Helena

“And what’s the worst to take from every heart you break. And like the blade you stain, well, I’ve been holding on tonight. What’s the worst thing I can say? Things are better if I stay. So long and goodnight, so long not goodnight. And if you carry on this way, things are better if I stay. So long and goodnight, so long not goodnight.” –My Chemical Romance, Helena

"Helena" single cover by My Chemical Romance - source: en.wikipedia.org

When people hear the name of this American rock band, My Chemical Romance, “Helena” is probably the first song title that pop up in their head. Yup, “Helena” is one of My Chemical Romance’s signature songs. “Helena” dirilis sebagai single ketiga dari album kedua My Chemical Romance, “Three Cheers for Sweet Revenge”, pada tanggal 23 Mei 2005. Album “Three Cheers for Sweet Revenge” sendiri telah dirilis sebelumnya pada tanggal 8 Juni 2004. “Helena” merupakan lagu persembahan untuk nenek sang vokalis, Gerard Way, yang telah meninggal dunia. Bahkan nama yang dijadikan judul tersebut juga diambil dari nama sang nenek, Elena Lee Rush. Namun pada saat yang bersamaan, lagu pembuka dalam album “Three Cheers for Sweet Revenge” ini secara apik tetap memuat tema ‘revenge’ di dalamnya.

“Helena” is a song dedicated to a girl whose name is Helena. There are so many ways to interpret this song, but I will tell in my point of view, as I always do. “Helena” is a song about love, hate, and the death in between. It’s about a man who deeply mourns for the death of his beloved girl. Hence, behind the sudden death of that girl, she had left a deep pain to this man. “Long ago, just like the hearse, you die to get in again, we are so far from you. Burning on, just like a match you slide to incinerate, the lives of everyone you know.” Just in time when the man wanted to get revenge to the girl whom he dearly love, she passed away. “Came a time when every star fall brought you to tears again, we are the very hurt you sold.”

"Helena" music video by My Chemical Romance - source: www.youtube.com

Can’t take his revenge, can’t even hate her to the end, can’t even give her the last goodbye, she’s gone just like that. “And what’s the worst to take from every heart you break. And like the blade you stain, well, I’ve been holding on tonight. What’s the worst thing I can say? Things are better if I stay. So long and goodnight, so long not goodnight. And if you carry on this way, things are better if I stay. So long and goodnight, so long not goodnight.” And there he is, desperately calling out her name, drowning in regrets. He loves her just too much to let her go. He hates her just too much for go away so easily. “Can you hear me? Are you near me? Can we pretend to leave? And then we’ll meet again when both our cars collide.”

Marc Webb didapuk sebagai sutradara bagi music video (MV) yang dirilis untuk lagu “Helena”. Berperan sebagai Helena dalam MV tersebut adalah aktris dan penari, Tracy Phillips. Lagu ini diciptakan oleh seluruh personel My Chemical Romance. “Helena” meraih lima nominasi dalam ajang 2005 MTV Video Music Awards, namun sayangnya tidak berhasil memenangkan satu kategori pun. Meskipun demikian, single tersebut sukses secara komersial dan meraih sertifikat Gold dari Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). Up until now, “Helena” is considered as My Chemical Romance’s second album’s highlight and smash hit. I personally love this song so much. I’ve lost words to describe Gerard’s voice in this song. Somehow it has this magical feeling that could bring up a dark and longing feeling. When I hear it I could feel both love and hate at the same time. And it feels miraculous.

“Can you hear me? Are you near me? Can we pretend to leave? And then we’ll meet again when both our cars collide.” –My Chemical Romance, Helena

“Long ago, just like the hearse, you die to get in again
We are so far from you
Burning on just like a match you slide to incinerate
The lives of everyone you know

And what’s the worst to take, worst to take
From every heart you break, heart you break
And like the blade you stain, blade you stain
Well, I’ve been holding on tonight

What’s the worst thing I can say? Things are better if I stay
So long and goodnight, so long not goodnight

Came a time when every star fall brought you to tears again
We are the very hurt you sold

And if you carry on this way, things are better if I stay
So long and goodnight, so long and goodnight

Can you hear me? Are you near me? Can we pretend to leave?

And then we’ll meet again when both our cars collide

What’s the worst thing I can say? Things are better if I stay
So long and goodnight, so long not goodnight
And if you carry on this way, things are better if I stay
So long and goodnight, so long not goodnight”