"Say10" (stylized in all caps)[1] is a song by American rock band Marilyn Manson. It is the fourth track from their tenth studio album, Heaven Upside Down (2017). The song's title was first revealed in July 2016, when Marilyn Manson announced it as the working title for the then-upcoming studio album. A teaser video of the song was released on the same day as the 2016 US presidential election, and features the vocalist brandishing a bloodstained knife while standing over a decapitated corpse, which was widely reported to represent Donald Trump. Its official music video was released on October 9, 2017 and features Johnny Depp.

"Say10"
Song by Marilyn Manson
from the album Heaven Upside Down
ReleasedOctober 6, 2017
GenreIndustrial metal
Length4:18
LabelLoma Vista
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)Bates
Music video
"Say10" on YouTube

Composition and style

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In July 2016, during an interview with Ryan J. Downey at the APMAs, Marilyn Manson revealed "Say10" to be the title track of the band's then-forthcoming tenth studio album.[2] Eleanor Goodman from Metal Hammer described the track as a "big, snarling anthem that seems purpose-built for stages",[3] while Gigwise said it was reminiscent of material found on Mechanical Animals.[4] Greg Kennelty of Metal Injection commended Manson and Tyler Bates' use of dynamics on the song, writing that each musician – through their respective vocals and production – throw "punches only when [they] need to. Why waste all your energy going full force when there's a more subtle and effective tactic of getting what you want? After all, you rarely need aggression when aiming straight for the jugular."[5]

Release and promotion

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On the day of the 2016 US presidential election – November 8 – Manson released a short teaser video for the song via The Daily Beast. The video was created by Final Girl director Tyler Shields.[6] It featured images of the vocalist tearing pages out of a Bible and brandishing a bloodstained knife while standing over a decapitated corpse lying in a pool of blood.[7] Numerous publications noted that the corpse was dressed in attire similar to the kind regularly worn by Donald Trump—a suit and red tie.[8][9][10] Manson later dismissed these connections, saying: "Well, there was no actual decapitation shown. It was implied. And no Trump. There was just a guy in a red tie. Could have been a preacher. It's funny that people see what they want to see."[11] Despite this, Aaron Klein alleged in an article which appeared on the far-right organization Breitbart News, that the head of the decapitated corpse which appeared in "Say10" was later used by Shields in another project: a controversial photo-shoot featuring comedian Kathy Griffin, which saw her holding a ketchup-covered Styrofoam replica of Trump's severed head.[12]

Music video

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A full version of Shields' teaser video has never been released.[13] The official music video for the song was directed by Bill Yukich, and was uploaded onto YouTube shortly after the release of Heaven Upside Down.[13] This video co-stars Johnny Depp, with Depp and Manson portraying Cain and Abel, respectively.[14] The video was inspired by horror films such as The Exorcist (1973), The Evil Dead (1981) and A Nightmare on Elm Street (1984), the latter of which starred Depp.[15] It begins with the two sitting on their respective white and black thrones while surrounded by several naked women covered in satanic symbols.[16] Cain appears in full white face paint and a matching suit, although he is invariably stained with black make-up; Abel sits on his throne while wearing black leather, his face stained by white make-up.[17]

After leaving a possessed Bible outside the door of an apartment building, Abel begins sexually assaulting several of its occupants.[17] The hauntings become gradually more aggressive, culminating in a hooded figure chasing a woman down a tunnel with a knife.[18] Following this, several of the naked women recreate the Raising the Flag on Iwo Jima photo using an inverted Cross of Lorraine, apparently ending the possession.[19] The video ends with Abel committing suicide by slitting his own throat with bloodstained money.[20][21] The video has received generally positive reviews from critics. Paul Cashmere said that it "perfectly demonstrates the irrelevance of MTV in the 21st century", writing that it saw Manson using "creativity, shock and horror to tell a story, knowing full well that traditional media wouldn't be able to touch this. The video is brilliant in its architecture and strategy."[22] Brandon John of Australian publication ToneDeaf praised Depp's appearance, writing that the "creepiness [quotient is] a step or two above anything Depp has done throughout his long resume of Tim Burton flicks."[23]

Credits and personnel

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Credits adapted from the liner notes of Heaven Upside Down.[24]

