"Prison Sex" is a song by American rock band Tool. Frontman Maynard James Keenan wrote the lyrics.[1] The song was released as the second single from their debut studio album Undertow. The song uses a modified drop-B tuning. The track features an "anti-climax" coda,[2] in which memorable verses and choruses dissolve into an unrelated, quiet final section.
The video for "Prison Sex" was created with stop-motion animation techniques, and was directed by the band's guitarist Adam Jones (who had previous experience in art direction and animation, including work on the dinosaurs in Jurassic Park) and was edited by Ken Andrews. The video was removed from the MTV playlist due to its disturbing content. "Prison Sex" was also nominated for 1994's MTV Music Video Awards' Best Special Effects category.[3] The music video later showed on an episode of Beavis and Butt-head.
The video primarily revolves around a battered white humanoid, robotic-like doll figure trapped in a room full of cabinets that contain other humanoids, such as a caterpillar with the main humanoid's face, a jar with a wasp inside, a robotic character with a little child's face that twists and turns, and a being made out of what looks like meat and feces. During various points in the video the main character is confronted by a larger black humanoid who causes the doll to go catatonic. While catatonic, the black figure molests the doll with a paintbrush. In the beginning of the video, the black figure severs the doll's legs (even though they still move by themselves) and hangs them out of reach of the doll. By the end of the video, the doll subjects itself to the abuse by painting itself. In the final shot, it is revealed that the doll was in its own cabinet the whole time when the black figure closes the cabinet door.
Controversyedit
With the release of the 1993 single "Prison Sex" and its music video, directed and created by Adam Jones, MuchMusic called the band into question by deeming the video too graphic and offensive,[4] later running an episode of its Too Much 4 Much series to discuss the video.
MTV stopped airing the "Prison Sex" video after a few viewings due to its symbolism depicting the sensitive subject of child abuse.[5]Maynard James Keenan, who wrote the lyrics, has been quite clear in concerts about his dislike for his stepfather.[6]
Before a live performance of "Prison Sex" on November 29, 1996, in Montreal, Quebec, Keenan stated:
"This song is about recognizing, identifying, the cycle of abuse within yourself. That's the first step of the process: realization; identifying. The next step is to work through it. But, this song is about the first step in the process, which is recognizing."[7]
^Wiederhorn, Jon (July 10, 2020). "The Story Behind The Song: Tool's Prison Sex". Metal Hammer (published in Metal Hammer #326). Retrieved October 3, 2020.
^Osborn, Brad (2013). "Subverting the Verse–Chorus Paradigm: Terminally Climactic Song Forms in Recent Rock Music". Music Theory Spectrum. 35 (1): 24. doi:10.1525/mts.2013.35.1.23. hdl:1808/19147.
^Toolshed article by Adam Morrison — publication: Circus magazine
^Roman Sokal (2001). "Stepping Out From the Shadows". Retrieved March 6, 2006.
^"A Tool for the Truly Cool - Big hit of Lollapalooza tour gears up for second album". San Francisco Chronicle. 1994. Retrieved March 2, 2006.
^Kabir Akhtar. "F10" (TXT). The Tool FAQ. Retrieved March 2, 2006.
^Tool - Prison Sex (Live In Montreal, QC - 11-29-'96). 1996. Archived from the original on December 18, 2021. Retrieved July 2, 2011 – via YouTube.
^"Tool Chart History (Mainstream Rock)". Billboard. Retrieved August 7, 2017.
^"Tool Chart History (Hot Rock & Alternative Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved February 27, 2021.
External linksedit
Wikiquote has quotations related to Prison Sex.
