Flush (Brian Head Welch song)
Encyclopedia
"Flush" is a song by American rock
musician Brian "Head" Welch
that was released as the first single
from his debut album, Save Me from Myself
, on July 8, 2008 exclusively on the iTunes Music Store.
that came with "Flush", composer Brian Welch commented on the production of the song. The song was "created accidently" in 2005. Welch had just finished writing the song "Save Me from Myself" and was planning to leave the studio for the night. However, he lost the key to the studio, and decided to remain there while his friend brought the key to him. While Welch was waiting for his friend, he had the thought "I'm gonna go back inside, grab my keyboard, and whatever my hands do, I'll make a song out of it." He immediately started playing the opening riff for "Flush". Welch then recorded the idea. When recording the sound of him puking for the beginning of the song, Welch brought a microphone into the studio bathroom. He then "[made] a huge cup of chunky liquids" and puked into the toilet.
for "Flush", directed by Frankie Nasso of Nova Entertainment, was released on September 5, 2008. According to a press release about the music video:
The content of the music video has reportedly caused select retailers to pull Save Me from Myself from their shelves. This prompted Welch to provide his explanation of the video:
1998 single
, "Freak on a Leash
", "'Flush' ... just doesn't have quite the same effect as 'Freak on a Leash' did back in 1998."
Some reviewers, however, praised the song. Artistdirect
writer Rick Florino said, "... 'Flush' ... touts the line between catchy and epic ... The song itself beckons multiple listens with numerous layers to delve back into on each go around." Despite criticism, Goforth did confess that the song had some good aspects in the interpretation, "... Head's approach to songwriting is honest and unflinching. Rather than take the easy route, he goes in deep for confession." Jesusfreakhideout writer Kevin Hoskins also praised the message of the song, stating, "'Flush' is about trashing all of the garbage in our life. The screaming chants of 'come on, get up, let's change' drive the message home."
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...
musician Brian "Head" Welch
Brian Welch
Brian Phillip Welch , better known as Head, is an American musician best known as the former guitarist and co-founder of the nu metal band Korn...
that was released as the first single
Single (music)
In music, a single or record single is a type of release, typically a recording of fewer tracks than an LP or a CD. This can be released for sale to the public in a variety of different formats. In most cases, the single is a song that is released separately from an album, but it can still appear...
from his debut album, Save Me from Myself
Save Me from Myself (album)
Save Me from Myself is the debut studio album by American rock musician Brian "Head" Welch. After failing to meet a July 2007 release, the album was released on September 9, 2008 by Driven Music Group...
, on July 8, 2008 exclusively on the iTunes Music Store.
Production
In the digital bookletDigital booklet
Digital booklets are the digital equivalent of liner notes that often accompany digital music purchases. They are most commonly distributed in Portable Document Format. One well-known distributor of digital booklets with digital purchases is the iTunes Store; the first instance of this on the...
that came with "Flush", composer Brian Welch commented on the production of the song. The song was "created accidently" in 2005. Welch had just finished writing the song "Save Me from Myself" and was planning to leave the studio for the night. However, he lost the key to the studio, and decided to remain there while his friend brought the key to him. While Welch was waiting for his friend, he had the thought "I'm gonna go back inside, grab my keyboard, and whatever my hands do, I'll make a song out of it." He immediately started playing the opening riff for "Flush". Welch then recorded the idea. When recording the sound of him puking for the beginning of the song, Welch brought a microphone into the studio bathroom. He then "[made] a huge cup of chunky liquids" and puked into the toilet.
Themes
In the digital booklet that came with "Flush", composer Brian Welch discussed the themes that inspired the song lyrically. He explained that "Flush" is about "flushing all the crap in life down the toilet and starting out fresh." When he wrote the lyrics, he recalled when he was younger. Welch commented, "All the drama that I experienced with getting drunk and doing drugs all the time seemed interesting and amusing to write about. That life style is total insanity and I'm glad to be out of it." He went on to say that the purpose of the song is to inspire alcoholics and drug addicts to "get clean" and that "if I can encourage even one drug addict or alcoholic to get clean with 'Flush,' then the song has served its purpose."Music video
The music videoMusic video
A music video or song video is a short film integrating a song and imagery, produced for promotional or artistic purposes. Modern music videos are primarily made and used as a marketing device intended to promote the sale of music recordings...
for "Flush", directed by Frankie Nasso of Nova Entertainment, was released on September 5, 2008. According to a press release about the music video:
The content of the music video has reportedly caused select retailers to pull Save Me from Myself from their shelves. This prompted Welch to provide his explanation of the video:
Reception
Reception for "Flush" has been mostly neutral. Some reviewers found the puking introduction odd, and Allmusic writer William Ruhlmann wrote about it, "... there can't be too many Christian albums which contain songs like "Flush" that begin and end with the sound of someone vomiting into a toilet. But that's the point." Some reviewers even thought the puking introduction was unnecessary, and Christianity Today writer Andrea Goforth commented on it, "... [I] don't think it was really necessary to record the sound of someone vomiting ... to convey the ugliness of drunkenness and addictions ..." Goforth continued to criticize "Flush", comparing it to Korn'sKorn
Korn is an American nu metal band from Bakersfield, California, formed in 1993. The current band line up includes four members: Jonathan Davis, James "Munky" Shaffer, Reginald "Fieldy" Arvizu, and Ray Luzier. The band was formed as an expansion of L.A.P.D.The band released their first demo album,...
