Freak on a Leash#Composition

Following the release of Follow the Leader, Korn promoted the studio album by headlining the Family Values Tour in 1998. The tour ran from September 22 until October 31. "Freak on a Leash" was the first song played on their first tour date. The original composition had a "noisy guitar break in the middle," but, after the group found out that radio stations are not fond of "noisy guitar breaks," they voted 4–1 to remove the break, with Jonathan Davis being the lone holdout. The band described the break as "the Biohazard part.""Please Love Them: They're Korn", Billboard, November 1998. p. 86

Guitarist Brian "Head" Welch said that the song "was about Jonathan Davis being a freak on a leash—sort of a kinky dominatrix thing."{{cite book|last=Welch|first=Brian|title=Save Me from Myself: How I Found God, Quit Korn, Kicked Drugs, and Lived to Tell My Story|publisher=HarperOne|year=2007|isbn=978-0-06-125184-9|pages=101–142|author-link=Brian Welch}} Leah Furman said that the song "revolved around the mixed blessings of fame";{{Harvnb|Furman|2000|p=127}} Davis confirmed in a track-by-track breakdown that the song "rails out against the music industry. It's about how I feel like I'm a fuckin' prostitute".{{Cite web|url=http://www.msopr.com/press-releases/a-cut-by-cut-look-at-korns-follow-the-leader-with-jonathan/|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20160701221157/http://www.msopr.com/press-releases/a-cut-by-cut-look-at-korns-follow-the-leader-with-jonathan/|archivedate=2016-07-01|title=A Cut-By-Cut Look At Korn's 'Follow The Leader' With Jonathan|date=July 1, 2016|author1=Amanda Cagan|author2=Mitch Schneider|publisher=Mitch Schneider Organization}}

"Freak on a Leash" was written in 1997 and recorded in May 1998 at NRG Recording Studios in North Hollywood, California."All songs copyright 1997 except tracks 17, 20 and 24 copyright 1998" (Liner notes for Follow the Leader){{cite AV media notes |title=Follow the Leader |others=Korn |year=1998 |type=CD |publisher=Epic/Immortal }} Since its first release in the United Kingdom, it has been released over ten times. It was released in the United Kingdom three times,{{cite AV media notes |title="Freak On A Leash: UK Single #1 " |others=Korn |year=1998 |type=CD |publisher=Epic/Immortal }}{{cite AV media notes |title="Freak On A Leash: UK Single #2 " |others=Korn |year=1998 |type=CD |publisher=Epic/Immortal }}{{cite AV media notes |title="Freak On A Leash: UK Limited Edition Cd " |others=Korn |year=1998 |type=CD |publisher=Epic/Immortal }} twice in Mexico and Australia,{{cite AV media notes |title="Freak On A Leash: Mexican Radio Promo 1" |others=Korn |year=1998 |type=CD |publisher=Epic/Immortal }}{{cite AV media notes |title="Freak On A Leash: Mexican Radio Promo 2" |others=Korn |year=1998 |type=CD |publisher=Epic/Immortal }} once in Germany,{{cite AV media notes |title="Freak On A Leash: German Single #1" |others=Korn |year=1998 |type=CD |publisher=Epic/Immortal }} once in France,{{cite AV media notes |title="Freak On A Leash: French Single" |others=Korn |year=1998 |type=CD |publisher=Epic/Immortal }} once in the United States,{{cite AV media notes |title="Freak On A Leash: US Promo" |others=Korn |year=1998 |type=CD |publisher=Epic/Immortal }} and once in Switzerland.{{cite AV media notes |title="Freak On A Leash: Switzerland Single" |others=Korn |year=1998 |type=CD |publisher=Epic/Immortal }}

"Freak on a Leash" is four minutes and 15 seconds long.Erlewine, Stephen Thomas [{{AllMusic|class=album|id=r372697|pure_url=yes}} "allmusic ((( Follow the Leader > Review)))"]. Allmusic. Retrieved 2010-04-13 The song uses dissonance, distortion, and various effects to bring the song "to life."{{cite book |title = Guitar World Presents the 100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time |publisher = Hal Leonard |year = 2002 |isbn = 0-634-04619-5|page=137}} David Lloyd from the University of Alberta said that the song was an example of a "nonsense-utterance" technique used by lead vocalist Jonathan Davis. Lloyd also noted that the song contained "fragments of English-language words," and said that they "can be perceived in the midst of Davis' gibberish". Lloyd went on to say that "Davis is giving voice to his inner basic feelings which are trying to resist being shaped or conditioned by utterances of others."{{cite web |last1=Lloyd |first1=David |year=2000 |title=Mercury Models: Distortion of Language and Identity in New Heavy Metal |publisher=Sofia |pages=3–4 |url=http://tagg.org/xpdfs/lloydbulg00.pdf }}