March 23, 2024
prison, prison, phenomenon, prison, sexuality, song, american, rock, band, tool, frontman, maynard, james, keenan, wrote, lyrics, song, released, second, single, from, their, debut, studio, album, undertow, song, uses, modified, drop, tuning, track, features, . For the prison phenomenon see Prison sexuality Prison Sex is a song by American rock band Tool Frontman Maynard James Keenan wrote the lyrics 1 The song was released as the second single from their debut studio album Undertow The song uses a modified drop B tuning The track features an anti climax coda 2 in which memorable verses and choruses dissolve into an unrelated quiet final section Prison Sex Single by Toolfrom the album UndertowReleased1993Recorded1992GenreAlternative metalLength4 56LabelZooSongwriter s Danny Carey Paul D Amour Adam Jones Maynard James KeenanProducer s Tool Sylvia MassyTool singles chronology Sober 1993 Prison Sex 1993 Stinkfist 1996 Contents 1 Music video 2 Controversy 3 Track listing 3 1 UK version citation needed 3 2 German version citation needed 3 3 Australian citation needed 3 4 Promotional radio version citation needed 4 Release history 5 Charts 6 References 7 External linksMusic video editThe video for Prison Sex was created with stop motion animation techniques and was directed by the band s guitarist Adam Jones who had previous experience in art direction and animation including work on the dinosaurs in Jurassic Park and was edited by Ken Andrews The video was removed from the MTV playlist due to its disturbing content Prison Sex was also nominated for 1994 s MTV Music Video Awards Best Special Effects category 3 The music video later showed on an episode of Beavis and Butt head The video primarily revolves around a battered white humanoid robotic like doll figure trapped in a room full of cabinets that contain other humanoids such as a caterpillar with the main humanoid s face a jar with a wasp inside a robotic character with a little child s face that twists and turns and a being made out of what looks like meat and feces During various points in the video the main character is confronted by a larger black humanoid who causes the doll to go catatonic While catatonic the black figure molests the doll with a paintbrush In the beginning of the video the black figure severs the doll s legs even though they still move by themselves and hangs them out of reach of the doll By the end of the video the doll subjects itself to the abuse by painting itself In the final shot it is revealed that the doll was in its own cabinet the whole time when the black figure closes the cabinet door Controversy editWith the release of the 1993 single Prison Sex and its music video directed and created by Adam Jones MuchMusic called the band into question by deeming the video too graphic and offensive 4 later running an episode of its Too Much 4 Much series to discuss the video MTV stopped airing the Prison Sex video after a few viewings due to its symbolism depicting the sensitive subject of child abuse 5 Maynard James Keenan who wrote the lyrics has been quite clear in concerts about his dislike for his stepfather 6 Before a live performance of Prison Sex on November 29 1996 in Montreal Quebec Keenan stated This song is about recognizing identifying the cycle of abuse within yourself That s the first step of the process realization identifying The next step is to work through it But this song is about the first step in the process which is recognizing 7 Track listing editUK version citation needed edit Prison Sex Undertow live Opiate live Prison Sex radio edit German version citation needed edit Prison Sex Intolerance live Undertow live Opiate live Australian citation needed edit Prison Sex Intolerance live Undertow live Opiate live Prison Sex radio edit Promotional radio version citation needed edit Prison Sex radio edit Prison Sex Release history editRegion Date Label Format CatalogGermany 1993 Zoo CD 74321 19049 2UK Vinyl 74321 19432 1UK CD 74321 19432 2Australia 1994 CD 74321 19049 2UK Promo vinyl TOOL 002Charts editChart 1994 PeakpositionUK Singles OCC 8 81US Mainstream Rock Billboard 9 32Chart 2019 PeakpositionUS Hot Rock amp Alternative Songs Billboard 10 18References edit Wiederhorn Jon July 10 2020 The Story Behind The Song Tool s Prison Sex Metal Hammer published in Metal Hammer 326 Retrieved October 3 2020 Osborn Brad 2013 Subverting the Verse Chorus Paradigm Terminally Climactic Song Forms in Recent Rock Music Music Theory Spectrum 35 1 24 doi 10 1525 mts 2013 35 1 23 hdl 1808 19147 Toolshed article by Adam Morrison publication Circus magazine Roman Sokal 2001 Stepping Out From the Shadows Retrieved March 6 2006 A Tool for the Truly Cool Big hit of Lollapalooza tour gears up for second album San Francisco Chronicle 1994 Retrieved March 2 2006 Kabir Akhtar F10 TXT The Tool FAQ Retrieved March 2 2006 Tool Prison Sex Live In Montreal QC 11 29 96 1996 Archived from the original on December 18 2021 Retrieved July 2 2011 via YouTube Official Singles Chart Top 100 Official Charts Company Retrieved February 27 2021 Tool Chart History Mainstream Rock Billboard Retrieved August 7 2017 Tool Chart History Hot Rock amp Alternative Songs Billboard Retrieved February 27 2021 External links edit nbsp Wikiquote has quotations related to Prison Sex Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Prison Sex amp oldid 1190731976, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
