"Savior" by Rise Against-What's with the animals??

Rise Against's video for "Savior" is very confusing. At first, the video honestly did not make sense to me in the least bit. However, after watching it a couple of times and reviewing the lyrics, I have come to the conclusion that it is about a failing relationship that does not end badly. Why are the people in the video dressed as animals? The costumes are a representation of the innocence that is seen in the relationship. Both the boy and the girl in this relationship realize that it is not working, which is highlighted in the chorus, which says, "So tell me now/ if this ain't love then how do we get out?/ because I don't know/ that's when she said I don't hate you boy/ I just want to save you while there's still something left to save/ that's when I told her I love you girl/ but I'm not the answer for the questions you still have." The costumes cover the true person and his and her personality. They act as a disguise to the problems at hand in the relationship. This disguise is what makes each individual realize that there are problems in the relationship. The costumes, however, are seen not only on the couple, but also on the other "humans" in the video. The costumes are a type of persona each individual puts on, such as is seen in real life, when people are often referred to as fake. Under each costume is a real person, which is how people are in real life. It is a way of saying there is more to a person than what is seen on the outside.
The fight that occurs is a representation of the fights and difficulties that are in the relationship. The polar bear is pushed around and is hurt emotionally. She then leaves, and her "boyfriend," who is the elephant, is left in the mess of the fight, where he gets hurt as well. He is the original one who hurt her in the fight, which also relates back to the chorus. She leaves him ("...that's when she said I don't hate you boy"), and he is later hurt in the fight because he is seen limping alongside the road ("...that's when I told her I love you girl"). He is hurt because she left him. However, she sees that he is hurt and she is there for him, having the bus pick him up. In the end she holds his hand, representing a friendship and the idea of forgiveness. The firecracker that is lit can represent the idea of a full relationship and the stages that occur throughout a relationship. In the beginning of the relationship, the idea is fresh and new, like the beginning spark of the firecracker. However, as it burns down, it signifies the ending of the relationship, and how the idea of a new relationship dies down as it goes along like the flame.

"My Friend (So Long) by DC Talk-Death of faith?

DC Talk's "My Friend (So Long)" is a thought-provoking video, to say the least. The gist of it is that DC Talk is questioning the values of other artists and their music. The beginning of the song talks about an interview that this artist had with Rolling Stone magazine, and also how this artist has made it to the Top 40 count down. DC Talk sings, "...You found a quicker way/ to scale the wall of fame," meaning that this artist denied what he stood for to rise to the top and acquire publicity. This is illustrated in their video by the ambulance ride. This artist is in critical condition because he is straying away from his beliefs. DC Talk is a Christian band, and, as such, is questioning this artist's faith and walk with the Lord. As the video continues, this artist is brought to the hospital, where doctors try to revive him of life. This is an analogy to prayer and ministry. By praying for others, their life can be changed. Also, witnessing to others can lead them to God. When people find God, and accept Him in their life, they become saved, just like the doctors are trying to save the artist. By the end of the video, however, the artist dies, hence the dancing men in suites. They represent a funeral service. The nurses are angels. DC Talk sings, "The situation's awfully dim/ should we up and go with him?/ no way (no way 1, 2, 3, 4)." This ties into the idea of the artist dying. Since his friends did not stick with him and try to witness to him while he was going astray, his faith died (represented by his death). Throughout the entire video, the artist is played by Toby McKeehan, Kevin Max Smith, and finally Michael Tait, who are the members of DC Talk. At the end of the video, all three come back to life. What is the meaning behind that? It is a sign that sticking together and helping each other when one or another strays from the path, will save each other. DC Talk highlights this near the end of the video when the artist dies by singing, "The moral of the story is/ to stick with your friends." Hence, the idea of the video is to stay together and support each other in difficult times because it could save someone's life.

"Empty Walls" by Serj Tankian-Political protesting or what?

"Empty Walls" by Serj Tankian sounds like just a pretty awesome song, right? However, viewing the video, there is obviously more to it than just a cool sound. The lyrics combined with the music video underline a strong message regarding politics and how they are affecting the younger generation. The video is set in a childcare facility to add affect to the message Tankian is trying to convey. While he is singing, the children act out important worldly events that have occurred since the 9/11 attack on the World Trade Center. This shows that the younger generation is learning all the bad that is occurring in the world, which they believe is okay or acceptable. This also conveys the idea that this war that is occurring in the Middle East will eventually become the children's war if these politicians do not open their eyes and see what is going on. That idea is elaborated in the chorus, in which Tankian sings, "...I want you to be left behind those empty walls/ told you to see from behind those empty walls/ those empty walls/ when we decline from the coffins of our minds/ don't waste your time on coffins today." The "empty walls" refer false beliefs that our world is not in a mass of chaos. They can be considered the sheltered life that many live by, trying to believe that there is nothing wrong with the state of how we are living as a society. Also, as shown in the video, these "coffins of our mind" are the denial of how our society is affecting the younger generation. Tankian shows that our morals are set wrong by stating in the bridge, "I loved you yesterday/ before you killed my family." This relates back to world events, such as the attack on the Two Towers. Also, in the music video, when Tankian sings the bridge, the children break into a civilians home as if they were soldiers, mimicking the real life happenings that occur every day in the Middle East. The video highlights this reality by concluding with a thought-provoking scene of a funeral service of a fallen American solider. Tankian is drives his message home with this final scene, by showing the reality of the world.