Shoots and Ladders (song)
Encyclopedia
"Shoots and Ladders" is a song written and recorded by American
nu metal
band Korn
for their self-titled debut album
. It was released as the album's third single
in 1995.
as Snakes and Ladders
), with the song's lyrics mostly consisting of nursery rhyme
s. It is the first Korn song to feature bagpipes
.
The song uses the following nursery rhymes in its lyrics:
. During the Escape From the Studio Tour
, the intro is played on bagpipes
by Jonathan
prior to "Helmet in the Bush". Usually during live performances, the song is followed by a short cover version of Metallica
's "One
". Other occasions included an instrumental excerpt of "Daddy" as an introduction, as well as various medleys
of other Korn songs. A small excerpt of "The Blister Exists" by Slipknot
was played within "Shoots and Ladders" at the 2007 Graspop Metal Meeting
, most likely due to Korn's touring drummer at the time being Slipknot drummer Joey Jordison
.
and shows clips of Korn performing in front of an energetic crowd, similar to "Blind". Korn is also seen performing in front of fake castle
-like buildings. Munky
can be seen with duct tape
over his mouth coming out of a field of weed
s and in the beginning, Jonathan can be seen tied up, hanging upside down. Other unknown people, who are believed to be friends of the band, appear in various clips as well. The band admits that this was the most difficult video they have ever done. The video premiered in October 1995. "Shoots and Ladders" was filmed at Golf N' Stuff located in Norwalk
, California.
in 1997 for Best Metal Performance
. This would be Korn's first nomination in any Grammy category.
Side A:
Side B:
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
nu metal
Nu metal
Nu metal is a subgenre of heavy metal. It is a fusion genre which combines elements of heavy metal with other genres, including grunge and hip hop...
band Korn
Korn
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,...
for their self-titled debut album
Korn (album)
Korn is the self-titled debut album by American nu metal band Korn, released on October 4, 1994, through Immortal/Epic Records. Before recording the album, the band played several gigs in an attempt to promote themselves. They were approached by Immortal/Epic Records after a performance at...
. It was released as the album's third 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...
in 1995.
Music and structure
The title is a mockery of American children's game Chutes and Ladders (also known in the UKUnited Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
as Snakes and Ladders
Snakes and ladders
Snakes and Ladders is an ancient Indian board game regarded today as a worldwide classic. It is played between two or more players on a game board having numbered, gridded squares. A number of "ladders" and "snakes" are pictured on the board, each connecting two specific board squares...
), with the song's lyrics mostly consisting of nursery rhyme
Nursery rhyme
The term nursery rhyme is used for "traditional" poems for young children in Britain and many other countries, but usage only dates from the 19th century and in North America the older ‘Mother Goose Rhymes’ is still often used.-Lullabies:...
s. It is the first Korn song to feature bagpipes
Bagpipes
Bagpipes are a class of musical instrument, aerophones, using enclosed reeds fed from a constant reservoir of air in the form of a bag. Though the Scottish Great Highland Bagpipe and Irish uilleann pipes have the greatest international visibility, bagpipes of many different types come from...
.
The song uses the following nursery rhymes in its lyrics:
- "Ring Around the Rosie"
- "One, Two, Buckle My ShoeOne, Two, Buckle My Shoe"One, Two, Buckle My Shoe" is a popular English language nursery rhyme and counting-out rhyme. It has a Roud Folk Song Index number of 11284.-Lyrics:Common modern versions include:...
" - "London Bridge Is Falling DownLondon Bridge is Falling Down"London Bridge Is Falling Down" is a well-known traditional nursery rhyme and singing game, which is found in different versions all over the world. It has a Roud Folk Song Index number of 502.-Lyrics:...
" - "Baa, Baa, Black SheepBaa, Baa, Black Sheep (nursery rhyme)Baa, Baa, Black Sheep is an English nursery rhyme, sung to a variant of the 1761 French melody Ah! Vous dirai-je, Maman. The original form of the tune is used for Twinkle Twinkle Little Star and the Alphabet song. The words have changed little in two and a half centuries...
" - "This Old ManThis Old Man"This Old Man" is an English language children's song, counting and nursery rhyme with a Roud Folk Song Index number of 3550.-Origins and history:The origins of this song are obscure...
" - "Mary Had a Little Lamb"
Concept
"It was written because all these little kids sing these nursery rhymes and they don't know what they originally meant. Everyone is so happy when singing 'Ring Around the Rosie' but it is about the Black Plague. All of them have these evil stories behind them." – Jonathan DavisLive performance
The song has been a concert staple since Korn's fifth show on June 13, 1994. However, it was absent for most of the band's tour dates in support of their untitled albumUntitled Korn album
The untitled eighth studio album by American nu metal band Korn was released on July 31, 2007, through Virgin Records. The standard edition holds thirteen tracks, whereas the deluxe edition holds fourteen...
. During the Escape From the Studio Tour
Escape From the Studio Tour
The Escape from the Studio Tour was a 2009 concert tour by metal band Korn, although the name of the tour was borrowed from Metallica, who also had a tour by the same name in 1995. It included 65 confirmed dates and spanned across country to Europe. It was the second Tour to feature Ray Luzier....
