Alone I Break
Encyclopedia
"Alone I Break" is a song written and recorded by American
rock
band Korn
for their fifth studio album, Untouchables
. It was released as the album's third single
in November 2002.
and Head
used custom 14-string guitars to create a wide chorus sound.
s Mainstream Rock Songs chart in December 2002.
supporting the release of Untouchables in 2002, but was quickly scrapped due to difficulties in performing it live. However, Jonathan Davis did perform the song on his Alone I Play Tour
in 2007. Korn played "Alone I Break" live again for the first time in nine years in Bloomington, Illinois
during the first date of the Music as a Weapon V Tour, on January 14, 2011.
supported a contest and a special program
entitled mtvTREATMENT in which the winner was chosen to direct the video for "Alone I Break." It was shot in the form of a reality TV show
where Jonathan Davis kills members of the band. The way of band member's death: Munky- electrocuted, Head- thrown off ledge, David- suffocated, Fieldy- poisoned. The video starts with the band performing in the downstairs foyer. Part way through the song, Jonathan turns towards Munky and acts aggressively towards him. This then leads to a short scuffle between the two, as Fieldy proceeds to break up the fight. Jonathan then storms out, and is seen throwing things around in his room, apparently enraged. Meanwhile, Munky takes a bath but soon falls asleep, as Jonathan finds a lamp nearby and pushes it into the tub, instantly electrocuting and killing Munky. Head is then seen looking around as the lights flicker on and off, implying that it this is happening while Munky is being killed. He then proceeds to the balcony as he speaks to someone on his cell phone, unaware that Jonathan is approaching. He pushes Head off the ledge, killing him. He then tosses his cell phone over as well. Later, David is sleeping with two women, as Jonathan creeps in with a pillow, suffocating him then quietly leaving. He moves downstairs where Fieldy is cooking Spaghetti Bolognaise in the kitchen. Jonathan takes out a bottle of rat poison from a cupboard and waits. Fieldy goes into the pantry to fetch some more ingredients, as Jonathan pours rat poison in the sauce. Fieldy serves himself, takes one bite, then dies. Jonathan, apparently pleased with himself, walks outside and proceeds toward the cameraman, as he falls to the floor. This implies that Jonathan killed him, too. All of this takes place throughout the night, implied by the band performing in the evening, Munky and Head dying at night, David being killed in the early hours of the morning, and Fieldy dying at the break of dawn. Jonathan also leaves and kills the cameraman in the morning.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
rock
Rock music
Rock music is a genre of popular music that developed during and after the 1960s, particularly in the United Kingdom and the United States. It has its roots in 1940s and 1950s rock and roll, itself heavily influenced by rhythm and blues and country music...
band Korn
Korn
Korn is an American nu metal band from Bakersfield, California, formed in 1993. The current band line up includes four members: Jonathan Davis, James "Munky" Shaffer, Reginald "Fieldy" Arvizu, and Ray Luzier. The band was formed as an expansion of L.A.P.D.The band released their first demo album,...
for their fifth studio album, Untouchables
Untouchables (album)
* "Here to Stay" is a hidden track on the limited edition, beginning at 5:06 after "No One's There". On some non-limited edition pressings, it is a full track.* "Beat It Upright" was not included on the edited version of the album.-Bonus DVD:...
. It was released as the album's third single
Single (music)
In music, a single or record single is a type of release, typically a recording of fewer tracks than an LP or a CD. This can be released for sale to the public in a variety of different formats. In most cases, the single is a song that is released separately from an album, but it can still appear...
in November 2002.
Music and structure
The song is a haunting power ballad that features clean vocals, oddly stylized guitars and synthetic drum beats. In the studio, MunkyJames Shaffer
James Christian 'Munky' Shaffer is the guitarist for the nu metal band Korn . According to Korn's video "Who Then Now?", The nickname 'Munky' is a reference to his feet which resemble monkey's hands when spread...
and Head
Brian Welch
Brian Phillip Welch , better known as Head, is an American musician best known as the former guitarist and co-founder of the nu metal band Korn...
used custom 14-string guitars to create a wide chorus sound.
Concept
Chart performance
"Alone I Break" failed to gain as much airplay as the first two singles from Untouchables, barely cracking the top twenty of BillboardBillboard (magazine)
Billboard is a weekly American magazine devoted to the music industry, and is one of the oldest trade magazines in the world. It maintains several internationally recognized music charts that track the most popular songs and albums in various categories on a weekly basis...
s Mainstream Rock Songs chart in December 2002.
