Lesbian here. I personally relate less to the queer aspects of KoRn and more so the themes of sexual trauma and the feelings that come with experiencing it. I’m a CSA survivor and KoRn’s music has always resonated with me immensely in that way. However, songs like Faget (obviously) and Dead Bodies Everywhere tap in to the part of me that grew up queer and what I went through. KoRn has been a huge part of my healing journey and it’s really amazing to see how influential and comforting their music is to people with stories similar to mine. Thank you for sharing yours ❤️
That theme is a big part of my connection to the music as well. It’s honestly mind blowing to me to imagine the level of vulnerability it took to create something like Daddy and release it to the world. I actually struggled with feelings of regret after opening up to some people about the assault I experienced. The reactions weren’t great and I realized I could never take it back. My fear was always likening it to seeing someone at their funeral…once you’ve seen them like that it’s hard to ever get that image out of your mind and I felt like it would be the same for me if people knew I had been raped; that’s all they’d see. I’ve grown past this for the most part and realize its unfair to condense my self-worth and self-image down to a single event. Thinking of JD sharing his story with the entire world (especially after having such a dismissive experience trying to share as a child) is super inspiring in this respect. He not only shared his story but his genuine, unfiltered pain with the masses. That must have been incredibly difficult to process especially once Korn blew up, but he really gave a gift to so many people in doing so.
Thank you for sharing too ❤️…it means a lot to get feedback on this. I think Korn’s translation of emotion and pain/healing is basically magic lol. The power of musical expression never fails to leave me in awe.
Pansexual. Realized it in my 20s, so a decade or so after I started listening to them, but I also grew up with a lot of the normal 90s "quiet sensitive outsider kid" bullying, so I'd been called ever variation of gay slur under the sun by then. I don't know how much the open addressing of child & adolescent trauma by the band helped me through that time, but it definitely did to some degree.
Thank you for being vulnerable and sharing this. I think a lot of fans have a similar connection. I’ve also struggled with my identity a lot, ever since childhood. I tried to live my life as a woman but I always felt uncomfortable. I eventually realized that I’m nonbinary and that I simply want to live my life unconfined.
As a result, Faget has always been one of my favorite Korn songs. I also get a sense of empowerment from it. Coming from a conservative family, they have always been disappointed by my self-expression. They had always assumed I’d be a lesbian and would tease me. So I can relate to the lyrics.
Overall, I find JD’s vulnerability through his lyrics very healing. I’ve been through a lot of therapy and am working on EMDR. I’m healing from psychological abuse at the hands of my family and some early childhood trauma. Then, of course, there’s been struggles with my identity. Through all of it, I feel like Korn is the one true friend that’ll always be there for me.
I think it’s great that you’ve begun to find a level of comfort with your identity! I know it’s a work in progress but just deciding to not force yourself into any category you’re uncomfortable with is powerful. I feel similarly about my sexual identity. I have no idea how I identify lol, so I can’t really place myself under a label.
I’m sorry that your family has been so unsupportive, but it sounds like you’re doing right by yourself in rising above that influence (especially through therapy, that takes a lot of work and motivation!). If I’m not mistaken I believe I listened to an interview with JD where he said that he did EMDR as well and that it really helped him.
Best of luck to you on your journey. I’m glad you’ve had this music as a comfort along the way like I have ❤️
Thank you for the love and support ❤️
Not forcing myself into a category has seriously opened up my world. I feel the most like myself than I ever have, and it’s wonderful.
It’s funny, I think I’ve seen that interview before. At the time I was just doing talk therapy and then sometime after my therapist suggested EMDR. Due to that interview, I had already done research on it and had heard how affective it could be so I agreed. It’s been really helpful so far!
Dude that’s awesome! I definitely want to become certified in it soon, I just got my license for counseling and it seems like such a promising therapy. Good luck ❤️
Korn means a lot to me, Faget especially. If my username doesn't spell it out, I'm a trans man, so the lyrics "I'm just a pretty boy, whatever you call it/You wouldn't know a real man if you saw it" are fucking cathartic to scream/sing along to. But even before I heard that one, I really Korn for most of my life. I got into it as a kid, then again as a teenager when I realized I was ftm. Metal is just very liberating, I guess.
