Helena (song)
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| “Helena” | |||||
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| Single by My Chemical Romance from the album Three Cheers for Sweet Revenge |
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| Released | March 14, 2005 | ||||
| Format | 7" vinyl CD Digital download DVD |
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| Recorded | 2004 | ||||
| Genre | Alternative rock | ||||
| Length | 3:25 | ||||
| Label | Reprise Records | ||||
| Writer(s) | My Chemical Romance | ||||
| Producer | My Chemical Romance Howard Benson |
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| My Chemical Romance singles chronology | |||||
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"Helena" is the third single and first track from My Chemical Romance's second studio album, Three Cheers for Sweet Revenge. The lyrics describe lead singer Gerard Way's feelings for his late grandmother, Elena Lee Rush (friends called her 'Helen', and because of this, Way always thought of her as "Helena"). The single has become a moderately-selling hit, both in the U.S. and internationally. Way said in an interview with Channel [V] the band got influences for Helena from the song "Aces High" by Iron Maiden and tracks by The Ventures. This song is also My Chemical Romance's seventh overall single. It is highly considered to be their signature song, as Gerard Way not only described it as representing the band's image and sound (at that point in time) it is usually used to end shows.
[edit] Track listing
Version 1 (promotional CD)
- "Helena"
Version 2 (CD and 7" vinyl)
- "Helena"
- "I'm Not Okay (I Promise)" (live from Sessions@AOL)
Version 3 (CD)
- "Helena" – 3:25
- "I'm Not Okay (I Promise)" (live) – 3:06
- "You Know What They Do to Guys Like Us In Prison" (live) – 3:10
Version 4 (digital download)
- "Helena" (live from the Starland Ballroom in Sayreville, New Jersey) – 4:14
[edit] Music video
The music video was shot on-location in the Immanuel Presbyterian church on Wilshire Boulevard in Los Angeles, California, directed by Marc Webb, and choreographed by Michael Rooney. The video has a simple plot, with Gerard Way as a clergyman/entertainer at a funeral where the band is performing. There are also mourners who dance and mourn the death of Helena. Near the end, the dead body of Helena (played by actress and dancer Tracy Phillips) rises and dances down the nave representing crossing over into the afterlife. After she falls back into the casket, the pallbearers (also played by My Chemical Romance and a fan named Cameron) carry the casket to the hearse (in the pouring rain), surrounded by a phalanx of dancing men and women with umbrellas.
Though the song in general is about the band members Gerard Way and Mikey Way's late grandmother, it was stated in an interview that the video told a different story. The music video shows the funeral of a young, beautiful, twenty-something year old girl named Helena, who, according to Gerard Way, died tragically. Evidence from the song leads most to believe that the video Helena died in a car accident, despite the fact that is really about the passing of Gerard and Mikey's grandmother. The sixth pallbearer and the majority of the mourners are fans who'd received emails from the band asking if they'd like to be in the video.
During the "Making Of..." video, found as a bonus on the Life on the Murder Scene CD/DVD, it was noted that Frank Iero, being 5'5", didn't actually carry any weight of the casket, and that it rested on the other band members and their 6th pallbearer to carry the weight. Also noted was that the rain used in the sequence between the church and the hearse wasn't planned for, but the director used it to his advantage, as it set the mood of a funeral.
The video was nominated for five Moonmen at the 2005 MTV Video Music Awards: Best Rock Video, Best Choreography, Best New Artist, and the MTV2 and Viewer's Choice Awards (both of which are chosen by viewers).They lost to bands such as Green Day, Fall Out Boy, and The Killers. Though the band did not win any awards, they did do a surprise performance of the song towards the end of the show. They also won an MTV Video Music Awards Latin America "tongue" for the Best New Artist - International. They also won a Best Video award in the 2005 Kerrang! Awards. In November of 2005, the video was nominated for two MTVU Woodie Awards (voted on by college students) and won the Woodie of the Year. In the Philippines, Helena has reached a cult-like status because of the popularity of Alternative music.
The video was also voted #1 by viewers of MTV latinamerica in the 2005 "100 Most Wanted Videos".
[edit] Charts
| Chart | Peak position |
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| Australian ARIA Singles Chart | 78 |
| U.S. Billboard Hot 100 | 33 |
| U.S. Billboard Pop 100 | 32 |
| UK Singles Chart | 20 |
| MYX Philippines | 3 |
| New Zealand RIANZ Singles Chart | 27 |
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