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In an effort to jump-start the critically important deconstruction of Guns N’ Roses’ late-period video output, I’ve taken the liberty of posting the mini-film that provides visual accompaniment to their hit, “Cold November Rain.” It is Rock Town Hall’s hope that willing Townspeople will step forward with insightful observations and analyses, so that we may better understand what exactly is going on here.
Specific questions that deserve answers include, but are not limited to:
1. In the opening minute alone, Axl is transported thrice while playing piano: from a concert hall, to the inside of the church where he is to be married, to the barren wasteland of the American West. In considering this metaphorical statement about the vagaries of fame, the emptiness of love, and the meaninglessness of existence, I ask: why is he wearing a bandana when he isn’t actually bald? Isn’t that why rock stars usually turn to the bandana?
2. “It’s hard to hold a candle in the cold November rain.” Compare and contrast with the statement “Every rose has its thorn,” making, if you wish, specific reference to life-changing events in your personal history.
3. The cigarette dangling precariously from the lip: explain its role in rock imagery in general, and as a specific counterpoint to Axl’s pussy-ass power balladeering.
4. How many weddings were celebrated after this video was released, in which slightly paunchy, balding men stuffed themselves into Edwardian military waistcoats, and waggled pinky fingers newly adorned with adamantine elven-rings? I’m just askin’.
As always, I look forward to your comments.
HVB
Video unavailable!
This is for the best. No offense, HVB, but “November Rain” is clearly the second part of the GNR Trilogy, and I think it’s unfair to Axl’s vision to begin analyzing his masterwork with part two, rather than starting with the video for “Don’t Cry” as the artist (and God) intended.
Thanks for the heads-up alexmagic. I’ve fixed the problem. I understand your reluctance to ignore Axl’s artistic vision, but I think forcibly stepping outside that box will serve this discussion well.
Thanks for getting these important analyses kicked off, Hrrundi. Some answers to your questions and some other thoughts follow.
1. Who’s to say he isn’t bald or balding at the time of this video? I believe all men wearing wide bandanas are bald or balding. I’m pretty sure the wide bandana serves as a kind of “burlap” for whatever hair growth is in progress. I don’t know much about farming, but you know how farmers put burlap over seedlings? In fact, many believe the long wait for Chinese Democracy was rooted in Axl’s attempts to culture some lasting hair transplants. If not many believe this, at least I do.
In the wedding scenes, what’s with Axl’s sensitive bangs and what do you think of the conditioner he’s using? He doesn’t get a lot of body out of his hair, but otherwise it looks really healthy for his staged wedding day.
2. Just recently, during a cold November rain, I found it difficult to hold a candle. I switched to a flashlight instead.
3. The dangling cigarette represents the precariousness of life, doesn’t it? I think dangling cigarettes and ciggies places in guitar heads need to be examine in depth.
4. I would think at least 600 such wedding ceremonies took place. Hopefully most of them lasted longer than Axl’s wedding to this former lingerie model.
Other thoughts
Obviously, this video foreshadows the breakup of the Axl-Slash union. Slash dutifully, if charmingly forgetfully, satisfies his role as Best Man then walks out of the church in mid-ceremony to whip out a blazing guitar solo. Check out Slash’s stance at the 4:31 mark, right around the still image for this video. With his bandana sticking in his back pocket, blowing in the breeze, he looks like a damn stallion! Funny that Axl sometimes needs some time on his own, while Slash forever stands alone, rearing back with his Gibson held high. Slash does get the pain out of his system and come back to raise a toast during the reception.
Who takes the cake down near the 7:00 mark? Is that supposed to be Axl in his blue silk jacket or an unruly guest in a similar jacket? What’s confusion is, when you first see the footsteps running in the rain, you see black slacks. Then the guy jumping into the cake is dressed in white pants, like Axl is when we first see him at the reception, but he has regular sleeves – NOT THE RUFFLED SLEEVES THAT AXL IS SHOWN WEARING (see 5:50)? Could just be a case of bad editing and continuity when they dressed the stuntman, but with all the care put into this video, why assume it’s not symbolic of something?
Hasn’t ham “rock conductor” Michael Kamen appeared in other hard rock band’s videos? Can someone put together a full analysis of his work dating back to the New York Rock ‘n Roll Ensemble, or whatever bad concept band from which he first sprang?
At 8:09, at the back left shoulder of the priest, why is there a cross made of large meatballs?
