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Rating: Having Korn perform an Unplugged concert is like putting Nutella on a nice plate of macaroni: it doesn't make any damn sense! If there wasn't a new album expected by the end of the year, which I'm looking forward to hearing, one could say that this Unplugged represents the end of Korn. This record is horrendous and an insult to all the band's fans (and there are millions around the world). This is due to two things: the songs chosen to be performed "without plug" and their execution, elements that make the album tragicomic.
How can you make a song like "Coming Undone" acoustic, which, even in its original version, isn't particularly significant, but at least it hits hard? Exactly, you can't! Not all bands can perform an acoustic concert, Motorhead, for example, cannot and should not, and not all songs can be adapted to an acoustic setting, and this is something Korn needed to understand. A fundamental thing for producing an Unplugged concert is the choice of songs to perform. Kurt Cobain and his Nirvana didn't even think of performing songs like "Smells Like Teen Spirit" or "Territorial Pissings", a typical pogo track, acoustically. In fact, out of the 14 tracks proposed by the Seattle group in their 1994 Unplugged, 6 are covers, and the others perfectly suit an acoustic performance. There are also the two tracks that don't seem possible to perform acoustically "On A Plain" and "Pennyroyal Tea", but in that case, Cobain manages to handle it brilliantly with his interpretation. Here, that doesn't happen.
"Blind" the first track, is catchy and almost oriental in how it’s played. The second track "Hollow Life" also works quite well acoustically. After listening to these 2 tracks, though, the pain begins... "Freak On The Leash" doesn't work, simply because the strength of the song was the rhythm and the chorus, something to move and jump to; here the song is distorted and reduced to a banal duet with the Evanescence singer who tries to lift the song's fate with her beautiful voice. "Falling Away From Me" is ridiculous; listen to the original version and then tell me if you think that song can be performed Unplugged. The listening continues with "Creep", "Love Song" and "Got The Life" that, all things considered, have their reasons.
But when the eighth track "Twisted Transistor" starts, I realize what this album is: a mockery. The song, already in the original version, was, especially for the group's "older" fans, those attached to albums like "Korn" or "Life is Peachy", but also "Issues", a joke, a festival of banalities, let alone played at an Unplugged concert. As for the other tracks present, I won't even talk about them because I would end up repeating the same phrase: it's crap.
Personally, even though many consider it just a pure commercial operation, I've always seen an Unplugged concert (and the subsequent album) as "expanding one's horizons," experimenting with new sounds, seeking new stimuli. In the case of Korn, it's undoubtedly a pure commercial operation and an attempt to self-convince themselves that they are still creative, and not "artistically dead," after the disgraceful "See You On The Otherside."
And above all, a metal band, because theoretically that's the genre Korn belongs to, has nothing to do with an acoustic setting. The band is only good for one thing: real concerts. There they are incredible, managing to energize hundreds of thousands of fans with their energy and sound, thanks also to the fact that most of the songs proposed are the old ones, composed when they were still creative and original.
Tracklist and Lyrics
01 Blind (03:30)
Are you ready?!
This place inside my mind, a place I like to hide
You don't know the chances. What if I should die?!
A place inside my brain, another kind of pain
You don't know the chances. I'm so blind!
Another place I find to escape the pain inside
You don't know the chances. What if I should die?!
A place inside my brain, another kind of pain
You don't know the chances. I'm so blind!
Deeper and deeper and deeper as I journey to
live a life that seems to be a lost reality
that I can never find a way to reach.
My inner selfesteem is low.
How deep can I go in the ground that I lay?
If I don't find a way to see through the gray that clouds my mind.
This time I look to see what's between the lines!