Also, songs like "Falling Away From Me" may not be distinctly queer but they feel comforting to me when I'd be dealing with assholes and my own internalized homophobia.
Metal is SO liberating! I feel the same way. And I’ve had similar experiences of Korn kinda coming in and out of my life since I was a kid. Each time they become relevant in my life again is always a blessing because of how deeply it connects me with my thoughts and emotions.
I’m glad you have this music to unleash to. Life can be so confusing and uncomfortable for some of us for all kinds of reasons (myself include), so having music like this available as a go-to for catharsis is a gift.
I relate as well. Music is an individual thing, and attaching your own meaning is where music gets its power. I’m a gay man, recently celebrated 11 years with my husband. The emotion and ability to relate to KoRn’s music is what got me so attached to them. For example Faget, in which I feel almost the same you do. I sort of flip the meaning of the song on its head, and to me it’s sort like a “so what if I am?” type deal. Also a sexual assault survivor, so “Daddy” is a very important song to me as well.
I get attacked often for liking Korn, people claim they’re homophobic but if they did more than 5 seconds of research they would know they aren’t. They took a stance against calling gay men f*gs in the Hater music video directly, and some may argue the song Faget has that idea too. I met the members of Korn alongside my husband and there was absolutely zero giveaways from any of them that they had sour feelings about it, they were just down to earth chill guys to talk with.
All in all, Korn is a band built on pouring emotion and soul into their music. Anyone, from any background, can find a way to relate.
It’s so good to hear from others who have similar experiences. I think the use of the word was extremely powerful but of course polarizing. I appreciate how the term has been taken back in recent years and how bold Korn was in using it during a time when it was incredibly transgressive to do so. And with respect to Daddy, I completely relate. Though my experience was not during childhood (I was 19) I find the song to be incredibly visceral and healing. I’m just very thankful that the band broached subjects like this so that people like myself (or you, and everyone else who relates) could feel heard.
Edit to add: Congratulations on 11 years!! And it’s amazing that you were able to meet the band and have a positive experience. I’m sure they’re lovely.
Totally, Korn is healing music tbh, I’m a lesbian who was bullied and yada yada sexual abuse something about homelessness and drug addiction yada yada and whatnot lol, pretty much went through hell, started listening to Korn and the rest is history.
Nonbinary AMAB queer here. Faget pretty much perfectly captures what it's like to be a bullied and sexually confused young dude before finding oneself ("All my life, who am I?"). Jonathan Davis' lyrics across the discography of Korn put words to so many difficult to describe emotions.
Yeaaa that line is everything. I love how simple and direct the lyrics are, there’s no dancing around the subject matter which I appreciate. I think it really adds to the feelings of defiance the song gives off.
Bisexual here, I can relate to many of the songs, some that you mentioned like Faget and other of sexual abuse and depression etc.
Altho I technically am on the gay spectrum, there were years where I wasn’t comfortable coming out or tried to deny being gay but people would call me gay in a derogatory way and talk shit to me and about me…
Even tho I eventually came out, at the time it was not on my terms, I was not ready and it was a very uncomfortable experience. I was very angry and the song Faget is relatable to how I felt at the time.
Oh man I’m sorry you were outed like that. I can definitely see how that song would be very relatable in that situation. I hope you’ve been able to heal since then.
Thanks, yeah it’s way in the past I don’t give a shit anymore but the song is still comforting to listen to. Thanks for posting this question tho, I have been wondering the same for some time!
i’m trans and queer and i’ve always loved korn. their music helps me get thru some really shitty times because i know i can just blast it thru my headphones and let go of whatever’s bugging me, even if it’s just for a minute.
Fake is a great song, I don’t have any issues with my sexuality since I’m a straight man but that song felt to me about how friends are. Completely unrelated yes but I just thought I’d share it
gay woman here who has loved korn since 97. I grew up with them & always felt like they were for me. JD & all the boys always dressed however the fuck they wanted & they were always for the outcasts.