Mod, as always, you’ve lifted the bar perilously high for those who would dare follow. I’m preparing for a big meeting presently, but grant me a day or two, and I’ll return commentary. For now, I’ll sign off, tamping my pipe, raising my brandy snifter in your direction and chuckling at your “stallion” observation.
HVB
p.s.: never assume *anything* is said or done without good reason in Axl’s World.
“3. The dangling cigarette represents the precariousness of life, doesn’t it? I think dangling cigarettes and ciggies places in guitar heads need to be examine in depth.”
I concur.
I recently tried to initiate a discussion about the relative merits of the Headstock Cigarette in the traditional position (pointing up) as opposed to the Jack Bruce Technique (pointing directly at the crowd).
I refuse to believe that this is just a utilitarian thing. I think this says something about the guitarist/smoker’s psyche. Although what it says, I can’t begin fathom.
YES, cdm, I thought I’d remembered something like that. You were ahead of your time with that observation. Let’s look into this further. Let me know if you’d like to draft the Main Stage post.
Axl’s nightmare suggests that what we are about to see has already happened (we’ll get a few clues in a moment). Or, he dreamed he wrote a really crappy song that was turned into a really cheesy video.
The church seems a lot bigger on the inside than outside. Could be suggesting the subjective nature of reality. Or, that they couldn’t find a church close to the beach so they had to settle for a cheap model. Here, we might see a commentary on how
art is shaped by labor (apparently the prop designers were on strike).
Notice the camera shots on the guitar solo. We get a heavenly perspective–foreshadowing perhaps?
At some point, we see a dream image of Axl walking along a deserted street, by a building with a sign that reads “Guns.” All I can say is, heavy.
Wedding celebration–suggests the power that nature has over our lives and the tragedy that ensues and cannot be prevented–and the tragedy that there will be a really awful song written about rain on a wedding day as being ironic.
BRAVO, Dr. John! I knew that you of all Townsmen would come through in grand style on this. The “dream within a dream” aspects of the following…
“Or, he dreamed he wrote a really crappy song that was turned into a really cheesy video.”
…were especially insightful, not to mention hilarious.
Thanks,
HVB
Ok, I tried to wait until it was out…….couldn’t do it.
Wow do I hate the new Guns N Roses CD.
Decided to download a “preview” before I go to Best Buy tomorrow. Now I think I will get some othe record instead. Axl provides everything I DON’T want in a GNR record: Hip Hop Drums, Synth Orchestra, Don Henley-like lyrics about “our world”, gospel chorus, Nine Inch Nails industrial “blerp” sounds, Nu-Rock Guitar tones, blues-free guitar solos, introspective singer-songwriter piano (like from a Celine Dion song)…and I think I can actually hear the Pro-tools machine. There is not one instrument that sounds like…and instrument, the whole thing sounds like a sample that was triggered. Hey let’s use the “A.M. radio plug in for this bridge” now where is that Dust Brothers sample CD for the trip hop drum part? Press the snare sample here and add the bass sample and the “rumble” setting here.
If this had come out in 1996 I still would have hated it but at least it would have been relevant to modern music.
Spend your money on Izzy Stradlin’s fantastic solo discs instead (Ju Ju Hounds and 117 Degrees are the first two..and his best)
Did I mention I hate this CD?
Whitesnake and Judas Priest put out better records this year… I’m just sayin’….
the new judas priest album IS really great. It’s classic sounding metal that has something new to say. i was thrilled!
Axl’s Pain (a.k.a. Chinese Democracy)
Sung to the tune of “November Rain”
When I’m lookin’ at the lineup
for G n R two thousand and eight,
I’m blinkin’ back the tears
Cause I still think I’m great.
I’m glad the band’s not with me!
Excess baggage every one.
But it’s hard to make an LP
when I’m the only Gun.
I’ve been making this record such a long long time
14 years. It’s a god-damm crime.
But band mates always come and band mates always go,
And all I really wanted was a really long furlough.
Don’t you know?
They said I could take my time, laying down the tracks.
but that was years ago
Now Geffen’s talkin’ cutbacks.
Useless hacks.
So if you want to mock me
then join in the refrain
Or I’ll end up pukin’ buckets
Cause I’m feeling so much pain.
I’m going to start a band…on my own
I’m going to write the songs…all alone
I’m going to keep the name…on my own
Don’t you know I’m in this band…all alone
I know it’s hard to keep the franchise going,
When everyone sets to leave you.