Charts
| Chart (2002) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| US Alternative Songs (Billboard Billboard (magazine) Billboard is a weekly American magazine devoted to the music industry, and is one of the oldest trade magazines in the world. It maintains several internationally recognized music charts that track the most popular songs and albums in various categories on a weekly basis... ) |
34 |
| US Mainstream Rock Songs (Billboard Billboard (magazine) Billboard is a weekly American magazine devoted to the music industry, and is one of the oldest trade magazines in the world. It maintains several internationally recognized music charts that track the most popular songs and albums in various categories on a weekly basis... ) |
19 |
Live performance
The song was played during a few shows on the Pop Sux! TourUntouchables Tour
-The Tour with No Name :05.29.02 - El Rey Theatre, Los Angeles, CA 06.08.02 - KROQ's Dysfunctional Family Picnic, Wantagh, NY 06.10.02 - Hammerstein Ballroom, New York, NY 06.20.02 - First Union Arena, Wilkes Barre, PA...
supporting the release of Untouchables in 2002, but was quickly scrapped due to difficulties in performing it live. However, Jonathan Davis did perform the song on his Alone I Play Tour
Alone I Play
Alone I Play is a special limited run DVD/CD combo set by Korn vocalist Jonathan Davis, released November 10, 2007 on Invisible Arts. The album was recorded and videotaped at Malibu's Woodshed Recorder on November 7, 2007, the day before Davis embarked on his first solo tour, the Alone I Play tour...
in 2007. Korn played "Alone I Break" live again for the first time in nine years in Bloomington, Illinois
Bloomington, Illinois
Bloomington is a city in McLean County, Illinois, United States and the county seat. It is adjacent to Normal, Illinois, and is the more populous of the two principal municipalities of the Bloomington-Normal metropolitan area...
during the first date of the Music as a Weapon V Tour, on January 14, 2011.
Music video
MTVMTV
MTV, formerly an initialism of Music Television, is an American network based in New York City that launched on August 1, 1981. The original purpose of the channel was to play music videos guided by on-air hosts known as VJs....
supported a contest and a special program
Television program
A television program , also called television show, is a segment of content which is intended to be broadcast on television. It may be a one-time production or part of a periodically recurring series...
entitled mtvTREATMENT in which the winner was chosen to direct the video for "Alone I Break." It was shot in the form of a reality TV show
Reality television
Reality television is a genre of television programming that presents purportedly unscripted dramatic or humorous situations, documents actual events, and usually features ordinary people instead of professional actors, sometimes in a contest or other situation where a prize is awarded...
where Jonathan Davis kills members of the band. The way of band member's death: Munky- electrocuted, Head- thrown off ledge, David- suffocated, Fieldy- poisoned. The video starts with the band performing in the downstairs foyer. Part way through the song, Jonathan turns towards Munky and acts aggressively towards him. This then leads to a short scuffle between the two, as Fieldy proceeds to break up the fight. Jonathan then storms out, and is seen throwing things around in his room, apparently enraged. Meanwhile, Munky takes a bath but soon falls asleep, as Jonathan finds a lamp nearby and pushes it into the tub, instantly electrocuting and killing Munky. Head is then seen looking around as the lights flicker on and off, implying that it this is happening while Munky is being killed. He then proceeds to the balcony as he speaks to someone on his cell phone, unaware that Jonathan is approaching. He pushes Head off the ledge, killing him. He then tosses his cell phone over as well. Later, David is sleeping with two women, as Jonathan creeps in with a pillow, suffocating him then quietly leaving. He moves downstairs where Fieldy is cooking Spaghetti Bolognaise in the kitchen. Jonathan takes out a bottle of rat poison from a cupboard and waits. Fieldy goes into the pantry to fetch some more ingredients, as Jonathan pours rat poison in the sauce. Fieldy serves himself, takes one bite, then dies. Jonathan, apparently pleased with himself, walks outside and proceeds toward the cameraman, as he falls to the floor. This implies that Jonathan killed him, too. All of this takes place throughout the night, implied by the band performing in the evening, Munky and Head dying at night, David being killed in the early hours of the morning, and Fieldy dying at the break of dawn. Jonathan also leaves and kills the cameraman in the morning.