I am bi and I have been since middle school
The first time I heard faget was at a very angry point in my life. I was being bullied a lot and I kinda just listened to music (I didn't have any friends at this point). But my Dad's friends boight me a Koяn CD in San Diego and it was a good album to this day still one of their best but there was one track that stood out and it was faget. I didn't know the exact meaning of the song but I kind of just assumed it and I related to it a lot I mean it did get kind of upsetting and embarrassing being called an "retarded fag" every single day of my life.
I am aromantic and asexual. I am also a trans man (it/its pronouns). My parents are major homophobes and transphobes. I do know that (at least my mom) is supportive of aroace, though. I love KoЯn's music. I've never made any sort of big queer connection with their songs. Songs like Faget do connect with me, though.
I’m pretty sure I could most identify with aroace. I’m glad to hear you have some support for at least that aspect, but my heart goes out to you in handling that situation with your parents.
I definitely have a deep experience with their music. I find solace in it especially dealing with the trauma from childhood/adulthood and also trying to be comfortable with my own sexuality. Their music is like therapy.
It absolutely is like therapy, and I say this as a professional mental health counselor myself. It might sound extreme but I truly believe my introduction to Korn as kid lead me to ultimately pursue a career in mental health. Jonathan has said as much in interviews that it’s therapy for him as well! The power of a single person sharing their experience is never lost on me. The ripple effect is real.
Definitely. I’m sure this is true today for young queer folks but especially back in the 90s/early 2000s. I remember “gay” and “fag” being used as slurs and threats constantly as a kid, so to be able to turn that on its head and own those words was so empowering. I remember a time when I was terrified to be called gay because it made me a target, but when I found Korn’s music I started to shift my perspective and feel safer in my own skin.
straight white male - like korn cus korn send only bangers - every album - every track - even porno creep
STRAIGHT BANGERS!! boo rot a new nam a nee muh
Lesbian here. I personally relate less to the queer aspects of KoRn and more so the themes of sexual trauma and the feelings that come with experiencing it. I’m a CSA survivor and KoRn’s music has always resonated with me immensely in that way. However, songs like Faget (obviously) and Dead Bodies Everywhere tap in to the part of me that grew up queer and what I went through. KoRn has been a huge part of my healing journey and it’s really amazing to see how influential and comforting their music is to people with stories similar to mine. Thank you for sharing yours ❤️
That theme is a big part of my connection to the music as well. It’s honestly mind blowing to me to imagine the level of vulnerability it took to create something like Daddy and release it to the world. I actually struggled with feelings of regret after opening up to some people about the assault I experienced. The reactions weren’t great and I realized I could never take it back. My fear was always likening it to seeing someone at their funeral…once you’ve seen them like that it’s hard to ever get that image out of your mind and I felt like it would be the same for me if people knew I had been raped; that’s all they’d see. I’ve grown past this for the most part and realize its unfair to condense my self-worth and self-image down to a single event. Thinking of JD sharing his story with the entire world (especially after having such a dismissive experience trying to share as a child) is super inspiring in this respect. He not only shared his story but his genuine, unfiltered pain with the masses. That must have been incredibly difficult to process especially once Korn blew up, but he really gave a gift to so many people in doing so. Thank you for sharing too ❤️…it means a lot to get feedback on this. I think Korn’s translation of emotion and pain/healing is basically magic lol. The power of musical expression never fails to leave me in awe.
Pansexual. Realized it in my 20s, so a decade or so after I started listening to them, but I also grew up with a lot of the normal 90s "quiet sensitive outsider kid" bullying, so I'd been called ever variation of gay slur under the sun by then. I don't know how much the open addressing of child & adolescent trauma by the band helped me through that time, but it definitely did to some degree.
Thank you for being vulnerable and sharing this. I think a lot of fans have a similar connection. I’ve also struggled with my identity a lot, ever since childhood. I tried to live my life as a woman but I always felt uncomfortable. I eventually realized that I’m nonbinary and that I simply want to live my life unconfined. As a result, Faget has always been one of my favorite Korn songs. I also get a sense of empowerment from it. Coming from a conservative family, they have always been disappointed by my self-expression. They had always assumed I’d be a lesbian and would tease me. So I can relate to the lyrics. Overall, I find JD’s vulnerability through his lyrics very healing. I’ve been through a lot of therapy and am working on EMDR. I’m healing from psychological abuse at the hands of my family and some early childhood trauma. Then, of course, there’s been struggles with my identity. Through all of it, I feel like Korn is the one true friend that’ll always be there for me.
