video would be released on June 8. The music video switches between footage of the band members and two painted women wandering an abandoned building. Besides being shown playing together, each band member is also shown in their own scene either playing their instrument in an empty room or wandering the abandoned building. The two women are shown mirroring each other's movements and appear in the scenes of some of the band members. The two women in the video are Shauna and Shannon Baker, also known as The Baker Twins. Like other Slipknot videos, "Killpop" was directed by M. Shawn Crahan. It was the final Slipknot music video to feature percussionist Chris Fehn before his departure from the band on March 18, 2019.

As of February 2022, the song has 113 million views on YouTube.

Promotion

"Killpop" was named Track of the Day on the UK radio station, BBC Radio 1 on January 19, 2015 (coinciding with the UK leg of Slipknot's Prepare for Hell tour). [9] This meant the song was played in every show on the radio station throughout that day. "Killpop" was also included in BBC Radio 1's C Play List for that week. [10] It was listed on BBC Radio 1's B Play List for the week commencing on February 16, 2015. [10]

Track listing

Digital Download
  1. "Killpop" – 3:45
Promo CD
  1. "Killpop" (edit) – 3:31

Charts

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Slipknot (band)</span> American heavy metal band

Slipknot is an American heavy metal band formed in Des Moines, Iowa, in 1995 by percussionist Shawn Crahan, drummer Joey Jordison and bassist Paul Gray. After several lineup changes in its early years, the band settled on nine members for more than a decade: Crahan, Jordison, Gray, Craig Jones, Mick Thomson, Corey Taylor, Sid Wilson, Chris Fehn, and Jim Root. Bassist Gray died on May 24, 2010, and was replaced during 2011–2014 by Donnie Steele. Jordison was dismissed from the band on December 12, 2013. Steele left during the recording sessions for .5: The Gray Chapter. The band found replacements in Alessandro Venturella on bass and Jay Weinberg on drums. After the departure of Jordison, as of December 2013 the only founding member in the current lineup is percussionist Crahan. Fehn was also dismissed from the band in March 2019 prior to the writing of We Are Not Your Kind and was replaced by Michael Pfaff. The band parted ways with Jones and Weinberg in 2023.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Corey Taylor</span> American musician

Corey Todd Taylor is an American musician, songwriter, author and actor. He is the lead vocalist of the heavy metal band Slipknot, in which he is designated #8, as well as the lead vocalist, guitarist, lyricist, and sole continuous member of the rock band Stone Sour.

<i>Vol. 3: (The Subliminal Verses)</i> 2004 studio album by Slipknot

Vol. 3: is the third studio album by American heavy metal band Slipknot, released on May 25, 2004, by Roadrunner Records. A special edition, containing a bonus disc, was released on April 12, 2005. It is the band's only album produced by Rick Rubin. Following the band's tour to promote its second album in 2002, speculation regarding the future began. Some band members had already been involved in side projects including Murderdolls, To My Surprise, and the reformation of Stone Sour. In 2003, Slipknot moved into The Mansion to work on the album. Initially, the band was unproductive; lead vocalist Corey Taylor was drinking heavily. Nevertheless, the band managed to write more than enough material for a new album. Vol. 3 is credited as Slipknot's first to incorporate more traditional, melodic song structures, guitar solos and acoustic instruments.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Stone Sour</span> American rock band

Stone Sour was an American rock band formed in Des Moines, Iowa, in 1992. The band performed for five years before disbanding in 1997. They reunited in 2000 and since 2015, the group has consisted of Corey Taylor, Josh Rand (guitar), Christian Martucci (guitar), Johny Chow (bass) and Roy Mayorga (drums). Longtime members Joel Ekman and Shawn Economaki left the band in 2006 and 2011, respectively. Former lead guitarist Jim Root left in 2014. The band has been on an indefinite hiatus since 2020.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Duality (song)</span> 2004 single by Slipknot

"Duality" is a song by American heavy metal band Slipknot. It was released on May 4, 2004, as the first single from the band's third album, Vol. 3: . A music video was made for the song, which was listed as Roadrunner's greatest video of all-time.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wait and Bleed</span> 1999 single by Slipknot

"Wait and Bleed" is a song by American heavy metal band Slipknot. Released as the band's debut single off their 1999 self-titled debut album. After being remixed to replace the screamed vocals in the verses with more melodic singing, it was released as the lead single from the album in July 1999, and peaked at number 34 on the American Billboard Hot Mainstream Rock Tracks chart in February 2000. It remains one of the band's signature songs.

