| "High Voltage" | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Song by Hybrid Theory | |
| from the album Hybrid Theory EP | |
| Working title: | Siamo |
| Recorded: | 1999 |
| Released: | 1999 |
| Length: | 03:30 |
| Stems: | Akai MPC 1000 |
| Time signature: | 4/4 |
| Tempo: | 94 |
| Key: | A Minor |
| Live debut: | January 26, 2001 |
| Last performed: | September 16, 2001 (Linkin Park) September 8, 2015 (Fort Minor) |
| Writer: | Brad Delson, Joseph Hahn, Mike Shinoda |
| Producer: | Mike Shinoda |
| Hybrid Theory EP tracklist | |
"High Voltage" is a song written by Mike Shinoda, Joe Hahn, and Brad Delson in 1999. Its original version was released that year on the Hybrid Theory EP. Kyle Christener is credited for bass on the original EP but his name was removed from subsequent issues. He originally claimed that his bass tracks weren't used in the EP,[1] but later retracted that statement. "Though Christner was once under the misimpression that his bass parts were re-recorded on the EP after he left the band, he has, upon closer review, identified his bass playing on the edition of the EP included in the box set," his 2023 lawsuit reads.[2][3] Despite not having a songwriting credit, Chester Bennington has vocals on the song.
Background
"High Voltage" is derivative of "Intergalactic" by the Beastie Boys, which came out in 1998 on the album Hello Nasty. The "guitar" on the song is a one-note guitar sample that's pitched up and down.
When questioned who the "Akira" in the lyrics was, Mike in 2001 said, "akira is a name i used to go by for a short period. it's from the movie, and it's the long version of my brother's middle name, akio"[4]
Demo
In the June 2019 leak of Hybrid Party Of A Thousand Things, two instrumental demos of "High Voltage" were included from Mike's MPC, titled "Siamo" and "Siamo2."
Remix
Mike Shinoda Remix
At some point either just before or during the Hybrid Theory sessions, the song was remixed by Mike Shinoda for possible inclusion on the album, but it didn't make it to the final tracklist. Jeff Blue says that he owns a demo CD of the album with the song placed after "Cure For The Itch." Instead, the remix was released on the UK editon of the "One Step Closer" single and Japanese edition of the album. This version of the song is the one Linkin Park began playing live in January 2001. When introducing the song at the London show in September 2001, Mike said, "We're going to play a b-side for you, something that's not on the album. It made it onto the b-side of "One Step Closer" here in the U.K. - check it out, it's "High Voltage!"[5] Later on the tour, Mike added, "It's a song we kind of did before the album but we had second thoughts and decided to put it out afterwards."
Talking to Theprp.com on December 9, 2000, Mike Shinoda said: "The "One Step Closer" Import single will feature a remix (by me) of an older hip hop track of ours called "High Voltage", along with a slower song called "My December". What's nice for me about these things is that I did the majority of the writing on those songs, and I produced and mixed both."[6] In addition to Brad Delson, Joseph Hahn and Mike Shinoda, Chester Bennington is credited as a songwriter on this version of "High Voltage".
The beginning of the track features strings from the end of "Cure For The Itch." Mike was asked about this on Twitch and answered, "So I had this rack mounted keyboard unit and I forget what it was, it was a Roland keyboard unit with these certain string sounds and I used those on a few songs at the time. I forget which ones I used it on. I used it on those two, I think I used them on "By Myself." I used them a couple of times, so that's why that sound popped up, because I liked that sound and I used it on a few things."[7]
The voiceover/sampled talking on the remix is done by Lee Cadena, the creator of Urban Network's Rapology series. He is also the voice on the "Lee Interlude" used on Linkin Park shows in 2001.[8] Mike said, "He was the voice on the phone on High Voltage. Lee.... Joe actually worked for Lee for a while. There was a hip hop industry magazine called Urban Network and Lee was like the boss over there and Joe worked for Lee. Shout out to Lee. I haven't seen that guy in like forever."[9]
When recording Meteora, Linkin Park sampled the chorus line "Coming at you from every side" by Mike Shinoda in this remix for both the intro and outro of "Nobody's Listening." The line is not present in the original version of "High Voltage" from the Hybrid Theory EP, but appears in the redone/reworked chorus in Mike's remix done later.
