Welcome to the Fold

"Welcome to the Fold"
Single by Filter
from the album Title of Record
ReleasedAugust 10, 1999 (1999-08-10)
Genre
Length
  • 7:41 (album version)
  • 4:42 (radio edit)
LabelReprise
Songwriter(s)Richard Patrick
Producer(s)
Filter singles chronology
"One"
(1998) 		"Welcome to the Fold"
(1999) 		"Take a Picture"
(2000)

"Welcome to the Fold" is a song by American rock band Filter, released in August 1999 as the lead single from their second studio album, Title of Record. The song was included on Spin's list of "The 69 Best Alternative Rock Songs of 1999."[3]

Background

The title of the song is based on an album of the same name released in 1998 by a novelty folk-rock band from Cleveland called 100,000 Leagues Under My Nutsack. Filter's bassist, Frank Cavanagh, was friends with 100,000 Leagues' lead singer, and Richard Patrick liked the album so much that he named the song after it.[4]

In 1999, singer Richard Patrick said, "'Welcome to the Fold' is based on being a crazed lunatic. That's what being a mid-20's decadent bachelor is all about. Not giving a flying fuck. I got money. I got a platinum record. I got a band. I've got everything I want and I don't give a flying fuck what I do."[5] Patrick also described it as his favorite song on the album, and said "it's a 10-minute song with three songs in it."[6]

While the song's verses are screamed and the guitar riff is grinding and abrasive, the chorus is more sedate and chord-driven. Patrick described the milder chorus as "the party at the end of the night. The weekend. The celebration of just the fact that we're doing OK, we feel OK."[2]

Music video

The song's music video (directed by Peter Christopherson) begins with an RV driving through a desert, and a man comes out spotting a giant clear cube, in which the band is performing the song inside of. A man comes out and calls on his radio and soon more people in RVs come and set up camp to watch the concert. During the guitar solo, several of the campers jump inside the cube and do some crowd surfing. At the end of the video, the cube floats up in the air and explodes.

Track listings

US 12-inch single

Side A
No.TitleLength
1."Welcome to the Fold" (album version)7:41
2."Welcome to the Fold" (Freq Nasty remix)7:02
Side B
No.TitleLength
1."Welcome to the Fold" (Moving Fusion remix)6:46

US maxi-CD single and UK CD1

No.TitleLength
1."Welcome to the Fold" (clean radio edit)4:42
2."One" (Harry Nilsson cover)4:07
3."(Can't You) Trip Like I Do" (featuring The Crystal Method)4:26

UK CD2

No.TitleLength
1."Welcome to the Fold" (radio edit)4:42
2."Welcome to the Fold" (Freq Nasty remix)6:59
3."Welcome to the Fold" (Moving Fusion remix)6:46
4."Welcome to the Fold" (music video)4:51

Australian maxi-CD single

No.TitleLength
1."Welcome to the Fold" (radio edit)4:42
2."One" (Harry Nilsson cover)4:07
3."Welcome to the Fold" (Freq Nasty remix)7:02
4."Welcome to the Fold" (Moving Fusion remix)6:46

Personnel

Filter

  • Richard Patrick – vocals, guitar, programming
  • Geno Lenardo – guitar, programming
  • Frank Cavanagh – bass
  • Steven Gillis – drums

Additional musicians

Charts

Release history

Region Date Format(s) Label(s) Ref.
United States July 1999
Reprise [14]
August 10, 1999 12-inch vinyl
Canada September 21, 1999 CD [15]
United Kingdom September 27, 1999 [16]

References

  1. ^ "The 99 Greatest Songs of 1999: Critics' Picks". Billboard. April 8, 2019. Retrieved April 26, 2020.
  2. ^ a b "Filter's Richard Patrick". MTV. July 26, 1999. Retrieved April 27, 2020.[dead link‍]
  3. ^ a b "The 69 Best Alternative Rock Songs of 1999". Spin. July 25, 2019. p. 2. Retrieved April 26, 2020.
  4. ^ "News from the Fold". Welcome to the FOLD. September 29, 2002. Retrieved May 19, 2021.
  5. ^ Masuo, Sandy (September 1999). "Hey Man Nice Title: The Triumphant Return of Filter". Guitar Magazine. Retrieved May 19, 2021.
  6. ^ Pettigrew, Jason (January 1999). "The 25 Most Anticipated Albums of 1999". Alternative Press. Retrieved May 19, 2021.
  7. ^ "Filter – Welcome to the Fold". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved December 15, 2021.
  8. ^ "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved December 15, 2021.
  9. ^ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved December 15, 2021.
  10. ^ "Filter Chart History (Alternative Airplay)". Billboard. Retrieved December 15, 2021.
  11. ^ "Filter Chart History (Mainstream Rock)". Billboard. Retrieved December 15, 2021.
  12. ^ "Most Played Mainstream Rock Songs of 1999". Airplay Monitor. Vol. 7, no. 52. December 24, 1999. p. 35.
  13. ^ "Most Played Modern Rock Songs of 1999". Airplay Monitor. Vol. 7, no. 52. December 24, 1999. p. 36.
  14. ^ Bell, Carrie (July 24, 1999). "Filter Takes Its Next Shot with Sophomore Set on Reprise". Billboard. Vol. 111, no. 30. p. 14.
  15. ^ "Album Releases: September 1999". Jam!. Archived from the original on August 29, 2000. Retrieved January 6, 2023.
  16. ^ "New Releases – For Week Starting 27 September, 1999: Singles". Music Week. September 25, 1999. p. 25.