Arcade Fire - "Afterlife" - Live at the YouTube Music Awards (YTMA)

Arcade Fire performs "Afterlife" live at the KZbin Music Awards. Directed by Spike Jonze. Live Show Director John Gonzalez. Presented by Kia. Produced by Sunset Lane Entertainment and VICE.
Watch all the highlights from the YTMAs here: / musicawards

[@hadriewyn]

I don't know why, but everytime I watch this video, I cry tears of joy.

[@MoTidess]

+Tomás Cullen wtf?

[@luismaaah]

+Tomás Cullen Let's face it, the coreography sucks.. It's better when they sign it live with the costumes

[@danieleventura3810]

Are you sure it's joy? I do cry too, but think it's because this is one of the best song ever written on love-losing, and...well, it's simply heartbreaking.

[@hadriewyn]

Yes, you are right, but there's something on the way she dances and moves that indicate that she's free. Like really free. I don't know, one of the best things about art is that everyone has its own interpretation.

[@lehongviet1269]

Tomás Cullen yotube

[@SPF500]

The point of dance is not technical skill, it's emotion.

[@gonzokush]

It’s called white girl dancing.

[@frankthetank4101]

Says the Caucasian 🤣🤣❤

[@annamilit]

not an white girl to say that Greta is an amazing artist and great at expressing emotions, both at movies and dancing :)

[@juliusebola9389]

@@gonzokush comedy school phd.

[@fleursbruyantes4177]

The trick is to just think of it as acting. She is an actress and she is dong what actors do, conveying the emotion of the character.

[@senc01a]

This videos shows exactly what my body wants to do when I listen to this song. 10/10

[@abihernandez6530]

Javier Quevedo me too

[@Beetoe]

This has to be the best opening piece for an awards show I've seen in my whole life. Simply wonderful.

[@schmoyoho]

this was happening right in front of me on a stage but it looked so good on the monitors i didn't believe it was live so i kept yelling "YO, IS THIS LIVE?" and that band's keyboardist kept saying "HEY BE QUIET, OK?" to which i replied "OKAY, BUT IS IT LIVE, THOUGH?" and he said "YEAH, I THINK SO, HANG ON I'VE GOT TO SING A BACKUP VOCAL, OOOOH OOHOOOOHHH." it turned out it really was live

[@rachelroseg9295]

Lucky!!! Wish I was there!

[@faceofbear8024]

dude wtf do more about this

[@WorldsFairNYC]

Wasted on you.

[@Addison-RN]

WHAT THE FU*K that is the best story!!! LOL she is amazing!

[@chickensdontclap147]

Arcade Fire + Spike Jonze + Greta Gerwig = Irresistible

[@B3AN_machine]

This is probably the single most amazing live performance I think I've ever seen, very clever.

[@joliecide]

Kudos to Greta Gerwig's theatrical sensibilities. It's like choreography used in live musicals.

[@GrantsInYourPants]

such a beautiful piece of art.

[@lacaio2]

GearsofBeatles Why are you being so rude? wtf

[@puremadness]

GearsofBeatles You're such a badass.

[@GrantsInYourPants]

GearsofBeatles When it's time, I will.

[@KamadakeX]

GearsofBeatles "Omg what an awful word"

[@AlexAnderlik]

This is still the best video for this song, by far. It's just so... magical.

[@DefenestrateYourself]

@HeySnowFlake! #Here'sYourTRIGGERWARNING Both are great interpretations of a song. Sometimes music makes us want to dance like fools and it's a wonderful thing.

[@danajohnson9301]

I've watched this about 10 times. My Mom passed away on Sept. 29th and this song (the entire album really) hits home and came out just when I needed it. Greta's dancing is pretty much what I did in my house, alone after a few listens of Afterlife. She kills it...so great. Music is my therapy and Arcade Fire is a world renowned psychiatrist.

[@frankiedominguez1872]

I also listened to this song after the death of a loved one. The song breaks you, and then heals you over and over again during your healing process. It was just what I needed to make peace with that loss.

