The lead single from their upcoming album Come Around Sundown has a gospel feel to its chorus. So its video shows the Tennessee band hanging out, barbecuing, and singing with a group of school-age black children. Depending on your mood this’ll feel either totally heartwarming or totally contrived. Watch:
Come Around Sundown is out 10/19 via Sony.
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Well, that was a pretty awful music video. Here’s hoping to a flop and we don’t hear from them again.
Yeah, man. Sorry you’ve gotta wait a couple of years for the next Nickelback album.
it could’ve been worse.
Not enough skinny white hipsters running around nude. Dislike! Go get eaten by a pack of wolves, Kings of Leon!
To me it looks like the Fallowills are making a calculated move to distance themselves away from those KKK daddy rumors.
I like it. that`s all i have to say….
Sounds like it could be from the last album, but not bad.
Not sure what the vitriol is all about, it’s just a music video.
Am I wrong in saying that this song is like a mainstream sounding rip off of Les Savy Fav’s “Patty Lee”? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3_VGcXmTDFo
Yeah definitely really similar, dunno what you mean by “mainstream sounding” though. The LSF song is just as ready for radio as the KOL one.
Well, at least it isn’t as annoying as Sex on Fire.
Solid but unspectacular first single. Video is fine but I would have expected a bit more on both levels leading up to such an important release.
Less annoying than the singles on the last record. That’s the closest thing to a compliment I will give.
this is pretty effing offensive
Why is that? Blacks and whites cannot be in the same music video?
I hope you’re kidding, Navi. All joking aside, whoever thinks this video is offensive is racist.
I’m not kidding. Please refer below to Emanuel Vinson’s articulate explanation.
My colleagues and I foresee an academic paper entitled: “Brooklyn wasn’t enough!: Gentryfying the Deep South.”
“whoever thinks this video is offensive is racist.”
I just wanted to make sure that was written out twice so people can really evaluate what you just said. Good Lord.
I’m sure this band is coming from an affectionate standpoint, but to call someone racist for being critical about media is the lowest you can get. That’s some straight-up Fox News shit, right there.
I just don’t get it… I mean, they made a crap ton of money in Europe right? I know they wanted to break it big in the states, but after the last two albums I’m beginning to feel like all the badassery and sweet riffs from their first two was just a calculated image that I fell for… and I don’t like being made the fool. Stop with the damn anthem-rock! Seriously though, the first two albums rock like nonsense.
Couldn’t agree more. I wouldn’t call this song awful but they said they were done selling out and apparently turned down the show Glee (I don’t even know how that’s possible). I read this album would be more like their first and from this first single they must have confused Youth and Young Manhood with Because of the Times. Here’s hoping that this is the only song of its kind.
I abso-freakin-lutely agree. they need to start drinking whiskey again.
They need to start snorting cocaine, failing to get it up for models and singing about trannies again.
amen, hallelujah! devil bless.
On a first listen, I really dig this song. But this whole “look! black children! aren’t the little Others adorable?” is mad offensive. I can’t even imagine the kinds of conversations that go into deciding to execute something like this.
infant sorrow-africa
hahaha! that’s EXACTLY what i thought. this is kings of leon’s “african child”
Offended?
These kids are probably singing the back up vocals later in the song, so why not include them in the video?
Please get over yourselves, you overly sensitive assholes.
Appreciate you telling me what I’m able to be offended about. Appreciate being called an asshole. You’re right, I should just “get over myself.”
No problem!
I mean, you can be offended by something, that is your own freewill, it just there is nothing about this that is offensive. There is no ill-will or hatred or bigoted gestures in this video. So what is offensive?
A bunch of rich white dudes coddling poor black kids for mass cute factor in their new music video? It makes their blackness a novelty. There doesn’t have to be ill will for it to be offensive. It comes off as horribly patronizing. White men have been treating black (and hispanic and asian, etc.) people as novelties for decades and centuries in various situaitons, and saying there’s “no ill will” that doesn’t mean it’s not harmful and dehumanizing. This is just a replication of that. I mean, there’s oodles and noodles of literature on this from people far more eloquent than I. Check it out some time.
And honestly for YOU (especially if you are a white male) to tell ME, a black male, that there is “nothing offensive” about something that offended me and made me conscious of my race and my place in American (/global) society is just another subset of you acting out and capitalizing off your privilege. Whether you realize it or not. Oh shit, I’m more sensitive to matters concerning black people than you? Damn, that’s crazy dun. Not to attempt to completely discredit you- but I would never dream of telling a woman that something they found offensive to them as a woman (or a Muslim person, or another frequently disenfranchised group) is “not offensive” (AND call them an asshole) just because it wasn’t as apparent to me. No shit.
And if you are not a white male, or are even a black male or female, it’s still bad vibes and way bad conversational etiquette.
If it offended me, it’s offensive. That’s what offensive is. If you want to debate the mechanics of the situation, go ahead. But don’t fucking insult me, or anyone else, for it as if your word is final say or try to discredit my feelings.
