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March 25, 2004
GO KORN GO
I knew there was a reason I like this band... I mean besides the fact that their lyrics are all alienated and angry (I think they sing the national anthem of Curmurdgeonland. But beyond that, their new single and video takes square aim at the music and radio industries that are dominated by an oligarchy of conservatives -- political conservatives, in the case of radio, and creative conservatives in the case of music... people who, rather than give chances to unique and fresh musical voices, look to clone the four acts that meet their approval and then play the same twelve songs over and over again.
The video to "Y'All Want a Single" ... was shot at an out-of-business Los Angeles record store. In it, Korn, joined by fans, storms through the aisles smashing the display cases and CDs with crowbars.
While the store is being destroyed, statements taking the music industry to task cross the screen, including: "One corporation owns the 5 major video channels in the U.S.;" "98% of the bands signed to a major don't make a profit;" "Two radio conglomerates control 42% of listeners;" "The music industry releases 100 songs per week."
"The stuff we said in the video (is the stuff) the music industry doesn't want kids to know about," (Korn lead singer Jonathan) Davis says. "Everyone is in bed with everyone in the industry. One corporation owns all the video channels, one corporation owns all the radio stations, and all the venues we play at are also the promoters. It's a whole monopoly. They basically deem what kids are going to hear."
You go, Jonathan. Although, I can bet you that neither ClearChannel nor Viacom will air the single or the video. But their hearts are in the right place, man - and that's enough for me.
