The Pretender was the first single from the American alternative rock band, Foo Fighters’ 2007 album (Echoes, Silence, Patience and Grace). It was one of their most successful songs with hundred thousands of views before the video even came out. The pretender was number 1 for 18 weeks in the Modern Rock Tracks and also spent 6 weeks as number 1 on the Hot Mainstream Rock Tracks.
The music video which was nominated for the MTV Video Music Award 2008 for Best Rock Video was directed by Sam Brown.
The video shows the Foo Fighters performing the song in an airplane hanger which was lit up brightly with dozens of strip lights on the ceiling. The airplane hanger is the only location throughout the whole video. The location was very simply laid out and was completely isolated initially; except for the four band members and a massive red screen (that doesn’t seem to belong there). The band members are later joined by one riot police officer with a number on his uniform and he stands behind a black line. As the song progresses, even more riot officers join the initial one on the black line (all with individual numbers, around 40 of them). The officers are shown to be very threatening and dangerous by their body language and facial expressions.
During the bridge just before the last chorus the music becomes very quiet and calm. At this time all the riot officers charge screaming at the band in ultra slow motion. This effect where the audio doesn’t match the visuals is used…
As they get closer to the band the last chorus starts loudly and the red screen behind the band suddenly explodes shooting out a huge amount of red water which crashes into the band and the riot officers. The officers get knocked down and struggle to get back on their feet while the band continues to play aggressively. At the end Dave the lead singer smashes his guitar onto the floor I think to signify the band’s victory over the officers or to represent the exhaustion after this intense face off.
Lyrics:
keep you in the dark you know they all pretend
keep you in the dark and saw it all begin
send in your skeletons
sing as the bones come marchin' in again
the knee you buried deep
the secrets that you keep are ever ready, are you ready?
I'm finished making sense
done pleading ignorance
that whole defense
spending this energy
but the wheel thats spinnin' me is never ending, never ending
same ol' story
what if I say you're not like the others
what if I you're not just another one
look at your face, you're the pretender
what if I say I'll never surrender x2
in time I'm so I'm told
I'm just another soul for sale, oh well
the pages I repressthey are not permanent, they are temporary, same ol story
what if I say you're not like the others
what if I you're not just another one
look at your face, you're the pretender
what if I say I'll never surrender x2
I'm the voice inside your head you refuse to hear
I'm the face you have to face mirroring yourself
I'm whats left, I'm whats right, I'm the enemy
I'm the hand that takes you down and brings you to your knees
so who are you, yeah who are you, yeah who are you, yeah who are you
even in the dark, you know they all pretend
what if I say you're not like the others
what if I you're not just another one
look at your face, you're the pretender
what if I say I'll never surrender
what if I say you're not like the others
(even in the dark, you know they all pretend)
what if I you're not just another one
(even in the dark, you know they all pretend)
look at your face, you're the pretender
(even in the dark, you know they all pretend)
what if I say I'll never surrender x3
so who are you
yeah who are you
yeah who are you
yeah who are you...
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