Would it make you feel better if there was also a bunch of white kids running around? As far as novelties in this video go, I would say it leans towards treating the whole southern gossple as such rather that the race of the childeren. Which southern gosspel would be theme of this video. It inspired the lyircs and clearly why they chose to do this video. This is their background.
To be honest I am sorry for the “assholes” remark.
But I am also sorry that you took this music video for something that it isn’t. This should be a grain of salt matter.
in the words of das racist, “sick of arguing with white dudes on the internet”
Is that how you back up an argument? You throw out typecast, stereotypical lyrics from a terrible song that were written by terrible people in a terrible band? If only we could all be so bold, Navi Lamba, if only.
Not to stir anything back up, but I was just curious as to why you assumed that they were “poor black kids?”
It feels totally benign to you, I would imagine, because you’re not accustomed to this kind of lens when it comes to mass media. But -everything- has a purpose, is indicative of something. And just like the new Nick Cave video strictly cast black people in the menacing/feral roles, when your representation in media is so woefully limited you are more astute when it comes to how the group you are a part of is portrayed when it happens.
A mixture of children would be dope. A bunch of white children would not feel out of place. It would be like “let’s have KoL play with kids!” But, like I said before, imagining the actual pitch for this video is what bothers me the most. Who decided that everyone in the video should be a dark-skinned black child? There’s a subtext to everything, and personally, seeing rich white men coddling some poor black kids feels hella exploitative. I get that KoL grew up as bible belters. I fucks with KoL, I always have; I’m not saying I think they’re racist people. But it definitely does feel like they’re getting their Aldous Snow on with this one.
Word to Navi Lamba (and DR).
Not to get all Uncle Ruckus on you but . . .
I seen a few high yellow children in there. And I’m fat, black and gay. So I am well aware of limited representation when it comes to the media. Anybody like me ain’t nowhere to be seen. The video is a bit cloying and I cringed watching the one white guy turning the hose on the kids. Playful, but still evocative of scenes from the Civil Rights struggle.
Yeah, relatively speaking, I know none of these kids parents are probably raking cash in like KOL. But why they gotta be “poor black kids” and not just church kids? Mama and Daddy gotta make decent piece of change to keep God happy and their tithes rolling.
It’s just that I’m from the South (and the son of a preacher, man). So I’m sensitive to both racial and regional stereotypes. Especially after hearing things like, “You don’t sound like you’re from the South!” so many times. That raises my hackles just like the implications behind, “You’re so articulate.”
I was just wondering did Southern Black Children equal poor black children? And if they filmed the video in Baldwin Hills (without strictly white children or a rainbow coalition) would you feel the same way?
I’ll take that. There is some high yellaz in derr.
They come across as “poor” to me because as far as I can tell none of these children have any access to electronics. Their toys are kites, horseshoes, and water hoses. The climactic concert happens in what could easily double as a barn; a raggedy wooden structure with no lights, protection from the elements, or even pews. Just some geetars and a vintage acoustic organ. It’s intentionally given a rustic feel to evoke the 1950s and back. And honestly, approaching it from that viewpoint makes it even more disturbing to me.
All this “what if there were white kids” “what if it was somewhere else” stuff, I think, only makes me feel more conviction about my viewpoint. Because there ARE a ton of different choices they could have made, but the ones they chose to make are very very deliberate and noticeable.
I really really like this song.
Win.
I know I’m late, but I’m sad you looked at this video and saw something offensive instead of something innocent, free, and plain old fun. If it were some white kids, we’d be like, oh. So? But you saw black kids and then saw race.
But then again I feel like we are always putting too much weight on the wrong thing. Examining myself, I had these thoughts – I thought they were in Uganda singing about building a well for the first half of the video.
Shows you how much we need more positive representation of black people in the media. And if these skinny white boys going to do it over some blacks, well hell fine. Let them.
Interracial power.
“Wade in the water, Wade in the water, children, wade in the water, God’s gonna trouble the water.”
Over sensitive is right. The Followills are from this background. Even so, if it was a choir of all white kids, would you be saying its racist as well?
No, obviously it wouldn’t be racist if it were all white kids. Are you joking?! These kids are being co-opted. And no one is calling this band racist. They’ve just displayed some questionable decision making.
Because MGMT never used or mentally tortured a child in their own music video. You’re right, KoL is totally out of line with this video…maybe if they had a cameo of Joanna Newsom, they would have been in the clear.
I feel like KOL 2003 would’ve drunken stumbled on to the set of this video and kicked KOL 2010′s asses for this, if they could. The song isn’t godawful like most of their last album, but what happened to the dirty bastards that couldn’t be bothered to give a shit about anything other than sex, booze, and the magical combination of those two?
seriously! i want the younger, irresponsible, better looking [circa aha shake heartbreak], more irresponsible KOL back. i miss the songs about drunken debauchery and trannies.
I honestly prefer the singles from the last album to this song. And if they make it sound this album sound anything like the first three I’m sold.
