Evolution is a song by the nu metal band Korn. The song was the first single to be released from the band’s untitled album on June 12, 2007. It is one of the four tracks in which Brooks Wackerman of Bad Religion performed drumming duties.
The Evolution video directed by Dave Meyers, was filmed on June 15, 2007 in Los Angeles. The music video features Slipknot drummer Joey Jordison, although the actual drum tracks were recorded by Brooks Wackerman. According to the casting call sheet, “Evolution” is “filled with political satire and humor.” The production team sought mostly male actors to fill roles such as “hero scientists”, religious politicians, doctors, green peace guys, anthropologists, military men, and “government types”. Casting interviews were held June 12 and 13, 2007.
In the first part of the music video, fictional infographics demonstrate that the average human IQ has been in constant decrease since the 1950s, with this trend predicted to continue in the future, as high-IQ families have an average of 1.5 children while low-IQ families have an average of 5 children. Because of medical advancements and no natural predators, human population increases proportionally as it IQ decreases. Furthermore, the graphics show that the human brain is shrinking to 10% of its original capacity, which is less than a monkey’s.
The second part shows scientists and politicians gathered in Washington, D.C. for the “Evolution Crisis Summit”, where a thesis called “De-Evolution of Man”, according to which humans will return to below-ape intelligent levels, is to be debated. After a video showing footage of humans and other simians in similar activities and positions, a researcher throws a ball to a naked man who fails to catch it and later throws the same ball to a chimpanzee who successfully catches it, astonishing the attendees, including a Catholic priest who vehemently denounces the De-Evolution thesis. In a last experiment, an assistant offers the chimpanzee a banana and a bunch of dollar bucks. The chimpanzee eventually chooses the banana, which leads the De-Evolution thesis to be rejected.
“Evolution” became Korn’s fourth single to reach the top five on Billboard’s Mainstream Rock Songs chart. It also peaked in the top twenty on Alternative Songs chart.
Tracklist:
- Evolution
- I Will Protect You
Credits:
Korn
Jonathan Davis: vocals, bagpipes, drums on “Bitch We Got a Problem” and “Love and Luxury”, additional drums on “Kiss” and “Hushabye”
James “Munky” Shaffer: guitar, lap steel guitar
Reginald “Fieldy” Arvizu: bass