It expresses moods such as anger, drama, and sarcasm.Stephen Thomas Erlewine [{{AllMusic|class=album|id=r401752|pure_url=yes}} "allmusic ((( Freak on a Leash [Australia] > Overview )))"]. Allmusic. Retrieved 2010-06-28

An acoustic rendition of the song was recorded with Jonathan Davis singing a duet with Amy Lee of Evanescence, at MTV studios in Times Square, New York City for Korn's acoustic set on December 9, 2006.{{cite web|url=http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1547908/20061213/korn.jhtml|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061216024056/http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1547908/20061213/korn.jhtml|url-status=dead|archive-date=December 16, 2006|title=Korn Quiet Down With The Cure, Amy Lee For 'MTV Unplugged'|date=2006-12-13|publisher=MTV News|last=Harris|first=Chris}}

File:Freakonaleashstill.jpg

A music video for "Freak on a Leash" was released on February 5, 1999, and debuted on Total Request Live. It was directed by Todd McFarlane who was assisted by Jonathan Dayton and Valerie Faris. The music video contains a mixture of animation and live performance footage.(1999-12-08) [https://web.archive.org/web/20010418084106/http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1430988/19981208/korn.jhtml "Korn To Mix Animation And Live Footage For New Video"]. MTV. Retrieved 2010-06-28 Although it was expected to be released in January 1999, it was pushed back to February 1999. The video starts with an animated segment directed by McFarlane, where the children (including a cameo appearance of Korn as some of the children) playing hopscotch on a cliff the artist drew for the Follow the Leader cover are interrupted by a policeman. An accidentally-fired bullet from the policeman's gun dodges a little girl wearing a long red dress and matching hair ribbon then breaks out of the animated world and into the real world while wreaking much property damage while narrowly avoiding hitting people. The bullet then enters a Korn poster exactly at the break in the middle of the song and flies around the band members before Jonathan Davis shouts "Go!", signaling the end of the break, to send the bullet back the way it came until it returns to the animated world. Once back in the animated world, the girl in red (also from the album cover) catches the bullet and gives it to the policeman. The policeman stares at his hands bewildered as the children all leave and the camera then focuses on the loose "No Trespassing" sign; which then leads up to the follow-up video for "Falling Away from Me" featured on the band's then next album Issues. The directory work was described as combining "special effects and clever camera moves in the live action portion of the video."(1999-02-04) [https://archive.today/20120527000203/http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1430983/19990204/korn.jhtml "Korn "Freak" Video To Debut On Friday"]. MTV. Retrieved 2010-06-28

The video won awards for Best Editing and Best Rock Video at the 1999 MTV Video Music Awards,Billboard. March 11, 2000. p. 7Billboard. Mar 11, 2000. p. 79Mancini, Robert (1999-09-09) [https://archive.today/20120527000201/http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1429180/19990909/fugees.jhtml?paid=1094 "Korn, Lauryn Hill Among Early VMA Winners"]. MTV. Retrieved 2010-06-28 and later received the Grammy Award for Best Short Form Music Video in 2000. It became the ninth video that was retired from Total Request Live on May 11, 1999.[http://atrl.net/trlarchive/?s=recap&y=1999&m=05 "ATRL - The TRL Archive - Recap: May 1999"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111003185807/http://atrl.net/trlarchive/?s=recap&y=1999&m=05 |date=2011-10-03 }}. ATRL. Retrieved 2010-08-12 The music video was also featured on Deuce.{{cite AV media notes |title=Deuce |title-link=Deuce (Korn DVD) |others=Korn |year=2002 |chapter=Track listing|type=DVD |publisher=Sony/Epic }}

As of December 26, 2024 the song has over 343 million views on YouTube.

David Lloyd said it was Korn's most popular song, and on July 8, 1999, the song was the ninth most-infringed song on the Internet.{{cite book |last = Tunnell |first = Kenneth |title = Pissing on demand: workplace drug testing and the rise of the detox industry |publisher = New York University Press |year = 2004 |isbn = 0-8147-8281-7|page=137}} iTunes said that "Wright and Thompson bring a brighter, sharper sheen to Korn's sound, which helped make huge hits out of 'Freak on a Leash'."[https://archive.today/20120108215415/http://itunes.apple.com/us/album/follow-the-leader/id275589260 "Follow the Leader by Korn - Download Follow the Leader on iTunes"]. iTunes. Retrieved 2010-06-15

