PopScreen: Rebellion (Lies)

First things first: If you haven’t heard “Rebellion (Lies)” already, do whatever you need to rectify that problem immediately. I don’t just say that because I think that it’s an unstoppably great song, or that the Arcade Fire are destined to become the Great Band of Our Generation, or that their debut LP, “Funeral,” is a never-ending mine of inspirational songcraft, although I do think all of these things. I say it because it’s a song that should be a part of your college experience. Don’t put off listening to it until you graduate or go off on summer activities. It’s about growing up, staying up late, marking your territory, and falling into grown-up love. And it’s all set to a dancepunk drumbeat, somehow.

But the video’s the topic I’m supposed to address. Well, the video’s a bit disappointing. It’s overly literal, for one thing (watch as children open their eyes right when lead singer Win Butler commands the listener to “lift those heavy eyelids”). And it sort of plays up the “cheer up, because life is beautiful and children are our future!” aspect of the song to an overly sentimental degree. But the decisions to put the whole thing in the soft focus of a dream and imbue percussionist Richard Parry’s drumstick with an unearthly light all give an overwhelming sense that the Arcade Fire are a band who have come to reveal that we’ve never grown up from childhoods yet, but that we need to, now more than ever. And that’s a good thing. I don’t know. Just listen to the song and feel the glory for yourself.