Difference between revisions of "The Nobodies"

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{{Song
 
{{Song
| Name        = The Nobodies
+
|Name        = The Nobodies
| Cover      = HolyWood(InTheShadowOfTheValleyOfDeath).jpg
+
|Cover      = HolyWood(InTheShadowOfTheValleyOfDeath).jpg
| Artist      = [[Marilyn Manson (band)|Marilyn Manson]]
+
|Artist      = [[Marilyn Manson (band)|Marilyn Manson]]
| Album      = [[Holy Wood (In the Shadow of the Valley of Death)]]
+
|Album      = [[Holy Wood (In the Shadow of the Valley of Death)]]
| Released    = November 13, 2000
+
|Released    = November 13, 2000
| Recorded    = 1999–2000 at the Mansion in Death Valley, California
+
|Recorded    = 1999–2000 at the Mansion in Death Valley, California
| Genre      = Alternative metal
+
|Genre      = Alternative metal
| Length      = 3:35
+
|Length      = 3:35
| Label      = [[Nothing Records|Nothing]], [[Interscope Records|Interscope]]
+
|Label      = [[Nothing Records|Nothing]], [[Interscope Records|Interscope]]
| Writer      = [[Marilyn Manson]]
+
|Writer      = [[Marilyn Manson]]
| Composer    = [[John 5]], Marilyn Manson
+
|Composer    = [[John 5]], Marilyn Manson
| Producer    = Marilyn Manson, Dave Sardy
+
|Producer    = Marilyn Manson, Dave Sardy
 
}}
 
}}
 
"'''The Nobodies'''" is the third and final single and the tenth track of the fourth album ''[[Holy Wood (In the Shadow of the Valley of Death)]]''. The song was inspired by the Columbine massacre which took place on April 20, 1999. Also, the title was taken from statements made by Mark David Chapman, John Lennon's assassin, stating that he "felt like a nobody."  
 
"'''The Nobodies'''" is the third and final single and the tenth track of the fourth album ''[[Holy Wood (In the Shadow of the Valley of Death)]]''. The song was inspired by the Columbine massacre which took place on April 20, 1999. Also, the title was taken from statements made by Mark David Chapman, John Lennon's assassin, stating that he "felt like a nobody."  
  
 
==Appearances==
 
==Appearances==
 
 
[[Image:TheNobodies2005.jpg|thumb|right|200px|"The Nobodies" (2005 Against All Gods)]]
 
[[Image:TheNobodies2005.jpg|thumb|right|200px|"The Nobodies" (2005 Against All Gods)]]
 
 
===Albums===
 
===Albums===
 
* ''[[Holy Wood (In the Shadow of the Valley of Death)]]''
 
* ''[[Holy Wood (In the Shadow of the Valley of Death)]]''
Line 34: Line 32:
 
* [[The Nobodies (Stephane K Rock Dub Mix)]] <small>&mdash; Appears on the ''The Nobodies: 2005 Against All Gods Mix'' EP.</small>
 
* [[The Nobodies (Stephane K Rock Dub Mix)]] <small>&mdash; Appears on the ''The Nobodies: 2005 Against All Gods Mix'' EP.</small>
 
* [[The Nobodies (Wormwood Remix)]] <small>&mdash; Appears on the ''From Hell Soundtrack''.</small>
 
* [[The Nobodies (Wormwood Remix)]] <small>&mdash; Appears on the ''From Hell Soundtrack''.</small>
 
  
 
==Music video==
 
==Music video==
 
[[Image:TheNobodiesScreenshot.jpg|thumb|right|200px|Manson dressed in a devil-like costume in the music video]]
 
[[Image:TheNobodiesScreenshot.jpg|thumb|right|200px|Manson dressed in a devil-like costume in the music video]]
 
 
The music video begins with children being watched by two oddly dressed, elderly characters with peculiar headsets on. The children seem to be mesmerized by a television showing nothing but static, however their guardians turn it off. Manson is seen in many forms throughout the video, including a devil-like costume in which he appears in when indoors. As the chorus hits, one of the children finds a concealed passageway leading to a snowy forest area where Manson dressed as a tree-like humanoid (as depicted on the single's cover) is singing with the rest of the band behind him. Manson and the children's oppressors begin to have some sort of confrontation as the setting returns back indoors; he pours money from a hollow deer head and scatters it on the floor as the pair kneel down to gather it (this seems to be a trap of Manson's, as when they are kneeling, root-like objects begin to drag them away). Another variation of Manson is later seen, it is similar to the tree-like appearance, though lacking branches and possessing exposed feet in contrast to them being connected to the ground. During the conclusion of the video, Manson and the children are waiting by a machine that is being fed the bodies of the victims of Manson's trap by using the long branches to bring them in. The machine transforms them into a grotesque pie, which the group then begins to eat at a dinner table. The music video has appeared in three forms: the original video, the [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qi5nTb-NRFU Against All Gods Remix version] (which is nearly identical to the original, however, any scenes of the band members, other than Manson himself, have been replaced with different footage), and the Burn 69 Remix version, which is interspersed with scenes of the movie ''From Hell''. The video was directed by Paul Fedor.
 