Reanimation
Linkin Park released a remix of "High Voltage" on Reanimation in July 2002 titled "H! Vltg3." The track was remixed by Evidence and cut by DJ Babu, both from the hip hop group Dilated Peoples, with additional production by Porse 1. The track was edited by DJ Revolution and mixed by Troy Staton. Pharoahe Monch guests with a rap verse on the track.
Versions
Note: Only the date of the very first release of each version is listed.
Studio
| Title | Album | Length | Recorded | Released | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| High Voltage | Hybrid Theory EP | 3:30 | 1999 | 1999 | |
| High Voltage | Hybrid Theory EP (Re-Issue) | 3:30 | 1999 | November 19, 2001 |
|
| High Voltage | One Step Closer (UK Single)
In The End (JP EP) |
3:45 | 2000 | January 15, 2001 |
|
| Siamo | Hybrid Party Of A Thousand Things | 3:35 |
| ||
| Siamo2 | Hybrid Party Of A Thousand Things | 3:55 |
|
Remix
| Title | Album | Length | Recorded | Released | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| H! Vltg3 | Reanimation | 3:30 | 2001 | July 30, 2002 |
|
| H! Vltg3 | Pts.Of.Athrty
Pts.Of.Athrty / H! Vltg3 H! Vltg3 |
3:32 | 2001 | July 19, 2002 |
|
| H! Vltg3 | "Reanimation" Internal Demo | 3:14 | 2001 |
| |
| H! Vltg3 (Instrumental) | H! Vltg3
Reanimation - Instrumentals |
3:23 | 2001 | 2002 |
|
| H! Vltg3 (Acapella) | H! Vltg3 | 3:23 | 2001 | 2002 |
|
Live
| Title | Album | Length | Recorded | Released | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| High Voltage (Live) | LP Underground 2.0 | 4:02 | September 16, 2001 | November 18, 2002 |
|
| High Voltage | Hybrid Theory (Mastered For iTunes) | 3:38 | August 09, 2001 | January 15, 2013 |
|
| High Voltage | Hybrid Theory (20th Anniversary Edition) | 4:40 | January 30, 2001 | October 9, 2020 |
|
| High Voltage | Hybrid Theory (20th Anniversary Edition) | 4:07 | June 03, 2001 | October 9, 2020 |
|
Live
"High Voltage" became a signature part of Linkin Park's setlists when it debuted on the Street Soldiers Tour in 2001, where it appeared mid-set. The song was performed as the Mike Shinoda Remix version found on the "One Step Closer" single, which features a reworked instrumental. After that initial tour, the song was dropped on the following one (Deftones' Back To School Tour), barring the final show of the tour. At the second night in Manchester, England, Mike gave the crowd a choice between two songs: "Pushing Me Away" or a "really old song not on the album" - "High Voltage". The crowd response prompted for "High Voltage" being performed, so "Pushing Me Away" was scrapped for this last show. The song remained in the setlist until the Ozzfest, before returning for the first half of the Fall European Tour, where it was dropped in favor of adding "Step Up" into the setlist. The Dilated Peoples joined the band for the last performance of the song in London, England. "High Voltage" has not made a full appearance in Linkin Park's setlists since.
Snippets of "High Voltage" have found their way into the sets since the Hybrid Theory touring cycle, still. Both verses were occasionally rapped over the extended intro of "Points Of Authority" during the Minutes To Midnight touring cycle. There was one instance during The Hunting Party touring cycle where Mike rapped the first verse of the song over his solo medley - this happened in Bremen, Germany.
When Fort Minor made a comeback in 2015, "High Voltage" eventually found its way into the live sets. After his first show of Fort Minor's string of European shows, Mike ran an online poll for fans to vote in which song should be added to the setlist.[10] The choices were "High Voltage", "Step Up", "Second To None", "Red To Black", "Right Now", and "High Voltage" won in a landslide victory. It debuted for the at the Fort Minor show in Berlin, Germany, where it was mashed up with parts of "Suicide Music" from The Raid: Redemption score and "C.R.E.A.M." by Wu-Tang Clan. The outro featured parts of "Rebel Without A Pause" by Public Enemy, and was dubbed the "Funk Rebel Break" Outro on the printed setlist. This marked the first full performance of "High Voltage" in any form in 14 years, and the song stayed in the following Fort Minor setlists.
