EXPLORING THE CONCEPT - "Danger Days" by My Chemical Romance

Out now, Exploring the Concept - The Black Parade: krplus.net/bidio/YaioopF7m23FkHI

What I love about MCR is that there are always two meanings to a song. One stating where they are in life, and one in the context of the album.

I personally like to believe that vampire money is a new group of rebels who replace the killjoys unknowingly walking into the same fate of the killjoys

I'm pretty sure Vampire Money is at least in part a reference to an old interview MCR did where they were asked "What are the most common hate comments you get" or something like that and they responded "People think we're vampires, that and they think we're rich. So people think we're rich vampires."

gerard way as a storyteller is so underrated. hes able to create such interesting stories in the mcr albums but also have the songs be super powerful by themselves. thats not mention his amazing talent for writing comics with super creative stories.

Is it just me or does it seem that mcr are on the rise again? I'm so glad they're getting the recognition they deserve their albums tell such great stories

"The Only Hope For Me is You" really shows Gerard coping with what he witnessed on 09/11 in the opening lines

A couple things I disagree with/ think I can add context to:
It’s not a love interest. It’s the child he’s recruited at the beginning. (She’s the child in the NaNaNa and Sing music videos)
Party Poison believes she is the future of the revolution. He believes she is the being of legend who will revive the god of destruction, destroya. The comic book sequel to this album sees this come to fruition.
I also think this makes the narrative more cohesive, as the character he keeps addressing now has an actual face, and keeps her present the entire story.
Aside from this, I agree mostly with your interpretation!

I remember enjoying Danger Days way more than Black Parade and quite honestly, all their discography has aged well. At least Gerard and the rest of those guys stay genuine, unlike a lot of their peers that came up with them (looking at you Fall Out Boy and Panic!).

“If you expected a happy ending, you’re listening to the wrong band”

As an OG fan who's seen them live 8 times (9, if the fall North America tour happens this fall), was a webmaster at one of the premier fan sites at the height of their initial rise to fame, I think it stands to say that the reason Danger Days wasn't as well received as Parade was back in 2010 is because it was ahead of its time. As the years have gone on, WE, the public, have caught up to what the guys in MCR were trying to do with the record. It really did go in directions that would become more mainstream in the years to follow.

That was a great breakdown and you're the first person I've heard who agreed with me about The Black Parade singles. However, I do love Vampire Money just coming in at the end like, "You thought we were done???1234". I always look forward to rocking out to it after the journey is over.

This was absolutely amazing i cant believe i thought danger days was the weakest album of theirs 😳

I’ve seen lots of stuff like this for Black Parade, but I’ve never seen a Danger Days concept analysis like this. It was really interesting. Also I think it’s funny that both Blood for TBP and Vampire Money for this we’re not part of the story, but just thrown in at the end for fun

I'd like to recommend both comics from this narrative one is the true lives of the fabulous killjoys follows the videoclips for nanana and sing but also explains who specifically is he talking to, who are the villians, who is destroya (which has an interesting religious concept) and more but also is a continuation on this album story. And then the newest the true life of the fabulous killjoys national anthem that is the original story written for this characters even before the album was finished, is more mature and recently has been edited and released. I particularly think is one of the best things Gerard has written

The Black Parade and Danger Days are both concept albums but I think Black Parade’s tracks stand alone better than Danger Days. That’s being so though Danger Days’ tracks are much more fun and the narrative is a bit more clear. I’m not sure which narrative I like better but I know I love them both. Also I think the correct order of The Black Parade is the one Wendigoon put together.

I never realized how absolutely tragic and sad danger Days is as an album and a story it is so freaking sad it almost makes me sad to realize that's the story behind it but it's a beautiful story nonetheless and the way that they created it was absolutely incredible.

"If you were expecting a happy ending you're listening to the wrong band." Lol!
You're very good at this. I wonder if you've examined the two videos for the album?
Every single topic/line is represented in Sing and NA NA. I bet you could put together an awesome piece for viewers to delve into.
This is my official/non-official request for that content creation.
Thanx! In advance!

