Vermilion (song)
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| “Vermilion” | |||||
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| Single by Slipknot from the album Vol. 3: the Subliminal Verses |
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| Released | October 16, 2004 | ||||
| Format | CD single | ||||
| Genre | Power ballad Heavy metal (Pt. I) Acoustic rock (Pt. II) |
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| Length | 4:16 | ||||
| Label | Roadrunner Records | ||||
| Slipknot singles chronology | |||||
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Vermilion is the second single released by the metal band Slipknot from their third effort, Vol. 3: (The Subliminal Verses)
When the band plays the song live, they switch from their ordinary masks and wear certain types of a death mask. Vermilion pt.2 has never been played live in concert.
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[edit] Song Meaning
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This section does not cite any references or sources. (March 2008) Please help improve this section by adding citations to reliable sources. Unverifiable material may be challenged and removed. |
One idea about the meaning of the song is that it is sung from a stalker's point of view. Another view is that it is a song about unrequited love. Another is that it is simply a song about lost love, perhaps about a dead love. Another common view is that the song is a song sung from a suicidal person's perspective.
It should also be noted that the song is more of a two-part story than a self contained piece. Vermilion Pt. 1 has a heavier sound and its lyrics contain a much more psychotic and obsessive vibe than its counterpart, Vermilion Pt. 2. However, key lyrics, "she isn't real" and "I can't make her real" are used in both songs alluding to the dual nature of unrequited love, one being obsessive, the other melancholy. This concept is furthered with the two respective videos.
The lyrics in Vermilion have been heavily influenced by the concepts of German philosopher Friederich Nietzsche and French philosopher René Descartes. "I'm a slave, and I am a master" refers to Nietzsche's master-slave morality theory, while "I exist through my need" and "She isn't real, I can't make her real" refers to Cartesian dualism.
It has been suggested that the title Vermilion comes from the word "Verisimilitude" which means "seeming to be real." This is supported by the lyrics "she isn't real", not to mention the fact that Vermilion itself is a colour, a shade of red implying the relations of the color red to the lyrics. Furthermore, in magazine interviews, lead singer Corey Taylor had stated that it was a love song for his now former wife Scarlett. This further ties in with the name of the song, "Vermilion" being a shade of red and Scarlett as well.
[edit] Music videos
Both songs have respective videos. The video for Pt. 1 was directed by Tony Petrossian and percussionist Shawn Crahan and the video for Pt. 2 was directed by Mark Klasfeld.[1] Both videos were shot in Los Angeles in late-August 2004.[1] There is speculation over whether the woman in the videos was directly related to the band, however she is an actress from Los Angeles named Janna Bossier.[2] The video is available on the CD single and the DVD; Voliminal: Inside The Nine, which was released in 2006.
In Vermilion Pt. 1, it shows a girl living a tortured life in a crowded city. She walks around in contortions and twists as people walk by in a blur, not noticing her pain at all. The only time she gets noticed is when she wears a Maggot Mask (a mask specially designed for fans of the band to wear) which makes the members of the band appear and dance with the girl. On the first time she puts on the mask, the band members appear in front of her, each member puts on a "death mask", a mask designed to represent each member's facial features. After putting on the death masks, the band members begin to dance with her. A caterpillar is also seen growing in the video and at the end scene it turns into a butterfly. The video ends with the girl screaming and tearing her hair out in utter anguish, but then smiling as the aforementioned butterfly stops in front of her on the ground and then climbs into her hands. The Vermilion Pt. 2 video shows the same girl, but this time in a field peacefully sleeping. The wind begins to lift her and sway her back and forth. Eventually, the viewer realizes the girl is dead; however, she appears to be in a more peaceful state than when she was alive in the first music video.
[edit] Track listing
- "Vermilion" (Single Mix) - 4:16
- "Scream" - 4:32
- "Danger - Keep Away" (Full-Length Version) - 7:55
Also contains Vermilion Pt. 1 Video
[edit] References
- ^ a b "Report: Slipknot To Launch Two-Pronged Radio Campaign", Blabbermouth.net, 2004-09-15. Retrieved on 2008-03-19.
- ^ Janna Bossier - Other works. Retrieved on 2008-03-19.
[edit] External links
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