Allmusic editor highlighted the song.{{Cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/follow-the-leader-mw0000596961|title=Follow the Leader - Korn | Songs, Reviews, Credits|website=AllMusic|access-date=Mar 22, 2020}} David Fricke described: "caged-animal babble (the Busta Rhymes-in-Bellevue outburst in "Freak on a Leash")..."{{Cite magazine|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-album-reviews/follow-the-leader-2-245926/|title=Follow The Leader|first1=David|last1=Fricke|magazine=Rolling Stone |date=Aug 12, 1998|access-date=Mar 22, 2020}} Yahoo Music! concluded that Davis delves into his own personal demons, in this song present.{{Cite web|url=http://music.yahoo.com/read/review/12040864|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20051129053141/http://music.yahoo.com/read/review/12040864|url-status=dead|archive-date=November 29, 2005|title=Korn Reviews on Yahoo! Music|date=Nov 29, 2005|access-date=Mar 22, 2020}}

It was rated the sixth-top single of 1999 by Spin.Spin January 2000 p. 80 It reached number six on the Billboard Modern Rock Tracks chart and number ten on the Mainstream Rock Tracks chart,{{Cite web|url=http://www.allmusic.com/artist/korn-mn0000112789/awards|title=Korn > Follow the Leader: Charts & Awards: Billboard Singles|access-date=2011-02-23|work=Allmusic|publisher=Rovi Corporation|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121030022906/http://www.allmusic.com/artist/korn-mn0000112789/awards|archive-date=2012-10-30}} and was successful on the Hot 100 charting number 89. It was also immensely popular in Australia where the single was certified Gold for shipments in excess of 35,000 units.{{cite web|url=http://www.aria.com.au/pages/aria-charts-accreditations-singles-1999.htm|title=Accreditations - 1999 Singles|publisher=ARIA|access-date=2006-09-10}} The song appeared on VH1's list of the "40 Greatest Metal Songs" at number twenty-three.{{cite web|url=http://www.vh1.com/shows/dyn/the_greatest/103446/episode_this_list.jhtml|title=40 Greatest Metal Songs|publisher=VH1|work=VH1.com|access-date=2006-09-10|archive-date=2013-06-15|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130615075735/http://www.vh1.com/shows/the_greatest/series.jhtml|url-status=dead}}

The music video debuted at number eight on MTV's Total Request Live on February 9, 1999,{{Cite web|url=http://www.atrl.net/trlarchive/?s=debuts|title=Debuts|access-date=2008-03-20|publisher=The TRL Archive|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070928011304/http://www.atrl.net/trlarchive/?s=debuts|archive-date=2007-09-28|url-status=dead}} and peaking at number 1 on its thirteenth day, February 25.{{Cite web|url=http://www.atrl.net/trlarchive/?s=recap&y=1999&m=02|title=Recap - February 1999|access-date=2008-03-20|publisher=The TRL Archive|archive-date=2008-04-05|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080405121957/http://www.atrl.net/trlarchive/?s=recap&y=1999&m=02|url-status=dead}} and spent ten non-consecutive days at the top position until its "retirement", on May 11, 1999.{{Cite web|url=http://www.atrl.net/trlarchive/?s=halloffame|title=Hall of Fame|access-date=2008-03-20|publisher=The TRL Archive|archive-date=2007-11-04|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071104002903/http://www.atrl.net/trlarchive/?s=halloffame|url-status=dead}}{{Cite web|url=http://www.atrl.net/trlarchive/?s=numberones|title=Number Ones|access-date=2008-03-20|publisher=The TRL Archive|archive-date=2012-10-19|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121019012232/http://atrl.net/trlarchive/?s=numberones|url-status=dead}} It won the Grammy Award for Best Short Form Music Video and the 1999 Metal Edge Readers' Choice Award for "Music Video of the Year".Metal Edge. July 2000 It was also nominated for nine 1999 MTV Video Music Awards, including Best Direction. It won two, Best Rock Video and Best Editing.Billboard. March 11, 2000. p. 7Billboard. March 11, 2000. p. 79