I can see, I can see, I'm going blind... [x12]
I'm blind [x4]
04 Falling Away From Me (03:56)
Hey, I'm feeling tired
My time is gone today
You flirt with suicide
Sometimes that's OK
Do what others say
I'm here standing hollow
Falling away from me, falling away from me
Day, is here fading
That's when I'm insane
I flirt with suicide
Sometimes kill the pain
I can't always say
'It's gonna be better tomorrow'
Falling away from me, falling away from me
Beating me down, beating me, beating me down
Down, into the ground, screaming so sound
Beating me, beating me, down, down
Into the ground
(Falling away from me)
It's spinning round and round
(Falling away from me)
It's lost and can't be found
(Falling away from me)
It's spinning round and round
(Falling away from me)
Slow it down
Beating me down, beating me, beating me
Down, down, into the ground, screaming so sound
Beating me, beating me, down, down
Into the ground
Twisting me, they won't go away
So I pray, go away
Life's falling away from me
It's falling away from me
Life's falling away from me, FUCK!
Beating me down, beating me, beating me
Down, down, into the ground, screaming so sound
Beating me, beating me, down, down
Into the ground
(Falling away from me)
Beating me down
(Falling away from me)
Beating me, beating me
(Falling away from me)
Down, down
(Falling away from me)
Into the ground
Screaming so sound
(Falling away from me)
Beating me, beating me
Down, down
(Falling away from me)
Into the ground
05 Creep (03:51)
When you were here before
Couldn't look you in the eye
You're just like an angel
Your skin makes me cry
You float like a feather
In a beautiful world
And I wish I was special
You're so very special
But I'm a creep
I'm a weirdo
What the hell am I doing here?
I don't belong here
I don't care if it hurts
I want to have control
I want a perfect body
I want a perfect soul
I want you to notice
When I'm not around
You're so very special
I wish I was special
But I'm a creep
I'm a weirdo
What the hell am I doing here?
I don't belong here
She's running out the door
She's running out
run, run, run, run,run
Whatever makes you happy
Whatever you want
You're so very special
I wish I was special
But I'm a creep
I'm a weirdo
What the hell am I doing here?
I don't belong here
I don't belong here
06 Love Song (03:51)
Murder!
Your holding my heart, screaming.
Motherfucker!
They left me broken, bleeding.
Son of!
The man you loved and left for
The son of a bitch!
Who tried to show me death's door.
(Ah)
Everything's illuminated.
Everything is dedicated.
(Ah)
Tried to leave this life I hated
Even that what's over-rated.
Love song for the dear departed.
Headstone for the broken hearted.
Arm's to kill.
more flowers to steal.
Head-trip for the mortal earth bound.
One sip of the blood that I found.
Lying here...
Im dying here.
And then!
Obtituaries rain down.
And suddenly!
We're lying naked face down.
(Ah)
Once again decapitated.
Can't you see me fasinated.
(Ah)
Never knew enough to damage.
Even that can be mis-managed.
Love song for the dear departed.
Headstone for the broken hearted.
Arm's to kill.
more flowers to steal.
Head-trip for the mortal earth bound.
One sip of the blood that I found.
Lying here.
Im dying here.
Dying here..
Don't bring me daffodils.
Bring a bouquet of pills.
See some drainum.
Cracked to the crainum.
Protect me when you can.
Respect me when I am...
Dying.
Love song for the dear departed.
Headstone for the broken hearted.
Arm's to kill.
more flowers to steal.
Head-trip for the mortal earth bound.
One sip of the blood that I found.
Lying here.
I'm dying here.
Love song for the dear departed.
Headstone for the broken hearted.
Arm's to kill.
more flowers to steal.
Head-trip for the mortal earth bound.
One sip of the blood that I found.
Lying here...
I'm dying here.
07 Got the Life (03:48)
Hate, something, sometime, someway
Something kick off the floor for mine
Something, inside
I'll never ever follow
So give me something that is for real
I'll never ever follow
Get your boogie on
Get your boogie on
Hate, something, someway, each day
Dealing with no forgiveness
Why?
This shit inside
Now everyone will follow
So give me nothing just feel
And now this shit will follow
God paged me
You'll never see the lie, who wants to see?
