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Red Flag (song)
Encyclopedia
"Red Flag" is the second single released from the Canadian rock group Billy Talent
's second album, Billy Talent II
. The single was released on September 11, 2006 in the United Kingdom
.
Red Flag was originally released in 2005
as a part of the soundtracks of a number of Electronic Arts
video games, including NHL 06, Burnout Revenge
, Burnout Legends
, and SSX On Tour
. As well, a leaked
demo of the song made its way across the internet. This demo was released by Atlantic Records on the Black Sampler II. The album version is different from the earlier release, with the bridge
and refrain
having been changed. It has also been used in the soundtrack for the 2007 movie TMNT.
– known for her work with artists such as Sigur Rós
and Björk
– began shooting on 21 July 2006, and first began playing in the United Kingdom
, on 20 August 2006 (on Scuzz
), and debuted in Canada on MuchMusic
the following day.
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The video depicts a spontaneous revolution by the youth. It begins with a group of school children locked inside a school, screaming "we want out!". Finally, they break through the handcuffed doors, and proceed to run around the school and surrounding area, covering various symbols of authority and luxury – including a CCTV camera, a barbecue
, a boat, a car, gas pumps and eventually the town hall – with red flags. As they run through the town, more people join in. Finally, they arrive at city hall
where the members of Billy Talent are performing, and which has been covered with red flags. Most children begin to mosh
to the song, while others continue to run around, covering things with red flags. One of the children throws history books into the crowd, destroying them. The video ends with the children standing under a red sky, with pages of the books falling behind them, all wearing Soviet GP-5 gas masks. Voices chanting "we want out!" can also be heard at the end of the video.
This video has inspired "Teenagers
", by My Chemical Romance
.
UK 7" Single
US Single
Billy Talent
Billy Talent is a Canadian post-hardcore band from Streetsville, Ontario. They formed in 1993 with Ben Kowalewicz as the lead vocalist, Ian D'Sa on lead guitar, bassist Jon Gallant and drummer Aaron Solowoniuk ....
's second album, Billy Talent II
Billy Talent II
-Themes:The album has less anger and language than their previous self-titled album, as they had mellowed out and matured as men and as a band. More of the songs dealt with real-life issues, to the praise of fans and critics.-Personnel:Billy Talent...
. The single was released on September 11, 2006 in the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
.
Red Flag was originally released in 2005
2005 in music
-Events:*During the year 2005, 12 rock music albums scored number 1 in the USA. This was the first time even ten albums have scored number 1 since 1996.-January:...
as a part of the soundtracks of a number of Electronic Arts
Electronic Arts
Electronic Arts, Inc. is a major American developer, marketer, publisher and distributor of video games. Founded and incorporated on May 28, 1982 by Trip Hawkins, the company was a pioneer of the early home computer games industry and was notable for promoting the designers and programmers...
video games, including NHL 06, Burnout Revenge
Burnout Revenge
Burnout Revenge is the fourth video game in the Burnout series of racing games, released for the PlayStation 2 and Xbox on September 13, 2005 and Xbox 360 on March 7, 2006, alongside the PlayStation Portable and Nintendo DS title Burnout Legends....
, Burnout Legends
Burnout Legends
Burnout Legends is a game in the popular Burnout franchise, specifically released for the PlayStation Portable on September 13, 2005, and the Nintendo DS on November 29, 2005. The game features many of the tracks and gameplay modes from the first three Burnout games, but repackaged for the handheld...
, and SSX On Tour
SSX on Tour
SSX on Tour is a skiing and snowboarding game, the fourth title in the SSX series of video games for the GameCube, PlayStation 2, PSP and Xbox. The game was developed under the working title SSX 4. It was released in North America on October 11, 2005, In the PAL region on October 21, 2005 and in...