The music video begins with children being watched by two oddly dressed, elderly characters with peculiar headsets on. The children seem to be mesmerized by a television showing nothing but static, however their guardians turn it off. Manson is seen in many forms throughout the video, including a devil-like costume in which he appears in when indoors. As the chorus hits, one of the children finds a concealed passageway leading to a snowy forest area where Manson dressed as a tree-like humanoid (as depicted on the single's cover) is singing with the rest of the band behind him. Manson and the children's oppressors begin to have some sort of confrontation as the setting returns back indoors; he pours money from a hollow deer head and scatters it on the floor as the pair kneel down to gather it (this seems to be a trap of Manson's, as when they are kneeling, root-like objects begin to drag them away). Another variation of Manson is later seen, it is similar to the tree-like appearance, though lacking branches and possessing exposed feet in contrast to them being connected to the ground. During the conclusion of the video, Manson and the children are waiting by a machine that is being fed the bodies of the victims of Manson's trap by using the long branches to bring them in. The machine transforms them into a grotesque pie, which the group then begins to eat at a dinner table. The music video has appeared in three forms: the original video, the [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qi5nTb-NRFU Against All Gods Remix version] (which is nearly identical to the original, however, any scenes of the band members, other than Manson himself, have been replaced with different footage), and the Burn 69 Remix version, which is interspersed with scenes of the movie ''From Hell''. The video was directed by Paul Fedor.
  
 
===Analysis===
 
===Analysis===
 
----
 
----
 
 
The video itself seems to contain a vast amount of symbolism. It attempts to expose the controlling and aggressive behavior of the media and religion, a common theme throughout the "Holy Wood" era. The "elderly characters" have costumes that seem to be parodying that of religious figures, and dominate the lives of the depraved children. When the children are discovered to be missing, these characters begin to search for the children using guard dogs and are seemingly intimidated by Manson (this scene can be seen as a possible display of how sheer hostility is used to control and instill fear in others). Upon Manson's appearance, they immediately bend down to kiss his ring and are easily pleased by his donation of money (a sign of their greed and obsession with riches). Manson acts as the savior of the children, shielding them inside his cloak and destroying their tyrannical guardians. The video slightly corresponds with the lyrics of the song (both dealing with media violence), though bears no references to the Columbine High School Massacre, which serves as the primary example of this violence in the lyrics.
 
The video itself seems to contain a vast amount of symbolism. It attempts to expose the controlling and aggressive behavior of the media and religion, a common theme throughout the "Holy Wood" era. The "elderly characters" have costumes that seem to be parodying that of religious figures, and dominate the lives of the depraved children. When the children are discovered to be missing, these characters begin to search for the children using guard dogs and are seemingly intimidated by Manson (this scene can be seen as a possible display of how sheer hostility is used to control and instill fear in others). Upon Manson's appearance, they immediately bend down to kiss his ring and are easily pleased by his donation of money (a sign of their greed and obsession with riches). Manson acts as the savior of the children, shielding them inside his cloak and destroying their tyrannical guardians. The video slightly corresponds with the lyrics of the song (both dealing with media violence), though bears no references to the Columbine High School Massacre, which serves as the primary example of this violence in the lyrics.
  
Line 73: Line 68:
 
*An acoustic version of the song performed by Kurt Engfehr is featured in the Michael Moore film ''Bowling for Columbine''.
 
*An acoustic version of the song performed by Kurt Engfehr is featured in the Michael Moore film ''Bowling for Columbine''.
 
*Additional lyrics were recorded and included solely in the [[The Nobodies (2005 Against All Gods Mix)|2005 Against All Gods Mix]] and the [[The Nobodies (Stephane K Rock Dub Mix)|Stephen K Rock Dub Mix]] of this song.
 
*Additional lyrics were recorded and included solely in the [[The Nobodies (2005 Against All Gods Mix)|2005 Against All Gods Mix]] and the [[The Nobodies (Stephane K Rock Dub Mix)|Stephen K Rock Dub Mix]] of this song.
 
