Necessary Evil

Album: Graveyard Shift (2017)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • This song features guest vocals by Jonathan Davis. The band's collaboration with the Korn frontman came about as a result of Motionless in White opening for Davis' group in the fall of 2016 during their co-headlining The Nocturnal Underground tour with Breaking Benjamin. Chris Motionless explained in a promotional video released by Roadrunner:

    "We were working on this song and I was working on the vocals for it, and it just felt like… There was something about it that I felt like… As I was writing some of the vocals, I was writing it hearing Jonathan's voice as the person I was writing it for. I had written different parts of the song that, of course, felt like, 'Okay, I'm gonna sing this. I'm gonna sing this.' And then it came time to other parts, and I was just hearing Jonathan on this song. And knowing how much of a great, nice… all of [the Korn guys] were really nice people on the tour and were super great to be around and nothing but pros in every sense of the word. I was, like, 'Okay, I'm just gonna risk it and throw it out there and see if he's interested,' and he came back and said he was definitely into doing it."
  • The song's music video features a raucous birthday party filled with plenty of moshing and pyrotechnics, as well as the smashing of a cake. The clip was directed by Max Moore, who has previously worked with Code Orange and Of Mice & Men.

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

Top American Idol Moments: Songs And Scandals

Top American Idol Moments: Songs And ScandalsSong Writing

Surprise exits, a catfight and some very memorable performances make our list of the most memorable Idol moments.

Subversive Songs Used To Sell

Subversive Songs Used To SellSong Writing

Songs about drugs, revolution and greed that have been used in commercials for sneakers, jeans, fast food, cruises and cars.

Leslie West of Mountain

Leslie West of MountainSongwriter Interviews

From the cowbell on "Mississippi Queen" to recording with The Who when they got the wrong Felix, stories from one of rock's master craftsmen.

Johnette Napolitano of Concrete Blonde

Johnette Napolitano of Concrete BlondeSongwriter Interviews

The singer/bassist for Concrete Blonde talks about how her songs come from clairvoyance, and takes us through the making of their hit "Joey."

Amy Lee of Evanescence

Amy Lee of EvanescenceSongwriter Interviews

The Evanescence frontwoman on the songs that have shifted meaning and her foray into kids' music.

Guy Clark

Guy ClarkSongwriter Interviews

Vince Gill, Emmylou Harris and Lyle Lovett are just a few of the artists who have looked to Clark for insightful, intelligent songs.