Am I the only one who thinks Serj looks like the lead singer from System of a Down?

One of my favorite things about Serj is just how crazy he acts in his videos haha

Complete list of references throughout the video: -Serj is dressed throughout the video as Uncle Sam, but without the american colors on his suit. Instead of calling the citizens and poor people of the US to enlist in the military, Serj wants politicians to see how it feels to be in the war and learn something from it. 0:00 - an obvious reference to US department of homeland security and the national terrorism advisory system. The entire video shows Iraq war and other middle-eastern wars as child's play in the kindergarten, reflecting how the US and its allies treated it as such. 0:12 - Twin towers. This attack led to the decision to invade Afghanistan and to start "the war on terror" when the afghan government didn't comply to expel Osama Bin-Laden. 1:22 - Night vision goggles reference night ops in Afghanistan and, later, Iraq. 1:58 - The toppling of Saddam Hussein statue shortly after the invasion of Iraq. 2:26 - Various prison complexes set in and around Iraq and Afghanistan that were used to detain prisoners for questioning and interrogation. There was a lot of controversy regarding these, which brings us to... 2:30 - Abu Ghraib prison. Although this prison complex has a history long before the US set up there, a lot of controversy surrounded the time US used it to torture and abuse prisoners, and the scene in particular references the image of an Iraqi prisoner tortured by electrocution which has made news worldwide. 2:40 - The practice of forcibly entering a suspect's house by US forces, which sometimes ended in the suspect dying and his family grieving him.

I remember when I heard he was going to release a solo album I was so worried about what would come of it. Boy was I more than pleasantly surprised. This album blew me away! This man bleeds talent.

The symbolism is insane in this video. It's crazy how such a harmless and playful scene can portray such a strong message. Serj is a genius. Always has been, always will be!

Those kids must have had so much fun

Serj's facial expressions are pure gold! I love this man and his amazing music.

Впервые услышала эту песню утром по телеканалу" сигма" в музыкальной паузе, а потом пошла в школу в третий класс. Так и началось мое знакомство с вами ))) спасибо!!!

I understand that this is supposed to be deep and stuff but I really wanna be one of the kids there, they look like they are having a fucking blast

This is one of the strongest music video's of all time.

Эту группу для меня открыл мой брат, когда я увидела конкретно этот клип, я была поражена его актуальностью в то время! Пусть таких произведений будет, как можно больше! Браво Серж! Это по настоящему сильно!

Привет безумно талантливому АРМЯНСКОМУ НАРОДУ !!!

Serj is so good at using his facial expressions to emphasize the emotion behind the music. It's amazing.

Notice the ones that speak the truth never make it on present day television

Serj Idk if you see this or no , but i want you to know that you're that real artist who will stay in my heart forever ❤

I LOVE this guy's singing voice!

I wanna meet Serj so much, he and SOAD are two of the reasons I'm proud to be Armenian

I love how most of the video is a play on a very dark and serious issue, but still none the less playful, then suddenly the end just gets super fucking serious and depressing

As an Iraqi myself and a child of war, Thank you, thank you so much for taking notice and trying your best to bring awareness to the horrible things that the "brave soldiers" did to my home and impacted all of our lives forever.

Актуально и в 2022. Серж, спасибо за драйв, за честность, за талант! Гениальная композиция!

If only Serj were my kindergarten teacher

At the time of this video, Bush banned the media specifically from showing caskets of American soldiers. The ending casket scene still gives me chills.

Heard this song on the radio about 11-12 years ago and thought it was a catchy tune. Assumed it was one of them emo alternative songs, but today seeing the actual music vid was a trip down memory lane of all the events that happened during that time. Never realized how much symbolism this song has.

Моя молодость. Мой этап жизни. Под этот альбом мне круто жилось)

Serj has such a compassionate outlook upon life today, and how it is ran. If only us as a whole, all of us, the entire human race embraced compassion, love, peace, and understanding. We would be so much better off......

cardboard can't melt wood blocks.

0:23 lol No but seriously my admiration for this man is plenty. He speaks the truth honestly through a medium he enjoys. He also, from what I can gather, is a genuinely good person. So let's raise our glasses to Serj Tankian, and wish him the best.

I love how unique and different his voice is. It's just so cool to hear all these different and high ranging vocals.

Serj is a lyrical genious, no one can deny that, every one of his songs are hard hitting but so emotional at the same time!

This song gives me chills every time I hear it, SO GOOD

Chris Cornell, then Chester Bennington, please don't leave us serj. You are all we got😔

I first discovered this song at school on spotify. I'm a huge fan of System Of A Down, and I wanted to see some of Serj's songs and albums, along with albums from Daron Malakian's band. This song is one of my favorites, not just from Serj, but of all time. I love the song, and also the message behind it. It's nice Serj hides messages like this in all of his songs. Also, I love this music video, it's so deep and it screams WAR.

