"Vermilion" is a two-part song by the American heavy metal band Slipknot, from their third studio album, "Vol. 3: (The Subliminal Verses)" released in 2004. The song explores themes of love, obsession, and the darker aspects of human emotions. Here are 10 facts about the songs "Vermilion 1" and "Vermilion 2," along with details about the music videos:
10. Directors: The music video for "Vermilion 1" was directed by the band’s percussionist Shawn Crahan, and Tony Petrossian, a visionary commercial and music video director who has worked with top talent and brands across the globe. While Vermilion 2", was directed by Marc Klasfeld, who has directed over two hundred music videos for artists such as Sum 41, Katy Perry, Jay-Z, Red Hot Chili Peppers, and of course, slip knot.
9. Release Date: The album "Vol. 3: (The Subliminal Verses)" was released on May 25, 2004, and both parts of "Vermilion" were part of this release.
8. Lyric Inspiration: The lyrics for both parts of "Vermilion" were inspired by a stalker character Corey Taylor, Slipknot's lead vocalist, created in his mind. The lyrics delve into the complex emotions and obsessions associated with this character.
7. Soundtrack: “Vermilion” features on the soundtrack for the 2004 film, Resident Evil: Apocalypse and plays during the end credits. slipknot vermilion pt. 2 (bloodstone mix) is a part of Underworld: Evolution soundtrack.
6. Costumes: The costumes in the music video were also very important in creating the atmosphere. The woman wears a white dress that is very plain and simple. This helps to contrast with the dark and chaotic world around her. For part 1, The members of Slipknot wear their signature masks and jumpsuits, which helps to create a sense of menace and danger.
5. Actress: The music video features the actress Janna Bossier as the lead character. Some of her other professional credits include roles on the show ‘Shameless’ and ‘Grounded for life’, as well as motion caption and voice-over work for Star Wars: The Old Republic.
4. Special effects: Vermilion uses a few special effects, such as slow-motion and stop-motion animation. These effects are used to create a sense of unreality and dreamlike quality to the video.
3. Symbolism: The music video also features a lot of symbolism, such as the use of the butterfly motif. The butterfly represents the stalker's obsession with the woman, and it also represents the transformation that she undergoes when she wears the Maggot Mask.
2. Slipknot’s music range: Both parts of "Vermilion" are a testament to Slipknot's ability to explore different facets of their musical style while maintaining their signature intensity and emotion. The music videos add a visual dimension to the song's themes, creating a captivating and immersive experience for the viewers.
1. Tone: The music video for Vermilion is beautifully gothic as it follows a stunning yet tortured woman. She is captivating and grotesque at the same time; an image of death and purity all at once. In the second video, she is lifeless, and animated by what seems to be ‘an invisible hand’ as the wind carries her through the motions of the song. this somewhat mirrors how the Woman only physically interacted with the butterfly after it seemingly died, and reinforces the dark undertones in both videos.
The music videos were a critical and commercial success. With parts 1 and 2 generating 51 million and 75 million views respectively. We hope you enjoy our exploration of some of Slipknot’s best work. Let us know in the comments how we did and if you know something we missed.