Papercut (song)
Encyclopedia
"Papercut" is a song by the American rock
band Linkin Park
. It was released as the third single from their debut album Hybrid Theory
, and appears as the opening track on the record. The "Papercut" single was never officially released in the US. The song reached number 14 in the UK Singles Chart
in 2001 and was in the chart for 6 weeks. It also reached number 32 on the Modern Rock Tracks Chart in 2002.
has stated that "Papercut" is one of his favorite Linkin Park songs. In live performances, the line "something in here's not right today" is changed to "something inside's not right today". Also, Chester screams parts of the verses during live performances. It was also included in the soundtrack of 2001 film The One.
On Linkin Park's remix
album Reanimation
(2002), there is a remix of this song, titled "Ppr:Kut", which was remixed by Cheapshot
. Elements from the song were used in the song "Sold My Soul to Yo Mama", which appears on the Linkin Park Underground 4.0 and Songs from the Underground. Furthermore, the mashup
EP
Collision Course
(2004) contains a mix of this song and Jay-Z
's "Big Pimpin'
", in 2005, the song was mashed-up with David Banner
's "Like a Pimp (Remix)" for the mixtape hosted by Mike Shinoda
(the band's rapper and lead vocalist), Rock Phenomenon
, creating the song David Banner vs. Linkin Park.
On the band's previous single, "Crawling
", a live performance on the song was included as the single's b-side.
demo tape. This was painted by Mike Shinoda the night before the video was shot. To their right of their room is a dark kitchen that sports a bound and writhing figure (likely the paranoid individual referenced in the song); to the left of their room is what appears to be a laboratory with a strange creature inside. It moves extremely fast and in an erratic manner.
Later in the song, the creature releases dragonflies (probably referring to the wings of a Hybrid Theory Soldier
), while the baby picture and regions of the left wall bulge. Drummer Rob Bourdon's eyes appear melted as well (using special effects). Also, there is a statue of a bird which spins its head all the way around, and at one point, Mike's fingers stretch. There are parts of the song during which Mike is out of sync with the music, and at one point not even moving his mouth while he is speaking (whether or not this is intentional is unknown). In the video, the first member of the band to take notice of the strange goings-on is Rob (probably because he's the only one not playing an instrument), although bassist Dave "Phoenix" Farrell and Chester Bennington also start to notice the dragonflies and the bulgings on the wall towards the end of the video.
The lyrics of the song appear scribbled along the walls in the dark rooms. Even though the song features heavy distorted electric guitars, both the guitarist Brad Delson
and Phoenix play acoustic guitars in the video. The effects and imagery of the music video, brings to the audience a sense of irritation and certain paranoia, which is what the song is about. At some point in the middle of the video, around 2:03, a strange blue figure runs past the band. Also note that at the end after the screen flashes black once, the band is gone, but their instruments are left where the band members were.
The music video was co-directed by Nathan "Karma" Cox and LP's turntablist Joseph Hahn (who also directed the videos for "Pts.OF.Athrty" and "In the End
"). It was not released for the US.
During the commentary on the DVD Frat Party at the Pankake Festival
, one of the directors states that some inspiration for the video was taken from the film "Jacob's Ladder
", especially with the twitching blue man in one of the rooms of the house.
Rock music
Rock music is a genre of popular music that developed during and after the 1960s, particularly in the United Kingdom and the United States. It has its roots in 1940s and 1950s rock and roll, itself heavily influenced by rhythm and blues and country music...
band Linkin Park
Linkin Park
Linkin Park is an American rock band from Agoura Hills, California. Formed in 1996, the band rose to international fame with their debut album, Hybrid Theory, which was certified Diamond by the RIAA in 2005 and multi-platinum in several other countries...
. It was released as the third single from their debut album Hybrid Theory
Hybrid Theory
Hybrid Theory is the debut album by American rock band Linkin Park, released on October 24, 2000 through Warner Bros. Records. The album was a huge commercial success, having sold over 10 million units in the United States alone as of 2010 and peaking at number two on the Billboard 200 while also...
