Enemy (Days of the New song)

Infobox Single
Name = Enemy


Artist = Days of the New
from Album = Days of the New
B-side =
Released = July 22, 1999
Format = CD single
Recorded = 1998
Genre = Post-grunge
Acoustic rock
Electronic music
Length = 5:11
Label = Outpost
Writer = Travis Meeks
Producer = Travis Meeks, Todd Smith
Certification =
Chart position =
Last single = "Shelf in the Room" (1998)
This single = "Enemy" (1999)
Next single = "Weapon & the Wound" (1999)

"Enemy" is a song by Days of the New and the lead single from their second eponymous album also known as "Green." The song reached #2 on Billboard's Mainstream Rock Tracks in 1999 [ [http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/retrieve_chart_history.do?model.vnuArtistId=182100&model.vnuAlbumId=497729 Artist Chart History - Days of the New] Billboard.com. Retrieved August 27, 2008.] and is the ninth track on the band's "" released in 2008.

"Enemy" is a prime example of the band's shift into new musical scape on "Green"; whereas the first album established a moderately stripped down acoustic rock style, "Enemy" pulls in electronic effects and percussion comparable to that heard in dance club music. Regarding this decision, Travis Meeks said, "It was an experiment. It was something that I wanted to try - just like putting red in a painting instead of using more blue, just trying something different." [Parker, Lyndsey [http://music.yahoo.com/read/interview/12026788 Exclusive LAUNCH Artist Chat - Days of the New] Yahoo! Music (November 8, 2008). Retrieved on August 28, 2008.] Acoustic guitar remains well implemented, however, and an echoed horn is also heard during the chorus. Vocal layering occurs throughout "Enemy" as well with clean singing in the foreground and a distant, hollower voice providing backup vocals. The song fades to silence as it nears the end. An acoustic guitar solo then begins which is accompanied by a second guitar before slowly fading out themselves.

Meeks described the song composition process in an interview with LAUNCHcast, stating that he first wrote the guitar and vocal pattern first before demoing in the studio. While there, he created the bass line and composed samples around that. He also expressed hope that fans wouldn't get the impression that "Enemy" stylistically represents the entire album. [Rosen, Craig [http://music.yahoo.com/read/news/12039507 Days Of The New Smash Stereotypes] Yahoo! Music (December 18, 1999) Retrieved on August 28, 2008.]

Lyrically, "Enemy" appears to focus on a dispute between a young man and his authority figure. The first lyric in the song proclaims, "Listen down you little man/I'm not the one who's trying to change you," yet perhaps ironically, also declares later, "you need to change now." Amidst these claims, the narrator also tries to maintain respect between the two and cite that he or she is not an enemy despite the aforementioned demands.

Music video

A video was produced for a remixed version of "Enemy" which edits the song length to 4:21 and introduces more electronic effects. A director's cut was also made available at Launch.com. Filmed in mid August 1999, "Enemy" was directed by Louisiana native Chip Dumstorf who was also responsible for the "Green" album's art direction. An Outpost spokesperson declined to comment on the video's storyline, and Days of the New frontman Travis Meeks's simply stated, "I love this video, and that's all I have to say." [ [http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1427900/19990823/days_of_the_new.jhtml Days Of The New Shoot The "Enemy"] MTV.com (August 23, 1999). Retrieved on August 28, 2008.] [ [http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1427901/19990628/days_of_the_new.jhtml Days Of The New Re-Emerges With New Album, Lineup; Old Members Regroup] MTV.com (June 28, 1999). Retrieved on August 28, 2008.]

The majority of "Enemy" was shot at The Louisville Palace with an invitation for fans to appear as extras in the August 19 shooting. Scenes taking place outside were shot along the Ohio River in Indiana. The video includes fast motion footage such as people using a revolving door and walking outside an apartment building. A bald, red-skinned figure crouches in front of a stained glass window and becomes the physical embodiment of the masked, feathered man seen inside it. Throughout the video, this caped and hooded man plays a game of chess with Meeks before replacing his mask, reentering the window, and departing in his red form. The band performs in a dark, foggy room of trees similar to the album's cover art. Various characters in strange wardrobe are seen dancing among the group in an almost rave-like fashion. Other footage shows Meeks singing alone in the psychedelically colored outdoors; a truss bridge over the Ohio River can be seen in the background.

Chart positions

References

External links

* [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8SnueCf4JaY "Enemy" Music Video] @ YouTube