The song made VH1's "100 Greatest Songs of the 90s" list at number sixty-nine, and VH1's "100 Greatest Hard Rock Songs" at number forty-eight.{{cite web|title=spreadit.org music |url=http://music.spreadit.org/vh1-top-100-hard-rock-songs/ |access-date=February 7, 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100827204354/http://music.spreadit.org/vh1-top-100-hard-rock-songs/ |archive-date=August 27, 2010 }} In 2017, Spin ranked it as number one on their list of the 30 greatest nu metal songs of all time.{{Cite web|url=https://www.spin.com/2017/05/best-nu-metal-songs-ranked/|title=30 Best Nu-Metal Songs, Ranked|date=May 17, 2017|website=Spin|access-date=Mar 22, 2020}} In 2019, Loudwire ranked the song number one on their list of the 50 greatest Korn songs,{{cite web|url=https://loudwire.com/top-50-korn-songs-ranked/|title=The Top 50 Korn Songs, Ranked|website=Loudwire|date=September 13, 2019|accessdate=March 28, 2022}} and in 2021, Kerrang ranked the song number four on their list of the 20 greatest Korn songs.{{cite web|url=https://www.kerrang.com/the-20-greatest-korn-songs-ranked|title=The 20 greatest Korn songs – ranked|first=Sam|last=Law|website=Kerrang|date=April 20, 2021|accessdate=March 28, 2022}}

"Freak on a Leash" won six awards and was nominated seventeen times. The song won two MTV Music Awards, one Billboard Music Award, one Grammy Award, and one Metals' Edge Readers Choice Award.{{cite web | url=http://www.msopr.com/press-releases/korn-nothin-but-the-fakts/ | title=KORN: NOTHIN' BUT THE FAKTS | Mitch Schneider Organization | access-date=2022-10-22 | archive-date=2022-10-22 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221022235459/http://www.msopr.com/press-releases/korn-nothin-but-the-fakts/ | url-status=dead }} Mexican station 91X ranked it 7th on their "Top 91 of 1999" list.{{Cite web|url=https://www.91x.com/top-91/top-91-1999/|title=Top 91 of 1999|date=Jan 20, 1999|access-date=Feb 14, 2024}}

{{award table}}

!Ref.

|-

| rowspan=2|1999

| rowspan=2|"Freak on a Leash"

| Best Hard Rock Clip

| {{won}}

| rowspan=1|{{Cite web|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=gggEAAAAMBAJ&dq=1999+billboard+music+award&pg=PA5|title = Billboard|date = 27 November 1999}}

|-

| Best Modern Rock Clip

| {{nom}}

| {{Cite web|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=dQgEAAAAMBAJ&dq=1999+billboard+music+video+award&pg=PA3|title = Billboard|date = 16 October 1999}}

{{end}}

Beginning in 1978 and continuing until the magazine ceased publication in 1999, BAM magazine presented the Bay Area Music Awards, also known as the Bammies, in an annual awards ceremony honoring accomplishments of the Bay Area music community. The awards ceremony continued for a couple more years with its name changed to the California Music Awards and absent its prior focus on the music of the Bay Area.

{{awards table}}

|-

| 1999 || Freak on a Leash || Outstanding Single || {{nom}}

{{end}}

Award ceremony est. in the Netherlands

{{award table}}

|-

| 1999

| Korn/Freak on a Leash

| Best Alternative Act

| {{won}}

|-

{{end}}

The Grammy Awards are awarded annually by the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences. Freak on a Leash has received one award from two nominations.{{cite web|accessdate=July 20, 2008|url=http://www.rockonthenet.com/artists-k/korn.htm|title=Korn |publisher=Rock on the Net}}{{cite news|accessdate=July 20, 2008 |url=http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/chronicle/archive/2000/01/05/DD36893.DTL&type=music |title=The Nominees for the Grammy Awards |work=San Francisco Chronicle |url-status=dead |date=January 5, 2000 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20040929235628/http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=%2Fchronicle%2Farchive%2F2000%2F01%2F05%2FDD36893.DTL&type=music |archivedate=September 29, 2004 }}{{cite news|accessdate=July 20, 2008|url=https://www.usatoday.com/life/music/awards/grammys/2003-01-07-grammy-complete-list_x.htm|title=Complete list of Grammy Award winners |work=USA Today|date=February 24, 2003}}{{cite web |url=http://legacy.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=150243 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120710040419/http://legacy.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=150243 |url-status=dead |archive-date=July 10, 2012 |title=Blabbermouth.net - Iron Maiden, Slayer, Megadeth, Ozzy, Korn Among Grammy Awards Nominees |publisher=Legacy.roadrunnerrecords.com |accessdate=September 17, 2012 }}

{{awards table}}

|-

| rowspan="2"| {{grammy|2000}} || rowspan="2"| "Freak on a Leash" || Best Hard Rock Performance || {{nom}}

|-

| Best Short Form Music Video || {{won}}

|-

{{end}}

{{award table}}

!Ref.

|-

| rowspan=2|1999

| rowspan=2|"Freak on a Leash"

| Music Video of the Year

| {{won}}

| rowspan=1|{{Cite web|url=https://docs.google.com/document/d/1kg2LlhcgmPtQpaWeOQCMeG5npGmNM1JDe7PupNbdXY4/edit|title = Metals Edge|date = 27 November 1999}}

