Wednesday, May 23, 2012

Astronaut

It figures that after struggling for weeks to come up with a video to post, I can now find one everywhere I look.

Song: Astronaut 
Artist: Simple Plan

This is not the first time a band has used being an astronaut as a metaphor for being alone and forgotten, but out of those that I've heard this one might just have the most powerful imagery and story.

Lyrically, the song tells the tale of an astronaut who left Earth and then is stuck out in space alone because "the world forgot" about him, and all he wants is to find somebody else and be able to come down. The video plays to that plot line, as the majority of it is of an astronaut wandering around alone looking for signs of life until he finally finds somebody else out there at long last.

The song itself is very intense, with whatever chord they played it in fitting so well with the longing and desire such a lonely astronaut would likely feel. And for the most part, it stays true to describing an astronaut left out in space, with only the opening to the chorus signaling the presence of a metaphor with "tonight I'm feeling like an astronaut" after having spent the rest of the song describing what feeling like an astronaut would actually be like. All-in-all, that subtle use of a metaphor makes for a very unique, powerful track.

Personally, watching this video it definitely tugs at my heartstrings something fierce to see someone so lonely. Maybe it's just because I know the feeling, but regardless of why, the way it was filmed to show all that raw emotion was absolutely brilliant and not only sticks with the story but gives it a very definite life.

The song also happens to be ridiculously catchy, which maybe explains why it's been on loop for me for about a week now.

Sunday, May 20, 2012

30 Seconds to Mars

For the longest time, I had heard this band's name tossed around, but never thought to give them a serious listen until a couple months after I had first heard one of their songs in history class.

Artist: 30 Seconds to Mars

If you look past their Guinness World Record, MTV's banning of one of their music videos, the lawsuit they were on the receiving end of, the fact that their front-man was/is a somewhat famous actor, and their humanitarian efforts among many other interesting highlights, you'll find quite the talented, unique band.

30 Seconds to Mars has a very alternative feel, acquired mostly through the usage of various electronic sounds and effects. Over time, they've become quite famous for their live shows, as the energy level they create and thrive in is unbelievable. It would follow that such energy is also present in their music, thanks to the insane drumming, precise guitar, and intense vocals they produce.

Since their inception in 1998, they've released three studio albums and three EPs, all along the way being compared to the likes of Pink Floyd and Tool due to their experimental music and lyrical content.

Some of their standout tracks include;
• Kings and Queens
• Capricorn (A Brand New Name)
• From Yesterday
• Hurricane
• The Kill
• A Beautiful Lie
• Attack
• Closer to the Edge
• Edge of the Earth
• This Is War

But a select few of my other personal-favorite-but-maybe-just-not-as-"standout"/famous tracks are;
• L490
• Alibi
• Oblivion
• Search and Destroy
• Hurricane (Unplugged)
• Stranger In a Strange Land
• Valhalla (an unreleased track)
• Night of the Hunter 

I strongly suggest that if you like what you hear above, you continue your way through their discography, because it's literally all remarkable, even if it's not as well-known and/or respected. And while you're at it, take the time to look up some of their music videos, as the majority of them are quite remarkable in production quality and content.

Tuesday, May 1, 2012

Predictable

So naturally, the day after I give up on finding a music video to spotlight is when I finally remember one of my favorites that I had intended to mention a while back.

Song: Predictable
Artist: Good Charlotte

Before posting this, I searched through this site about a dozen times in utter disbelief that I hadn't already talked about this one. But the results came back that surprisingly I had indeed forgotten about it, so I'm going to make up for that lack.

The video is set in two contrasting scenes. The first, during the verses, is one of singer Joel Madden walking down the street of a seemingly perfect neighborhood, looking entirely out of place. The farther he goes, he starts to pass by vignettes of his band-mates where there's clearly something a little off, such as a lemonade stand that sells "Forgotten Dreams" and "Lost Hopes." Everyone he passes looks at him like he's the one who's odd, and that uncomfortable feeling properly sets the tone for the rest of the video as well as the song.

The second scenery, during the each chorus, is of the entire band performing in a kind of "Dr. Suess-meets-Tim Burton" storybook-esque room, where shadows are abundant and proportions are wacked. Actually, the conceptual art for the video (and the actual art from the intro) was created by guitarist Billy Martin, who drew his inspiration from Tim Burton's works.

In the song itself, there's a string part during the verses that helps to set everything on edge, and the guitar on top of that is borderline mysterious/creepy. Those parts are instrumentally more prominent thanks to the great minimalistic backdrop the drums and bass provide. And of course, Madden's vocals give this track the vibe of an angst-y punk rock-type ballad, complete with a couple of all-out rants even.

Apparently, it was written about Joel and Benji's father, and how he had left them when they were growing up, although it does easily double as describing a typical relationship saga.