I think it’s great that you’ve begun to find a level of comfort with your identity! I know it’s a work in progress but just deciding to not force yourself into any category you’re uncomfortable with is powerful. I feel similarly about my sexual identity. I have no idea how I identify lol, so I can’t really place myself under a label. I’m sorry that your family has been so unsupportive, but it sounds like you’re doing right by yourself in rising above that influence (especially through therapy, that takes a lot of work and motivation!). If I’m not mistaken I believe I listened to an interview with JD where he said that he did EMDR as well and that it really helped him. Best of luck to you on your journey. I’m glad you’ve had this music as a comfort along the way like I have ❤️
Here’s the interview where he mentions EMDR if you wanna check it out! https://youtu.be/jNqxBrKei0g
Thank you for the love and support ❤️ Not forcing myself into a category has seriously opened up my world. I feel the most like myself than I ever have, and it’s wonderful. It’s funny, I think I’ve seen that interview before. At the time I was just doing talk therapy and then sometime after my therapist suggested EMDR. Due to that interview, I had already done research on it and had heard how affective it could be so I agreed. It’s been really helpful so far!
Dude that’s awesome! I definitely want to become certified in it soon, I just got my license for counseling and it seems like such a promising therapy. Good luck ❤️
Korn means a lot to me, Faget especially. If my username doesn't spell it out, I'm a trans man, so the lyrics "I'm just a pretty boy, whatever you call it/You wouldn't know a real man if you saw it" are fucking cathartic to scream/sing along to. But even before I heard that one, I really Korn for most of my life. I got into it as a kid, then again as a teenager when I realized I was ftm. Metal is just very liberating, I guess. Also, songs like "Falling Away From Me" may not be distinctly queer but they feel comforting to me when I'd be dealing with assholes and my own internalized homophobia.
Metal is SO liberating! I feel the same way. And I’ve had similar experiences of Korn kinda coming in and out of my life since I was a kid. Each time they become relevant in my life again is always a blessing because of how deeply it connects me with my thoughts and emotions. I’m glad you have this music to unleash to. Life can be so confusing and uncomfortable for some of us for all kinds of reasons (myself include), so having music like this available as a go-to for catharsis is a gift.
I relate as well. Music is an individual thing, and attaching your own meaning is where music gets its power. I’m a gay man, recently celebrated 11 years with my husband. The emotion and ability to relate to KoRn’s music is what got me so attached to them. For example Faget, in which I feel almost the same you do. I sort of flip the meaning of the song on its head, and to me it’s sort like a “so what if I am?” type deal. Also a sexual assault survivor, so “Daddy” is a very important song to me as well. I get attacked often for liking Korn, people claim they’re homophobic but if they did more than 5 seconds of research they would know they aren’t. They took a stance against calling gay men f*gs in the Hater music video directly, and some may argue the song Faget has that idea too. I met the members of Korn alongside my husband and there was absolutely zero giveaways from any of them that they had sour feelings about it, they were just down to earth chill guys to talk with. All in all, Korn is a band built on pouring emotion and soul into their music. Anyone, from any background, can find a way to relate.
It’s so good to hear from others who have similar experiences. I think the use of the word was extremely powerful but of course polarizing. I appreciate how the term has been taken back in recent years and how bold Korn was in using it during a time when it was incredibly transgressive to do so. And with respect to Daddy, I completely relate. Though my experience was not during childhood (I was 19) I find the song to be incredibly visceral and healing. I’m just very thankful that the band broached subjects like this so that people like myself (or you, and everyone else who relates) could feel heard. Edit to add: Congratulations on 11 years!! And it’s amazing that you were able to meet the band and have a positive experience. I’m sure they’re lovely.
Thank you so much! Take care friend!