On the world tour for Post Traumatic, Mike brought parts of "High Voltage" in to the set. On the tour, "Sorry For Now" was always performed with an extended bridge and sometimes featured the demo verse of "Sorry For Now" rapped over it. However, Mike began changing it up and would bring in the "High Voltage" first verse and chorus on it. Near the end of the 2019 European Tour, Mike brought "Lift Off" into the setlist and would often use the first verse and chorus of "High Voltage" in the song along with parts of other tracks like "Step Up", "Nobody's Listening", "Hands Held High", and more.
Variations
Linkin Park
Last Updated: August 12, 2016
| Type | Description | First Played | Last Played |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alternative | Mike Shinoda Remix | January 26, 2001 | September 16, 2001 |
Fort Minor
Last Updated: August 12, 2016
| Type | Description | First Played | Last Played |
|---|---|---|---|
| Outro | Funk Rebel Break | September 2, 2015 | September 8, 2015 |
| Alternative | Mashup w/ "Suicide Music" and "C.R.E.A.M." by Wu-Tang Clan | September 2, 2015 | September 8, 2015 |
Personnel
Hybrid Theory EP
- Written by M Shinoda, J Hahn, B Delson
- Produced by Mike Shinoda
- Produced and mixed by Mike Shinoda
- Mastered by Pat Kraus
One Step Closer
- Written by: Mike Shinoda, Joseph Hahn, Brad Delson & Chester Bennington
- Produced & Engineered by: Mike Shinoda
- Mixed by: Mike Shinoda
Lyrics
Just do something to tell you who I am, ya know?
Uh (x38)
It's high voltage you can't shake the shock
Because nobody wants it to stop, check it out
It's high voltage you can't shake the shock
Because nobody wants it to stop, check it out (Ah)
It's high voltage you can't shake the shock
Because nobody wants it to stop, check it out
It's high voltage you can't shake the shock
Because nobody wants it to stop, check it out
I've been taking into crates ever since I was livin' in space
Before the ratrace, before monkeys had human traits
Mastered numerology and bigbang theology
Performed lobotomies with telekinetic psychology
Invented the mic so I could start blessin it
And chincheckin kids to make my point like an impressionist
Many men have tried to shake us
But I twist mic cords to double helixes and show them what I'm made of
I buckle knees like leg braces
Cast the spell of instrumental-ness and all of the emcees that hate us
So try on, leave you without a shoulder to cry on
From now to infinity let icons be bygones
I fire bomb ghostly notes haunt this
I've tried threats but moved on to a promise
I stomp shit with or without an accomplice
(Mixed media)
The stamp of approval is on this
It's high voltage you can't shake the shock
Because nobody wants it to stop, check it out
It's high voltage you can't shake the shock
Because nobody wants it to stop, check it out
Akira, put a kink in the backbones of clones with microphones
Never satisfy my rhyme jones
Sprayin' bright day over what you might say
Blood type krylon
Technicolor type A
On highways right with road rage I'm patient to win
The cage and the tin to bounce all around
In surround sound devouring the scene
Subliminal gangrene paintings
Overall the same things sing songs karaoke copy madness
Break bones verbally with sticks and stone tactics
Fourth dimension, combat convention
Write rhymes at ease while the tracks stand at attention (Attention)
Meant to put you away with the pencil
Pistol, official, 16 line rhyme missile
While you risk your all, I pick out all your flaws
Spittin', raw blah blah blah blah
You can say you saw
It's high voltage you can't shake the shock
Because nobody wants it to stop, check it out
It's high voltage you can't shake the shock
Because nobody wants it to stop, check it out
It's high voltage you can't shake the shock (Ah)
Because nobody wants it to stop, check it out
It's high voltage you can't shake the shock
Because nobody wants it to stop, check it out
Uh (x72)
It's high voltage you can't shake the shock
Because nobody wants it to stop, check it out
It's high voltage you can't shake the shock
Because nobody wants it to stop, check it out (Ah)
It's high voltage you can't shake the shock
Because nobody wants it to stop, check it out
It's high voltage you can't shake the shock
Because nobody wants it to stop, check it out
(Mixed Media)
(Akira)
(Mr. Hahn)
(And)
(Hybrid Theory)
"You know what I mean?
