Background
"Final Masquerade" was among the final songs written for The Hunting Party, and the band brought in Emile Haynie, who is well known for working with some of the biggest pop stars in the world, like Katy Perry and Rihanna. Chester Bennington described it as "...stepping out of our comfort zone and we ended up writing a great song. It was a lot of fun, we had a lot of opportunities to step out of that, out of our world and invite people in for the first time."[1] The opening drum beat was initially a more complex beat done by Mike Shinoda, but Rob Bourdon improvised a part with more soul, and his take was what made it onto the album.[2] Initially, Shinoda sang the entire song, but wound up giving the lead part to Bennington.[3]
The label tried to get the band to release this song or "Until It's Gone" as the lead single for The Hunting Party, while the band had settled on it being "Guilty All The Same".[4] Obviously, the band won that battle, as "Guilty All The Same" was released as the lead single.
Acoustic Version
On February 18, 2015, Linkin Park released an acoustic rendition of "Final Masquerade" for free. Regarding this version, Brad Delson stated "In this stripped-down intimate version, the words and storytelling lead the way. I loved working on this special recording of "Final Masquerade", and we're excited to share it with our fans."[5] A promotional CD containing an acoustic version of the song dates back to January 13, 2015, the same date as the private acoustic performance at LP Underground HQ, where an acoustic version of "Final Masquerade" was performed.
Remix
On December 24, 2014, several members from the Linkin Park Association community teamed up to release a remix album of The Hunting Party titled Viscera. The album was later released to the LP Underground on June 18, 2015 after the band received the full rights to distribute the album. The remix of "Final Masquerade" was done by Lizzi Cloverman and minuteforce. The instrumental version of the remix was released February 28, 2015.
Tracklist
CD Single
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Final Masquerade | Linkin Park | 3:40 |
| 2 | Until It's Gone (Live at Rock am Ring) | Linkin Park | 3:50 |
Digital Single
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Final Masquerade | Linkin Park | 3:37 |
Acoustic Single
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Final Masquerade (Acoustic) | Linkin Park | 3:50 |
US Internal CD
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Final Masquerade (Acoustic) | Linkin Park | 3:51 |
| 2 | Final Masquerade | Linkin Park | 3:38 |
| 3 | Rebellion | Linkin Park, Daron Malakian | 3:44 |
Music Video
Artist Name: Linkin Park
Song Name: Final Masquerade
Director: Mark Pellington
Director of Photography: Morgan Susser
Editor: Jacquelyn London
Production Company: Wondros
Executive Producer: Joseph Uliano
Producer: Taylor Vandegrift
Video Commissioner: Devin Sarno
Director's Rep.: Tommy LaBuda
Record Label: Warner Bros. Records
Cast:
- Nikki Simone - Woman
- Jim Tavare - Man
- Aris Rashevksy - Boy
- Chloe Farnsworth - Eve/Angel
- Chase Amir Moore - Praying Boy
- Catherine Lydon - Wisdom
- Tamar Pelzig - Protection
- Calvin Edwards - Adam
- Julius Way - Crying Baby
- David Stamp - Large Man
- Ava Glori Laing - Daughter
Production Manager: Mario D'Amici
Production Coordinator: Christina Kitcat
Office PA: Tanya Mullen
1st Assistant Director: Kenneth Arnold Taylor
2nd Assistant Director: Josh Tanner
2nd 2nd Assistant Director: Ryan Hill
Truck PA: Brooks Davis
Production Designer: Alessandro Marvelli
Set Decorator: Jacob Anderson
2nd Unit DP: Matt Sakatani Roe
Techno Crane Tech: Derrick Rose
Steadicam Operator - A Camera: Liam Clark
DIT (Digital Imaging Technician): Lanlin Wong
Camera Utility - C Camera: Ashton Oh
Techno Crane Operator: Christian Hurley
1st AC (A Camera): Mario Contini
2nd AC (A Camera): Ryan G. Murray
1st AC (2nd Unit): Jennifer Anise
2nd AC (2nd Unit): Dominique Chen
1st AC (C Camera): Ioana Vasile
Art Director: Maddi Frezza
Leadman: Chris Sheid
Art Intern: Rainer Weinbrenner
Stunts: Carl Nespoli
Location Manager: Elizabeth Reynolds
Gaffer: Kevin Miller
Electric: Ramin Shakibaei
Best Boy Electric: Josh Atkin
Key Grip: Richard Fezzey
Best Boy Grip: Julien Janigo
Grip: Ryan Gerkins
Swing: Paul Monroe
FSO: Bob Perez
Playback: Josh Bissett
Production Assistant: Josh Williams
Versions
Note: Only the date of the very first release of each version is listed.