Among the best anti-war songs of the modern day.

Lyrics: Your empty walls, Your empty walls, Pretentious adventures, Dismissive apprehension, Don't waste your time, On coffins today, When we decline, From the confines of our mind, Don't waste your time, On coffins today... Don't you see their bodies burning? Desolate and full of yearning, Dying of anticipation, Choking from intoxication, Don't you see their bodies burning? Desolate and full of yearning, Dying of anticipation, Choking from intoxication, I want you to be left behind those empty walls, Told you to see from behind those empty walls... Those empty walls, When we decline, From the confines of our mind, Don't waste your time, On coffins today... Don't you see their bodies burning? Desolate and full of yearning, Dying of anticipation, Choking from intoxication, Don't you see their bodies burning? Desolate and full of yearning, Dying of anticipation, Choking from intoxication, I want you to be left behind those empty walls, Told you to see from behind those empty walls, Want you to be left behind those empty walls, I told you to see from behind those empty walls, From behind those empty walls, From behind those empty walls, The walls! From behind those empty walls... I loved you yesterday, (From behind those empty walls...) Before you killed my family, (From behind those empty walls, the walls...) Don't you see their bodies burning? Desolate and full of yearning, Dying of anticipation, Choking from intoxication, Don't you see their bodies burning, Desolate and full of yearning, (I want you...) Dying of anticipation, Choking from intoxication, (To be left behind those empty...) I want you to be left behind those empty walls, Told you to see from behind those empty walls, (Desolate and full of yearning, Dying of anticipation, Choking from intoxication...) Want you to be left behind those empty walls, (Don't you see their bodies burning? Desolate and full of yearning, Dying of anticipation, Choking from intoxication...) I told you to see from behind those empty walls, (Trust your empty walls, trust your empty walls) From behind those empty walls, (Trust your empty walls, trust your empty walls) From behind those empty walls, (Trust your empty walls, trust your empty walls) From behind those empty walls, Those walls! Those walls!

The look on Serj's face at the end of the video... the whole thing is powerful, always has been, but his EYES at the end really help it sink in all the way.

Ողջունում ենք բոլոր հայերին՝ քաղաք Ստեփանակերտից։ Greetings to all Armenians from Stepanakert!

...That bell startled the crap out of me.

This video is now 6 Years old but the plot is more relevant than ever!

After participating in the latest Nagorno-Karabakh war, it has become really hard for me to listen to this song without becoming emotional.

the energy in his voice his facial expressions its perfect

My best friend had been in a bad accident with his work truck n comatose for 3 weeks, he's awake and in rehab now. Not able to talk because of a traech, but we played this song for him and he calmed right down and mouthed the words! A break through! He even was so calmed by it he fell asleep. Music you love never gets forgotten. Thanks to Serj Tankian and System, and even Scars on Broadway, he mouthed whole song of they say TOO! Progress we've yet to see. And thanks to his love of this music and ours, he remembers it totally. 2 weeks ago we didn't think he'd wake up. And then this! Awesome! Thank you!

What a great song to describe the situation going on now. And with the children playing I see two things. American culture with the distillation of war since the time we were kids, like normalizing death over seas. Or like that these soldiers and people who are being killed were just once kids. It is also like kids could play like this here but in other parts of the world children don't have this play and actually live in fear 24/7. Anyway showing innocence to discuss a not innocent topic is pretty moving.

If my brother ever reads this... You are the Serj to my Daron. I wish things didn't end up this way brother. I hope you're okay & that you forgive me. Love always.

Thanks Serj, because this song has meaning and still means a lot to me. I'll not stop listening to you.

Very talented artist...

i love the vibrato in serj's voice, it always gives me chills

One of the best videos/songs ever. Once again serj has left me speechless! Hero. Love this dude forever!

there is so much symbolism in this video it's hard to comprehend, it just fits in so much with whats going on nowadays, i remember watching and listening to this video for the first time when i was like 10 years old and was just so enthralled by the way it sounded, and now coming back to it, i'm once again enthralled, but from the message than the sound.

Serj looks like an anonymous mask 😂😂

Who else would trust serj with their kids?

*It's awesome that Serj can do very good music with nasal style. Love it!*

I really love this music video

That ending gets me every time. Come to think of it, the entire video is harrowing in how real this make believe is.

Day Care and he's available for Bar Mitzvahs as well!

and here we are in 2023, finding ourselves dug the deepest behind those empty walls at the worst point in all of history.

Love you so much! Sending you healing thoughts and loving vibrations for a quick recovery. Thinking of you xoxo

Completely forgot this song existed. nostalgia'd so fucking hard

Serj is an artist

Good stuff, Serj. Sometimes, when I think of the innocence that evil spawns from, it just shakes me to the core. When I think of those who have shifted history for the worse, as a 5 year old, my heart breaks. I have been bullied and been the bully. I am the wound and the tourniquet. Feed the good wolf in you.

