Shoot Down the Stars
Encyclopedia
"Shoot Down the Stars" is the third single from the album As Cruel As School Children
by hip-hop/rock band Gym Class Heroes
. The video premiered on May 11, 2007 on Fueled by Ramen
's YouTube
channel, and is now in rotation on MTV
and Fuse TV
.
. In the beginning of the video, McCoy is break dancing for his fellow classmates. As he walks to class, he gets mugged by some students, as one of his friends watches. When he goes to class, one particular student throws spit balls at McCoy while the teacher is not paying attention. When McCoy fights back, his teacher takes notice and makes him put his head against the chalkboard
. Following class, he continues to get mugged. During recess, McCoy is found writing lyrics
with the modern day McCoy rapping next to him. The younger Travis starts singing with a younger Matt McGinley
playing drums behind him. An onlooking Disashi Lumumba-Kasongo notices this and grabs his guitar
, playing along to McCoy's lyrics. Eventually, Eric Roberts joins the band and they enter into the school talent show
. Four acts perform before the band. A ballerina
does a dance routine (which receives applause from the audience), an aspiring magician
stirs a magic wand in his hat - although this is all he does (which receives mixed reactions from his peers), a young boy makes weird gestures with his hands (which receives booing from the audience), and finally, the same group of kids that mugged McCoy early in the video break dance (which receives uproarious applause). Finally, the band performs and gets cheers as well. Both acts become finalists, and the band wins the competition. The video ends with the older and younger versions of the band performing in the school yard.
As Cruel as School Children
As Cruel as School Children is the third Gym Class Heroes album released by Fueled by Ramen. It was released on July 25, 2006. It was produced by Fall Out Boy's Patrick Stump...
by hip-hop/rock band Gym Class Heroes
Gym Class Heroes
Gym Class Heroes is an American hip hop rock band from Geneva, New York. They have collaborated with Fall Out Boy's Patrick Stump on numerous occasions, notably for providing backing vocals on the song "Cupid's Chokehold." Stump also produced the majority of their album The Quilt.The group formed...
. The video premiered on May 11, 2007 on Fueled by Ramen
Fueled by Ramen
Fueled by Ramen is an American record label which operates as a subsidiary of Warner Music Group, and is distributed by Atlantic Records. The label, founded in Gainesville, Florida, is based in New York City...
's YouTube
YouTube
YouTube is a video-sharing website, created by three former PayPal employees in February 2005, on which users can upload, view and share videos....
channel, and is now in rotation on MTV
MTV
MTV, formerly an initialism of Music Television, is an American network based in New York City that launched on August 1, 1981. The original purpose of the channel was to play music videos guided by on-air hosts known as VJs....
and Fuse TV
Fuse TV
Fuse is an American national television network dedicated exclusively to music. It features original series and specials, exclusive interviews, live concerts and video blocks....
.
Music video
The music video for the song is shot much like that of an average 1980s film, as evidenced by the film quality. The video features what appears to be a younger version of Travis McCoy (played by Jacob Perez) facing the trials and tribulations of schoolSchool
A school is an institution designed for the teaching of students under the direction of teachers. Most countries have systems of formal education, which is commonly compulsory. In these systems, students progress through a series of schools...
. In the beginning of the video, McCoy is break dancing for his fellow classmates. As he walks to class, he gets mugged by some students, as one of his friends watches. When he goes to class, one particular student throws spit balls at McCoy while the teacher is not paying attention. When McCoy fights back, his teacher takes notice and makes him put his head against the chalkboard
Chalkboard
A chalkboard or blackboard is a reusable writing surface on which text or drawings are made with sticks of calcium sulfate or calcium carbonate, known, when used for this purpose, as chalk. Chalkboards were originally made of smooth, thin sheets of black or dark grey slate stone...
. Following class, he continues to get mugged. During recess, McCoy is found writing lyrics
Lyrics
Lyrics are a set of words that make up a song. The writer of lyrics is a lyricist or lyrist. The meaning of lyrics can either be explicit or implicit. Some lyrics are abstract, almost unintelligible, and, in such cases, their explication emphasizes form, articulation, meter, and symmetry of...
with the modern day McCoy rapping next to him. The younger Travis starts singing with a younger Matt McGinley
Matt McGinley
Matt McGinley is the co-founder and drummer of Gym Class Heroes.-Career:McGinley and Travis McCoy met in school in gym class and quickly became friends. The two decided to form a band, the now popular Gym Class Heroes...
playing drums behind him. An onlooking Disashi Lumumba-Kasongo notices this and grabs his guitar
Guitar
The guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
, playing along to McCoy's lyrics. Eventually, Eric Roberts joins the band and they enter into the school talent show
Talent show
A talent show is an event where participants perform their talent or talents of acting, singing, dancing, acrobatics, drumming, martial arts, playing an instrument, and other activities to showcase a unique form of talent, sometimes for a reward, trophy or prize...
. Four acts perform before the band. A ballerina
Ballerina
A ballerina is a title used to describe a principal female professional ballet dancer in a large company; the male equivalent to this title is danseur or ballerino...
does a dance routine (which receives applause from the audience), an aspiring magician
Magic (illusion)
Magic is a performing art that entertains audiences by staging tricks or creating illusions of seemingly impossible or supernatural feats using natural means...
stirs a magic wand in his hat - although this is all he does (which receives mixed reactions from his peers), a young boy makes weird gestures with his hands (which receives booing from the audience), and finally, the same group of kids that mugged McCoy early in the video break dance (which receives uproarious applause). Finally, the band performs and gets cheers as well. Both acts become finalists, and the band wins the competition. The video ends with the older and younger versions of the band performing in the school yard.