Studio
| Title | Album | Length | Recorded | Released | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Final Masquerade | The Hunting Party | 3:37 | 2013-2014 | June 8, 2014 |
|
| Final Masquerade | Final Masquerade | 3:40 | 2013-2014 | September 20, 2014 |
|
| Final Masquerade (Official Video) | 5:04 | 2013-2014 | July 30, 2014 |
| |
| Final Masquerade (Acoustic) | Final Masquerade (Acoustic) | 3:50 | 2015 | February 18, 2015 |
|
| Final Masquerade (Instrumental) | The Hunting Party: Acapellas + Instrumentals | 3:40 | 2013-2014 | August 12, 2014 |
|
| Final Masquerade (Acapella) | The Hunting Party: Acapellas + Instrumentals | 3:37 | 2013-2014 | August 12, 2014 |
|
Remix
| Title | Album | Length | Recorded | Released | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Final Masquerade: Lizzi Cloverman | Viscera | 3:59 | 2014 | December 24, 2014 |
|
| Final Masquerade: Lizzi Cloverman (Instrumental) | Viscera (Instrumentals) | 3:59 | 2014 | February 28, 2015 |
|
Live
"Final Masquerade" debuted at the Private Production rehearsal held in West Palm Beach, Florida, two days before the start of the Carnivores Tour in August 2014. It debuted to the public eye two days later on the first date of the Carnivores Tour, also in West Palm Beach. It was one of two new songs from The Hunting Party to debut on the Carnivores Tour, the other song being "Rebellion". When performed live, Mike plays keyboards throughout the song, as well as second guitar in the choruses.
In May 2015, the song was dropped from the setlists, which included festival performances. The song returned in June for their short tour in Mexico, in Monterrey and Mexico City, in the full U.S. Festival setlist.
Throughout 2014 and 2015, the song was performed acoustically at various events. There are two different live acoustic versions of the song: one performed at the 10th LPU Summit featuring Chester, Mike, and Brad (this version was also performed at the private Machine Shop Acoustic Set in January 2015) and a version featuring only Brad and Chester, performed at the 11th LPU Summit. Neither version is the same as the studio version of the acoustic rendition released in February 2015.
Promotion
Personnel
Linkin Park is
- Chester Bennington
- Rob Bourdon
- Brad Delson
- Phoenix
- Joe Hahn
- Mike Shinoda
Production
- Produced by Mike Shinoda and Brad Delson
- "Final Masquerade" co-produced by Emile Haynie
- Lyrics & Vocals by Mike Shionda and Chester Bennington
- Background Vocals by Brad Delson, Joe Hahn, Rob Bourdon, and Phoenix
- Additional Lyrics by Brad Delson
- Engineering by Ethan Mates and Mike Shinoda
- Digital editing by Josh Newell
- Assistant Engineer: Alejandro Baima
- Additional Assistant Engineers: Brendan Dekora and Jennifer Langdon
- Studio Electro Tech: Warren Willis
- Studio Drum Tech: Jerry Johnson
- Album Production Coordination: Ryan DeMarti
- Recorded at Larrabee Sound Studios, North Hollywood, CA
- Additional Recording at EastWest Studios and Glenwood Place Studios
- Mixed by Andy Wallace
- Pro Tools Engineered by Paul Suarez
- Assisted by Del Bowers
- Mastered by Emily Lazar at The Lodge
- Assisted by Rich Morales
Lyrics
Tearing me apart with / the words you wouldn't say
Suddenly tomorrow's / moment washed away
'Cause I don't have a reason, and you don't have the time
But we both keep on waiting for something we won't find
The light on the horizon
Was brighter yesterday
With shadows floating over
The scars begin to fade
We said it was forever
But then it slipped away
Standing at the end of
The final masquerade
The final masquerade
All I ever wanted / the secrets that you keep
All you ever wanted / the truth I couldn't speak
'Cause I can't see forgiveness, and you can't see the crime
But we both keep on waiting for what we left behind
The light on the horizon
Was brighter yesterday
With shadows floating over
The scars begin to fade
We said it was forever
But then it slipped away
Standing at the end of
The final masquerade
The final masquerade
The final masquerade
Standing at the end of
The final masquerade
The light on the horizon
Was brighter yesterday
With shadows floating over
The scars begin to fade
We said it was forever
But then it slipped away
Standing at the end of
The final masquerade
Oh, woah, oh
Oh, WOAH, oh
Standing at the end of (Oh, oh, oh)
The final masquerade (Oh, woah, oh)
Oh, woah, oh
Oh, WOAH, oh
Standing at the end of (Oh, woah, oh)
The final masquerade (Oh, woah, oh)
The final masquerade (Oh)
Oh, woah, oh
Gallery
-
Single
-
Benelux promo CD
-
Acoustic version
In Other Media
- "Final Masquerade" is featured in Linkin Park's 2014 videogame LP Recharge - Wastelands.
External Links
- Final Masquerade (Music Video): LPTV | MTV | LP FB
- Final Masquerade [Official Lyric Video]: LPTV | LP FB
- Final Masquerade (Guitar Center Sessions 2014) - Guitar Center
- Linkin Park - Final Masquerade (Official Spot)