MGMT - Cool Song No. 2 (Video)

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Directed by: Isaiah Seret
Music video by MGMT performing Cool Song No. 2. (C) 2013 Columbia Records, a Division of Sony Music Entertainment

[@joesosa41]

Still such a CRIMINALLY underappreciated song/video, and album. This should be in a museum of modern art by now.

[@samuelnimberg2371]

RIP Omar “indeed” you’ll be missed.

[@TheEvando100]

R.I.P. to the GOAT Michael K. Williams, one of the best actors to ever do it! This vid too underrated

[@madcuditrip9310]

Fr man ❤️

[@starky4079]

I always thought this was him, RIP!

[@noahwilliams5907]

Fr bro

[@tinntinnamp]

Are you freaking serious?! RIP, he is an amazing actor and this is depressing.

[@rasmuspedersen3563]

Goat?

[@Weenmeen]

This makes me wana hear cool song no.1

[@noahschuler6388]

Solomon Gumball underrated comment

[@digodinn]

that's probably Alien Days (first song in the album) since Cool Song No.2 is the second song in the album.

[@profile2047]

You've missed it.

[@randalldickerson8567]

Solomon Gumbal I was just gonna say that haha 😂

[@gigiiiiiiiiiii]

😂😂😂😂

[@alexclark4968]

Rip Micheal K. Williams. This music video was actually my first exposure to you. I went on to watch your amazing rolls in Boardwalk empire and The Wire just to name a few. You always seemed like a very beautiful man. I hope your passing was as peaceful as possible 💓💓💓🙏🏻🙏🏻

[@Levijaphet]

[@ohsierrah]

RIP Michael K Williams🙏🏻

[@pimpingkek4947]

Never watched "The Wire", however I recognized this person from this video. God Bless his soul. Rest in peace

[@rob6850]

The Wire was great. His character took the show to the next level.

[@SoulEternalPeaceWarrior77]

I feel like MGMT wanted this album to be unpleasant and foreign to the senses at first, kind of like when you first step into a Jacuzzi and your body rejects the heat, then slowly you start to appreciate all the layers and understand the textures and depth of sound, and you start to LOVE the album and embrace everything in it. I'm happy that MGMT can create such an album, it makes you think about music from the inside outward..

[@seanlamothe1825]

this comment gave me tears

[@tentaclemommy705]

Donkey Kong and its not even going in dry

[@anjopag31]

TL;DR MGMT pulls a Flying Lotus

[@mdarnell514]

vortex755 i get that vibe. Well said. I think their videos have always kind of... made me uncomfortable with the tracks and the bizarre imagery contrast its pretty wicked-cool. This one was like an old 90s video kind of mixed with the super creepy director who made Twin Peaks, Mulholland Drive and Blue Velvet. Freakiest movies ever. So ya, that... and the kind of imagery from from R.E.M.’s “losing my religion” and nirvana’s “heart shaped box”. But a step or 2. further. :D

[@michaelfox4160]

Hyperbolic Honeybee x

[@tinntinnamp]

This song and music video go together perfectly. This might as well be a movie compressed into 4 minutes.

[@heidileeshire5959]

As all movies should be... I have people to do and things to be.😁😉😘

[@thewhatness]

Super unpopular opinion here, but I think this is *THE* best song MGMT has ever made. Andrew once divulged that the song entails "viewing mortality through the lens of a loved one dying of disease." And the more I keep that in mind, the more the lyrics make sense to me. The all-consuming Beast is an analog for said disease, and the narrator of the song begins to reflect on his mortality through the mortality of his lover. A very important character growth comes from the second and last verses: "Kind of like if a friend exits without a sign/Glimmering like a precious stone/Maybe we shared a dream/For 20 nights in a row/I might feel better knowing that I was alone" vs "What if the beast escapes/And separates like a glove/Seeps into the hollow bones/What if its eyes expand/And zero in like a scope/I might feel better knowing I wasn't alone." In the first example, the narrator muses on the possibility that his lover dying is somehow just a dream that he hasn't woken up from yet, a dream that is reality for his partner. He can't face death, be it his beloved or himself. He fails to confront the possibility at all. However, towards the song's conclusion, the narrator not only accepts his lover's death, but vows to die by his side, as life without them is not a life worth living. We see these reflected beautifully in Omar's character in the video, fighting to find a cure for his partner, but eventually becoming infected himself, and accepting his mortality as he lays in the grass. This song brings me to tears every damn time I think about it.