<i>All Hope Is Gone</i> 2008 studio album by Slipknot

All Hope Is Gone is the fourth studio album by American heavy metal band Slipknot, released on August 26, 2008 by Roadrunner Records. The album was published in two versions: the standard album in a CD case and a special edition packaged in a six-fold digipak containing three bonus tracks, a 40 page booklet, and a bonus DVD with a documentary of the album's recording. Preparation for the album began in 2007, while recording started in February 2008 in the band's home state of Iowa. Before the album's launch, Slipknot released a series of promotional images and audio samples from the album through various websites. All Hope Is Gone was considered the band's most eclectic-sounding album at the time of release, incorporating elements from their previous three. The album shows Slipknot moving away from the nu metal genre towards a groove metal style. Songs such as the opening track "Gematria " and the title track espouse the band's more brutal, death metal-influenced edge, reminiscent of songs such as "(sic)" from their debut self-titled album; slow burning, "trippy" elements such as "Gehenna", recalling "Skin Ticket" from their second album Iowa; and more tragic, sentimental tracks such as "Dead Memories" and "Snuff".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Psychosocial (song)</span> 2008 song by Slipknot

"Psychosocial" is a song by American heavy metal band Slipknot. Released as the second single from the band's fourth studio album, All Hope Is Gone (2008). The song entered airplay on June 26, 2008 and was originally planned for release as a digital single on July 1 but was delayed and released on July 7. Slipknot performed "Psychosocial" live for the first time on July 9, 2008, at the White River Amphitheatre in Auburn, Washington. In 2008, the song was featured on the soundtrack to Marvel's Punisher: War Zone.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dead Memories</span> 2008 single by Slipknot

"Dead Memories" is a song from American heavy metal band Slipknot's fourth album, All Hope Is Gone. It was released on December 1, 2008.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Snuff (song)</span> 2009 single by Slipknot

"Snuff" is a song by American heavy metal band Slipknot. Released on September 28, 2009, as the fifth and final single from their fourth album, All Hope Is Gone, the song charted at number two on the Billboard Hot Mainstream Rock Tracks chart, their highest chart placement to date, surpassing "Dead Memories".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Negative One</span> 2014 single by Slipknot

"The Negative One" is a song by American heavy metal band Slipknot. Released on August 1, 2014, it was the band's first new song since the death of bassist Paul Gray in 2010 and the 2013 firing of drummer Joey Jordison. An accompanying music video premiered on Slipknot's official website on August 5, 2014; however, no band members were featured. Vocalist Corey Taylor told BBC Radio 1 that he saw the song as more of a "gift to the fans" than a regular single though it was still released as a digital single on iTunes and many other digital music retailers.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Devil in I</span> 2014 single by Slipknot

"The Devil in I" is a song by American heavy metal band Slipknot. Released as a single from the band's fifth album, .5: The Gray Chapter (2014). It is the second single for the album and the first to be released to radio and music channels, with the previous single "The Negative One" being a digital only single.

<i>.5: The Gray Chapter</i> 2014 studio album by Slipknot

.5: The Gray Chapter is the fifth studio album by American heavy metal band Slipknot. Released in Australia, Belgium and the Netherlands on October 17, 2014, the UK on October 20, 2014 and in North America on October 21, 2014 by Roadrunner Records. It was the first studio album by the band in six years and the first not to feature original founding members bassist Paul Gray and drummer Joey Jordison due to the death of Gray in 2010, and Jordison being fired from the band in late 2013, as well as the only Slipknot album to feature original guitarist Donnie Steele on bass, although the tracks he played on are unknown, and the first Slipknot album to have Alessandro Venturella on bass and Jay Weinberg on drums. The album includes six singles and has received commercial success and acclaiming reviews. A standard and deluxe edition of the album was released. It is also the band's final studio album to feature their longtime percussionist Chris Fehn before his dismissal from the band due to a lawsuit in March 2019.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Custer (song)</span> 2014 single by Slipknot

"Custer" is a song by American heavy metal band Slipknot. Released on October 10, 2014, it is the third single from their fifth studio album, .5: The Gray Chapter.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sarcastrophe</span> 2014 promotional single by Slipknot

