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Green Day's Wake-Up Call
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As proud punks at heart, Green Day have never shied away from speaking their minds. Their new single Wake Me Up When September Ends is no exception. The Bay Area band and KROQ favorite is causing waves with an artsy, anti-war music video. [watch: Quicktime 7 | Windows Media]
During a time in which MTV plays more Real World/Road Rules Marathons than actual videos, LAist was amazed to read that this video topped TRL. We just wonder if the fans stopped screaming long enough to hear the dialogue between Evan Rachel Wood and Jamie Bell?
Green Day hired creative guru Samuel Bayer to direct the video. Bayer is best known for directing Nirvana's groundbreaking Smells Like Teen Spirit. If you're expecting anything as moody or gritty as the aforementioned, you'll be sorely disappointed. This video is decidedly glossier and more accessible. The result is a seven minute "mini-movie" in which the band provides the backdrop for a war-torn couple.
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It was gutsy for Green Day to go out on a limb. However, we're not quite sold on the treatment. Don't get us wrong, we wanted to love this. Although the opening scenes are beautiful, the dialogue seems a bit like vintage Dawson's Creek--overly dramatic and not quite convincing. We think the visuals would be even stronger without the performance clips, which removed us from the story. Despite these picks and pans, teens will likely identify with Bell and Wood. And the shrill 14-year-olds on TRL would likely panic if they didn't catch a glimpse of Billie Joe Armstrong.
The song and video are predictable. The dialogue is sappy. But if this long-form video pushes other artists to produce better music videos again, then all hope is not lost. Likewise, if this saves all of us from hearing the whiny cast of Real World: Austin for seven minutes, then it's a good thing.
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