Falling Away from Me

{{Short description|1999 single by Korn}} {{Infobox song | name = Falling Away from Me | cover = korn_fafm.jpg | alt = | type = single | B-side = "Jingle Balls" | artist = Korn | album = Issues | released = {{ubl|October 27, 1999 {{small|(South Park)}}|October 28, 1999 {{small|(rock radio)}}|December 6, 1999 {{small|(CD and vinyl)}}}} | recorded = 1999 | studio = | venue = | genre = Nu metal<ref>{{cite magazine |url=https://www.vice.com/en/article/noisey-vs-metalsucks-threaten-my-family-if-you-must-but-i-still-say-korn-rules/ |title=Noisey Vs. MetalSucks − Threaten My Family if You Must, But I Still Say Korn Rules |magazine=Vice |last=Wiederhorn |first=Jon |date=July 1, 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.aux.tv/2012/08/sampled-slaughterhouse-hammer-dance/ |title=Sampled: Slaughterhouse – "Hammer Dance" |publisher=Aux.tv |access-date=2015-09-15 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151117034928/http://www.aux.tv/2012/08/sampled-slaughterhouse-hammer-dance/ |archive-date=2015-11-17 |url-status=dead }}</ref> | length = 4:31 | label = {{hlist|Immortal|Epic}} | writer = {{hlist|Reginald Arvizu|Jonathan Davis|James Shaffer|David Silveria|Brian Welch}} | producer = Brendan O'Brien | prev_title = Freak on a Leash | prev_year = 1999 | year = 1999 | next_title = Jingle Balls | next_year = 1999 | misc = {{Audio sample | type = single | file = | description = "Falling Away from Me" }} {{External music video|{{YouTube|2s3iGpDqQpQ|"Falling Away from Me"}}}} }}

"'''Falling Away from Me'''" is a song by American nu metal band Korn. It was released as the first single from their fourth album ''Issues'', debuting in an episode of Comedy Central's animated series ''South Park'', entitled "Korn's Groovy Pirate Ghost Mystery". The song went on to become one of Korn's most popular singles, with an anti-child abuse themed video topping MTV's ''Total Request Live'' for ten days.

In 2019, Joe Smith-Engelhardt of ''Alternative Press'' included the song in his list of "Top 10 nu-metal staples that still hold up today".<ref>{{Cite web |last=Smith-Engelhardt |first=Joe |title=Top 10 nü-metal staples that still hold up today |url=https://www.altpress.com/best-nu-metal-songs/ |access-date=2025-12-21 |website=Alternative Press Magazine |language=en-US}}</ref>

==Concept== Jonathan Davis explained: "The song is about domestic abuse and that there are ways to get help whether it's telling someone or calling a help line, there are ways to get out of those situations. No one has to be treated like that."<ref name="Song facts">{{cite web|last=Davis|first=Jonathan|title=Songfacts.com|url=http://www.songfacts.com/detail.php?id=2651|access-date=August 11, 2012}}</ref>

==Music video== [[File:Fred Durst.jpg|thumb|right|Fred Durst (''pictured'') directed the music video for "Falling Away from Me".]] The music video for "Falling Away from Me" received its world premiere on MTV on November 26, 1999, during Spankin' New Music Week.<ref name="The TRL Archive - Recap" /> It begins as a continuation of the famous video for "Freak on a Leash", starting with its closing animation. The video then transitions into live action as it shows a young girl (played by actress Jill Noel) clearly distraught by her abusive father. Inside her room, she opens a box and appears to see the band inside, performing below hanging lightbulbs. A crowd of young people have gathered outside the window, raising their arms in time to the beat as the band is then surrounded by flashes of green electricity, and then appear inside her bedroom with flashes of red electricity. As her father angrily approaches her room with a belt in his hand, one of the youths appears outside her window and helps her get outside. She leaves the house as the song ends and the crowd scatters. The band dissolves into red electricity and goes straight back into the box in her hands. She then runs off into the night just as her father finally opens the door to see her empty bedroom; no one is there except for the band's equipment. The video ends with a shot of the neighborhood with red lights showing in one bedroom in every house.

In the original version of the video, shortly before the band disappears into the box (once the teenage girl escapes through the window), Fred Durst made a "cameo" appearance in the video – his face appearing for a brief moment during one of the close-up shots of Jonathan Davis. Due to reasons which are somewhat unclear (it's rumoured that Davis spotted the cameo and objected), subsequent versions of the video have had the Fred Durst cameo removed.