As I’ve gotten older I’ve appreciated danger days more and more. It has become my go to album for them as much as I love their 3 previous albums to this.

holy shit this is an amazing video. i’ve always been looking for videos analyzing danger days but i’ve never been able to find a good one. danger days is probably my favorite album of all time for so many reasons and i wish it got more recognition.

this was a super cool video. i always like the aesthetics of danger days the most. i was 11 when it came out and several family members bought me it for christmas and i remember writing my own stories set in the same world. threw them away out of cringe when i was like 16 but it'd be cool to compare my version to the comics now. there's really just something infinitely cool about the rebels fighting against oppression in a post apocolyptic wasteland with their own songs playing on the radio as they shoot laser guns at bad guys out of their car window

I’m so happy that people are really starting to recognize how incredible MCRs albums are

Insightful video, I appreciated much of your interpretation. In regards to Vampire Money, I think the track offers a glimmer of hope, as even though the Fabulous Four are dead, the Girl (aka 'the bomb') is able to keep running, and her story carries on in the comic series.

Hey man, this was excellently done. My brain works in a similar way in finding the narrative from concepts like this, and I appreciate the work you did to create and present this!

What’s amazing about this album is the aggressive tone of the songs that in no way possible explains the way I FEEL when listen to it. I can’t explain it either way as a 44 year old this was in no way my generation of music but this band, and this album hits it for me, again, whatever it is.

That was great! I'm so glad people are realizing (though I know this video is from Dec 2020) that MCR were truly some of the best when it came to concept albums in the modern era of music.

"first two albums" oh lord, he doesnt know about Bullets.

Great analysis, you gave me a different perspective on the album! The way I see vampire money fitting with everything is like the song that plays when the credits roll. I imagine it to be a representation of a casual day for the killjoys just playing on a garage somewhere in the desert (you know, before they died lol). Also, the fact that it's a punk song makes it even more fitting because of their whole philosophy and lifestyle.

I miss this kind of music, the story telling is immaculate killjoy era was one of my favorites, there’s a few bands now days that somewhat live up to what mcr did

i mostly agree with this, though its not a love interest. its a little girl (just called The Girl) who party poison and the rest of the Fab Four find and recruit. party thinks that shes going to revive the god of destruction, Destroya, which is seen through in the comic series by gerard way

Even that I knew the plot, you made it a thousand times clearer. Ty.

This is really well put together!

KRplus’s been on a roll with showing me these amazing under appreciated channels! Hopefully this blows up. You deserve it!

21:35 Nah vampire money goes hard as fuck. Also I used to see it as a diss of the old rock star life style of partying hard and being a douche bag because you got rich.

I can’t recommend the comics this album inspired enough! Spoilers ahead of you haven’t already read them.
The video mentions that the album doesn’t have a happy ending, and while that’s true here, it isn’t for the killjoy’s story overall. Eventually, both The Girl and Destroya, symbols of hope for those oppressed by BL/ind, rise up and tear apart Battery City.
In both cases, it is a single, seemingly meaningless act that ignites change. The Killjoys sacrifice themselves, and Korse lets Red and Blue go. As a result, younger generations spit on the memory of the ‘failed’ Killjoys and Korse’s boyfriend is executed. Even though these outcomes seem like failures, they still change the ending. When Destroya tears down the city’s walls and the Girl frees the souls from the battery, they’re only able to do so because someone in the past chose to fight, even if that fight was futile.
That’s the true message of the Fabulous Killjoys. To keep fighting for a better world, even if it seems futile. They saw what tomorrow would bring, so they gave themselves up so that the Girl could be what tomorrow needed.

AmAzing video bro I used to always get shit for saying Danger Days is a masterpiece. Although we do think differently bc to me the black parade is a better concept album and one of the bests ever if not the best. But Danger days is so good and smart I’m happy I found this video! It’s sad they had to break up imagine the albums they would have given us..