2024 наступил. А песня и клип актуальны как ни когда... Война тут и война там... Человечество остановись!!! Видно же к чему это приводит - к гробам от туда сыновей наших внутри. 😢

Damn, why didn't my mom send me to daycare with serj. That looks awesome!

The ending always gets me too. I'm military as well, so it hurts to even see a depiction of our brothers and sisters in caskets. Never forgotten.

2023 and still relevant

2:59 I love how after that mass of high, intensive vocals he comes back with slower, low notes melody

HAPPY BIRTHDAY SERJ!!!!!!!!

I went to see my lil cousin and I saw her listening to this... She is 2 years old... 2 FUCKING YEARS. she already has great taste in music.

Yesterday, I saw a picture of two Palestinian babies, one was a toddler and the other an infant. I looked away immediately but it's burned into my mind now. Today on my playlist this came up and I've been trying not to burst into tears for the last 3 or so hours. I feel utterly helpless but I can't fathom what so many must feel like having lost family that way.

Актуально и до и после. Превосходная работа!

I get goosebumps every, freaking time I watch this. It's so damn powerful. Well done, Serj, well done.

serj is a amazing man i am glad he is one of my role models he is a amazing person with a good mindset on things

I listen to this all the times. So powerful and moving. And gotta say drums are amazing. And your harmonies are awesome.

i have been searching for this video for thirteen years. it’s one of my earliest memories, but i couldn’t remember what the song was or who it was by because i was so young. i just remembered a guy playing piano for kids at a daycare who were re-enacting a war. it’s so difficult to find!! this is a really weird day, it feels so strange to have finally found wtf it was. it must have been on mtv or something, i can just remember sitting on the floor in my mum’s front room and watching it

It's 4am now and At 3:28 I thought it was my door bell ringing because I was playing this full blast in my ears. I literally threw my coffee in the air as I ran to my gun vault. I'm not even joking. I'm covered in coffee, I'm such a dumb ass

Damn, this song has so much meaning I never saw before.

ive been listening to this album ever since it's release. it's truly a classic to those who have stuck with it

Serj Tankian is obviously copying System Of A Down's frontman!!!

One of the Greatest songs of all time

Serj is such a brilliant man!

Seriously His Serj's Vocals Impresses Me So Much.

Feels ever so appropriate again today. Most powerful music video ever generally, IMHO.

The irony of humanity is the cycle we choose. We claim that our children are the future, and hope that they can solve all the problems we've created. Then we indoctrinate them into violent religions, teach them to be bigoted and hateful, show them how to kill, and ship them off to wars to kill each other over our ideals. I wish I could change it, but I don't know how.

Música perfeita, Serj perfeito, amo demais ♡♡

First time I ever saw this astonishing soul I was about 6 years old I was just mesmerized by him as I grew I started to understand his music and what it means and everything that I have learned from this beautiful man, I actually fell in love with him, im 21 now and to this day I still think there are no words to express the way I idolize him

Thank you for all your work, infinite gratitude and love from all fractals of existence...

This video is just awesome, completely captures the meaning of the song in a perfectly hilarious and deep way at the same time

Perverse spectator, enjoying the mayhem. Then the color guard and I wept. Serj, thank you for the perspective. I miss you

This is one of the best songs i've ever heard, just perfect.

War is foolish, inefficient, and ineffective. Hate=hate. No love in war, or not enough. Thank you serz tankian for making this piece of art that represents war.

That bell scares the shit out of me, I have really good headphones so when it rings I get scared and look around my whole room..

Masterpiece!!! ❤❤❤

Я сбилась со счёта сколько раз я пересматриваю этот клип и переслушиваю песню, но почему-то я сижу и у меня просто из глаз текут слёзы. Это страшно. Страшно ещё, что это всё наша реальность

I was trying to sing this song when I was in high school and I was really striving to breath while singing. Serj you are great!

I love the platform of music, created by these intelectuals with expression without bounderies. No ties on any form, literarly freedom, but putting in the present context. I miss the old days! Where globalisme isn't covering the thruth of the pressent.

I knew this song was about war when I first watched it, but then when I watched it a second time and realized that the block at the beginning are supposed to be the twin towers and the entire song changed. This man is a master of his craft. Every line has a meaning and omgsfsg. Thank you Serj.

2023 and still rocking

Genio Mr Serj!!!!

Wow, Serj sure sounds a lot like the lead singer of SOAD :-I

I can't stop listening.... I love that voice

This is still.one of the best videos ever. It still is a perfect representation of our past present and future. Every reference in this video is incredible.

Wow what a voice this guy had one of a kind serj