"Sarcastrophe" is a song by American heavy metal band Slipknot from their fifth studio album, .5: The Gray Chapter (2014). The song was first released as a promo/digital single on October 14, 2014, the same day as the album's previous track titled "XIX". It was the third promotional single and fifth overall single released from the album.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">AOV (song)</span> 2014 promotional single by Slipknot

"AOV" is a song by American heavy metal band Slipknot from their fifth studio album .5: The Gray Chapter. The song was first released as a digital/promo single on October 15, 2014. It was the fourth promotional single and sixth overall single released for the album.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Left Behind (Slipknot song)</span> 2001 single by Slipknot

"Left Behind" is a song by American heavy metal band Slipknot. Released as the lead single from the band's second album, Iowa (2001) on October 29, 2001. It was produced by Ross Robinson. The single reached number 30 on the Billboard Mainstream Rock chart, number 24 on the UK Singles Chart and number 5 on the UK Rock & Metal Singles Chart. It was also nominated for the Grammy Award for Best Metal Performance in 2002.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">All Out Life</span> 2018 song by Slipknot

"All Out Life" is a song by American heavy metal band Slipknot, released as an independent single on October 31, 2018, by Roadrunner Records. It was the band's first single in nearly three years, following "Goodbye". It is the final release to feature longtime percussionist and backing vocalist Chris Fehn before his dismissal from the band due to a lawsuit in March the following year.

<i>We Are Not Your Kind</i> 2019 studio album by Slipknot

We Are Not Your Kind is the sixth studio album by American heavy metal band Slipknot. Recorded at EastWest Studios in Hollywood, California with co-producer Greg Fidelman, it was released on August 9, 2019, by Roadrunner Records. The title is taken from a lyric in the song "All Out Life", which was released as a standalone single in 2018 and features as a bonus track on the Japanese edition of the album. We Are Not Your Kind is the only Slipknot album to be recorded as an eight-member band, as their former percussionist Chris Fehn was fired from the band in March 2019 after suing the group for alleged unpaid royalties.

<i>The End, So Far</i> 2022 studio album by Slipknot

The End, So Far is the seventh studio album by American heavy metal band Slipknot. It was released on September 30, 2022, through Roadrunner Records. This is the band's final album to be released through Roadrunner, whom the band signed with in 1998. It is the second studio album to feature percussionist Michael Pfaff, who joined the band in 2019 and is their final studio album to feature sampler and keyboardist Craig Jones and drummer Jay Weinberg before their departures in 2023.

References

  1. Brown, Dean (October 22, 2014). "Slipknot". The Quietus. Retrieved July 30, 2015. 'Killpop' is a disposable goth metal number that is placed with the intent of adding variation and flow, yet it stunts the album's ascent."
  2. "Slipknot - 'Killpop'". Roadrunner Records. Retrieved November 12, 2014.
  3. "Slipknot Premiere New Song, "Killpop" — Listen" . Retrieved November 12, 2014.
  4. "Slipknot Unveil New Song, Killpop". Kerrang!. Retrieved November 12, 2014.
  5. 1 2 "SLIPKNOT Aim To "Killpop" with New Single". Metal Injection. October 16, 2014. Retrieved November 12, 2014.
  6. Kielty, Martin (April 28, 2015). "Slipknot frontman inspired by the saying "be careful what you wish for" for Killpop lyrics". Teamrock.com. Retrieved May 19, 2015.
  7. "Slipknot's Corey Taylor on "Killpop"". Blabbermouth.net. April 27, 2015. Retrieved June 9, 2015.
  8. "Slipknot Keep the New Music Coming With 'Killpop'". Loudwire. October 16, 2014. Retrieved November 12, 2014.
  9. "SLIPKNOT 'KILLPOP' BBC RADIO 1 SONG OF THE DAY!". Roadrunner Records UK.
  10. 1 2 "BBC - Radio 1 - Playlist". Radio 1.
  11. "Official Rock & Metal Singles Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved January 28, 2022.
  12. "Slipknot Chart History (Hot Rock & Alternative Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved January 28, 2022.
  13. "Slipknot Chart History (Rock Airplay)". Billboard. Retrieved January 28, 2022.
  14. "Year-End Charts: Mainstream Rock Airplay Songs (2015)". Billboard . Retrieved November 6, 2023.