Before I Forget (song)

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"Before I Forget"
Single by Slipknot
from the album Vol. 3: (The Subliminal Verses)
ReleasedMarch 8, 2005
Recorded
GenreNu metal[1]
Length
  • 4:38 (album version)
  • 4:20 (radio edit)
  • 3:37 (single mix)
LabelRoadrunner
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)Rick Rubin
Slipknot singles chronology
"Vermilion Pt. 2"
(2004) 		"Before I Forget"
(2005) 		"The Nameless"
(2005)
Alternative cover
Music video
"Before I Forget" on YouTube

"Before I Forget" is a song by American heavy metal band Slipknot, released as the third single from the band's third studio album, Vol. 3: (The Subliminal Verses) (2004). It was cited by AOL as the top metal song of the decade. It also won a Grammy Award for Best Metal Performance in 2006.

"Before I Forget" borrows elements from a much older Slipknot song "Carve", recorded before their self-titled album. The earliest version was in 1996 with Anders Colsefni on vocals. "Carve" was for the SR Demo 1997, referred to by fans as Crowz.

"It's about standing your ground and deciding to be a good person, no matter what people say," recalled singer Corey Taylor. "[Producer] Rick Rubin was convinced the chorus wouldn't work.[3] I told him he was crazy. Lo and behold, it's one of our biggest songs and we won a Grammy for it."[4]

The last 18 seconds of the full-length song feature morse code in the left channel spelling "Slipknot", and Taylor muttering, "You're wasting it", reversed.

The song was featured in the video games MotorStorm, Rock Band 3, Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock and Guitar Hero Live.

Reception and awards[edit]

"Before I Forget" is widely regarded as one of the band's best songs. In 2020, Kerrang and Louder Sound ranked the song number seven and number six, respectively, on their lists of the greatest Slipknot songs.[5][6]

After being nominated six times, the band won the 2006 Grammy Award for Best Metal Performance. It was the second track from the album to be nominated: "Vermilion" was nominated in 2005 for the same award.

Music video[edit]

The video for "Before I Forget" shows Slipknot performing the song unmasked and in casual clothes (all with black shirts), as opposed to their usual coveralls. The video makes use of strategic camera techniques in which the members' faces are never totally shown (in some instances, however, some of the band members' eyes are shown up close), thus keeping with the band's running theme of anonymity at the time. Their masks are shown next to them as they perform. At the end of the music video, the band immediately stops playing the song as it ends and they all walk away.

As of March 2023, the music video for "Before I Forget" has over 250 million views on YouTube.[7]

The music video for "Before I Forget" was directed by Tony Petrossian and was voted as the "Most Rocking Video" by the Scuzz audience in the Top 100 Most Rocking Videos 2007.[8]

This music video also helped to garner the band its first and only Grammy Award win for "Best Metal Performance" in 2006.

Equipment[edit]

Track listing[edit]

7" vinyl part one
No.TitleLength
1."Before I Forget" (Single Mix)3:37
2."The Blister Exists" (Live)5:19
7" vinyl part two
No.TitleLength
1."Before I Forget" (Full-Length Single Mix)4:23
2."Three Nil" (Live)4:55
US promo CD
No.TitleLength
1."Before I Forget" (Single Mix)3:37
2."Before I Forget" (Full-Length Single Mix)4:23
EU promo CD
No.TitleLength
1."Before I Forget" (Single Mix)3:37
Digital download
No.TitleLength
1."Before I Forget" (Live)4:26

Charts[edit]

Chart (2005) Peak
position
UK Singles (OCC)[9] 35
UK Rock & Metal (OCC)[10] 3
US Alternative Airplay (Billboard)[11] 32
US Mainstream Rock (Billboard)[12] 11

Certifications[edit]

Region Certification Certified units/sales
Portugal (AFP)[13] Gold 20,000‡
United Kingdom (BPI)[14] Gold 400,000‡
United States (RIAA)[15] Platinum 1,000,000‡

‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

References[edit]

  1. ^ "New Songs 2018 List - Top 10, Best 100 Latest Hot Hit Songs & Music". www.top10songsnews.com. Archived from the original on 2017-09-11. Retrieved 2017-07-06.
  2. ^ ascap.com/repertory#ace/performer/SLIPKNOT. Despite the group writing credit, it is thought that Gray and Taylor were primarily responsible for the song
  3. ^ Rubin wanted Taylor to change the vocal melody because he felt it wasn't catchy. "Corey Taylor Interview at 98 KUPD". YouTube. 2009-03-05. Retrieved 2011-12-19.[dead YouTube link]
  4. ^ Bryant, Tom (14 July 2012). "Hell unleashed". Kerrang! #1423. p. 25.
  5. ^ Law, Sam (March 27, 2020). "The 20 greatest Slipknot songs – ranked". Kerrang. Retrieved April 10, 2022.
  6. ^ Chillingworth, Alec (December 22, 2020). "The Top 50 best Slipknot songs ever". Louder Sound. Retrieved April 10, 2022.
  7. ^ Slipknot (October 27, 2009). "Slipknot - Before I Forget [OFFICIAL VIDEO] [HD]". YouTube. Retrieved March 18, 2023.
  8. ^ Scuzz. "Top 100 Most Rocking Videos 2007". Archived from the original on 5 February 2007. Retrieved 2007-02-11.
  9. ^ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved June 8, 2021.
  10. ^ "Official Rock & Metal Singles Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved October 31, 2022.
  11. ^ "Slipknot Chart History (Alternative Airplay)". Billboard. Retrieved June 8, 2021.
  12. ^ "Slipknot Chart History (Mainstream Rock)". Billboard. Retrieved June 8, 2021.
  13. ^ "Portuguese single certifications – Slipknot – Before I Forget" (PDF) (in Portuguese). Associação Fonográfica Portuguesa. Retrieved February 7, 2023.
  14. ^ "British single certifications – Slipknot – Before I Forget". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved September 23, 2022.
  15. ^ "American single certifications – Slipknot – Before I Forget". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved January 3, 2021.
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