The video enjoyed similar success to its predecessor, "Freak on a Leash", debuting on MTV's ''Total Request Live'' at number three,<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.atrl.net/trlarchive/?s=debuts|title=Debuts|access-date=2008-03-21|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}}</ref> and reaching number one on its seventh day.<ref name="The TRL Archive - Recap">{{Cite web|url=http://www.atrl.net/trlarchive/?s=recap&y=1999&m=11|title=Recap - November 1999|access-date=2008-03-21|publisher=The TRL Archive|archive-date=2008-04-05|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080405122043/http://www.atrl.net/trlarchive/?s=recap&y=1999&m=11|url-status=dead}}</ref> It would eventually become Korn's third "retired" video on the program,<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.atrl.net/trlarchive/?s=halloffame|title=Hall of Fame|access-date=2008-03-21|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}}</ref> with ten non-consecutive days at number one.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.atrl.net/trlarchive/?s=numberones|title=Number Ones|access-date=2008-03-21|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}}</ref>

==MTV Unplugged rendition== Korn performed a memorable version of "Falling Away from Me" for the filming of ''MTV Unplugged'' in December 2006, featuring hand bells and a glass harmonica.<ref>{{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|access-date=2008-03-21|publisher=MTV News}}</ref> It was also performed at the 2006 Download Festival with M Shadows, lead singer of Avenged Sevenfold, when lead vocalist Jonathan Davis had fallen ill.

==Critical reception== "Falling Away from Me" is widely considered to be one of Korn's best songs. In 2019, ''Loudwire'' ranked the song number four on their list of the 50 greatest Korn songs,<ref>{{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}}</ref> and in 2021, ''Kerrang'' ranked the song number two on their list of the 20 greatest Korn songs.<ref>{{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}}</ref>

==Appearances in media== * The song was first played on Comedy Central's animated series, ''South Park'', in the episode "Korn's Groovy Pirate Ghost Mystery".<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1430968/19991011/korn.jhtml|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120915100725/http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1430968/19991011/korn.jhtml|url-status=dead|archive-date=September 15, 2012|title=Korn To Premiere New Track During "South Park" Special|date=1999-10-11|access-date=2008-03-21|publisher=MTV News}}</ref> The band members had a primary role in the ''Scooby-Doo''-esque plot and performed the song at the end of the episode. * The song is playable on ''Rock Revolution''. * The song is available as downloadable content for ''Rock Band 3''. * The song is sampled in the song "Hammer Dance" by the hip-hop group Slaughterhouse.

==Track listing==

===German release=== * CD5" # "Falling Away from Me" (radio edit) – 4:31 # "Jingle Balls" – 3:27 # "Falling Away from Me" (a cappella) – 3:45

===Australian release=== * CD5" # "Falling Away from Me" – 4:31 # "Falling Away from Me (Krust Remix)" – 8:29 # "Jingle Balls" – 3:27 # "Falling Away from Me (Mantronik Remix)" – 6:05 # "Got the Life (Josh Abraham Remix)" – 4:01 # "Falling Away from Me" (video)

===Australian radio promo=== * CD5" # "Falling Away from Me" (radio edit) – 4:31 # "Falling Away from Me (Krust Remix)" – 8:29 # "Jingle Balls" – 3:27 # "Falling Away from Me (Mantronik Extended Remix)" – 6:05 # "Got the Life (Josh Abraham Remix)" – 4:01

===Australian Die Cut CD radio promo=== * CD5" # "Falling Away from Me" – 4:31 # "Falling Away from Me (Clean Version)" – 4:31

===Swedish release=== * CD5" # "Falling Away from Me" (radio edit) – 4:31 # "Falling Away from Me" (a cappella) – 3:45

===UK release=== * CD5" # "Falling Away from Me" (radio edit) – 4:31 # "Falling Away from Me (Krust Remix)" – 8:29 # "Jingle Balls" – 3:27

===UK promo=== * CD5" # "Falling Away from Me (Mantronik Beatdown Formula)" – 6:06 # "Falling Away from Me (Krust Remix)" – 8:29 # "Falling Away from Me" – 4:31

