I view 'Revolution Is My Name' as a song about reflecting on childhood and the time in which you are brought up. It is about the becoming of who you are from a young age and how it does not change, yet also is about brotherhood and describes the importance of taking those who are 'lost' under your 'wing.' Of course, the song signifies the idea of revolting and how when born into a disrupted world full of turmoil, its almost as if their beliefs are decided for them. Anselmo's rage-induced vocals reminds us that a change needs to be made and that he physically symbolises revolution in the song. 'Forever is my name,' signifies this idea. Although it is not specifically explained in the song, themes of revolting against indoctrination seep into the ideologies; as well as demonstrating that it should be normalised to not be 'normal' as mass society views it to be.
While it may seem like it only conforms and fulfils the conventions of a 'performance' music video as the band performs live and sings to the camera, the imagery in-between these shots says otherwise. The band performs the song in what looks like a warehouse, as they demonstrate the sheer amount of musical skill they hold. The setting in itself is important as it looks like a gritty, abandoned warehouse. This makes the video seem more individualised and adds to that rebellious feel that the song itself brings. There are multiple uses of close-up shots of Phil Anselmo as he not only lip syncs and addresses the audience, but he points at them too. However, in-between the shots of the band performing we are shown black and white footage of children representing the band members at a younger age. This develops a simple narrative following the different members as they grow up and their influences along the way. The shots of the bearded children is intended to be read comically, as though the band is self aware in terms of the tone in which they perform the song.
We can infer from the mise-en-scene and black and white imagery that the band is clearly trying to display a sitcom-esque, exaggerated take of the time in which they were growing up. From The Exorcist (1973) poster in a child's room being juxtaposed with the religious poster to the left of it, to the traditional middle-class birthday party being juxtaposed with the bearded group of children all sat around.
These 'post-modern' music video conventions attempt to display a world that has become distant and strange. This reinforces that even in what seems like a progressive era, change is still needed in the sense that the there is no variation within culture. As a shortcut to storytelling, stereotypes of 'metalheads' are used. These range from the long unkempt beards, devil horns hand gesture, to carrying an electric guitar around everywhere.
To further contribute to the portrayal of the 70s - early 80's, different metal icons and arguably instigators of different subgenres of metal are implemented into the video. The likes of Gene Simmons and Paul Stanley (KISS), Ozzy Osbourne (Black Sabbath) and Eddie Van Halen are all used to demonstrate the influence that they have had on the band. These legends had so much of an influence on them that the children in the music video attempt to replicate the iconic KISS face paint.
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