{{end}}

{{awards table}}

|-

| rowspan="9"| {{mtvvma|1999}} || rowspan="9"| "Freak on a Leash" || Best Rock Video || {{won}}

|-

| Breakthrough Video || {{nom}}

|-

| Best Direction || {{nom}}

|-

| Best Special Effects || {{nom}}

|-

| Best Art Direction || {{nom}}

|-

| Best Editing || {{won}}

|-

| Best Cinematography || {{nom}}

|-

| Viewer's Choice || {{nom}}

|-

| Video of the Year || {{nom}}

|-

{{end}}

The MuchMusic Video Awards is an annual awards ceremony presented by the Canadian music video channel MuchMusic. Freak on a Leash has one nomination.{{cite web |url=http://www.msopr.com/press-releases/korn-nothin-but-the-fakts/ |title=KORN: NOTHIN' BUT THE FAKTS |date=December 23, 1999 |access-date=October 22, 2022 |archive-date=October 22, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221022235459/http://www.msopr.com/press-releases/korn-nothin-but-the-fakts/ |url-status=dead }}

{{awards table}}

|-

| 1999 || "Freak on a Leash" || Best International Video || {{nom}}

|-

{{end}}

https://www.mygnrforum.com/topic/219668-gnr-in-spin-magazines-readers-polls-1989-1991-1993-1994/#google_vignette

{{awards table}}

|-

| 1999 || "Freak on a Leash" || Best Video || {{won}}

{{end}}

In early February 1999, "Freak on a Leash" was used in a Puma television advertisement that debuted during the Super Bowl pre-game show, featuring Korn's live performance interspersed with Serena Williams and Vince Carter competing in their respective sports.{{cite news|author=|title=Korn's 'Freak' In Puma Ad|url=http://www.mtv.com/news/511834/korns-freak-in-puma-ad/|url-status=dead|work=MTV News|date=February 1, 1999|archive-url=https://archive.today/20210318205714/http://www.mtv.com/news/511834/korns-freak-in-puma-ad/|archive-date=March 18, 2021|access-date=March 18, 2021}}{{cite magazine|last=High|first=Kamau|date=January 30, 2009|title=Super Bowl Ads: Ten Top Spots That Connected Brands With Bands|url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/business/1275285/super-bowl-ads-ten-top-spots-that-connected-brands-with-bands|magazine=Billboard|access-date=March 18, 2021|url-access=subscription}}

The song was briefly played in a 2007 episode of The Simpsons titled "Stop! Or My Dog Will Shoot", while the family pet Santa's Little Helper is looking for Homer Simpson in a corn maze.

In 2008, the song has been featured in the video game Guitar Hero World Tour.Fahey, Mike (2008-09-12) [http://kotaku.com/5049054/the-complete-guitar-hero-world-tour-set-list "The Complete Guitar Hero World Tour Set List"]. Kotaku. Retrieved 2010-04-20(2008-10-02) [http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=106092 " 'Guitar Hero World Tour' Trailer Featuring Zakk Wylde Available"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081205170853/http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=106092 |date=2008-12-05 }}. Blabbermouth.net. Retrieved 2010-06-30

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;European single #1

;US single #1

;UK single #1

;Swedish single #1

;Australian single #1

;European single #2

{{col-2}}

;Mexican single

;US single #2

;UK single #2

;UK single #3

;UK single #4

;Australian single #2

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{{Certification Table Top}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Australia|type=single|award=Gold|relyear=1999|certyear=1999|access-date=July 9, 2022}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Japan|type=single|award=Gold|relyear=1999|certyear=2000|access-date=January 9, 2023}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=New Zealand|award=Platinum|number=2| artist=Korn|title=Freak on a Leash|relyear=1999|certyear=2025|type=single|source=radioscope|refname="RMNZ"|access-date=December 29, 2024}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=United Kingdom|type=single|artist=Korn|title=Freak on a Leash|award=Gold|relyear=2004|certyear=2023|access-date=June 30, 2023|id=15550-241-1}}

{{Certification Table Bottom|nosales=true|streaming=true}}

{{Reflist|35em}}

• {{cite book|title=Korn: Life in the Pit|last=Furman|first=Leah|date=May 5, 2000|publisher=St. Martin's Griffin|isbn=0-312-25396-6|url=https://archive.org/details/korn00leah|url-access=registration}}

{{Korn}}

{{Amy Lee}}

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{{Grammy Award for Best Music Video}}

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