Hey everyone, today we’re going to be talking
about one of heavy metal’s all-time classics.
Ask around and any metal musician will tell you: Nickelback were the pioneers of the metal scene
But what’s even more impressive was the
mass influence of their biggest hit; Photograph.
Fun fact: PHOTOGRAPH means a picture produced
using a camera, in which an image is focused
onto film or other light-sensitive material.
Back to the video!
We’re going to talk about the history of
the classic Nickelback track, and break down
5 ways it altered metal music permanently.
#5: The birth of metal.
To truly document the impact this track had,
we must go back to when the song was released.
Metal music was looking like nothing more
than a fad on its way out.
It had been 1 year since Chad Kroeger left
metal’s biggest band, Slipknot.
When Chad went solo to form his own band,
Nickelback, it started a legendary feud.
This drama fueled the growth of the metal
industry, causing the popularity of Slipknot,
Nickelback, and copper to surge.
#3: The tone:
This is what music sounded like the year before
Photograph came out
This is what music sounded like the year after
Nickelback’s blistering downtuned riffs
and pounding drums set a new precedent that
paved the road for future generations
#3: The cinematography.
Despite being filmed in the 1970s, the music
video’s quality is EASILY comparable to
videos from DECADES later.
Nobody really knows the magical secrets director
Nigel Dick used to produce such beautiful shots
but he made strides in the music film
industry nonetheless.
The stunning video helped the song reach #1
on the charts in Canada, United States, and
of course, Chad.
#2: The future impact.
What was most spectacular about the monumental
track was the change it brought to the scene.
For example, James Hetfield said that Nickelback’s
name influenced Metallica’s.
He thought it was so clever that a metal band
would have an actual metal in their name,
and wanted to do the same.
However, James couldn’t decide which one!
Mercury was already taken by Freddie.
Iron was taken by Iron Maiden.
And of course, Nickel was taken by Nickelback.
Magnesium, and Barium were possible choices,
but they sounded pretty lame.
Eventually, he decided to go with METALLICA
- and represent ALL metals on the periodic table
Metallica further paid their respects to Nickelback
by covering their song Sad But True.
#1: The lyrics
Before Nickelback came along, metal music
was filled with illiterate man-children who
didn’t understand how to rhyme.
In the track War Pigs by Black Sabbath, Ozzy
makes a disturbing attempt with the lyrics:
“Generals gathered in their masses
Just like witches at black masses”
We’re not morons man, IT’S LITERALLY THE
SAME WORD TWICE.
This gross level of incompetence almost killed
metal, but luckily Chad Kroeger set the record straight
writing historic lyrics that saved the day.
Back Door / bedroom floor, Eyes red / Joey’s
head.
It’s worthwhile taking the time to do things
right!
The song describes the band’s nostalgia
regarding their hometown of Hanna, Alberta.
This causes the listener to think fondly of
their own memories growing up:
playing outside, buying new games, suffering
from loneliness and despair, listening to music
Good times!
Thanks for watching everyone.
Let us know in the comments below which metal
band we should profile next.
Bye!