==Charts== {| class="wikitable sortable" !Chart (1999–2000) !Peak position |- {{single chart|Australia|62|artist=Korn|song=Falling Away from Me|access-date=April 19, 2021}} |- {{single chart|Flanders Tip|17|artist=Korn|song=Falling Away from Me|access-date=April 19, 2021}} |- |Canada (Nielsen Soundscan)<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.jamshowbiz.com/JamMusicCharts/SINGLES.html|title=The Hits Charts (Singles): Top 50 Singles|publisher=Jam!|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/19991124030111/http://www.jamshowbiz.com/JamMusicCharts/SINGLES.html|archive-date=November 24, 1999|date=November 24, 1999|url-status=dead|access-date=September 5, 2024}}</ref> |align="center"|21 |- |Canada Rock/Alternative (''RPM'')<ref>[http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/rpm/028020-119.01-e.php?&file_num=nlc008388.8134&type=1&interval=20&PHPSESSID=c6btf3r8hs459qqt5ln3o3dcv5 "Rock/Alternative - Volume 70, No. 14, February 7, 2000"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121014155359/http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/rpm/028020-119.01-e.php?&file_num=nlc008388.8134&type=1&interval=20&PHPSESSID=c6btf3r8hs459qqt5ln3o3dcv5 |date=2012-10-14 }}. Retrieved 2022-7-20</ref> |align="center"|24 |- |Europe (Eurochart Hot 100)<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-and-Media/00s/2000/MM-2000-02-26.pdf|title=Eurochart Hot 100 Singles|magazine=Music & Media|volume=16|issue=20|page=17|date=February 26, 2000|access-date=February 7, 2020}}</ref> |align="center"|90 |- | Finland Airplay (IFPI Finland)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://musiikkiarkisto.fi/oa/_tiedostot/julkaisut/sisaltaa-hitin.pdf#page=6|title=Chart History|website=musiikkiarkisto.fi |access-date=October 20, 2024}}</ref> |align="center"|35 |- {{single chart|Germany|86|songid=24413|artist=Korn|song=Falling Away from Me|access-date=April 19, 2021}} |- |Iceland (Dagblaðið Vísir Top 20)<ref>{{cite news|url=https://timarit.is/page/1915668?iabr=on#page/n61/mode/2up/search/got%20the%20life%20korn|title=Íslenski Listinn (29.06. 2000)|newspaper=Dagblaðið Vísir|language=is|page=10|date=June 29, 2000|access-date=October 5, 2019}}</ref> |align="center"|1 |- |Latvia (Latvijas Top 40)<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.lanet.lv/news/airplay/2001/2001.html|title=Latvian Airplay Top 500 of 2001|publisher=Lanet.lv|language=lv|access-date=December 1, 2022}}</ref> |align="center"|26 |- |Netherlands (Dutch Top 40 Tipparade)<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.top40.nl/tipparade/2000/week-8|title=Tipparade-lijst van week 8, 2000|language=dutch| publisher=Dutch Top 40|access-date=March 19, 2023}}</ref> |align="center"|6 |- {{singlechart|Dutch100|77|artist=Korn|song=Falling Away from Me}} |- {{single chart|Scotland|25|date=20000206|artist=Korn|song=Falling Away From Me|access-date=July 25th, 2022}} |- {{single chart|UK|24|date=20000212|artist=Korn|song=Falling Away from Me|access-date=April 19, 2021}} |- {{single chart|UKrock|1|date=20000212|artist=Korn|song=Falling Away from Me|access-date=April 19, 2021}} |- {{single chart|Billboardbubbling100|8|artist=Korn|song=Falling Away from Me|access-date=April 19, 2021}} |- {{single chart|Billboardalternativesongs|7|artist=Korn|song=Falling Away from Me|access-date=April 19, 2021}} |- {{single chart|Billboardmainstreamrock|7|artist=Korn|song=Falling Away from Me|access-date=April 19, 2021}} |- |}

===Year-end charts=== {| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center" !Chart (2000) !Position |- !scope="row"|US Mainstream Rock Tracks (Billboard)<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ehEEAAAAMBAJ&q=korn&pg=RA1-PA45|title=Year End 2000|language=en|magazine=Billboard|date=30 December 2000 |access-date=December 20, 2023}}</ref> |align="center"|25 |- !scope="row"|US Modern Rock Tracks (Billboard)<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ehEEAAAAMBAJ&q=korn&pg=RA1-PA45|title=Year End 2000|language=en|magazine=Billboard|date=30 December 2000 |access-date=December 20, 2023}}</ref> |align="center"|24 |}

==Certifications== {{Certification Table Top}} {{Certification Table Entry|region=New Zealand|award=Gold|artist=Korn|title=Falling Away From Me|relyear=1999|certyear=2024|type=single|source=radioscope|refname="RMNZ"|access-date=December 28, 2024}} {{Certification Table Entry|region=United Kingdom|award=Silver|artist=Korn|title=Falling Away From Me|relyear=2004|certyear=2025|type=single|id=21264-241-1|refname="BPI"|access-date=July 25, 2025}} {{Certification Table Bottom|nosales=true|noshipments=true|streaming=true}}

==See also== *"Korn's Groovy Pirate Ghost Mystery"

==References==

Category:1999 singles Category:Korn songs Category:Songs about child abuse Category:Song recordings produced by Brendan O'Brien (record producer) Category:1999 songs Category:Immortal Records singles Category:Epic Records singles Category:Music videos directed by Fred Durst Category:Songs written by Reginald Arvizu Category:Songs written by Jonathan Davis Category:Songs written by James Shaffer Category:Songs written by David Silveria Category:Songs written by Brian Welch Category:Nu metal songs