[@aphexmandelbrot]

After two decades of media experience and a decade of archival? Still my favorite video.

[@aphexmandelbrot]

The dancers at the end emulating a dance that up until then seemed to be just kind of rehearsed improv. Also Greta's range of expression literally knocks the ball out of the park and into someone's windshield.

[@aphexmandelbrot]

Literally, figuratively.

[@Nanninone]

Clearly.

[@paolamaciel2708]

After all these years there's still nothing that beats feeling sad as a ghost and dancing along to Greta's every move, the grief and joy of it all

[@PogieJoe]

Two years later I'm watching this again because it was simply ingenious and beautifully performed. Well done Jonze, Gerwig, and Arcade Fire. :)

[@roberteustace4152]

Totally agree...a masterpiece, and live on stage, unsurpassed!

[@FLUFFERKINZ]

I really just love the freedom of her movements, especially when she was in the "forest" and the choreographed dance with the young girls and the culmination of them just grouping around the band and cheering was awesome. The song is about losing your emotions for someone or the end to the "honeymoon" phase of the relationship, but wanting to figure out where the emotion went, just wanting some sort of passion from them still because you don't want it to be like this (Scream and shout till we work it out//after all the hangers on are done hanging on the dead lights of the afterglow). And so, after death comes the afterlife and since this is the death of their love, she is now living in the afterlife. Her dancing is sporadic and wild because it's all the emotion she has bundled up inside of her that she wants to give to her lover. This is just my interpretation at least.

[@gmarounf7472]

Pretty sure it's about actual death.

[@ericpa06]

I just love the way she dances, so freely

[@sooperd00p]

you spelled "poorly" wrong

[@sammohseni100]

Win appearing behind Greta singing those lyrics is one of the greatest things I've seen in any music video

[@bowenwang]

Greta Gerwig is amazing

[@peterproductions5015]

One of my favorite directors directing another one of my favorite directors set to the music of one of my favorite bands. A dream come true.

[@tiagofonseca4599]

I found funny the coments that say that the dance is stupid and has no sense. But i ask you ? Is it supposed to make sense? That is just her way of letting go of her heartbreak. She dances like no one was watching and she feels better with it. Doesn´t matter if she makes the right moves or not. She is dancing her own way. I think that this video can be a great message for life. We all do things our way and it's not wrong or right. It's just our way of living. And like in the video, we all have our ways of moving on with life after a bad thing happen.

[@devissaputra]

This ^. Well said brother, I have the same thinking but bad English prevents me to speak it out as well as you :D

[@tonyvue1687]

Yes i agree with you too, and if you did pay "ATTENTION" to the actually full awards, they did keep on mentioning "IS THIS REAL" & it's also cool to see a live music video in the making...

[@misterbondage007]

Exactly how I feel. At first I thought, this girl is not that good of a dancer, but after repeated views it makes more sense that she's not. She just found a way to get over some bad news. Her acting is another thing. That opening scene is just brilliant and even her cathartic smile at the end was very well done. I haven't seen the other live videos from the awards, but from what I read Arcade Fire did it best. Makes sense. They have experimented with interactive videos before. And, oh yeah, AF is the freaking best.

[@shirlylowey2339]

I didn't realize that I watched Greta Gerwig's performance just few days before this music video came out. She was in a movie called "Frances Ha", exactly the same sort of character: she can't "properly" dance. But we have to ask ourselves, what's the purpose of dance? It is to express our emotion, to experience our body, and communicate with the world. In that sense, she did a perfect job; I cried over this video several times because I'm experiencing a break up at the moment, and every scene in this video tells me something. Yes, that's exactly how we respond to those kind of events, we were lost, we didn't know how to recover, didn't know what's the next step, yet we responded with instinct, we danced like no one else is watching. We express ourselves with awkward movements, and that's might be what Spike wants us to feel. BTW, I have a thought that "afterlife" is actually not about afterlife, it's about saperation, and death is just a metaphor.