[@tinntinnamp]

This is beautiful and amazing, thank you

[@bigbud6842]

The ridiculous amount of time you spent writing that could have been used to actually live your life. Just saying

[@otoniq]

@@bigbud6842 "RiDiCuLoUs aMoUnT oF TiMe" did you know some people actually write books?

[@prajwaljayaraj5887]

@@bigbud6842What's the point of living life if you can't enjoy it and be fascinated with it ? How, boring would life be if people didn't write down their musings and their thoughts? This is a well written analysis, appreciate it if you want to. If you don't agree with it, that's fine too. But if you want to criticise someone for expressing themselves, you can bugger off.

[@user-wv5jh7fk5y]

A reply 2 years late but, totally agree. This song means a lot to me. The video fits perfectly to it.

[@synysterjazmyngates]

R.I.P Michael K. Williams, this is one of my favorite music videos of all time.

[@stateofmindz]

"What you find shocking they find amusing" something very disturbing about that Line indeed.

[@MirageMiM]

"Something else to soften a sadistic urge."

[@RB-.-]

The prime time mission is to choke the statistician

[@fockingreat1125]

just reminds me of the internet honestly

[@oyahthefirst]

@@fockingreat1125 which is just a caricature of the sadistic people pushing for a dark numb society masked as a shiny worth while consumption, while it's nothing, even worse that nothing, darkly negative.

[@ubivermiscerritulus195]

Torment ignite essence delights from the earth... They are revealing a dark secret about the elite like epstein.

[@CaptainCramer6]

R.I.P. Michael K Williams

[@billykimber3461]

R.I.P. Michael K. Williams I liked every thing he did

[@SonofSean112]

Amazing cinematography.

[@voop00p]

Bradford Young. He went on to shoot Selma, Arrival, and Solo: A Star Wars Story. I was on IMDB and geeked when I saw he worked on an MGMT music video, hence why I am here.

[@AG-ne3rh]

he is goated

[@AG-ne3rh]

OMARS COMING !

[@epicstudio7185]

And amazing song

[@greedymuppet]

I want this video to be a full length movie. I'd watch it, and I'd love it. When I first heard this song, I was like "gotta hand it to them...it IS a cool ass song."

[@jesuslovespee]

greedymuppet The Wire has same plot and the black dude in video stars in both. However, his lover is already dead and he plays the Batman/Robin Hood of heroin instead of trying to cure nasty tree hands. If you haven't seen it, Jesus doesn't love you.

[@abcdefg12435]

+i.made.a.universe Woah, imma go watch that.

[@heidileeshire5959]

@@jesuslovespee OMAR!!!!!!!!!!!!💞💜💟

[@AngilasGuy]

I don't know what people are talking about, MGMT gets better and better each album. I loved Oracular Spectacular too, but I'm glad they're getting away from the pop style and getting deeper into the psychedelic style.

[@Iexapro]

RIP Michael, thank you for sharing your talents with us.

[@cansofswine126]

I really do feel like the song and video were inspired by stories about all of the gay couples in the 80s who saw their partners fall victim to AIDs before they themselves did as well.. It’s beautiful, absolutely heartbreaking. I can’t ever think too hard about the lyrics here or i start ugly crying.

[@YourFatherVEVO]

This album got fucking slept on, and I'm still upset.

[@pinkmark4047]

Same.

[@ANTUAUCA]

Whenever I drift by the unknown Feign like I notice a fundamental tone The fine petals open and close offended Poor explanation and nothing shown Kind of like if a friend exits without a sign Glimmering like a precious stone Maybe we shared a dream for 20 nights in a row I might feel better knowing that I was alone Wherever scientists turn lead to birds Torment ignites essence, delights from the earth What you find shocking, they find amusing Something else to soften a sadistic urge When they tell you the extent of the vice Then the prime time mission is to choke the statistician And like the senses that you're lurking behind While it gnaws right through to your core Oh, I'd twist it more If you think that you're free (Free like a kite) Watching as it flies by (Spy the unknown) Focus on the quiet oars Tell me how far you'd go (Go where you like) Knowing your air won't last (Last one to know) Would you feel better holding the stars up? What if the beast escapes (Apes have it good) And separates like a cloud (Loud like a fault) Seeps into the hollow bones? Wouldn't its eyes expand and zero in like a scope I might feel better knowing I wasn't alone

[@linkshield1347]

Ive watched this video over 15 times and listented to this song so much more. Its so much deeper than it appears its actually soul crushing. MGMT are true inspiring artists they are so talented and I'm now even more excited for their next album.