But if I could finish this damm album
I’d be a rock and roll guru.
I’m going to start a band…on my own
I’m going to write the songs…all alone
I’m going to keep the name…on my own
Don’t you know I’m in this band…all alone
And when I start up my TV reality show
I’ll show them all who’s Boss. I’ll tell them where to go.
I know that they will love me
Cause there’s no one left to blame
So never mind the content
I still can find a way
to make sure this godddam Albatross
will see the light of day.
Don’t ya think I need somebody…to play guitar
Don’t ya think I need someone..to play the drums
Everybody needs somebody…to make a band
I’m the only one
I’m the only one
artslap, a fine, fine RTH debut! Welcome aboard. Don’t be a stranger.
1. He’s clearly wearing the bandana because he’s part of a secret society of rocker’s that competes with another secret society, the headbanders, led by mark knopfler
2. yeah, well, i personally feel that the proverbial thorn in the proverbial rose that is November, is the Cold November Rain. I mean, a month that I was born in can’t be that bad!
3. I don’t know what you’re talking about. It’s clealry a lollypop. Rocker’s don’t smoke! its bad for you!
Doesn’t the Concept by Teenage Fanclub (released around the sametime) serve the exact same purpose as November Rain? I mean, the only difference is that the Concept is shorter and catchier.
You’re all missing the obvious symbolic connection between Axl’s huge bandana and Jesus’ crown of thorns. Note the sequence that begins at 1:15, where we get a close-up of J.C. on the crucifix with lightning flashing and immediately cut to Axl thrashing around in bed while the same lightning flashes outside his window, then Axl playing piano with the headband on, back to an establishing shot of the crucifix, followed finally by a shot of the legs of supermodel Stephanie Seymour, which may not be part of the sequence.
Axl and Jesus have many points of connection throughout the Trilogy. The Mod notes one: they both have really nice, well-groomed long hair that does lack volume. Similarly, in part three (“Estranged”), the local law will come to arrest Axl, not unlike the Arrest of Christ in Gethsemane, only instead of some guys with swords, it’s a SWAT team, which is almost the same thing, adjusting for the times. Also, Axl dies and is resurrected in “Don’t Cry”.
After the initial wedding scenes, at around 2:20, we move to The Rainbow Bar & Grille for what must surely be a GNR recreation of The Last Supper.
On the non-Christ tip, pause it at 3:03 for some fine supporting work from the guy playing the priest, who gives a great Paul Lynde-style reaction shot to Slash forgetting where the ring is. He’s as delighted as we are.
After this, we reach the most famous part of the video, as Slash appears to exit the wedding and play his totally kick-ass helicopter-shot solo outside the Church. But note not only the size of the Church, but also that Slash’s shirt and top hat have vanished. This is not an accident, it is an indication that Slash is not what he seems. That Slash walks between two worlds.
To confirm this, we then see Axl and his bride exit a different Church, the larger one, with paparazzi waiting outside to photgraph them where we should be seeing Slash out in the desert. As the newleyweds drive away, we cut back to Slash playing the guitar exactly where their car should be outside the Church.
Slash later returns to our world in his wedding attire at the reception, where Axl is wearing a snazzy purple coat from the Prince collection.
His bride, of course, wears black and we see spilled red wine, important symbolism because she dies or some shit in this next part. Admittedly, it’s not really clear how. I think maybe the guy who flies into the wedding cake lands on her or something, or she gets pneumonia. It’s not really important.
The important part is that she’s dead, just like Axl died in part one of the Trilogy, and now he’s going to have to go on a journey in part three, but he’s going to need some help. In the form of Slash. And some dolphins.
Townsman Alexmagic, I was transfixed by your riveting analysis of this Important Musical Film. My hands shook as I reached for my brandy snifter, and — despite my best efforts to keep my pipe clenched firmly between my teeth — by the time I was done reading, a shower of fine ash had settled in my lap. It was clear I had literally been quaking with excitement as Axl’s deepest secrets were laid bare to me. On behalf of Rock Town Hall, I thank you for your fine service to the cause.
The bandana-crown of thorns tie-in by Alexmagic will likely be the highlight of my day. Thank you.
And let’s remember: Jesus was also part of a Trilogy.
Along with Freud, however, I myself am convinced that sometimes a dangling cigarette is just a penis.