Idolator
Above, the long-overdue video for My Chemical Romance's "Teenagers," a glammy stomp that, when all is said and done, should have been released as the second single from the band's most recent album, The Black Parade. While the song is all T. Rex swagger, though, the accompanying video—which drops MCR into a high-school auditorium—kept conjuring up images in our (admittedly notalgia-damaged) heads that were from a certain clip released 16 years ago. (And we weren't the only ones.) We'll probably get to see more of similarities shine through when "Weird Al" gives the MCR video/song the inevitable Green Acres-themed treatment, but for now, here's what we noticed:
Dreary High School Gathering Place
MCR: Auditorium.
Nirvana: Gym.
"Edgy" Accessory Flaunted By Cheerleaders
MCR: Gas masks, gun-looking objects.
Nirvana: Armpit hair, anarchy symbols.
Semi-Synchronized Gesture That Indicates Crowd Approval
MCR: Saluting.
Nirvana: Headbanging.
Crowd-Storming-Stage-Scene?
MCR: Yes—and the cheerleaders look scared.
Nirvana: Yes—and the cheerleaders hold their own, even though the possibility of crowd-surfers clocking them in the head with a steel-toed boot is high.
Solitary Figure At Clip's End
MCR: Hotline for "reaching out" if you're feeling violent. (Wait, what about working out your aggressions in the pit?)
Nirvana: Tied-up guy in a dunce cap—who, no doubt, would love to "reach out," given the chance.
My Chemical Romance - Teenagers (real music video) [YouTube]
Nirvana - Smells Like Teen Spirit [YouTube]
Here We Are Now: My Chemical Romance "Teenagers" [Obtusity]
Comments
Well, there's nothing calculated about that, is there? Jesus, it's like the song was written and produced by a focus group at misShapes.
surprised they aren't all wearing doc martens.
Every time I hear this song, it turns into "Itsy Bitsy Teeny Weeny Yellow Polka Dot Bikini" in my head.
song is great, band is great, record is great, full stop.
I'll give you that the cheerleaders are strikingly reminiscent of the Nirvana ones, but it's not like the high school auditorium thing was all that original when Nirvana did it. It seems like a pretty obvious choice for a music video called "Teenagers."
It reminded me more of a combination of the MCR videos for "I'm Okay" and "Ghost of You."
So how long until this song pops up in a commercial? And what will the product be?
Let the betting begin.
Actually, I really do like this song. I am just waiting for it to be ruined.
You know, after that monstrocity of a video/song. I'm done. I'm done posting snarky comments on Ultragrrl's blog. I'm done trading warez'd copies of Starcraft 2 to hyperactive Koreans in an attempt to DoS Myspace. They've won.
Our only consolation is that Jack White will meet them in a dark alley some night and lay down some of the ol' ultraviolence.
Why does this make me feel old? I'm only 23, for fucks sake.
@KurticusMaximus:
The fact that they went for the obvious choice, though, is indicative of the amount of thought involved. Not that a wacky arbitrary choice would be any better.
And anyway, every video at this point should just be directed by Chris Cunningham. If that Horrors band can hire him, MCR can.
Reminds me of the rock remix video of "It's All About The Benjamins"
Which I would link to were it on YouTube...
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