[@akiraagoriyama7787]

Rip micheal k Williams heard you passed immediately thought about this video

[@JohnMannerlaeufer]

Me too

[@quietlyleading]

i love MGMT despite what people may say or think they continue to what they want to do if they lose fans they don't care and i honestly can respect a group like that. TEAM MGMT

[@TheNateesh9]

I'm upset. no one ever gives them anything for their amazing videos lol

[@Cmarcellusboc]

i think that's because people are left speechless for a minimum of 8 years , after watching any more than 30 seconds of one of their videos.... lol

[@tarsier419]

I GIVE THEM MY SWORD

[@luismoraless7133]

i gave them my heart and mind

[@0yael003]

@@luismoraless7133 same

[@BryanSolo_1]

MGMT is a criminally underrated band

[@alexloyola6762]

This song and Weekend Wars absolutely melted my mind.

[@adrianpatterson5776]

RIP Michael K Williams

[@kevinanderson8494]

This song deserves more popularity

[@FernDownForWhat]

MGMT itself deserves more popularity.

[@DanimalLawlz]

kodasmith1 Cover of Spin Magazine, NME album of the year 2009 - I think they're doing alright

[@charles1345]

Kevin Anderson that's what mgmt don't want I've listened to them for 9 years I think now maybe more and that's the last thing they'd want

[@heidileeshire5959]

I first heard them in a Frederick's lingerie dressing room, trying on a purple demi cup bra. It sux when 🎶 u 💓 isn't a shared passion, but @ least ur probably not a 🐑. Ur more like a 🐩. The coolest of all poodles r the purple ones, obviously.😊

[@RB-.-]

not gonna happen. not enough trap snares and auto tune.

[@adamwrightla]

song of the year. video of the year. everything of the year.

[@TheRausing1]

one of mgmt's most important songs

[@jktomas]

When I listened to their last album for the first time I was underwhelmed. But the more I listen to it the more gems I find. First I fell in love with Alien Days (and its music video too), then Introspection, now I can't stop listening to this one. I'm glad MGMT is making music like this instead of Electric Feel kind of songs. Congratulations is one of my favorite albums, MGMT (album) doesn't come close but it's growing on me. A lot of my favorite songs (and I'm talking in general, not only about MGMT) are the ones that required a few listens for me to start liking them. Sometimes I'm worried about showing my friends the songs I like because if they listen to them for the first time and hear it the same way I heard them the first time around they might not get into them and think that those songs are bland. And they usually do think that. But I listen to the songs I like a lot and the more I do it the more subtleties I notice. They will never realise how brilliant those songs are. Same goes for this one. I'm glad I listened to it more than once, otherwise I wouldn't know how great it is.

[@user-rx3js1no3s]

Welcome, brother. Dozens of replays for this album. Predecessors are fantastic but this one is unique in its own way.

[@user-rx3js1no3s]

I hope their next album looks for a medium between the more heavily psychedelic feel of tracks like this or alien days, and then congratulations as an album. Some of these tracks are fantastic but even the ones that don't show great potential if what is learned from experimenting with them is expanded upon.

[@lizzielustmord]

I agree very much. Each album grew on me with every listen. I find the best way to enjoy MGMT is to listen to the album in its entirety. Their albums are like records, with a definite A side/B side feel. The more you love them the more you get into the B sides. I really enjoy how the albums are like little journeys. It's hard to explain lol

[@joesosa41]

I second what ​@@lizzielustmordsaid. Specially with this album on vinyl. The A side and the B side have such a great "A +B" relation that it reminds me of how genius this band is on EVERY one of their albums

[@phasednotfazed]

The production of this video is on the same level as Nicolas Winding Refn's films, damn. MGMT are doing something right!

[@ConnorMcCartney95]

I've always thought that. It is a very impressive music video.