[@juliusebola9389]

It's more affecting because the dancing is bad. That's the whole idea.

[@balazsnemes9958]

Emotionally overwhelming. Cannot stop watching it.

[@enriquekikdu]

Director, Spike Jonze is a freakin' genius. He turned what appeared to be a normal music video into a perfectly choreographed Arcade Fire live show music video; where there was only one chance to make it right with only four cams or less. Amazingly awesome.

[@Evergreen97Happy]

She has all of my moves. I just lost my job after 24 years and I've been crying, dancing, singing, drinking, and acting out just about daily. I truly felt like there were secret cameras in my house (and I even dress like she does!!). Thanks - this took me away and reminded me it's okay to sing and dance and cry all at the same time.

[@alf10087]

This is one of the most beautiful things I've ever seen.

[@IndieeLlamaa]

This performance really moved me to tears for so reason.. Oh wow, amazing.

[@Gingerblaze]

Thank you Arcade Fire. Thank you Spike Jonze, Thank you thank you Greta Gerwig. So inspiring to see such amazing creative collaboration! This is a beauty!

[@LeeMilby]

Wow this project is just so genius and beautiful. Just like all of Jonze's works, there is a realness, a rawness to the production that creates a world that is both surreal and ordinary. I truly adore this piece and it gets better every time I watch. It really embodies the moment of heartbreak and the moment you decide to pick up the pieces and grow and learn from the experience, and move on. The "afterlife"

[@SocietyKilledTheUnicorn]

I especially like jackass. #spikejonze4ever

[@Glosoli4]

The first 35 seconds hit me the hardest. The kissing. That look of goodbye. Love is terrible.

[@miguelequina1426]

After 10 years still referring back to this performance.!!

[@MoonlitStar]

I remember watching this LIVE on here three years ago. Still one of my favorite songs.

[@awaiss9502]

From the comments I think a lot of people don´t understand that they're breaking up at the beginning. This song is absolutely amazing, the rhythm is very cheery and the lyrics are so sad, it's very happy and utterly sad at the same time, the dancing is all about that.

[@vegasj305]

In the official video for this song a Mom is dead with 2 boys and a dad making it through life thinking of her!!

[@chacaltube]

ESTE VIDEO ES ÚNICO. HISTÓRICO. EL MOMENTO EN QUE CANTA DETRÁS DE LA PROTAGONISTA ES MÁGICO, COMO SI SE ATRAVESARA UN UMBRAL QUE UNE LA REALIDAD Y LA FANTASIA, DE HECHO ELLA AL FINAL DEL VIDEO ES OTRA. GRACIAS SPIKE, GRACIAS ARCADE FIRE, GRACIAS KZbin.

[@santimasig]

chacaltube Los conocí con este video gracias a greta gerwig (era un seguidor de ella) y ahora me conozco todas las canciones de AF :'v

[@hadriewyn]

Además aparece detrás de ella justo cuando canta "After all the bad advice that has nothing to do with life" como si fuera una especie de pepe grillo que le ha dado malos consejos.

[@transa9755]

😭😭😭 ese disco fue tan importante para mi...

[@katgaribaldi1823]

I kind of LOVE THIS!! It shows off the beauty of the human spirit. Dance like nobody is watching baby!

[@thebigd37]

The creativity, exuberance, and joy found in this video are far too rare. Well done. Great choreography and acting.

[@Lotusflower4mind]

I love this after a break up you feel sad but then you get yourself back up. You feel free just like dance like no ones watching

[@nevillejackson7766]

Every time I watch this I just smile.

[@Luke.hello.]

Jesus Christ, amateur dancing is so amazingly cathartic. Inept dancing to songs like this one should be a compulsory class in school.

[@okdontnoewattoput]

I like your English

[@danman6669]

I know. Her dancing is so strange, yet oddly intoxicating lol.