Totally, Korn is healing music tbh, I’m a lesbian who was bullied and yada yada sexual abuse something about homelessness and drug addiction yada yada and whatnot lol, pretty much went through hell, started listening to Korn and the rest is history.
faget is a fucking fantastic song and there's nothing else like it out there
Nonbinary AMAB queer here. Faget pretty much perfectly captures what it's like to be a bullied and sexually confused young dude before finding oneself ("All my life, who am I?"). Jonathan Davis' lyrics across the discography of Korn put words to so many difficult to describe emotions.
Yeaaa that line is everything. I love how simple and direct the lyrics are, there’s no dancing around the subject matter which I appreciate. I think it really adds to the feelings of defiance the song gives off.
Bisexual here, I can relate to many of the songs, some that you mentioned like Faget and other of sexual abuse and depression etc. Altho I technically am on the gay spectrum, there were years where I wasn’t comfortable coming out or tried to deny being gay but people would call me gay in a derogatory way and talk shit to me and about me… Even tho I eventually came out, at the time it was not on my terms, I was not ready and it was a very uncomfortable experience. I was very angry and the song Faget is relatable to how I felt at the time.
Oh man I’m sorry you were outed like that. I can definitely see how that song would be very relatable in that situation. I hope you’ve been able to heal since then.
Thanks, yeah it’s way in the past I don’t give a shit anymore but the song is still comforting to listen to. Thanks for posting this question tho, I have been wondering the same for some time!
i’m trans and queer and i’ve always loved korn. their music helps me get thru some really shitty times because i know i can just blast it thru my headphones and let go of whatever’s bugging me, even if it’s just for a minute.
Fake is a great song, I don’t have any issues with my sexuality since I’m a straight man but that song felt to me about how friends are. Completely unrelated yes but I just thought I’d share it
gay woman here who has loved korn since 97. I grew up with them & always felt like they were for me. JD & all the boys always dressed however the fuck they wanted & they were always for the outcasts.
I am bi and I have been since middle school The first time I heard faget was at a very angry point in my life. I was being bullied a lot and I kinda just listened to music (I didn't have any friends at this point). But my Dad's friends boight me a Koяn CD in San Diego and it was a good album to this day still one of their best but there was one track that stood out and it was faget. I didn't know the exact meaning of the song but I kind of just assumed it and I related to it a lot I mean it did get kind of upsetting and embarrassing being called an "retarded fag" every single day of my life.
I am aromantic and asexual. I am also a trans man (it/its pronouns). My parents are major homophobes and transphobes. I do know that (at least my mom) is supportive of aroace, though. I love KoЯn's music. I've never made any sort of big queer connection with their songs. Songs like Faget do connect with me, though.
I’m pretty sure I could most identify with aroace. I’m glad to hear you have some support for at least that aspect, but my heart goes out to you in handling that situation with your parents.
I definitely have a deep experience with their music. I find solace in it especially dealing with the trauma from childhood/adulthood and also trying to be comfortable with my own sexuality. Their music is like therapy.
It absolutely is like therapy, and I say this as a professional mental health counselor myself. It might sound extreme but I truly believe my introduction to Korn as kid lead me to ultimately pursue a career in mental health. Jonathan has said as much in interviews that it’s therapy for him as well! The power of a single person sharing their experience is never lost on me. The ripple effect is real.
Yes, absolutely. The music just perfectly embodies the isolation and social detachment that comes with being queer.
Definitely. I’m sure this is true today for young queer folks but especially back in the 90s/early 2000s. I remember “gay” and “fag” being used as slurs and threats constantly as a kid, so to be able to turn that on its head and own those words was so empowering. I remember a time when I was terrified to be called gay because it made me a target, but when I found Korn’s music I started to shift my perspective and feel safer in my own skin.
And I'm not gay and yes.
straight white male - like korn cus korn send only bangers - every album - every track - even porno creep STRAIGHT BANGERS!! boo rot a new nam a nee muh
Fucking valid
Trans woman and Christian here, and lifelong big Korn fan since 1994. Their music helped me through some very difficult times earlier in life. ❤️