[@AstralMcguireMusic]

This is Low Key their best album, its like they finally found their own neo psychedelic sound.

[@shawn2641]

I agree - such a unique sound and high quality musicianship throughout the album, truly overlooked. How do you feel about the new singles?

[@floyd904]

A beautiful psychedelic trip! MGMT are gods of actual psychedelia

[@adflixmanilaph]

The tone of the video and the melody just perfect. Its rare to find this quality video and music these days

[@EvWuzhere]

Most underrated album ever

[@ChispyReddit]

Absolute Masterpiece by MGMT

[@sheppiesheep]

At first I thought this song was boring, but there are so many subtle nuances that it only gets better and better as you listen more. Keep it up MGMT!

[@joshalicea9870]

Every song on this album lol

[@chelsocharles]

This is definitely one of the best music videos of the year. Beautiful cinematography and narrative. This was amazing.

[@noahnewman8264]

what about reflektor by arcade fire?

[@pa7156]

This song is just so grimy and gully to me, I love it. I feel like it pays homage to the hip-hop in me, the psych rock, the electronic, and the lyricism that I cherish so much in music. Truly a great production, both in song, and video. I know a lot of people want to hear the pop in MGMT, and there is a piece of me that does too, but I love their music even more for going "further down the rabbit hole" than before. I'd rather be weird than normal.

[@masr19]

I blablabla My blablabla Me blablablablaa Myself blablabla

[@pa7156]

troll blah blah blah troll blah blah

[@jonnyBking]

Very well put 👍👍

[@hippiecheezburger5457]

The self titled album is their best work imo

[@KRUX006]

this song is top 5 in my workout playlist, gets me so pumped and focused. recommend for anyone to include in their playlist

[@deeplyblue7299]

Rest in peace great actor great loss Michael K Williams

[@richardbriggs5300]

Awesome video, amazing song. Not my favorite MGMT album, but I love when artists take chances and experiment. They could've made two more Oracular Spectaculars and cashed the checks, but they didn't. That takes balls.

[@ShanaBobby]

3 Years Later & I'm still feeling this song 💜

[@julesrandolph7910]

same

[@rileydunn7688]

4 years later and I am still feeling this song!

[@CrabJock]

Gotta admit, I didn't see Omar coming. acha cha cha!! No, but seriously, Michael K Williams is a brillaint actor. He was amazing in Boardwalk Empire.

[@ThatGuy1805]

Whenever I drift by the unknown Feign like I notice a fundamental tone The fine pedals open and close offended More explanation and nothing shown Kind of like if a friend exits without a sign Glimmering like a precious stone Maybe we share the dream for 20 nights in a row I would feel better knowing that I was alone Wherever scientists turn lead to birds, Torment ignites essence, delights from the earth What you find shocking They find amusing, Something else to soften a sadistic urge When they tell you the extent of the vice Then the prime time mission is to choke the statistician, And like the senses that you're lurking behind While it gnaws right through to your core, Oh I'd twist it more If you think that you're free (Free like a kite) Watching as it flies by (Spy the unknown) Focus on the quiet oars Tell me how far you'd go (Go where you like) Knowing your air won't last (Last one to know) Would you feel better holding the stars up? What if the beast escapes (apes have it good) And separates like a cloud (loud like a fault), Seeps into the hollow bones? Wouldn't its eyes expand And zero in like a scope? I might feel better Knowing I wasn't alone

[@DrMartinF]

R.I.P., Michael K.W. Just found out about this video.

[@cyanide_breathmint]

RIP Michael K. Williams

[@TheFuktastic]

Third album - third changing of style. From synthpop to indie pop? and now it's real psychedelic rock. They're evolving with the speed of light.

[@Ariunboldu]

R.I.P PLANT HUNTER

[@em-vr6ll]

This song is so underrated.

[@Icculusify]

It’s really a masterpiece

[@linkshield1347]

I still think it's their best song created.

[@ffabiang]

RIP Michael. Loved this record and video when it came out.

[@hype1218]

RIP Michael K. Williams :(

[@MarceloHenkin]

this song is absolutely fantastic. when this album came out, it took a while for me to "understand" this song and all the elements in it...but now i can say cool song n° 2 is one of mgmt best songs.