Credits

Personnel

References

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  1. ^ Kerrang! Staff (October 10, 2017). "Johnny Depp Stars In The New Marilyn Manson Video". Kerrang!. Retrieved October 15, 2017.
  2. ^ Trapp, Philip (October 10, 2017). "Marilyn Manson and Johnny Depp star in the NSFW "SAY10" video—watch". Alternative Press. Retrieved October 15, 2017.
  3. ^ Goodman, Eleanor (September 19, 2017). "Marilyn Manson – Heaven Upside Down album review". Metal Hammer. Retrieved September 19, 2017.
  4. ^ Marszalek, Julian (October 10, 2017). "Marilyn Manson shares gory NSFW video for 'SAY10'". Gigwise. Retrieved October 15, 2017.
  5. ^ Kennelty, Greg (September 27, 2017). "Marilyn Manson's Heaven Upside Down: A Track-By-Track Review". Metal Injection. Archived from the original on September 29, 2017. Retrieved October 1, 2017.
  6. ^ Stern, Marlow (November 8, 2016). "Marilyn Manson's Shocking Trump Video". The Daily Beast. Retrieved November 10, 2016.
  7. ^ Geslani, Michelle (November 8, 2016). "Marilyn Manson decapitates Donald Trump in new video for "SAY10" — watch". Consequence of Sound. Retrieved November 10, 2016.
  8. ^ Britton, Luke Morgan (November 8, 2016). "Watch Marilyn Manson behead Donald Trump in NSFW 'SAY10' video". NME. Retrieved November 10, 2016.
  9. ^ Shepherd, Jack (November 8, 2016). "Marilyn Manson 'beheads Donald Trump' in new music video". The Independent. Retrieved November 10, 2016.
  10. ^ Goodman, Jessica (November 8, 2016). "Donald Trump: Marilyn Manson video alludes to death". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved November 10, 2016.
  11. ^ Toney, Jordan (September 21, 2017). "Marilyn Manson opens up on how Columbine affected his career nearly twenty years later". Alternative Press. Retrieved October 15, 2017.
  12. ^ Rice, Lynnette (June 2, 2017). "Kathy Griffin on Donald Trump: 'He broke me'". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved October 15, 2017.
  13. ^ a b Blistein, Jon (October 10, 2017). "Watch Johnny Depp Join Marilyn Manson in NSFW 'Say10' Video". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on October 10, 2017. Retrieved October 11, 2017.
  14. ^ Gracie, Bianca (October 10, 2017). "Johnny Depp & Marilyn Manson Portray Cain & Abel In Erotic 'SAY10' Video: Watch". Fuse. Retrieved October 15, 2017.
  15. ^ Metal Injection Staff (October 10, 2017). "Johnny Depp Co-Stars In Marilyn Manson's NSFW "SAY10" Music Video". Metal Injection. Retrieved October 15, 2017.
  16. ^ Friederichoct, Brandon (October 10, 2017). "Watch Marilyn Manson and Johnny Depp Have a Devilish Orgy in Totally NSFW 'Say10' Video". Maxim. Retrieved October 15, 2017.
  17. ^ a b Kaufman, Gil (October 10, 2017). "Marilyn Manson & Johnny Depp Play God (And The Devil) in NSFW 'Say10' Video: Watch". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved October 15, 2017.
  18. ^ Moore, Sam (October 10, 2017). "Watch Johnny Depp star in Marilyn Manson's gory new video for 'SAY10'". NME. Retrieved October 15, 2017.
  19. ^ Rossignol, Derrick (October 10, 2017). "Johnny Depp Joins Marilyn Manson And Some Naked Women In The Very NSFW 'SAY10' Video". Uproxx. Retrieved October 15, 2017.
  20. ^ Valentine, Claire (October 10, 2017). "Johnny Depp Stars in Marilyn Manson's Freaky New "Say10" Video". Paper. Retrieved October 15, 2017.
  21. ^ Murphy, Sarah (October 10, 2017). "Marilyn Manson Enlists Johnny Depp for His Sex Dungeon in "SAY10" Video". Exclaim!. Retrieved October 15, 2017.
  22. ^ Cashmere, Paul (October 10, 2017). "Johnny Depp Stars In New Marilyn Manson Video". Noise11. Retrieved October 15, 2017.
  23. ^ John, Brandon (October 11, 2017). "Marilyn Manson recruits Johnny Depp for a hellish, sex-fuelled music video". ToneDeaf.com.au. Retrieved October 15, 2017.
  24. ^ "Booklet". Heaven Upside Down (liner notes). Marilyn Manson. Los Angeles, United States: Loma Vista Recordings. 2017. LVR00229.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)