You guys are being way too hard on it. Don’t over analyze it. Its just Kings of Leon. I knew the second I saw this video that it would give the people who already hated them a huge reason to rip on them even further. Sure, the video is corny, but the song is powerful and damn catchy. They have talent. Admit it.
This whole “don’t over analyze it” mentality is responsible for the prevalence of dumb shit like this.
Dear everybody, please continue to over analyze and don’t settle for boring music.
Didn’t like the music video at all…
Ok, they have talent, but put it to good use for a change!
Johan
I’m pretty sure if MGMT or Of Montreal made this it would be pure genius. Too bad it’s a band that’s “sold out” and full of racial undertones… right.
Yeah I actually kind of like this song. First Hurley, now this. Strange times.
Also, as a white guy from the suburbs who really has no place in an argument over what is or isn’t offensive, I just wanna say the painting these kids as poor and exploited due to a lack of electronics seems like a bit of a jump. I’m not saying it can’t be seen that way or viewed as offensive; certainly it can/is. But if you’re making a video so shamelessly nostalgic, you’re probably not going to show kids running around with iPhones or sitting in their basements playing CoD4. Kinda just looks like they just got out of school and are playing outside, which is what I did as a lad even though Sonic and Knuckles was waiting at home.
I must say, I’m somewhat surprised at the generally positive reception this has received from the hipster douchebag universe.
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META LOL
Soberly though, you’re a dickhead.
kings of leon make bad music thats all there is too this discussion.
Let’s be friends, everyone!
“This whole “don’t over analyze it” mentality is responsible for the prevalence of dumb shit like this.
Dear everybody, please continue to over analyze and don’t settle for boring music.”
Don’t be a complete jackass. I’ve been a KOL fan since Aha Shake Heartbreak, when their music was CERTAINLY not boring. I also like an extremely eclectic variety of bands that in no way are mainstream or “boring”. If people like new Kings of Leon, good for them. Don’t act like its the end of the world. Sorry but i’d rather listen to a mediocre rock song like this instead of a pretentious repetitive Animal Collective loop that goes on for 7 minutes. Call me crazy.
crazy
I’m not acting like it’s the end of the world. I just think that encouraging mindless listening leads to the popularity of bad music. Just as it does for literature, television, and film. I don’t think that’s being a “complete jackass,” either. I just think someone saying “don’t over analyze it” as an excuse is being lazy. I really don’t care how long you’ve been a Kings Of Leon fan. That has nothing to do with what I was saying. Neither does your assumption that I would prefer “a pretentious repetitive Animal Collective loop.” Good one.
Ok well once you guys that think KOL suck get your heads out of your asses and stop thinking Kanye West and Best Coast are amazing artists you let me know.
I dislike both of those groups. Just saying.
Considering the difference between KOL at the peak i.e. the ‘Aha Shake Heartbreak’/ ‘Youth and Young Manhood’-era and at the worst i.e. ‘Only by the Night’, this new song sounds refreshingly like something of a middleground alot like ‘Because of the Times’. However, the difference being that this sounds like a return to old form whereas ‘BotT’ foreshadowed the crap to come. Anyway, if this single is anything to go on it seems that perhaps KOL are finally leaving their adopted U2-stadium rock sound behind and picking up where ‘Aha Shake Heartbreak’ and if it is let’s just pretend the last 3 years didn’t happen.
It has some really redeeming qualities, but overall it’s a pretty forgettable song for me. The bass line is sweet, but the guitar that comes in at the beginning ruins it. It reminds me of some of the sounds Band of Horses is playing with now, which I’m really not a fan of. The chorus is pretty lame with exception to the “oooh”s. Long story short, I’m all “wtf.” I think a lot of the difference between when they started and the stuff they put out now is that they’re completely different musicians. They’ve said in interviews that they could barely play when Youth and Young Manhood came out and Caleb has said that he used to mumble his singing because he was self conscious about his lyrics. The first two albums were the result of a zeitgeist and it doesn’t look like we’ll be hearing that kind of stuff from them again.
Everyone should join our cause, Kings of Leon should be stopped! Join the Facebook Group “kings of leon are then new nickleback”
http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=142636249095866
Everytime I hear a new KOL song, I mourn what was once one of my favorite bands. Those first two albums were so fucking badass. I used to push them on all my friends… now I feel silly.
The worst part? Every one of their newer singles ends up in my heads for months at a time.
ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh (blah blah blah watterrrr… blah blah blah watterrr) noooooooooo!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NFHOzarT78Q
First off, for those who are questioning the new album and if its just another OBTN repeat, if you’ve heard any of the other new songs they’ve been playing live, its definitely more of a return to BOTT era Kings. There is definitely still a big, kind of reverby arena feel, and some of the, I feel, better elements from OBTN are in but I feel a much strong resemblance to BOTT era KOL.
theres a new white rapper that is AWESOME! i heard he just got signed but not sure… check out his new song here its already getting radio airplay!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZalSfqt-wEs