[@markm7929]

OH SHIT, YO! OMAR COMIN!!

[@abeebzcpogo]

Rest in Peace Michael K. Williams 😢

[@aaronschleier6327]

1:35 - 1:58 is the best part of the song. Wish it could be longer or be repeated in the end of the song.

[@guywhomighthaveaspergersne5723]

Who was looking for Blur's Song 2 and found this instead, and then was like, yay, this is a cool song too.

[@whatson94]

Rest in Power Michael K. Williams

[@TheFeelingsStore]

i'm obsessed with that exchange between the two of them as they speak the lyrics. their faces are so expressive.

[@snowpdx]

I see Omar is still knocking off drug dealers. Keep up the good work, Omar!

[@aaronmckay1711]

"Tell me how far you'd go knowing your air won't last would you feel better holding the stars up?"

[@xdaisyfallsx1678]

RIP, my man Micheal K Williams 🙏🏽

[@epicstudio7185]

2021 and I fell in love with this song

[@aaronmckay1711]

This song keeps getting better the more I listen to it.

[@jakethemistake19]

Dam Omar so this is where you went before coming back to Baltimore

[@taylortaizon]

Man i went down comment after comment looking for someone to make a omar comment

[@leichterKampfer]

nah that irish and wonder lol

[@Scroolewse]

That is Omar right? I wasnt sure if i was just being racist thinking he looks exactly like him lol

[@zafirotorres3452]

I met Michael K. Williams thanks to this beautiful video

[@barreraberman5173]

Father: Pink Floyd Son: MGMT

[@heidileeshire5959]

Daughter: Both. 😁 There are many, many gods.😎😘

[@michelleandme1]

Father: Dots Just saying

[@michelleandme1]

Father: Dots Just saying, to see if you might agree

[@Tr3yM34]

I dont know why but MGMT reminds me a lot of Pink Floyd, same energy

[@StudioAnnLe]

Wow, deep stuff. The main character goes through lengths to try and help his friend but ends up getting the disease himself.

[@Pillowzzz_]

Well he has the cure now to be alone

[@Nrdyco]

That line "I might feel better knowing that I was alone" really resonates with me. During the lowest points of my depression, I wished for everyone that I knew to go away and stop caring so I could die knowing that no one would be hurt by my passing... I have only recently discovered this song..

[@christiaanprinsloo8951]

ok nobody asked

[@gonzoattak]

R.I.P Michael K Williams

[@rainbowzombehs7731]

i love reading the comments on mgmt videos because theyre just so fucking deep man idek

[@arispacetimeanduniverse8174]

same

[@Nadotornadocat]

listen to this wearing headphones though... wow

[@robertdominguez6002]

the whole album is like that

[@Tire.Dude.42]

Piano chords are genius

[@rosemarybee]

I really like this video. I used to despise the cold of winter, but then I started thinking about Rainforest viruses; a place where there is always warmth. The cold is a valuable state because the cold kills disease that otherwise festers and grows into odd and not understood disease.

[@tamaraanthonypillai6310]

When are they making new music !!????? C'mon guys you can't take a break now, you're awesome !!!!!

[@sweatymonkeybalz]

They usually take three years between each album

[@seanartevans]

Derp 6408 I agree!

[@ARTV-Rogue]

+Pepe Lord66 2016. they just semi announced their return on Twitter on Christmas

[@OfTheCoast1234567]

Pepe Lord66 andrew tweeted that theyre back in the studio

[@Saphrosyne.]

They're playing some of their new songs on tour right now

[@newtonbravesplayer]

I think in their next album they should try to incorporate some songs like this and kinda bring back some pop... I like both their new and old stuff but their pop really hit it big and that will give them their popularity back. Which They really deserve

[@BurtsiBeats]

Ben doesn't like the idea of pop/mainstream, nor does Andrew. Past interviews they've said that they want the genre, but not so much the popularity that comes with it, because that brings many people (magazines etc.) trying to label them.

[@ThreeWellsProven]

Burtsi I think their better without it. I mean look at whats "popular" at the moment? It's quite unimaginative. And then you watch/listen to something like this and so many people are utterly perplexed and confused by it (SPIN Magazine). Cuz it's out of the norm. So it must be bad? Their not as good as they used to be? On the contrary I think they've progressed immensely. Their synth/piano work has gotten VOLUMES better. Their song structures more complicated, but still retaining a simplistic drive. They realized how false all that attention was and focused on making music for the brain and not the wallet. MGMT are ahead of their time.