God told me, I've already got the life, oh I say
God paged me
You'll never see the lie, who wants to see?
God told me, I've already got the life, oh I say
Each day I can feel it swallow
Inside something they took from me
I don't feel your deathly ways
Each day I feel so hollow, inside I was beating me
You will never see, so come dance with me
Dance with me
Dance with me
Dance with me
Dance with me
Dance with me
Dance with me
Rumbiddieboo
(Dance with me)
Rum bum dee dum dee bum diddie doo
(Dance with me, dance with me)
ME!
God paged me
You'll never see the lie, who wants to see?
God told me, I've already got the life, oh I say
God paged me
You'll never see the lie, who wants to see?
God told me, I've already got the life, oh I say
Got the life
Got the life
Got the life
Got the life
Got the life
Got the life
Got the life
Got the life
Got the life
09 Coming Undone (03:35)
Keep holding on
When my brain's tickin' like a bomb
Guess the black bots have come Again to get me
Sweet bitter words
Unlike nothing I have heard
Sing along mocking bird
You don't affect me
That's right
Deliverance of my heart
Be straight
Be deliverance
Wait
I'm coming undone
Unlaced
I'm coming undone
Too late
I'm coming undone
What looks so strong
So delicate
Wait
I'm starting to suffocate
And soon I anticipate
I'm coming undone
What looks so strong
So delicate
Choke choke again
I find my demons are my friends
Getting me in the end
They're out to get me
Since I was young
I've tasted sorrow on my tongue
And this sweet chugga gun
Does not protect me
That's right
Trigger between my eyes
Please strike
Make it quick now
Wait
I'm coming undone
Unlaced
I'm coming undone
Too late
I'm coming undone
What looks so strong
So delicate
Wait
I'm starting to suffocate
And soon I anticipate
I'm coming undone
What looks so strong
So delicate
I'm trying to hold it together
Head is lighter than a feather
Looks like i'm not getting better
Not getting better
Wait
I'm coming undone
Unlaced
I'm coming undone
Too late
I'm coming undone
What looks so strong
So delicate
Wait
I'm starting to suffocate
And soon I anticipate
I'm coming undone
What looks so strong
So delicate
12 Dirty (04:05)
Keep knocking
No one’s there
Pouring down
Near people
I'm out here
By myself, all alone
Ready to blow my head off!
I hurt so bad inside
I wish you could see the world through my eyes
Each day is the same
I just wanna laugh again
Keep hoping
Nothing to spare
So my life
Isn't quite there
Feel like a whore
A dirty whore
Such a whore
Dirty
I'm out here
By myself, all alone
Ready to blow my head off!
I hurt so bad inside
I wish you could see the world through my eyes
Each day is the same
I just wanna laugh again
Just wanna laugh again
I'll take it
I'll take it
I will take it
Give it to me
You dirty little fuck
Dirty little fuck
You dirty little fuck
Dirty little fuck
You dirty little fuck
(I will take it)
Dirty little fuck
(I will take it)
You dirty little fuck
(I will take it)
Dirty little fuck
(I will take it)
You dirty little fuck
I hurt so bad inside
I wish you could see the world through my eyes
Each day is the same
I just wanna laugh again
I just wanna laugh again [x4]
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Other reviews
By thetrooper
Jonathan Davis is no longer the angry young man from Bakersfield railing against the world, and he has learned to use his voice well, particularly in more melodic and “romantic” moments where he truly delights the ear.
Musically speaking, you can't say that this show was poorly played, lethargic, or lacking inventiveness or originality; quite the opposite.
By Deviljin
Already from listening to "Blind" you begin to understand that this is not the usual Unplugged, the original version ... is transformed with an almost Latin American sound.
Alongside those by Nirvana and Alice In Chains, we are facing one of the best Unpluggeds of all time and that Korn, after a failed album, have returned to give us emotions.
