Coheed and Cambria - The Velorium Camper II: Backend Of Forever
Song Name: The Velorium Camper II: Backend Of Forever
Artist: Coheed and Cambria
Album: In Keeping With Secrets of Silent Earth: 3
Why This Song?: I would never be inclined to be in love with a band that creates science fiction stories as songs for a living. I’m not even really a fan of science fiction in general (I hate Star Trek and I could care less if Battlestar Gallatica never existed).
However, when a band is talented enough to craft such a story while still maintaining lyrics that can stand alone from the other tracks and be entirely relatable then you know you have something special. That is what Coheed and Cambria have done over their past three albums. As a matter of fact, a good amount of people who hear them would have no idea they were telling a science fiction story that ties in with comic books. Rather, they would just assume they are creating some really really cool sounding songs.
One of those cool sounding songs, and perhaps the coolest of them all, is “The Velorium Camper II: Backend of Forever.” This is one of those songs that I could listen to over and over and over and over again and never ever get sick of it. I think it’s one of those songs that can consistently surprise me of it’s awesomeness after a little time has elapsed since last listen.
No one can deny that the voice of Claudio Sanchez is unique. In the second chapter of Velorium Camper, there are multiple ways he uses this voice and it makes for a listen that is never boring throughout. A blend of screams, demented laughs, and high pitched vocals fill the song and match the intensity of the instruments.
Lyrically this is my all-time favorite Coheed and Cambria song. It’s simple and straight forward in the story telling department and can apply to any misleading relationship, despite a few references. The tormented lyrics are just a blast to listen to. They are clever and witty and extremely relatable to anyone who has gotten played like a chump. You just have to empathize for the “trekkie” guy when the too-good-to-be-true chick turns out to be just that. Not only that but makes fun of you on top of it. On top of that, it has one of the best sing-along choruses I can think of.
To me this song is the musical equivalent of watching the really “nice” but incredibly untalented, dorky, and/or possibly mildly not-right-in-the-head guys on American Idol who really think they have a shot. You know the guys who they tear apart, then you see their face turn from pure disappointment to blinding rage in an instant. You know the type of guy I’m talking about. The one that is emotionally unstable and just might be crazy enough to be waiting outside with a special “present” for them. It’s fun to watch, but at the same time it’s ultimately utterly depressing.
So you had your turn / And you made it work / Now I’m the laughing stock of your joke / Crazy as it may seem / I cried for you when you / Told me to date all of the things / That made you end up in my life / And I’ll believe anything / I have no luck with girls
This is the middle and most interesting part of the story of the Velorium Camper. There was a botched “encounter” in Pt. I. Part II is when the “author” comes to the realization that he was mislead and how he emotionally reacts to that realization, and then Part III is when he just wants to go on a killing spree. Sounds corny right? Trust me, even if it is, it still sounds incredible and is superbly refreshing.
Everything about this song just clicks with me - the changes of pace, the tormented lyrics, great sounding guitar work, and amazing vocals combine to make on extraordinary song that even in the always stellar Coheed and Cambria universe stands out like a blinding star floating in a nebulous. Yeah, sci-fi definitely aint my thang, but in Coheed and Cambria’s spacey realm, I’m uncharacteristically enthralled by it.
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those songs are all about al the killer.
the camper velorium (or velorium camper) is his ship, he uses it to take claudio to favor house.
pt 1 is about al’s gun.
pt 2 is about al’s feelings towards newo (claudio’s girl)
pt 3 is about al’s background
charl on February 22nd, 2007 5:39 am