Metallica - One

[ellyssian]

In a natural follow-up to yesterday's video - Apocalyptica's cover of One - we break briefly from the format of rock-played-on-orchestral-instruments, and we come to rock-played-on-rock-instruments. Of course, the reason for this is One, as performed by Metallica, from their album ...And Justice for All (Amazon.com).

Now, while this song starts with quiet textures and some beautiful melodic fretwork by Kirk Hammett that should be considered accessible to all, it does transition to some of the heaviest, most powerful work Metallica has ever done. Even if the bass - played by Jason Newstead, who had to step in to fill dearly departed Cliff Burton's unfillable shoes - was recorded with some of the most godawful lack-of-production qualities ever to see a release.

I would expect those of you who don't like such things as heavy metal, distorted guitars, and so forth to shun this video, however, I'd like you to make an exception.

This video is perhaps one of the most innovative music videos to have been made. Despite this being a "promotional video" - which is what the music companies consider music videos: advertising - the band is upstaged throughout by clips - dialogue and all - from the 1971 movie Johnny Got His Gun (IMDB) which is based on the book (Amazon.com) of the same name. The clips are powerful and graphic.

Several themes - and critical issues - are brought up. War: "For democracy, any man would give his only begotten son." The end product of war: "Inside me I'm screaming, nobody pays any attention. If I had arms, I could kill myself. If I had legs, I could run away. If I had a voice, I could talk and be some kind of company for myself. I could yell for help, but nobody would help me." Medical ethics, euthanasia, and extraordinary measures to sustain life: "He eats through a tube. And whatever comes in through a tube has to go out through a tube. He is the armless, legless wonder of the twentieth century. And yet, by God, he's just as alive as you and me."

This should not be watched lightly, but I feel it should be watched. Then again, those who most need to be moved by this are very likely amongst those who would never watch it - and, just as likely from what I know of you, not amongst those who are viewing this on your Friends page.

Watch, discuss.

Comments

[nin-man.livejournal.com]

Nothing ever matched the sheer elation of Beavis and Butt-head as they watched this video. It was like a girl waking up on Christmas morning to discover Santa had given her a pony farm.

[ellyssian.livejournal.com]

And here I didn't think they cared... =)

[nyxalinth.livejournal.com]

That was Metallica at their most awesome. Wish those days hadn't ended. I haven't bothered with them since they sold out out with that album in 1996.

[ellyssian.livejournal.com]

If Cliff had been on it, ...And Justice For All would have been their greatest. He would have had the power and influence to get a decent bass sound. =)

[dreamingcrow.livejournal.com]

This is damn near the pinnacle of Metallica - and the beginning of the end. The so-called black album is the last of theirs that I bought. After that, they started sucking ass.

[ellyssian.livejournal.com]

I did buy the s/t aka black album... and Load... but never really listened to them. For me, it was somewhat personal.

My friend Omar didn't get the gig, and he was a far superior bassist to Jason. In hindsight, though, the band put Jason through a hell of a lot of crap, and I don't think Jason-with-Metallica ever reflected more than a teensy tinsey portion of the abilities of Jason-without-Metallica. The situation where Omar's girlfriend killed him might not have happened if he got the gig, but that aside, knowing what I do know, I don't think it would have worked out. Omar was too much of the creative inventive type, and the band quite plainly decided they no longer wanted to go there.

Kirk is a damned fine guitarist; Lars & James used to be damned fine songwriters; and Lars used to be a damned interesting drummer. I suppose that about sums up my opinions of them. =)

[nursemae.livejournal.com]

This is the kind of movie I wish they would show in history classes. It's been a while since I bemoaned the rose-colored glasses my countrymen wish to keep on whenever they view this war. I guess not taking care of my war-torn boys every day helps me keep it in the back of my mind more too. I think it still holds true, and I'm sure fit from WWI to the present conflict. I can't really remember how many of my boys talked about wanting to die, or asked me to help them die. I wonder how many of them still think that way. I know some of them have taken care of it themselves since returning to the US. It's all part of the game, but people don't want to see that ugly side, most times. The death count is the worst they're willing to deal with. That hasn't changed in the past 6 years. Maybe if more films were made (and watched) like this one, people might get it? That being said, I've never watched the film. I've yet to find it somewhere. It should be in my queue when I manage to get Netflix set up...

In a morbid way, this has always been one of my favorite Metallica songs.

A purely selfish side note on Apocalyptica:
Cellos=sexy
Men in leather pants=sexy
Men in leather pants rocking out on cellos=salivation-inducing!