Na Na Na by My Chemical Romance
I truly disliked this video when it was first released. Well, I disliked the song. My inner emo princess is still livid at My Chem for what they have become. But good god it grew on me. And, when I gave the video a proper watch and put my broken heart aside, I suddenly aligned with everyone else on the internet and can now admit that yes, it is a wondrous clip. And a damn catchy ass song.
Gerard Way’s ageless face is probably what allows him to still dye his hair blood red and create a narrative that involves a small child being kidnapped by guys in creepy vampire masks because you feel like it’s still coming from the imagination of a little kid. An incredibly inventive little kid none the less.
But the video for Na Na Na is like an Alex Cox film where purple skies and interracial siblings are the norm. And it’s magical! Some videoS we’ll watch and question why something has been included. Or who that person is. Or what’s going on??? But not with this. With this clip we don’t ask who that radio jock is or why someone is rollerblading in a g-string or why the kid is so important. And it’s not so much that we don’t care. It’s just that somehow, it already makes sense. The video is a beautifully constructed storyline that gives no answers - but doesn’t need explaining.
One of my favourite things about this video is the accompanying lyrics video which is just as much fun. I’ve never been a fan of lyrics videos but I think I would have been ok if only that one was released for this single. Thankfully, we get to experience the full clip as well.
After the departure of their drummer, My Chemical Romance have kind of used this time, and this clip, to reinvent themselves - musically and visually - and the video is a great re-introduction for both fans and noobs. And by leaving the end open in a “to be continued” way makes both old and new fans want to hang around for the next chapter.
Honestly, I just can’t wait for thousands of people to be singing this together all in one arena.
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