Why Korn music focuses on pain, personal alienation

Curtain-raisers:

• Last Saturday’s Funfare on local movies’ classic lines drew varied reactions from readers, some of whom sent their own contribution, including

• From Berna Romulo-Puyat: John Lloyd Cruz (as Popoy) to Bea Alonzo (as Basha) in Star Cinema’s One More Chance: “She had me at my worst. You had me at my best. Pero binalewala mo ang lahat, and you chose to break my heart.”

• From STAR contributor Jonathan Chua: Lea Salonga to Aga Muhlach in Sana Maulit Muli: “Hindi ako perfect.”

• From Funfare’s “other beauty expert” Celso de Guzman Caparas: Nora Aunor to Raul Aragon and Lolita Rodriguez in Lino Brocka’s Ina Ka ng Anak Mo: Hayop, hayup, hayuuup!” Said Celso, “During a despedida before she left L.A. for Manila, Nora jokingly repeated that line to Raul who was among the guests.”…Angel Locsin (as Cedes) to Aga Muhlach (as Eman) in In The Name of Love: “Pinili kong mamatay para mabuhay ka.”…Nora Aunor to Eddie Garcia in Viva Films’ Tinik sa Dibdib: “Oo nga pala, Itay. Marami kang naibigay sa akin, mga tinik sa dibdib.”

• At long last, I have my own Twitter which was opened over the weekend. Follow me at www.twitter.com/therealrickylo. I’m thankful that, although with initial reluctance, I was convinced to create my own Twitter so that no poser can use my name in vain, such as the Twitter rickylo_exclusives which is FAKE, FAKE, FAKE and whose evil-minded author seems to spend his waking hours thinking of what negative items to write about the stars. I’ve been putting out disclaimers but the poser couldn’t be stopped. Again, I repeat (for the nth time), rickylo_exclusives is not mine and everything that comes out in it is pure imbento, paninira. For legit showbiz news, you may follow me at www.twitter.com/therealrickylo. Thank you for your kind understanding.

• Election lawyer Romy Macalintal’s radio program on DWBR 104.3FM will have a replay from 9 to 10 o’clock tonight, with Noli “Kabayan” de Castro as reader of love poems.

* * *

Dalawang tulog na lang and fans will have their date with Korn on Wednesday night, Aug. 10, at the Araneta Coliseum.

Over the weekend, Funfare did an e-mail interview with Jonathan Davis (Korn vocals and bagpipes from 1993 to the present), arranged by Renen de Guia of Ovation Productions which is presenting the Big Dome concert with 2nd Avenue, Talk TV, Diva Universal, Basketball TV, Solar Sports, Jack TV, Universal Channel and Dodge, with The Philippine STAR among the supporters.

The three other members are James “Munky” Shaffer (1993 to the present), guitars, backing vocals; Reginald “Fieldy” Arvisu (1993 to the present); and Ray Luzier (2007 to the present), drums, percussions.

Here are excerpts:

Before Korn, other heavy metal bands were dominating the international music scene. Could you name some of the bands that had a primary influence in your music?

“I grew up listening to a lot of Nu Wave bands — Joy Division is one of my favorites.  We all listened to a combination of stuff — ranging from hip hop to heavy metal, nu wave, funk, and that helped form our sound.  Metallica was a huge influence, but so were Joy Division, Duran Duran and Faith No More; it came from many different places.”

What particular type of music has inspired your work before you ultimately settled for nu metal hip hop, rap, alternative metal?

“‘Nu-metal’ is a term that we got lumped in with, but I don’t think that’s accurate in describing our music. We grew up listening to many different styles, and wanted to bring them all together in a different way.”

To what do you attribute the appeal and popularity of nu metal among fans worldwide?

“I don’t think of us as that genre, but I think our music is relatable, and we’ve tried to make something different but also vulnerable and honest.”

Some critics observe that the lyrics of your songs focus more on pain and personal alienation rather than traditional heavy metal themes. Any special reason for this?

“I’ve always written what I’ve been dealing with and what came naturally to me — it might be because of my background growing up, being called a ‘freak’ by kids in Bakersfield why those themes are natural to me.”

What would you consider as your biggest achievement as a nu metal band? Your best selling album? Best selling single?

“Untouchables is my favorite Korn album. Our new stuff I’m really excited about too- we’ve been writing with Skrillex and some other dubstep DJ’s, which has come out to be some very interesting stuff. I can’t wait to release the new album. Follow The Leader was our best-selling album and Freak on a Leash was probably our biggest song.”

As a piece of trivia, not many people know how you came to be called “Korn”, could you tell us the story?

“We wanted to prove that it didn’t matter what your band was called; it was about the music.  So we picked something random, like Korn!”

This will be your first concert in the Philippines, what can concertgoers expect from your show?

“It’s going to be total chaos. We’re so excited to be coming over there, and it’s going to be an INSANE show!”

(Note: Tickets to Korn Live in Manila are priced at P4,500, P4,000, P3,500, P2,500, P1,500 and P500. Check out SM ticket outlets. Or call Ticketnet at 911-5555.)

(E-mail reactions at [email protected] or at [email protected]. You may also send your questions to [email protected]. For more updates, photos and videos visit http://www.philstar.com/funfare.)