[@Luke.hello.]

I'm not sure if you're being sarcastic or not

[@danman6669]

Arrivald No, I'm not being sarcastic. I honestly do feel that way. Her dancing is truly... unique.

[@Luke.hello.]

yeah, I totally got your point ^^ I wast trying to respond to the guy before you. idk, this new google+ comment section is confusing.

[@pog1212]

This video will never stop being amazing! Brings me so many memories.... Greta is absolutely amazing!

[@andersonlopes7828]

I came here year after year and still is one of my favorite live performance

[@RothyIsWatching]

I like Arcade Fire. I know many hate the crazy dancing, but doing something like this after some bad news or when under stress feels pretty good, cathartic.

[@lukesnow518]

absolutely love this, words cannot describe the feels.

[@BarryKennedy]

I like how human the video is, and the fact that they didn't use a glossy supermodel or a professional dancer. Life is awkward, people are awkward...I just like the organic human feel of this performance, and the optimistic kids dancing synced with the hopeful swing in the song.

[@filopaa1990]

Totally agree. So an intense performance by Greta Gerwig, it feels so spontaneous to me and lil awkward in the woods XD. then with the girls dancing together it all get sense. it's art. it's wonderful. it's arcade fire man!

[@rubentauste3204]

De lo más BRUTAL que he visto en mi vida... Arcade Fire ya son HISTORIA.

[@BernardoMora25]

Just discovered this video in 2021 and I absolutely love it! 🥺

[@Sippie17]

Best live performance. So lively and free! Makes me want to go to an Arcade Fire concert and bust those exact moves to Afterlife.

[@filopaa1990]

One of the highest musical moments of the new decade!! Arcade Fire !!

[@manuelgasse]

It's a video about letting go. It's beautiful. It's not about dancing. It's an average normal woman who abandons herself and doesn't care about how stupid she looks or anything. She's just living her thing and it's very touching.

[@SethGoodman]

The song is catchy, sure, but Greta's expressive dance routine is flat-out captivating. Love that hair flip at 1:12

[@karladuran5436]

MASTERPIECE. So in love with this band.

[@drungarious]

Because of this video, whenever I kiss someone for the first time, this song automatically pops into my head. And yes, usually there's some fist pumping afterwards.

[@jesuslorenzo8137]

Dudo que Arcade Fire alcance más este nivel de creatividad. Es su cénit

[@oznarortega]

Su mejor (o uno de sus mejores) álbumes.

[@livedeliciously]

Been a long time since there's been a performance as original as this.

[@JasonBonhomme]

Figures, another Spike Jonze joint. Put these these two together and you can't fail.

[@Av0cadoQueen]

the emotion in this video is intense, love this!!

[@clintwilson6380]

I love that look she gives Win near the end of the song....

[@enriquekikdu]

It's a shame people cannot see that "graceless" dance is something Spike Jonze made on purpose. I assure you, all the girls in the video really know how to dance. I mean, this happened there; this is a live video, they only had one chance to make it right and they wouldn't risk an Arcade Fire performance with any ammateur girl. The point of the video is to show an internal freedom, a catharsis through the dance; and this "awful" dance express it all without words, or a great story needed.

[@vincentlo7678]

Greta gerwig is a classical dancer

[@juliusebola9389]

It's depressing that somebody would need this explained to them.

[@MrGreenx12]

And...that's exactly the way i move when i hear the song!!! Greetings from México (Fire) City.

[@fannynofunny]

ahhahahahhahah, me too!

[@danielrenatobottoni3630]

The best performance live ever!!!! I thought that the "live" description on it was a mistake. What a surprise!!! Great, great, great!!!!!

[@martinsoliman8240]

The smile in 4:31 is so fragile. It can break into pieces and pierce straight to your heart

[@chefgiovanni]

Exquisite musical talent

[@Tr3pazProductions]

This was probably the best live music video performance of the night!!

