On Friday, March 30, 2018, Alex Pall and Drew Taggart, collectively known as The Chainsmokers, released a brand-new video for their current single, ‘Everybody Hates Me.’ Following in the footsteps of ‘You Owe Me,’ EBHM continues the story of The Chainsmokers’ transformation. And that transformation might be different than you expect.
At the moment, the video has over five million views already. Will it be the next Chainsmokers song to hit 2 billion streams?
‘Everybody Hates Me’ Video Themes
It’s an age-old issue. Creative people often long for the recognition fame brings only to feel suffocated and trapped under the weight of it once it comes. After all, pop fame brings the good and the bad with it together, and The Chainsmokers aren’t afraid to describe how it personally affects them in ‘Everybody Hates Me.’
More chainsmoker Music coming soon
— THE CHAINSMOKERS (@TheChainsmokers) April 3, 2018
Rather than wallow, they’re using their situation as inspiration to create new music. The song also speaks to the general feelings of isolation in the digital age. Why do we relate so hard to what the boys are going through despite the fact that the vast majority of us are not famous? Probably because we can still see ourselves in them. Also, let’s face it, emotions are relatable!
The video is not all a sympathy grab, however. This one is also for the haters. The song and the video both take on the naysayers with a bit of a middle finger while keeping things introspective and commenting on the concept of fame and celebrity today.
“I can’t even check the time without facing regret.
Why do I still have to mean everything I ever said?
And I’m not trying to be like ‘poor me,’ I made it,
I’m just trying to stay normal now that they know what my name is.
Yeah, I just want to drink tequila with my friends.
Yeah they’re the reason that I still am who I am.”
Rory Kramer Brings The Chainsmokers To Life
Working again with their close friend and official videographer, Rory Kramer, gives this Chainsmokers video a behind-the-scenes feeling. Kramer uses the archetypal elements of fire and water to represent transformation and attempts to cleanse the self from external pressures. In other words, ‘trying to stay normal now that they know what my name is.’
Alex Pall and Drew Taggart travel to and attend a dance event in the video’s thematic story. The story weaves around a glut of shots of the duo, plus the drummer Matt McGuire, at what looks like band practice. Don’t like the new live instrumentation? Suck it, haters. Plus, McGuire is so savage he sets the sticks on fire.
When Pall and Taggart arrive at the rave in the video, Alex Pall decides to drown his sorrows in a little liquid courage while his bandmate leaps into the purifying water of the pool, a la ‘Nevermind’ and sinks to the bottom. You probably never expected The Chainsmokers and Nirvana would have so much in common yet here they are, exploring similar themes about the fame monster.
Alex Pall smokes a cigarette and dodges jerks in masks that barrage him at every turn. Eventually, the guys have to burn their range rover to the ground.
That’s actually not the end, however. The two Chainsmokers jump back into a vehicle to take it for a spin. Alex Pall is driving (surely he sobered up first), probably due to Drew’s persistent shapeshifting issues. In the final shot, Taggart’s eyes flash black in a soulless harkening back to his demon transformation in ‘You Owe Me.’
What Rory Kramer & The Chainsmokers Say About the EBHM Video
The band and director have been really giving when it comes to information about the video. It’s awesome to have a look at what went into this creative moment.
The Chainsmokers’ Instagram page posted this background info.
- @rorykramer shot this masterpiece with the help of a lot of our good friends
- The range rover cost 2500 bucks that we blew up
- @mattmcguiredrums drum sticks were actually on fire
- Drew held his breathe for over a minute to get under water shots
- That is Rory’s actual Jeep we used
- Alex had the worst day ever while shooting the band scenes
- We were drinking lots of tequila at the final scene of the blown up car (and yes that’s symbolism)
- @olav landed the craziest bottle flip ever simultaneously when the car exploded (Video coming soon)
- This is the most badass Video we have ever made
- Drew used this video as an excuse to dye his hair blonde
Director, Rory Kramer also weighed in to provide insight into the process and the vibe of the video.
EVERYBODY HATES ME music video I directed for @thechainsmokers is out now, link in bio. | wanted to share some of the backstory about making this video. I moved intro Drew’s house in November as he was finishing Hate Me and You Owe Me, we came up with video concepts and planned to shoot them Jan 11, 12, 15. On the 13, 14 I had to edit all the scenes we shot on 12th so we could project them on the band on 15th. About a month before shooting I had a knee surgery for my torn ACL, this surgery made me put my career on hold, living life the way I wanted to, and had me question if all I worked for would be over, all those thoughts with around 15 Percocets a day and you have a full-blown psychopath. Luckily, I worked hard, hired great friends to be my crew and got off Percocets before the filming took place. Scene 1 the tunnel scene, is like the retro future where @alexpall and @drewtaggart are driving and seen looking back at what could be memories, regret, or something haunting them, but they push forward and chase dreams. Scene 2 the pool party. Here we find Drew at the bottom of a pool which is to represent anxiety, feeling trapped, suffocating. Above at the party we find Alex feeling the same way. He is unable to fit in because everyone is hiding behind mask making Alex feel isolated. Scene 3 the explosion. Here we blew up a Range Rover to symbolize their success of ‘Closer’ something that changed their lives, my life and the rest of their teams lives, much like a fire, we couldn’t control what it brought, the love, the hate…we’re just trying to be ourselves and do what we love. Finally, the band scene was something I wanted to be simple and let their performance and energy do the talking much like bands in the 90s Nirvana and blink-182. Hope you guys like this, super proud of it and thanx to @thechainsmokers for letting me create this. Produced by @goodboyshady and shot by @mattjkomo and @mattkomosarms THANX TO MY AMAZING TEAM AND CREW THAT MADE THIS POSSIBLE. DONT LISTEN TO THE HATE, BELIEVE IN YOURSELF AND YOUR FRIENDS…the rest is in your head.
Alex Pall added his social media two cents, saying:
We made something really effing cool and are so proud of @rorykramer for the creative 🎯 !! We shot this Video in 2 days around LA, got to blow some shit up and for once look relatively badass in our career! This Video just captured the energy of the song perfectly and that isn’t easy to do!!
Traveling to bigger and better things, no doubt. Chainsmokers out.
Want more from The Chainsmokers? Follow them on Twitter, or read our last article on the duo here!
