Flush (Brian Head Welch song)

Infobox Single
Name = Flush


Cover size = 200
Border = yes
Artist = Brian Head Welch
Album = Save Me from Myself
Released = Start date|2008|7|8
Format = CD 5", digital download
Recorded = 2005 at Fortitude Studios in Phoenix, Arizona
Genre = Rock
Length = 4:21
Label = Driven Music Group
Producer = Brian Welch, Steve Delaportas
Last single =

This single = "Flush"
(2008)
Next single =

"Flush" is the first single by American rock musician Brian Head Welch, from his debut solo studio album, "Save Me from Myself". The single was released as a digital single on July 8, 2008 exclusively through the iTunes Store.cite web|title=Ex-KORN Guitarist BRIAN 'HEAD' WELCH: Video Footage Of CORNERSTONE Speech Available|url=http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=101284|date=2008-07-21|accessdate=2008-08-23]

Musical and lyrical themes and development

Lyrical themes

When talking about the song at the Cornerstone Festival, Welch commented on the meaning of "Flush", "I'm gonna play my first single called 'Flush'. It's about flushing all the junk in life down the toilet, starting out fresh. The last message of the song is 'come on, get up, let's change,' and that's what I did and it's only the beginning." [cite web|title=Head on Cornerstone about "Flush"|url=http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x62tcn_brian-head-welch-live-main-stage-co_music]

In the lyric booklet for the digital single, Welch explains, "The lyrics for 'Flush' are basically about flushing all the crap in life down the toilet and starting out fresh. I kinda flashed back to my younger years of partying to come up with the idea. 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. And if I can encourage even one drug addict or alcoholic to get clean with "Flush," then the song has served its purpose. But if you don't have problems like that and you just dig the song because you think it rocks, then that's cool with me too."cite album-notes |title= Flush|albumlink= Flush (Brian Head Welch song)|bandname= Brian "Head" Welch|year= 2008|notestitle= |url= |first= Brian|last= Welch|authorlink= Brian Welch|coauthors= |pages=2 |format=digital booklet |publisher= Driven Music Group|publisherid= |location= |mbid=]

Musical themes

In the lyric booklet contained in the digital single, Welch comments on what inspired the song, instrumentally. "'Flush' was actually created accidently. Well, sort of... In the summer of 2005 I went through this crazy writing streak where I wrote almost forty songs in forty days. Whether they are all good or not is a matter of opinion, but that's when 'Flush' was birthed. I was about ten days into the forty day writing streak when I just got finished writing a song called 'Save Me From Myself.' I really wanted to go home after working all day on the song but I realized I lost my studio key and I locked myself in the studio. While I was waiting for my friend to bring the key, I started thinking about how crazy it was that all the music was flowing out of me, then suddenly I had a thought, "I'm gonna go back inside, grab my keyboard, and whatever my hands do, I'll make a song out of it." I knew it sounded crazy, but since I was having so much success writing songs, I wanted to see if that approach would stop the creative juices from flowing. It didn't. I remember saying out loud, "God, give me a crazy riff." When my hands hit the keyboard, I immediately played the opening riff for 'Flush.' It was thick and groovin and I loved it! I wrote it on a keyboard, but I knew it would sound big and beefy when I put the huge distorted guitars on it. After I recorded the idea, I just shook my head and laughed because I wrote such a cool riff without even trying."

Welch also commented on the sounds of puking in the intro of the song. "To get the puke sound, we dragged a mic and mic stand into the studio bathroom, and after making a huge cup of chunky liquids (with pickles and pickle juice), I recorded the best performance of my life..... puking in a toilet. My mom's gotta be proud."

Music video

The music video for "Flush", directed by Frankie Nasso of Nova Entertainment, was released on September 5, 2008.cite web|title=Ex-KORN Guitarist BRIAN 'HEAD' WELCH: 'Flush' Video Available|url=http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=104113|date=2008-09-05|accessdate=2008-09-05|publisher=Blabbermouth]

According to a press release, the storyline for the music video "takes a surprising turn away from what the conservative press would expect from Head and his spiritual awakening and takes an 'in-your-face,' gritty, but very honest look at the depths to which individuals will go to satisfy their drug/alcohol addictions or other vices. Wrapped with footage of real-life stories, and overlayed with other innuendo, Head's performance steals the picture and will answer anyone's questions as to whether he can still rock as hard or harder than his earlier days in Korn. The literal message in the final screen will get viewers thinking long and hard about any pre-conceived judgments they have about those in society typically viewed as losers." [cite web|title=Ex-KORN Guitarist BRIAN 'HEAD' WELCH Schedules New Jersey In-Store|url=http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=103307]

The content of the music video has reportedly caused select retailers to pull "Save Me from Myself" from their shelves. [cite web|title=Ex-KORN Guitarist BRIAN 'HEAD' WELCH's Defends 'Controversial' Video|url=http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=105600] This prompted Welch to provide his explanation for what transpires in the video:

Track listing

CD

# "Flush" (Radio edit) – 4:15
# "Flush" (Puke version) – 4:21

Digital download

# "Flush" – 4:44

Personnel

* Brian Welch – vocals, guitars, producer
* Tony Levin – bass guitar
* Archie J. Muise, Jr. – rhythm guitar
* Josh Freese – drums
* Steve Delaportas – producer

* Ralph Patlan – mixing
* Carlos Castro – engineering
* Randy Emata – editing, sound effects
* Alonso Murillo – photography, artwork
* Dave Shirk – mastering

References

External links

* [http://www.brianheadwelch.net/index.html Brian Welch's website]
* [http://www.drivenmusicgroup.net/ Driven Music Group website]