That's literally how I feel about Danger Days. There are some tracks on their other albums that I adore but no album is as beloved from start to end for me as Danger Days. It truly is something else, and I think you've hit it on the head better than anyone else I've heard

This is a very well put together video, I love how you picked all the important lines to point out to people. I always thought this record was underrated, and while I disagree with you on the Black Parade I totally get where you're coming from. Thanks for the cool vid dude :)

fun fact all 4 mcr albums are concepts albums
"I gave you my love you gave me your bullets" is about two lovers who go on a murder spree who end up getting shot down
"three cheers for sweet revenge" is a continuation of the story where the male lover signs a deal with the devil to kill a thousand evil souls so his lover can be resurrected and he ends up having to kill himself as the 1000th soul which leads to his resurected lover to commit a romeo and juliet
and well everone knows black parade
and you should know the story of danger days cause of this video

If you like concept albums, almost every coheed album is a concept. Also Styx the mission is a concept too. Great video!

YOURE SO LUCKY YOU GOT TO SEE THEM IN READING NO WAY

Three cheers will always be my favorite album but this video made me appreciate danger days a lot more!!

this is an amazing video!! it puts all my thoughts on the album into words perfectly- will always be a sucker for a concept album

Are you sure Scarecrow isn't about a nuclear attack? He talks about skin burning, fallout, the sunlight dying, maybe the sky is darkened.

I'm reading The True Lives of the Fabulous Killjoys for a pop culture rhetorical analysis class. This was fantastic.
Thank you so much for making this and putting it up online. I feel like I have such a better understanding of what's going on now.

this is a very good video - you explained the concepts and story of the album really well :)

I stumbled upon your video accidentally and thank goodness I did. I love how the concept of the album is all throughout cohesive yet at the same time, you can still pick them on their own and have a different interpretation. As a fan of MCR, I would say that this is a pretty solid and thorough analysis of the album. Can I request, if it's not too much, can you do the Conventional Weapons as well? I think it's an underrated album of theirs.

This is my favourite album ever with some of my favourite songs. Like in general. From the concept to the music to the cover art. There rarely ever is an album I can listen to without skipping around but this one is not only a no-skip but I genuinely enjoy every single track on it.
edit: autocorrect didn't like me today

How does this only have 500views?? Awesome video!

It was a pleasure to listen to the analysis made of the DD story. Not only because of the analysis of the album concept itself, but also of the way you approach each song on a visual and narrative level. Thank you very much for the video. 🥺

I love Danger Days, great video!

great video, very thoroughly researched

danger days is probably one of the best albums something about it just feels so lager then life and it feels epic

This deserves way more attention

how does this man have less than 400 subs??? this is an amazing look at an amazing album. you deserve more views, sir.

my man did not just say TBP had the four weakest singles...bro idk that has to be the wildest opinion i've heard about MCR lmao. good vid tho, DD deserves more praise. Feel like people shit on unfairly for a lot of reasons, I do think it's by far their weakest record but it's also the most ambitious and the spots that shine really stand out. "Nananana" deserves to be played everywhere, just a bad ass pop rock song

you earned an instant sub, i really loved this. if you enjoyed the album/ the story i recommend the killjoys comics- they’re incredible and show the life of the girl after the demise of the killjoys. i think they give somewhat of a deeper insight into the world around the album.

I hope so many 30 year olds who hung up their black skinny jeans long ago see this, then re-listen to the album, then fall in love with it.

Sing is one of my fav songs by them it gives me a sense of hope like you should ever give up

I would love to see this for conventional weapons as well

Opening of "The Only Hope" has Gerard touching back on what he witnessed 09/11/2001

Thanks for making this - I'm new to mcr and while I enjoyed Danger Days, I felt pretty lost with the concept. I'm looking forward to listening to it again with this in mind

This should be a musical

The key to a good concept album is to rely more on theme than a direct narrative. Simple plots hinted at by dramatic and nuanced themes and characters.

The Killers Sam’s Town is also awesome and, even if maybe unintended, tells a story. If only emotional.