[@imalexiaa]

i freaking love her dance moves when he says "IVE-GOT-TO-KNOW"

[@Love4MusicNMore]

The choreography of the dancing was superb

[@lizziepeamom]

Amazing...so proud they are Canadian, work like this makes me fall in love with music over and over again...they are absolutely incredible...

[@Persephone123]

I recognize the spirit of the Montreal art scene in this performance. this is great!

[@REMChicagoBoy]

In its day, MTV would have played this every hour on the hour and it would have been a massive hit.

[@lionqc]

Why am I crying...

[@Andrewlikesjunk]

Man the execution on this video was FLAWLESS!

[@thewalkthrufire]

I've watched about 10 times a day since. Greatest.

[@bono1083]

I find her and everything about this intoxicating

[@MrDani99xtrm]

Winter of 2013 remember like it was yesterday, this song was playing at the mall while I was shopping for Christmas presents. Literally feels like it was yesterday. Crazy it’s been 7 whole years.

[@warriorfight111]

My favorite people, Arcade Fire, Spike Jonze, and Frances Ha all in one place. Best thing ever.

[@designforlife704]

I play this when I feel down. Then I remember to smile!

[@markdiam]

I have tears in my eyes ...

[@PsychoOstrich96]

I love her dancing. Great song and performance.

[@danielmilhomme5038]

Arcade fire......band of the decade.....the only band that i can say i like since 10 years.....each albums have is own touch,atmosphere.......they are so talented.....thanks to Arcade fire for all these good songs!

[@snuffles99qt]

What people need to understand is the reason this clip is so beautiful is because it's so raw. Maybe she wasn't a perfect dancer, but that was intentional. If they'd hired a professional dancer, it wouldn't have felt so real.

[@SocietyKilledTheUnicorn]

why have i never seen this video before, im absolutely in love!

[@joliecide]

Talk about breaking the 4th wall... This video should be preserved in MOMA. Amazing Jonze chose to do this is an age where music videos are no longer a thing.

[@MarcoPanajon]

This vid should be preserved at MOMA.

[@Si_Dinis]

Love this song. 2019. Brazil.

[@BobbieBees]

I still love this video.

[@niallmills3588]

That forest sequence with the snow flakes reminds me of Spike Jonze's work at the end of 'Her', where he parts from Samantha. Incredible stuff.

[@hebergoncalves4981]

She's the one.

[@ExoShaman]

Hands down the best performance of the night. I get goosebumps and grin like an idiot every time I watch this! :)

[@PalmurcioWorld]

Watching her makes me incredibly happy and makes me dance with her.

[@inahiddenplace]

Absolutly iconic. Epic.

[@PRGMRav]

This is my top song of 2013.

[@fluide000]

incredible concept, when you realised that everything in this video has been played live

[@msul78]

She reminds me of Pam from 'The Office (US)'

[@thejeffgordon95]

msul78 with a mix of Brie Larson.

[@JoshWeisenberger]

Yesh!! That's exactly what I thought!!!

[@artegnanmonteiro8716]

the actress's countenance brings innocence, the simple movements refer to a child's dance, I had never cried before with any video I saw in my life, completely beautiful. thank you

[@chanchitopink7424]

This song makes me feel ALIVE!

[@ProFlamegold]

BEST DANCE EVERR

[@trentreznor3070]

Ya Greta is nerdy-cute.

[@lovesuckes101]

How does this not make you smile? It just made me so happy :D Am I the only one who thinks she looks like Pam from The Office?

[@R4P1d074]

still a masterpiece - goosebumps and tears great Spike Jonze

[@paulb504]

Damn. This just makes you feel good to shed some tears through the smile. I love everything about this

[@aoryward]

I have a healthy obsession with this video.

[@RachelLightfoot]

I am obsessed with this performance. Watched it live and got goosebumps. Go Greta, go!

[@northyorkjefe]

this is art, pure art

[@barackobama3567]

With the new youtube we are able to see everything what you're doing! We win!!!