. As well, a leaked
Internet leak
An Internet leak occurs when a party's confidential information is released to the public on the Internet. Various types of information and data can be, and have been, "leaked" to the Internet, the most common being personal information, computer software and source code, and artistic works such...
demo of the song made its way across the internet. This demo was released by Atlantic Records on the Black Sampler II. The album version is different from the earlier release, with the bridge
Bridge (music)
In music, especially western popular music, a bridge is a contrasting section which also prepares for the return of the original material section...
and refrain
Refrain
A refrain is the line or lines that are repeated in music or in verse; the "chorus" of a song...
having been changed. It has also been used in the soundtrack for the 2007 movie TMNT.
Music video
The music video for this song, directed by Floria SigismondiFloria Sigismondi
Floria Sigismondi is an Italian, naturalised Canadian, photographer and director.Apart from her art exhibitions, she is best known for writing and directing The Runaways, starring Kristen Stewart and Dakota Fanning...
– known for her work with artists such as Sigur Rós
Sigur Rós
Sigur Rós is an Icelandic post-rock band with classicaland minimalist elements. The band is known for its ethereal sound, and frontman Jónsi Birgisson's falsetto vocals and use of bowed guitar. In January 2010, the band announced that they will be on hiatus. Since then, it has since been announced...
and Björk
Björk
Björk Guðmundsdóttir , known as Björk , is an Icelandic singer-songwriter. Her eclectic musical style has achieved popular acknowledgement and popularity within many musical genres, such as rock, jazz, electronic dance music, classical and folk...
– began shooting on 21 July 2006, and first began playing in the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
, on 20 August 2006 (on Scuzz
Scuzz
Scuzz is a British music television channel owned and operated by CSC Media Group . It launched on 17 April 2003 and has gone on to be the highest-rated rock TV station on UK satellite. The channel plays a broad range of rock and all its subgenres...
), and debuted in Canada on MuchMusic
MuchMusic
MuchMusic is a Canadian English language Category A specialty channel owned by Bell Media. MuchMusic is dedicated to music-related programs, pop and youth culture.-History:...
the following day.
Barbecue
Barbecue or barbeque , used chiefly in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, New Zealand and Australia is a method and apparatus for cooking meat, poultry and occasionally fish with the heat and hot smoke of a fire, smoking wood, or hot coals of...
, a boat, a car, gas pumps and eventually the town hall – with red flags. As they run through the town, more people join in. Finally, they arrive at city hall
City hall
In local government, a city hall, town hall or a municipal building or civic centre, is the chief administrative building of a city...
where the members of Billy Talent are performing, and which has been covered with red flags. Most children begin to mosh
Mosh
Moshing is a dance in which participants push or slam into each other. They also flail their limbs to breakdowns of hardcore punk and its sub-genres. It is most associated with aggressive music genres, such as hardcore punk and heavy metal...
to the song, while others continue to run around, covering things with red flags. One of the children throws history books into the crowd, destroying them. The video ends with the children standing under a red sky, with pages of the books falling behind them, all wearing Soviet GP-5 gas masks. Voices chanting "we want out!" can also be heard at the end of the video.
This video has inspired "Teenagers
Teenagers (song)
"Teenagers" is the fourth single and the eleventh track from My Chemical Romance's third studio album, The Black Parade. It is the third U.S. single from the album, but it is the fourth single released in the UK, the Philippines, Australia and Canada...
", by My Chemical Romance
My Chemical Romance
My Chemical Romance is an American alternative rock band from New Jersey, formed in 2001. The band consists of lead vocalist Gerard Way, guitarists Ray Toro and Frank Iero, and bassist Mikey Way and have a diverse sound incorporating elements of punk, emo, glam metal, and progressive rock...
.
Track listing
UK 5" Single- Red Flag (Album Version)
- Red Flag (Live At MTV Campus Invasion Germany)
UK 7" Single
- Red Flag (Album Version)
- Where Is The Line? (Demo Version)
US Single
- Red Flag (Album Version)
- Red Flag (Live At MTV Campus Invasion Germany)
- Red Flag (Live At The Horseshoe Tavern)
- Ever Fallen in Love (With Someone You Shouldn't've?)
Chart performance
| Chart (2006) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| UK Singles Chart UK Singles Chart The UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ... |
49 |
| German Singles Chart | 34 |