1998 single
Single (music)
In music, a single or record single is a type of release, typically a recording of fewer tracks than an LP or a CD. This can be released for sale to the public in a variety of different formats. In most cases, the single is a song that is released separately from an album, but it can still appear...
, "Freak on a Leash
Freak on a Leash
"Freak on a Leash" is a song by the American nu metal band Korn, featured on the group's 1998 studio album Follow the Leader. Prior to the album's release, Korn had an instrumental section of the song, described as a "noisy guitar break." The section was taken out of the song after their fans...
", "'Flush' ... just doesn't have quite the same effect as 'Freak on a Leash' did back in 1998."
Some reviewers, however, praised the song. Artistdirect
ARTISTdirect
Founded in 1994, Artistdirect, Inc. is an online digital media entertainment company. It owns several websites including Artistdirect.com, UBL.com and the Artistdirect Network...
writer Rick Florino said, "... 'Flush' ... touts the line between catchy and epic ... The song itself beckons multiple listens with numerous layers to delve back into on each go around." Despite criticism, Goforth did confess that the song had some good aspects in the interpretation, "... Head's approach to songwriting is honest and unflinching. Rather than take the easy route, he goes in deep for confession." Jesusfreakhideout writer Kevin Hoskins also praised the message of the song, stating, "'Flush' is about trashing all of the garbage in our life. The screaming chants of 'come on, get up, let's change' drive the message home."
Compact disc
Deluxe digital download
Personnel
- Brian Welch – vocalsSingingSinging is the act of producing musical sounds with the voice, and augments regular speech by the use of both tonality and rhythm. One who sings is called a singer or vocalist. Singers perform music known as songs that can be sung either with or without accompaniment by musical instruments...
, lead guitarLead guitarLead guitar is a guitar part which plays melody lines, instrumental fill passages, guitar solos, and occasionally, some riffs within a song structure...
, producer - Tony LevinTony LevinTony Levin is an American progressive rock musician, specializing in bass guitar, Chapman stick and upright bass ....
– bass guitarBass guitarThe bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick.... - Archie J. Muise, Jr. – rhythm guitarRhythm guitarRhythm guitar is a technique and rôle that performs a combination of two functions: to provide all or part of the rhythmic pulse in conjunction with singers or other instruments; and to provide all or part of the harmony, ie. the chords, where a chord is a group of notes played together...
- Josh FreeseJosh FreeseJosh Freese is an American session drummer and songwriter. He is a permanent member of A Perfect Circle, The Vandals, and Devo, having formerly played drums for Nine Inch Nails from late 2005 until late 2008, and for Guns N' Roses from mid-1998 to 2001. Freese has appeared on close to 300 records....
– drumsDrum kitA drum kit is a collection of drums, cymbals and often other percussion instruments, such as cowbells, wood blocks, triangles, chimes, or tambourines, arranged for convenient playing by a single person .... - Steve Delaportas – producer
- Ralph Patlan – mixingAudio mixing (recorded music)In audio recording, audio mixing is the process by which multiple recorded sounds are combined into one or more channels, most commonly two-channel stereo. In the process, the source signals' level, frequency content, dynamics, and panoramic position are manipulated and effects such as reverb may...
- Carlos CastroCarlos CastroCarlos Castro Mora is a Costa Rican football player who currently plays for LD Alajuelense in the Costa Rican Primera División....
– audio engineeringAudio engineeringAn audio engineer, also called audio technician, audio technologist or sound technician, is a specialist in a skilled trade that deals with the use of machinery and equipment for the recording, mixing and reproduction of sounds. The field draws on many artistic and vocational areas, including... - Randy Emata – editing, sound effects
- Alonso Murillo – photographyPhotographyPhotography is the art, science and practice of creating durable images by recording light or other electromagnetic radiation, either electronically by means of an image sensor or chemically by means of a light-sensitive material such as photographic film...
, artwork - Dave Shirk – masteringAudio masteringMastering, a form of audio post-production, is the process of preparing and transferring recorded audio from a source containing the final mix to a data storage device ; the source from which all copies will be produced...