{{Singles}}
 
  
 
[[Category:Marilyn Manson Songs]]
 
[[Category:Marilyn Manson Songs]]
[[Category:Marilyn Manson Singles]]
 
 
[[Category:Songs from Holy Wood (In the Shadow of the Valley of Death)]]
 
[[Category:Songs from Holy Wood (In the Shadow of the Valley of Death)]]
 
[[Category:Songs from Lest We Forget (The Best Of)]]
 
[[Category:Songs from Lest We Forget (The Best Of)]]

Revision as of 01:25, 25 December 2010

"The Nobodies"
The Nobodies cover
Song by Marilyn Manson
Album Holy Wood (In the Shadow of the Valley of Death)
Released November 13, 2000
Recorded 1999–2000 at the Mansion in Death Valley, California
Genre Alternative metal
Length 3:35
Label Nothing, Interscope
Writer Marilyn Manson
Composer John 5, Marilyn Manson
Producer Marilyn Manson, Dave Sardy

"The Nobodies" is the third and final single and the tenth track of the fourth album Holy Wood (In the Shadow of the Valley of Death). The song was inspired by the Columbine massacre which took place on April 20, 1999. Also, the title was taken from statements made by Mark David Chapman, John Lennon's assassin, stating that he "felt like a nobody."

Appearances

"The Nobodies" (2005 Against All Gods)

Albums

Singles

Versions

Music video

Manson dressed in a devil-like costume in the music video

The music video begins with children being watched by two oddly dressed, elderly characters with peculiar headsets on. The children seem to be mesmerized by a television showing nothing but static, however their guardians turn it off. Manson is seen in many forms throughout the video, including a devil-like costume in which he appears in when indoors. As the chorus hits, one of the children finds a concealed passageway leading to a snowy forest area where Manson dressed as a tree-like humanoid (as depicted on the single's cover) is singing with the rest of the band behind him. Manson and the children's oppressors begin to have some sort of confrontation as the setting returns back indoors; he pours money from a hollow deer head and scatters it on the floor as the pair kneel down to gather it (this seems to be a trap of Manson's, as when they are kneeling, root-like objects begin to drag them away). Another variation of Manson is later seen, it is similar to the tree-like appearance, though lacking branches and possessing exposed feet in contrast to them being connected to the ground. During the conclusion of the video, Manson and the children are waiting by a machine that is being fed the bodies of the victims of Manson's trap by using the long branches to bring them in. The machine transforms them into a grotesque pie, which the group then begins to eat at a dinner table. The music video has appeared in three forms: the original video, the Against All Gods Remix version (which is nearly identical to the original, however, any scenes of the band members, other than Manson himself, have been replaced with different footage), and the Burn 69 Remix version, which is interspersed with scenes of the movie From Hell. The video was directed by Paul Fedor.

Analysis


The video itself seems to contain a vast amount of symbolism. It attempts to expose the controlling and aggressive behavior of the media and religion, a common theme throughout the "Holy Wood" era. The "elderly characters" have costumes that seem to be parodying that of religious figures, and dominate the lives of the depraved children. When the children are discovered to be missing, these characters begin to search for the children using guard dogs and are seemingly intimidated by Manson (this scene can be seen as a possible display of how sheer hostility is used to control and instill fear in others). Upon Manson's appearance, they immediately bend down to kiss his ring and are easily pleased by his donation of money (a sign of their greed and obsession with riches). Manson acts as the savior of the children, shielding them inside his cloak and destroying their tyrannical guardians. The video slightly corresponds with the lyrics of the song (both dealing with media violence), though bears no references to the Columbine High School Massacre, which serves as the primary example of this violence in the lyrics.

Lyrics

    Today I am dirty
    and I want to be pretty
    Tomorrow, I know that I'm just dirt
    
    We are the nobodies
    we wanna be somebodies
    when we're dead,
    they'll know just who we are
    
    Yesterday I was dirty
    wanted to be pretty
    I know now that I'm forever dirt
    
    We are the nobodies
    we wanna be somebodies
    when we're dead,
    they'll know just who we are
    
    Some children died the other day
    we fed machines and then we prayed
    puked up and down in morbid faith
    you should have seen the ratings that day...

Trivia

  • An acoustic version of the song performed by Kurt Engfehr is featured in the Michael Moore film Bowling for Columbine.
  • Additional lyrics were recorded and included solely in the 2005 Against All Gods Mix and the Stephen K Rock Dub Mix of this song.