, and appears as the opening track on the record. The "Papercut" single was never officially released in the US. The song reached number 14 in the UK Singles Chart
UK Singles Chart
The UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ...
in 2001 and was in the chart for 6 weeks. It also reached number 32 on the Modern Rock Tracks Chart in 2002.
Overview
Lead singer Chester BenningtonChester Bennington
Chester Charles Bennington is an American musician, singer-songwriter and actor. He is best known as the lead vocalist and songwriter of the rock band Linkin Park....
has stated that "Papercut" is one of his favorite Linkin Park songs. In live performances, the line "something in here's not right today" is changed to "something inside's not right today". Also, Chester screams parts of the verses during live performances. It was also included in the soundtrack of 2001 film The One.
On Linkin Park's remix
Remix
A remix is an alternative version of a recorded song, made from an original version. This term is also used for any alterations of media other than song ....
album Reanimation
Reanimation
Reanimation helped the many underground hip-hop artists that it featured reach a larger audience, as well as changing the nature of the work so significantly that it could be considered an entirely new album...
(2002), there is a remix of this song, titled "Ppr:Kut", which was remixed by Cheapshot
DJ Cheapshot
DJ Cheapshot is the DJ of the hip hop ensemble Styles of Beyond, Get Busy Committee, and Fort Minor. He is also associated with the Demigodz and the Get Busy Committee, as well as being the founder of SpyTech Records, which is located in Reseda, California, and the Cheapshot's bar, which is...
. Elements from the song were used in the song "Sold My Soul to Yo Mama", which appears on the Linkin Park Underground 4.0 and Songs from the Underground. Furthermore, the mashup
Mashup (music)
A mashup or bootleg is a song or composition created by blending two or more pre-recorded songs, usually by overlaying the vocal track of one song seamlessly over the instrumental track of another...
EP
Extended play
An EP is a musical recording which contains more music than a single, but is too short to qualify as a full album or LP. The term EP originally referred only to specific types of vinyl records other than 78 rpm standard play records and LP records, but it is now applied to mid-length Compact...
Collision Course
Collision Course (album)
Critics were divided over Collision Course, with some praising the album, while others negatively received it.David Jeffries of allmusic praised the album, calling it "awesomely fun". K.B...
(2004) contains a mix of this song and Jay-Z
Jay-Z
Shawn Corey Carter , better known by his stage name Jay-Z, is an American rapper, record producer, entrepreneur, and occasional actor. He is one of the most financially successful hip hop artists and entrepreneurs in America, having a net worth of over $450 million as of 2010...
's "Big Pimpin'
Big Pimpin'
"Big Pimpin" is the last single from rapper Jay-Z's fourth album Vol. 3... Life and Times of S. Carter. It features rapping by Southern hip hop group UGK as well as production by Timbaland....
", in 2005, the song was mashed-up with David Banner
David Banner
Lavell Crump , better known by his stage name David Banner, is an American rapper, record producer and occasional actor. Banner was born in Jackson, Mississippi and graduated from Southern University. He started his music career as a member of the rap duo, Crooked Lettaz before going solo in 2000...
's "Like a Pimp (Remix)" for the mixtape hosted by Mike Shinoda
Mike Shinoda
Michael "Mike" Kenji Shinoda is an American musician, record producer, and artist. He is best known as the rapper, principal songwriter, keyboardist, vocalist and rhythm guitarist of the rock band Linkin Park, along with his co-frontman and lead singer Chester Bennington, and as a solo rapper in...
(the band's rapper and lead vocalist), Rock Phenomenon
Rock Phenomenon
Rock Phenomenon is a mashup album released by Roc Raida and DJ Vlad, with Linkin Park's Mike Shinoda hosting the album. It was originally released on March 27, 2006 as a mixtape, but due to much critical praise, received an official release on July 10, 2007...
