"Killpop" is the fifth track on .5: The Gray Chapter, as well as the album's fourth promotional and fourth standard single.
Background[]
- "Metaphorically speaking, the lyrics are about not only the band itself but the music industry as a whole, because it has been quite a while since we've been here, and things have changed dramatically – not only since All Hope Is Gone, but since we lost Paul. It’s basically trying to deal with this love-hate situation that we have, with not only the business side of it, but just the way that the game is played. We're great students of the game, but at the same time it's like there are so many people who want to take advantage of the fact that people pour their hearts into this industry, and their love and creativity into the music, and they try to take advantage of that. This is us trying to make peace with the evils that can come with that. The vultures are definitely circling the meat half the time."
- —Corey Taylor[1]
Originally releasing as a promotional single in October 2014, the track received a retail single release in April 2015.
When interviewed about the song, lead vocalist of Slipknot Corey Taylor stated:
- "You know, what's funny is over the last few weeks, I've gotten everyone's interpretation of what that song means to them, and it's nowhere near what I wrote about. So it's kind of interesting to hear people's interpretations of what I'm singing about. And I'll be honest with you: the song is my reflection on my relationship with music. That's who the 'she' is. And not just music, but the music industry in general. So there's a love-hate relationship there that kind of comes into view. There's the adage, 'Be careful what you wish for,' and, 'Be careful doing what you love, because sometimes it will turn on you.' And, you know, anytime you mix something that you love and business, you're gonna find the rusty cracks in there that piss you off. So that song is about how much I still love making music, but also how much I just hate the business side, the numbers side, the people in the suits who try to run stuff and having to deal with them and having to learn how to talk to them. And, you know, it's frustrating sometimes, but it is what it is. And luckily, we got a great song out of it, and we were able to paint something really cool with it and just be able to put it out there for people to dig."
- —Corey Taylor[2]
Lyrics[]
[Verse 1]
She's sticking needles in her skin, I turn with an ugly grin
Her canvas doesn't leave a lot to fantasy
But her peace of mind can't stay inside the lines
It's so confusing, the methods that she's using
She knows she shouldn't leave a mark that I can see
Will she ever find one million of a kind?
It's cold and lonely, but that's because she told me
Lost inside her dirty world, no one hurts this pretty girl but her
[Pre-Chorus 1]
Oh, she's beautiful, a little better than a man deserves
Oh, I'm not insane, please tell me she won't change
[Chorus]
Maybe I should let her go
But only when she loves me (She loves me)
How can I just let her go?
Not until she loves me (She loves me), oh
[Verse 2]
She's drowning in herself again, my God, what a lovely sin
I guess there's nothing left to do but have my way
She can feel it's right, so she doesn't close her eyes
She smiles and answers, it doesn't seem to matter
Lost inside my dirty head, something tells me I'm the one who's kept
[Pre-Chorus 2]
Oh, so volatile, a little better than a man defiled
Ooh, I need the pain, please tell me she won't change
[Chorus]
Maybe I should let her go
But only when she loves me (She loves me)
How can I just let her go?
Not until she loves me (She loves me), oh
[Outro]
We were meant to be together
Now, die and fucking love me
We were meant to hurt each other
Now, die and fucking love me
Die and fucking love me
Die and fucking love me
Die and fucking love me
Trivia[]
- Loudwire stated that Killpop is arguably the poppiest song on the album.[3]
External Links[]
To be added
Release History[]
| Region | Date | Format(s) | Edition | Label(s) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
[]
| .5: The Gray Chapter ― October 21st, 2014 • Roadrunner Records | |
|---|---|
| Standard | 1 XIX • 2 Sarcastrophe • 3 AOV • 4 The Devil In I • 5 Killpop • 6 Skeptic • 7 Lech • 8 Goodbye • 9 Nomadic • 10 The One That Kills the Least • 11 Custer • 12 Be Prepared for Hell • 13 The Negative One • 14 If Rain Is What You Want |
| Special | 15 Override • 16 The Burden • 17 -Silent- • 18 Huffys Between Dumpsters • 19 Flea Circus |
| Singles | |
|---|---|
| Spit It Out • Wait and Bleed • Left Behind • My Plague • Duality • Vermilion • Before I Forget • The Nameless • All Hope Is Gone • Psychosocial • Dead Memories • Sulfur • Snuff • The Negative One • The Devil In I • Custer • Killpop • Goodbye • All Out Life • Unsainted • Solway Firth • Birth of the Cruel • Nero Forte • The Chapeltown Rag • The Dying Song (Time to Sing) • Yen • Bone Church | |
| Promotional Singles | |
| Surfacing • Heretic Song • Pulse of the Maggots • Vermilion Pt. 2 • The Blister Exists • XIX • Sarcastrophe • AOV • Killpop • Skeptic | |
| Live Singles | |
| The Nameless (9.0: Live) • Surfacing (Day of the Gusano) • Before I Forget (Day of the Gusano) • Psychosocial (Day of the Gusano) | |
References[]
- ↑ @NegativeDevil (October 17th, 2014).
Track-By-Track Descriptions of Corey In Kerrang Magazine. Reddit. Retrieved April 23rd, 2022.
- ↑ (April 27th, 2015). Slipknot's Corey Taylor Says 'Killpop' Single Deals with His Love-Hate Relationship with Music Industry. Blabbermouth. Retrieved February 18th, 2022.
- ↑ Hartmann, Graham (October 16th, 2014). Slipknot Keep the New Music Coming with 'Killpop'. Loudwire. Retrieved February 18th, 2022.
