Take Me (Korn song)
{{Use mdy dates|date=May 2017}}
{{Infobox song
| name = Take Me
| cover =
| alt =
| type = single
| artist = Korn
| album = The Serenity of Suffering
| released = {{Start date|2016|11|01}}
| recorded = 2016
| studio =
| venue =
| genre = Nu metal{{cite web|url=http://www.metalinjection.net/av/new-korn-song-take-me-is-a-bouncy-nu-metal-jam|title=New KORN Song, "Take Me" Is A Bouncy Nu-Metal Jam - Metal Injection|date=October 11, 2016|website=Metalinjection.net|access-date=May 18, 2017}}
| length = {{Duration|m=3|s=0}}
| label = Roadrunner
| writer = {{hlist|Jonathan Davis|James Shaffer|Brian Welch|Reginald Arvizu|Ray Luzier}}
| producer = {{hlist|Nick Raskulinecz}}
| prev_title = Insane
| prev_year = 2016
| next_title = Black Is the Soul
| next_year = 2017
}}
"Take Me" is a single by American nu metal band Korn, from their studio album, The Serenity of Suffering. It peaked at number 2 on the Billboard Mainstream Rock Songs chart in April 2017.
Background
The song was first released for streaming on October 11, 2016, two weeks ahead of the release of its respective album, The Serenity of Suffering.{{cite web|url=http://www.blabbermouth.net/news/new-song-premiere-korn-take-me/|title=New Song Premiere: KORN's 'Take Me'|date=October 11, 2016|website=Blabbermouth.net|access-date=May 18, 2017}} It was the second single released from the album, after "Rotting in Vain".{{cite web|url=http://www.guitarplayer.com/artist-videos/1436/korn-premiere-take-me-from-new-serenity-of-suffering-album/60164|title=Korn Premiere "Take Me" from New 'Serenity of Suffering' Album|website=Guitarplayer.com|access-date=May 18, 2017}} The song was originally written by Davis for his then in the works debut solo album, but after handing it to Munky and Head, the song was re-worked into a Korn song.{{Cite web|url=https://blabbermouth.herokuapp.com/news/korn-frontman-jonathan-davis-reveals-details-of-black-labyrinth-solo-album/|title=KORN Frontman JONATHAN DAVIS Reveals Details Of 'Black Labyrinth' Solo Album|date=March 19, 2018|website=Blabbermouth.net|access-date=January 3, 2022}}
Themes and composition
The song's lyrics are about addiction,{{cite web|url=https://blogs.wsj.com/speakeasy/2016/10/11/korn-take-me/|title=Listen to Korn's New Song About Addiction, 'Take Me' (Exclusive)|date=October 11, 2016|website=Blogs.wdj.com|access-date=May 18, 2017}} specifically substance abuse.{{cite web|url=http://loudwire.com/korn-substance-abuse-new-song-take-me/|title=Korn Tackle Substance Abuse in New Song 'Take Me'|website=Loudwire.com|access-date=May 18, 2017}} According to the song's writer, frontman Jonathan Davis, the song is actually written from the perspective of the drug itself, being inspired by Brad Paisley's personification of alcohol in his 2005 single "Alcohol", and other older country music songs that touched on the subject.{{cite web|url=http://radio.com/2016/10/12/korn-tackle-addiction-take-me/|title=Korn Tackle Addiction on New Single 'Take Me'|website=Radio.com|access-date=May 18, 2017}} Loudwire interpreted the song's sound and structure to represent the effects of drugs and alcohol as well, stating that the melodic, soaring chorus represented the initial substance intoxication, while the jarring guitar riffing in the bridge represented the later jarring comedown. The song has been described as metal music, specifically nu metal.{{cite web|url=https://www.axs.com/watch-korn-s-hard-hitting-video-for-take-me-109062|title=Watch Korn's hard-hitting video for 'Take Me'|website=Axs.com|access-date=May 18, 2017}}
The song is about Davis working through his own past issues with substance abuse and addiction,{{cite web|url=http://www.altpress.com/news/entry/korn_unveil_personal_new_single_about_addiction_take_melisten|title=Korn unveil personal new single about addiction, "Take Me"—listen - News - Alternative Press|website=Alternative Press|access-date=May 18, 2017}} something the band's music video also touched on.{{cite web|url=http://teamrock.com/news/2016-11-01/watch-the-making-of-korns-take-me-video|title=Watch the making of Korn's Take Me video|date=November 1, 2016|website=Teamrock.com|access-date=May 18, 2017}} The video involves Davis, secluded in the lab, going through addiction and withdrawal issues while the band watches, but is unable to interact with him. The video, released on October 26, 2016,{{cite web|url=http://teamrock.com/news/2016-10-26/watch-korn-s-take-me-video|title=Watch Korn's Take Me video|date=October 26, 2016|website=Teamrock.com|access-date=May 18, 2017}} was directed by Andrew Baird, who described the music video as:
{{blockquote|It's like trying to visualise a feeling and a mood of going through the final stages of addiction, detox and surrender. It's very symbolic and open to interpretation. It's Jonathan's experiences with the substance and we flick back and forth between how the substance abuse and addiction affects the person."}} The music video was described as looking as if it were something from a grunge band in the 1990s.{{cite web|url=http://bloody-disgusting.com/music/3412309/korns-new-video-take-feels-like-pulled-90s/|title=Korn's New Video for "Take Me" Feels Like it Was Pulled From the 90's - Bloody Disgusting!|website=Bloody-disgusting.com|date=October 26, 2016 |access-date=May 18, 2017}}
Reception
Metal Injection called the song the best of the singles from The Serenity of Suffering, stating that "The riffs are oh-so nu-metal, but there's almost no way you can avoid at least bobbing your head to them. The chorus isn't half bad, but I think the real star of the track are the guitars this time around. Who knew we'd be saying that about Korn in 2016."
Personnel
- Jonathan Davis – lead vocals
- James "Munky" Shaffer – guitars
- Brian "Head" Welch – guitars
- Reginald "Fieldy" Arvizu – bass
- Ray Luzier – drums
Charts
| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center" |
| scope="col"| Chart (2017)
! scope="col"| Peak |
|---|
| scope="row"| Czech Republic Rock (IFPI){{cite web|url=http://hitparada.ifpicr.cz/index.php?hitp=R|title=CZ - Radio - Top 20 Modern Rock|website=hitparada.ifpicr.cz|access-date=December 14, 2022|format=select "Top 20 Modern Rock" into the search box, then select "201709"}}{{Dead link|date=February 2025}}
| style="text-align:center"| 5 |
| {{single chart|Billboardrocksongs|42|artist=Korn|rowheader=true|access-date=December 2, 2018}} |
| {{single chart|Billboardrockairplay|18|artist=Korn|rowheader=true|access-date=December 2, 2018}} |