[@ccrr96]

ThreeWellsProven Either ahead of their time or their time was in the past. I swear man if this stuff came out in the 70's they would be as big or bigger than Pink Floyd.

[@Alice-ov3rd]

ThreeWellsProven Well said. I hope they don't go back into pop. I love their unique style now more than I did when they were mainstream. Ashame most music today is about fitting in rather than breaking out.

[@MrMattaiusify]

Wish granted 😂

[@eleanorion4860]

This is my favorite song of all time.

[@NextGenNate]

The more I listen to the new album, the more I understand it, at first i wasnt feeling it, but i started understanding what they were saying, and i understood the rhythm better and hear more sounds and tones I hadn't heard before. Its crazy how they do that.

[@mastersanwan]

This has grown on my so much, I think I am safe to say this is favorite MGMT song, been hearing these guys since before they left campus.

[@nope-xb1rd]

When I first heard this song I thought it was really bad but then I heard it somewhere again and I was like huh its not that bad and now I'm listening to it again and I love it

[@habibmahmud8881]

Same here

[@likelyladsss]

+tøp trash most of MGMT's songs did that to me too

[@rjeffrey743]

Same here. I listened to it 2 weeks ago, and had kind of a "eh, ok" reaction. Then I put it on in the car this past Wednesday and was completely hooked. It's got a darker feel than their previous stuff, like they tipped the scale between psychedelic and morbid just slightly over to the morbid side. I think this song might be the best of the album.

[@acidjack73]

Making you feel good shouldn't be a requirement for music. Different music for different moods.

[@Itsyrm8]

It must be very frustrating to have two different sounds , studio and live. HOWEVER, this is amongst the most interesting musicians of the last decade, brilliant stuff

[@OblivianTheDJ]

That is an awesome Datsun.

[@AG-ne3rh]

REST IN PEACE MICHAEL K. WILLIAMS ❤️❤️❤️

[@martinivanov8]

Rest in peace Michael 🖤

[@Sp1n1985]

Omar coming everybody run!

[@bf4ever472]

Finally someone knows !

[@kosk11348]

God, I love this song and the video is beyond cool. I really want the plant man's car.

[@AshleenWoods]

This album is so awesome! The first two tracks definitely have a Pink Floyd with Sid vibe to it :)

[@NoisePuddle]

Most people who disliked this video obviously only cared about their poppy songs on Oracular Spectacular. I admit they're still awesome as hell, but that music doesn't define MGMT at all. This is MGMT! Have in open mind and this album becomes magic!

[@GayMovieFan]

I know the video is about drugs and that drugs cause the problems in the videos, but I can't help feeling it's more of an allegory for aids. All in all I feel really bad for the main guy though b/c at least he was there to see his bf through to the end, but no one will be there to take care of him as he gets worse.. "i might feel better knowing I wasn't alone"

[@profile2047]

John Smith I think it's all those things and whatever your emotions feel it should be.

[@MaxChillin]

If you have AIDS and you see this I hope you are in good health 6 years later.

[@calvini2860]

At first I thought they were making a joke song or something. Now as I keep listening to it it gets better and better.

[@Dvfinest]

Rip Michael K. Williams😢

[@kendall.b7702]

They’re music makes me so genuinely sad that I can’t listen too it all the time, but I’ve never come across a band that’s lyrics were as rich and thoughtful. Something about them really just connects so well with what it feels like to be human

[@theolynn1736]

mgmt constantly pops off w their music vidoes

[@HEAVYDIAPER]

Omar comin'!

[@mateozeppelin]

2:32 how the fuck do they come up with genius music like that. true composers

[@cspmable]

that's the only part of the song that sounds good, the rest sucks

[@mateozeppelin]

cspmable ..and 1:36 is pretty trippy

[@wooderson6616]

Omar still slangin

[@guilttrippers9310]

I've listen to this for million times but I just found that they have music video for this song. this deserves more views tbh

[@frareanvidal]

I miss Siberian Breaks and Metanoia :( Still, this is quite enjoyable after a while :)