, creating the song David Banner vs. Linkin Park.
On the band's previous single, "Crawling
Crawling (song)
"Crawling" is a song by the American rock band Linkin Park. It is the fifth track from their debut album Hybrid Theory. It was released in 2001 as their second single and won a Grammy for Best Hard Rock Performance in 2002...
", a live performance on the song was included as the single's b-side.
Music video
The music video shows the band in a seemingly haunted house. They are playing the song in a room with little light with a rather spooky picture sampled from the cover artwork of the XeroXero (band)
Xero was a Brisbane, Australia punk rock and new wave band from the early 1980s.The initial lineup was Irena Luckus, Barbara Hart, Chris Anderson, Debbie Penny, Peter Adams and John Hunt, Deborah Thomas, Vic Allen and Lindy Morrison, soon joined by John Willsteed. Lindy Morrison was later replaced...
demo tape. This was painted by Mike Shinoda the night before the video was shot. To their right of their room is a dark kitchen that sports a bound and writhing figure (likely the paranoid individual referenced in the song); to the left of their room is what appears to be a laboratory with a strange creature inside. It moves extremely fast and in an erratic manner.
Later in the song, the creature releases dragonflies (probably referring to the wings of a Hybrid Theory Soldier
Hybrid Theory
Hybrid Theory is the debut album by American rock band Linkin Park, released on October 24, 2000 through Warner Bros. Records. The album was a huge commercial success, having sold over 10 million units in the United States alone as of 2010 and peaking at number two on the Billboard 200 while also...
), while the baby picture and regions of the left wall bulge. Drummer Rob Bourdon's eyes appear melted as well (using special effects). Also, there is a statue of a bird which spins its head all the way around, and at one point, Mike's fingers stretch. There are parts of the song during which Mike is out of sync with the music, and at one point not even moving his mouth while he is speaking (whether or not this is intentional is unknown). In the video, the first member of the band to take notice of the strange goings-on is Rob (probably because he's the only one not playing an instrument), although bassist Dave "Phoenix" Farrell and Chester Bennington also start to notice the dragonflies and the bulgings on the wall towards the end of the video.
The lyrics of the song appear scribbled along the walls in the dark rooms. Even though the song features heavy distorted electric guitars, both the guitarist Brad Delson
Brad Delson
Bradford Phillip "Brad" Delson is an American guitarist, best known as the lead guitarist and one of the founding members of the Grammy Award winning rock band Linkin Park. He is also the A&R Representative for Machine Shop Recordings....
and Phoenix play acoustic guitars in the video. The effects and imagery of the music video, brings to the audience a sense of irritation and certain paranoia, which is what the song is about. At some point in the middle of the video, around 2:03, a strange blue figure runs past the band. Also note that at the end after the screen flashes black once, the band is gone, but their instruments are left where the band members were.
The music video was co-directed by Nathan "Karma" Cox and LP's turntablist Joseph Hahn (who also directed the videos for "Pts.OF.Athrty" and "In the End
In the End
"In the End" is a song by American rock band Linkin Park. The song was released as the fourth single from their debut album Hybrid Theory....
"). It was not released for the US.
During the commentary on the DVD Frat Party at the Pankake Festival
Frat Party at the Pankake Festival
Linkin Park released their first DVD, Frat Party at the Pankake Festival, on November 20, 2001, more than one year after the release of their highly commercially successful debut album, Hybrid Theory. The release documented the band on its touring cycle to support Hybrid Theory...
, one of the directors states that some inspiration for the video was taken from the film "Jacob's Ladder
Jacob's Ladder (film)
Jacob's Ladder is a 1990 American psychological thriller/horror film directed by Adrian Lyne, based on a screenplay by Bruce Joel Rubin.-Plot:Jacob Singer is a U.S. soldier deployed in the Mekong Delta during the Vietnam War...
", especially with the twitching blue man in one of the rooms of the house.
Track listing
External links
- "Papercut" lyrics at linkinpark.com