River Below
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| "River Below" | ||
|---|---|---|
 |
||
| Single by Billy Talent | ||
| from the album Billy Talent | ||
| Released | 2004 | |
| Format | DVD Single CD single 7" Vinyl |
|
| Genre | Rock | |
| Length | 3:00 | |
| Label | Atlantic Records | |
| Chart positions | ||
|
||
| Billy Talent singles chronology | ||
| "The Ex" (2004) |
"River Below" (2004) |
"Nothing to Lose" (2004) |
River Below is a song by the Canadian band Billy Talent, released in late spring of 2004. It became one of the most talked about songs on their album and was played on MuchMusic more than any previous releases. River Below has been played at a variety of events after it's video and radio releases, including the Juno and MuchMusic video awards.
[edit] Track listing
CD
- River Below (Album Version)
- Standing In The Rain (Acoustic)
7" Vinyl
- River Below (Album Version)
- Lies (Acoustic)
DVD
- River Below (Album Version)
- Living In The Shadows (Live)
- River Below (Video)
- Try Honesty (Video)
- EPK Footage
[edit] Video
The subject of the song is a schizophrenic man who hears voices in his head compelling him to construct and detonate a bomb. A photo of himself indicates that he was previously a member of the military during a war. While watching the television he sees bombs falling. Examples of insanity show that the man trying to change the channel but stays the same, newspaper headline clippings rearranging themselves they say different things (ie: You will be famous!), and bomb blueprints moving. Billy Talent are shown playing in garage over the road from the house the man, which appears to be cast somewhere around the 1960s, demonstrable by the clothing and technology; such as black and white television and the style of decor. The video is censored. In the original video, the bomb blows off showing an explosion, consuming the man and Billy Talent. In the MuchMusic edition, the bomb blows and there is a larger explosion.
[edit] Quotation at the beginning of the video
| “ | Now I am become Death, the Destroyer of Worlds | ” |
Oppenheimer was known as the 'Father of the Atomic Bomb', and this foreshadows the events that lead to the detonation of the bomb that the General has constructed. However, it could also be treated as having much wider implications; suggesting that those with weapons, such as that shown in the video (i.e. warring countries), become the givers of death but on a scale that has a real potential of destroying the world. The man is therefore only a representation of a greater danger, a microcosm of a possible scenario.
| Billy Talent |
| Benjamin Kowalewicz | Ian D'Sa | Jonathan Gallant | Aaron Solowoniuk |
| Discography |
|---|
| EPs: Demoluca | Dudebox | Try Honesty EP |
| Studio Albums: Watoosh! | Billy Talent | Billy Talent II |
| Live Albums: Live From The UK Sept./2006 |
| Singles |
| "Try Honesty" | "The Ex" | "River Below" | "Nothing to Lose" | "Devil in a Midnight Mass" | "Red Flag" | "Fallen Leaves" | "Surrender" |
| Videography |
| Scandalous Travelers |
| Label(s) |
| Atlantic Records | Warner Music Canada |