You could put a label on a life
Put a label on a lifestyle"
(Sometimes)
"You know
Put a label on how you wake up every morning
And go to bed at night"
Hybrid
I've been digging into crates ever since I was living in space
Before the ratrace, before monkeys had human traits
I mastered numerology and Big Bang theology
Performed lobotomies with telekinetic psychology
Invented the mic so I could start blessing it
Chin-checking kids to make my point like an impressionist
Many men have tried to shake us
But I twist mic cords to double-helixes
And show them what I'm made of
I buckle knees like leg-braces
Cast a spell of instrumentalness on all of you emcees who hate us
So you can try on, leave you without a shoulder to cry on
From now to infinity let icons be by-gones
I fire-bomb, ghostly notes haunt this
I tried threats but moved onto a promise
I stomp shit with or without an accomplice
And run the gauntlet with whoever that wants this
High voltage
This is the unforgettable sound
High voltage
Bringing you up and taking you down
High voltage
Coming at you from every side
High voltage
Making the rhythm and rhyme collide
Akira
I put a kink in the backbones of clones with microphones
Never satisfy my rhyme jones
Spraying bright day over what you might say
My blood type's Krylon, Technicolor Type-A
On highways right with roadrage
Cages of wind and cages of tin that bounce all around
Surround sound devouring the scene
Subliminal gangrene, overall the same things
Singsong karaoke copy bullshit
Break bones verbally with sticks-and-stone tactics
Fourth dimension, combat convention
Write rhymes at ease while the track stands at attention
Meant to put you away with the pencil, pistol
Official sixteen-line-a-rhyme missile
While you risk your all I pick out all your flaws
Spin rah-blah-blah-blah, you can say you saw
High voltage
This is the unforgettable sound
High voltage
Bringing you up and taking you down
High voltage
Coming at you from every side
High voltage
Making the rhythm and rhyme collide
High voltage
This is the unforgettable sound
High voltage
Bringing you up and taking you down
High voltage
Coming at you from every side
High voltage
Making the rhythm and rhyme collide
"And, like, the rock and rap
You know what I mean
People acting like, you know
'Wow, that's a new invention'
That shit ain't new
It's constantly evolving
We're constantly changing"
(Sometimes)
"There's a lot of change
Everybody's always up with the labels
There ain't no label for this shit
They're always going to try
To put a label on it
To try to create something
So they can water it down"
Sometimes I feel like a prophet
Misunderstood, under the gun like a new disease
Sometimes I feel like a prophet
Misunderstood, under the gun like a new disease
High voltage
This is the unforgettable sound
High voltage
Bringing you up and taking you down
High voltage
Coming at you from every side
High voltage
Making the rhythm and rhyme collide
High voltage
This is the unforgettable sound
High voltage
Bringing you up and taking you down
High voltage
Coming at you from every side
High voltage
Making the rhythm and rhyme collide
High voltage
This is the unforgettable sound
High voltage
Bringing you up and taking you down
High voltage
Coming at you from every side
High voltage
Making the rhythm and rhyme collide
High voltage
This is the unforgettable sound
High voltage
Bringing you up and taking you down
High voltage
Coming at you from every side
High voltage
Making the rhythm and rhyme collide
"You know what I mean?
You can put a label on a lifestyle (label on a lifestyle)"
Gallery
-
High Voltage screen from Frat Party At The Pankake Festival
References
- ↑ Hybrid Origins: A Look Back At The Early Days - Linkin Park Live, June 2021
- ↑ Linkin Park Sued by Bassist Seeking Unpaid Royalties From 1999, November 09, 2023
- ↑ LINKIN PARK Sued By Former Bassist Over 1999 Recordings - BLABBERMOUTH.NET, November 09, 2023
- ↑ linkinpark.com chat 010710, July 10, 2001
- ↑ YouTube: linkinparkpoland - Linkin Park - High Voltage (Live in London 2001) HD, October 23, 2011
- ↑ The PRP - The World's Largest Selection Of Mallcore, Complete With Food Court, December 09, 2000
- ↑ LPLive: Mike Q&A Summary 7/29/2020, July 29, 2020
- ↑ Linkin Park Reacts To A Linkin Park Show From 2001 - YouTube, March 24, 2020
- ↑ Twitch, April 23, 2020
- ↑ Fort Minor: 2015.09.02 - Berlin, Germany - Previous Show Discussion - Linkin Park Live, September 01, 2015