I am a Video Editor – and one of the things (probably the main thing) that inspired me to work in television post production was actually music videos.

Music videos are one of my favourite things in the world and I spent hours and I MEAN literally hours when I was growing up watching them Even now in the modern world, I can find myself getting lost on YouTube watching music videos for hours on end – they are an addiction.

This month we are looking at the band that I think was the first emo band I listened to when the genre and style came about in the mid noughties. I wasn’t sure of My Chemical Romance at first but when I heard Helena I absolutely loved them. Their videos are dark but they are very beautifully edited and put together to create this world and I think that is why there is so much love for this band. As they have grown older the creativity in their videos have developed and become amazing, I mean look at the way they announce their return to the world below and you will see why I wanted to include them in this feature.

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My Chemical Romance – The Black Parade

Why did you choose this particular video?

This was the turning point when things changed for the band and they turned into this insane mega power. This album is one of my favourites of all times as it is such an amazing piece or work. The narrative throughout, the power, the songs, it is all amazing and this video is the one that kicked off this chapter and it really is truly iconic.

So, what is the narrative?

The video is about a patient in hospital that is being taken by death in the form of a “Black Parade”. The parade is full of people in masks and the band on a float.

Favourite parts of the video?

The opening transition of this video is really dramatic and in some ways really creates the next chapter in the My Chemical Romance legacy. This whole style of video sets up what is to come and really reflects the album as well. The one thing to me that is striking is the lack of colour it is dark and it is taking the emo game to another world. I really like the way that the band are introduced in this video, initially it is through a television that eventual explodes and then a curtain drops. It is very unique which makes it incredibly striking and connotes so much of the narrative as well. In the hospital many shots that use of blurs, white flashing of the lights which really heighten the drama as to what is happening. The final thing to point out that the colours of red, white and red are subtly used to keep in theme with My Chemical Romance.

As I said above, this music video is amazing as to the way that it introduces a new style or the band, the use of costumes, cinematography and editing create this darker, iconic version of the band. I really like the way that particles or maybe even a mix of tiny light flares are used in this video it creates another depth to the whole experience that is very bold. I have stated before that the band use red a lot and you can see hints of it in these shots which are super effective.

There are these shots throughout that are like they have stepped out of a black and white silent film as they use very similar effects that those sort of cinema experiences use. They have a vignette and this slight flicker which makes it look like it has come off of an old film reel. It also brings a style sense of horror to it as well which makes it also pretty eerie and dark.

The last thing that I want to mention about this music video is the use of speed in the editing. Throughout there are these amazing sections where the use of slow motion highlights certain aspects of the video and it works so well. It creates the drama that is needed and makes you want to join the Black Parade!