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"Evolution"
Single by Korn
from the album Untitled album
ReleasedJune 12, 2007 (2007-06-12)
GenreNu metal, industrial rock
Length3:38
Label
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)
Korn singles chronology
"Freak on a Leash (MTV Unplugged version)"
(2007) 		"Evolution"
(2007) 		"Hold On"
(2007)
Alternative Cover
Single cover

"Evolution" is a song by American nu metal band Korn. The song was the first single to be released from the band's untitled album on June 12, 2007. It is one of the four tracks in which Brooks Wackerman of Bad Religion performed drumming duties.[1]

Promotion

Music video

"Evolution", directed by Dave Meyers, was filmed on June 15, 2007 in Los Angeles. The music video features Slipknot drummer Joey Jordison, although the actual drum tracks were recorded by Brooks Wackerman. According to the casting call sheet, "Evolution" is "filled with political satire and humor." The production team sought mostly male actors to fill roles such as "hero scientists", religious politicians, doctors, green peace guys, anthropologists, military men, and "government types". Casting interviews were held June 12 and 13, 2007.

Viral marketing

The domain www.evolutiondevolution.com was set up in promotion of the song. The website is a spoof to promote the "Evolution" music video. It is themed as a documentary publication website and features Korn acting as "experts" who studied evolution in support of a fake documentary titled Devolution: Nature's U-Turn. Vocalist Jonathan Davis explained that the band wanted to try a different kind of promotion, and so created the website and several viral promotion trailers.

Theme controversy

In response to the fake trailer for Devolution: Nature's U-Turn, Devo member Gerald Casale wrote on www.clubdevo.com: "We denounce this as imposters [sic] playing with fire." According to Casale, fans of Korn thereafter sent him hate mail. Casale then explained that he would have appreciated if Korn had recognized Devo as pioneers of the concept.[2] Korn vocalist Jonathan Davis responded, "Korn never claimed to be the first to expose De-Evolution, our hats are off to Devo for that."[3]

Song debut

"Evolution" debuted on May 16, 2007 via Los Angeles radio station KROQ and the Korn Myspace page. During the song's debut, bassist Reginald Arvizu and guitarist James Shaffer were present in the radio station's studio. The song premiered live on May 20, 2007 at the KROQ-FM Weenie Roast y Fiesta in Irvine, California.[4]

Track listing

UK CD single
  1. "Evolution" – 3:39
  2. "Evolution (Dave Audé Remix)" – 3:41
Digital download
  1. "Evolution (Explicit/Clean)" – 3:38
UK 7" vinyl
  1. "Evolution" – 3:37
  2. "I Will Protect You" – 5:29
US promo maxi-single
  1. "Evolution (Harry Choo Choo's Evolution Remix)" – 8:53
  2. "Evolution (Dave Aude Remix)" – 7:42
  3. "Evolution (Dave Aude Club Dub)" – 7:25
  4. "Evolution (Dave Aude Radio)" – 3:42
  5. "Evolution (David Garcia + Margan Page Remix)" – 6:39
  6. "Evolution (David Garcia + Margan Page Dub)" – 6:36
EU CD radio promo
  1. "Evolution (Reverse Clean)"  – 3:37
  2. "Evolution (Super Clean)"  – 3:38
  3. "Evolution" – 3:39
UK promo CD
  1. "Evolution" (Radio Edit)

Chart performance

"Evolution" became Korn's fourth single to reach the top five on Billboard's Mainstream Rock Songs chart. It also peaked in the top twenty on Alternative Songs chart.

Charts

Chart (2007) Peak
position
Canada Rock (Billboard)[5] 47
Czech Republic Rock (IFPI)[6] 12
Finland (Suomen virallinen lista)[7] 12
Latvian Airplay (LAIPA)[8] 29
Scotland (OCC)[9] 28
UK Singles (The Official Charts Company)[10] 114
UK Rock & Metal (OCC)[11] 2
US Dance/Club Play Songs (Billboard)[12] 18
US Alternative Songs (Billboard)[13] 20
US Bubbling Under Hot 100 (Billboard)[12] 7

See also

References

  1. ^ KoЯn (insert). Korn. EMI/Virgin. 2007.((cite AV media notes)): CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  2. ^ Greene, Andy (2007-07-25). "Devo Smack Down Korn, Talk First New Album In Nearly Two Decades". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on September 5, 2007. Retrieved 2009-09-19.
  3. ^ Goodman, Elizabeth (2007-07-30). ""Our Hats Are Off to Devo": Korn's Jonathan Davis Responds to De-Evolution Dust-up". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on October 27, 2007. Retrieved 2009-09-19.
  4. ^ Elias, Matt (2007-05-20). "Linkin Park, Korn Deliver Tomorrow's Hits Today At Weenie Roast Concert Plus: Two-fifths of Incubus team up with a cappella group they found on YouTube". MTV.com. Retrieved 2009-09-19.
  5. ^ "Korn Chart History (Canada Rock)". Billboard. Retrieved July 29, 2023.
  6. ^ "CZ - Radio - Top 20 Modern Rock" (select "Top 20 Modern Rock" into the search box, then select "200732"). hitparada.ifpicr.cz. Retrieved December 14, 2022.
  7. ^ Nyman, Jake (2005). Suomi soi 4: Suuri suomalainen listakirja (in Finnish) (1st ed.). Helsinki: Tammi. ISBN 951-31-2503-3.
  8. ^ "Latavian Airplay Top 50" (in Latvian). LAIPA. Archived from the original on January 14, 2013. Retrieved November 20, 2022.((cite web)): CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
  9. ^ "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved July 29, 2023.
  10. ^ Zywietz, Tobias. "Chart Log UK: Alex K - Kyuss". Zobbel. Retrieved 2010-11-06.
  11. ^ "Official Rock & Metal Singles Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved July 29, 2023.
  12. ^ a b "Korn > Untitled > Charts & Awards > Billboard Singles". Allmusic. Rovi Corporation. Retrieved 2010-11-06.
  13. ^ "Evolution - Korn". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved 2010-11-06.
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