I've always seen S/C/A/R/E/C/R/O/W as about a nuke, not an actual person

Dude your voice is beautiful

Very good video and really nice editing style
I'm glad you don't think MCR is meh

nice vid

never considered the 'scarecrow' to be person instead of a weapon. not sure i like that reading but something i'll think about more

Please bring this series back, I love concept albums so much you don't even know

THIS WAS AWESOME

Thank you very much. As a russian (not native english speaker) it was a really helpful video to suss this record and story.
I'd love to see similar video on concept of three cheers of 21cb by green day if you would make any. Thanks again

s o f t a n d n e a t

I’m a big fan of MCR and this is definitely my favorite album

while i see the point you've made here, and I respect the perspective you have, you simply cannot talk about this album without talking about the comics. taking those into account changes the story drastically from a bleak, depressing ending to one more accurate to how rebellions and uprisings usually go. in the comics, the killjoys *do* die, but their deaths inspire massive change. they still have an impact and their legacy creates a chain of events that would presumably lead to a posthumous victory against their oppressors.

Although many say Danger days was the weakest of mcr albums it’s honestly my favorite one

isnt destroya also like a massive robot or something

The killjoy mindset is also utilitarian right?

Really great video- i cant find enough stuff on this excellt album & cocept.
I think you shuld listen to DARE IS A DARKSIDE by redman. I think you enjoy it.

Vampire Money hasn’t aged well? WDYM? It aged extremely well and was a really good commentary on how everyone acted about the Twilight saga. I also feel like it translates well to the YA dystopian fantasy trend that came about after the Hunger Games. Really any massive cash grab trend in media.

Make a video like this for 3 cheers please

WHAT 👏 ABOUT 👏 THE STATIC

1:47 first two? Excuse me, but what about I Brought You My Bullets, You Brought Me Your Love? That's their first album, not Three Cheers For Sweet Revenge.

I’m exactly like you in the way that “save yourself” was my favourite but now I’m older “summertime” is.
Great video dude, you really did the album justice! 🤘

The snare in “children of yesterday” is horrible

1:41 I really think only 2 of them are weak. WTTBP and Famous Last Words are great songs, teenagers is meh and I don’t love you is pretty decent but I can understand it not being everyone’s cup of tea.

finally, ive been waiting for this album to get the appreciation it deserved! i think the only way that my own analysis differed was that i never actually assigned this love interest a gender.

1:23 Nothing has ruined more experiences for me than "fans" of something. Undertale, Harry Potter, Pokemon... The list is nearly endless.

The one downvote is from one of the annoying college people.

How is Welcome To The Black Parade the weakest track from it's album? I understand the other 3 (Teenagers, IDLY, FLW) but not WTTBP.

as someone about to go in to the marines this is my favorite mcr album

spoiler alert the love intrest is a dude

i always felt like this was a story album about a punk rock kid and his girlfriend just wanting to be free in the nuclear post-apocalypse, trapped in one of the last cities under a totalitarian regime. i also always thought that the doctor was lying about jet star and cobra kid dying, bc thats what "the company" told them instead of telling them they escaped. the phrase "your shadow lives on without you" is a reference to the shadows left behind in japan after the nukes were dropped

for me, danger days is their least appealing album solely for the change in sound, but they have never released any album that has been less than brilliant.

The lethal chain peroperatively suppose because father apically kill until a watery message. handy, fabulous conifer

GUYS This new release of Twenty one Pilot’s “Scaled and Icy” is being promoted JUST LIKE DANGER DAYS was! MCR had a cryptic computer website with codes just like 21 does, DEMA is BL/ind, KILLJOYS are like Clancy. The similarities are astounding. MCR WAS THE FIRST BAND TO DO THIS 😭🤚🏻

I know DAMN WELL this man didn't just say that Welcome to the Black Parade and Famous Last Words were some of the weakest songs on The Black Parade.

I love everything this band has ever made. Minus Helena that song is way overhyped and not as amazing as people make it out to be. And The Black Parade is the best album every made by a single band imo (not the best album, just the best made)

May be one of the worst albums ever created.