, the intro is played on bagpipes
Bagpipes
Bagpipes are a class of musical instrument, aerophones, using enclosed reeds fed from a constant reservoir of air in the form of a bag. Though the Scottish Great Highland Bagpipe and Irish uilleann pipes have the greatest international visibility, bagpipes of many different types come from...
by Jonathan
Jonathan Davis
Jonathan Houseman Davis is the lead vocalist and frontman for the nu metal band Korn. Davis was ranked 16th on Hit Parader 's list of "Heavy Metal's All-Time Top 100 Vocalists".-Early life:...
prior to "Helmet in the Bush". Usually during live performances, the song is followed by a short cover version of Metallica
Metallica
Metallica is an American heavy metal band from Los Angeles, California. Formed in 1981 when James Hetfield responded to an advertisement that drummer Lars Ulrich had posted in a local newspaper. The current line-up features long-time lead guitarist Kirk Hammett and bassist Robert Trujillo ...
's "One
One (Metallica song)
"One" is a song by the American heavy metal band Metallica. It was released as the third and final single from their fourth album ...And Justice for All. "One" was also the band's first Top 40 hit single, reaching number 35 on the Billboard Hot 100...
". Other occasions included an instrumental excerpt of "Daddy" as an introduction, as well as various medleys
Medley (music)
In music, a medley is a piece composed from parts of existing pieces, usually three, played one after another, sometimes overlapping. They are common in popular music, and most medleys are songs rather than instrumental. A medley which is a remixed series is called a megamix, often done with tracks...
of other Korn songs. A small excerpt of "The Blister Exists" by Slipknot
Slipknot (band)
Slipknot is an American heavy metal band from Des Moines, Iowa. Formed in 1995, the group was founded by percussionist Shawn Crahan and bassist Paul Gray...
was played within "Shoots and Ladders" at the 2007 Graspop Metal Meeting
Graspop Metal Meeting
Graspop Metal Meeting is an annual metal festival in Dessel, Belgium that has taken place each year since 1996. Despite the small size of the festival grounds the festival draws a large number of international spectators, with a total of 142,000 visitors in the course of the 2011 edition...
, most likely due to Korn's touring drummer at the time being Slipknot drummer Joey Jordison
Joey Jordison
Joey Jordison , is an American musician, songwriter, and record producer, best known for his work as the drummer for the nu metal band Slipknot. He grew up in Waukee, Iowa with his parents and two sisters, and was given his first drum kit at the age of 8...
.
Music video
The video for "Shoots and Ladders" was directed by McGMcG
Joseph McGinty Nichol , better known as McG, is an American director and producer of film and television, as well as a former record producer....
and shows clips of Korn performing in front of an energetic crowd, similar to "Blind". Korn is also seen performing in front of fake castle
Castle
A castle is a type of fortified structure built in Europe and the Middle East during the Middle Ages by European nobility. Scholars debate the scope of the word castle, but usually consider it to be the private fortified residence of a lord or noble...
-like buildings. Munky
James Shaffer
James Christian 'Munky' Shaffer is the guitarist for the nu metal band Korn . According to Korn's video "Who Then Now?", The nickname 'Munky' is a reference to his feet which resemble monkey's hands when spread...
can be seen with duct tape
Duct tape
Duct tape, or duck tape, is cloth- or scrim-backed pressure sensitive tape often sealed with polyethylene. It is very similar to gaffer tape but differs in that gaffer tape was designed to be cleanly removed, while duct tape was not. It has a standard width of and is generally silver or black...
over his mouth coming out of a field of weed
Weed
A weed in a general sense is a plant that is considered by the user of the term to be a nuisance, and normally applied to unwanted plants in human-controlled settings, especially farm fields and gardens, but also lawns, parks, woods, and other areas. More specifically, the term is often used to...
s and in the beginning, Jonathan can be seen tied up, hanging upside down. Other unknown people, who are believed to be friends of the band, appear in various clips as well. The band admits that this was the most difficult video they have ever done. The video premiered in October 1995. "Shoots and Ladders" was filmed at Golf N' Stuff located in Norwalk
Norwalk, California
Norwalk is a suburban city in Los Angeles County, California, United States. The population was 105,549 at the 2010 census, up from 103,298 at the 2000 census, making it the 58th most populous city in California and the 255th nationally....
, California.
Awards
The song was nominated for a Grammy AwardGrammy Award
A Grammy Award — or Grammy — is an accolade by the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences of the United States to recognize outstanding achievement in the music industry...
in 1997 for Best Metal Performance
Grammy Award for Best Metal Performance
The Grammy Award for Best Metal Performance was an award presented at the Grammy Awards to recording artists for works containing quality performances in the heavy metal music genre...
. This would be Korn's first nomination in any Grammy category.
US Radio Promo
- CD5"CD singleA CD single is a music single in the form of a standard size Compact Disc, not to be confused with the 3-inch CD single, which uses a smaller form factor. The format was introduced in the mid-1980s, but did not gain its place in the market until the early 1990s...
ESK 7116
- "Shoots and Ladders" (radio edit) – 3:39
- "Sean Olson" (radio edit) – 4:45
UK Radio Promo
- 10" XPR 3028
Side A:
- "Shoots and Ladders" (Hip Hop Remix) – 4:07
- "Shoots and Ladders" (Hyper Remix) – 2:32
Side B:
- "Shoots and Ladders" (Industrial Remix) – 3:50
- "Shoots and Ladders" (Industrial Instrumental) – 3:59