The Decemberists - O Valencia!

[@Aulmeyda]

This song is so underrated. Definitely my favorite Decemberists song, and definitely one of my favorite songs of all time.

[@leopardandlion4131]

Same here!:)

[@satirestudios5413]

Yes!!

[@forgive.them.]

Yer. Stuck in my head since release.

[@darkflame728]

One of the student teachers at my school had us listen to this to show us the parallels between it and Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet. :)

[@aventador2449]

What school do you go to?

[@madisonmotta4829]

I'm pretty sure, it's a lot less noticeable, but the song Eli the Barrow Boy is also Romeo and Juliet themed FYI

[@awacisse2775]

Mine too

[@alisaishere]

It's not just parallels, but a full on modern retelling of the story. Just like West Side Story is inspired by Romeo and Juliet.

[@angelicbeast]

I'm a relatively tough guy. My friend introduced me to the Decemberists this morning. I listened to all their songs today, andI love their music so much, and this song and video made me sob. No regrets.

[@maryannslatteryburrows7228]

I totally hear you. 😷😎

[@nextleveljourney6612]

When you realize that being TOUGH is actually being able to know your emotions and enjoy your life more deeply… Which is what you admitted happened for you :)

[@musiclives1000]

It's crazy how just Meloy's facial expressions and acting when he's trying to save her and when he realizes he can't makes me feel so empty in my stomach. It's such a weird music video because it's so strange and silly until the last scene and that's so tragic.

[@LiTTLeReD241]

This song is so oddly relevant to my life, and I'm surprised I've just heard it...for one, my surname is Valencia. Three years back I fell in love with a boy and kept it secret. My sister was disappointed and forced the truth out, my dad and family were furious, and I struggled through a really dark time. The only difference to the song is that we eventually made it passed all the hardships. They made me a stronger person, and made us a stronger relationship. So stay strong, all you hopelessly in love. Happy endings do come true!

[@squidwardtentacles957]

I didn't ask tho

[@reflectedcrosssite2848]

Did they try to shoot him tho

[@aname6794]

Ignore mean comments in here. People who only exist online are the worst. Hope you're living the life.

[@grimaphrodite]

I love how if you don't listen to the words, it's so happy! But when you listen, most of there songs are so morbid! I LOVE IT XD

[@killyourtelevision]

There is a melodic sadness woven through the music to my ear.

[@ralek592]

yeah the parts where the old guy's assassinated and the group on 1 fight along with the part where the girl's shot by her father in front of her boyfriend was especially happy

[@jlittle5816]

This is the greatest love song ever. Hit home and with Romeo and Juliet references too the tee. Colin is a Master of words.

[@manfulmanofstone]

I have NEVER regretted watching/listening to ANY of The Decemberists' music videos/songs. They are just...genius.

[@kaelistorer6535]

This band is SOOO underrated ohmygod

[@Scrapsies]

Dear decemberists, I searched you up because my music player magically played yankee bayonet. How far you have come! With all my love, K

[@ericmsandoval]

Wow. This is the very FIRST time I’ve seen the music video for this. Definitely would not have expected this type of direction lol

[@mrc-17]

This was "our song" for a childhood love and myself. It was silly, but a memorable time.

[@aquiline-eagle9669]

Such a happy sounding song with the saddest and deepest message! Holy shniky!

[@kalkalasch]

You belong to the gang And you say you can't break away But I'm here with my hands on my heart Our families can't agree I'm your brother's sworn enemy But I'll shout out my love to the stars So wait for the stone on your window, your window Wait by the car and we'll go, we'll go When first we laid eyes I swore to no compromise 'Til I felt my caress on your skin Well, how soon we were betrayed Your sister gave us away And your father came all unhinged So wait for the stone on your window, your window Wait by the car and we'll go, we'll go But Oh Valencia With your blood still warm on the ground Valencia And I swear to the stars I'll burn this whole city down All I heard was a shout Of your brother calling me out And you ran like a fool to my side Well the shot, it hit hard And your frame went limp in my arms And an oath of love was your dying cry So wait for the stone on your window, your window Wait by the car and we'll, go we'll go But Oh Valencia With your blood still warm on the ground Valencia And I'll burn this whole city down Valencia With your blood getting cold on the ground Valencia And I swear to the stars I'll burn this whole city down

[@BaiBrootal]

Colin looks a bit sexier with a beard :p

[@davidpollak685]

When this song came out, I was 23 years old. Take me back for God sakes!

[@lilleenelson7357]

I just got into there music 2 months ago and im obsessed!

[@0TanookiSuit0]

Your past is not yours to keep.

[@satirestudios5413]

I turn 15 in like 8 days so I think I was 3 💀

[@satirestudios5413]

@@0TanookiSuit0 huhh

[@JoM-f7q]

THINGS WILL NOT ALWAYS BE DREADFIL. like my. Computer Skills.

[@faithsasser5679]

Everybody is complaining about the video, but, I thought it was okay. A little corny, but good quality.

[@Pokenick2006DoesMCRedLightning]

were complaining about it because it so diffrent from the song

[@camilletrosclair4120]

The director's cut version is REALLY REALLY GOOD.

[@FabulousKilljoy]

A family friend gave me this CD a few months ago. That was the second best gift I've ever received, next to my acoustic guitar

[@valencia878]

Every time I drive through Valencia I sing this song.

[@halfofsom1else22]

personally i love how they don't give a shit what their own lyrics say and have interpreted them into another (really quite funny) fanciful tale. It just looks like they're having a lot of fun.

[@sharonbrooks5263]

Kong, you will always be in our hearts .... thank you for sharing this with the kids and I.

[@superlegendofmc9435]

This song is probably the best thing ever.

[@greenwave819]

This right here is some very good stuff for us to enjoy!

[@colepeterson1437]

I just realized this was Lisa Molinaro. That is super cool. Some of my favorite bands have a shared member. MM and the Decemberists both are awesome

[@v10ramTony]

I love the way this song conveys tangible, unique sensations and feelings, every time I listen to it. It's why I'll never stop listening to it.

[@NotaRussian]

I'm not the only one who needed to watch this a couple of times, right?

[@chrisbrannorling]

It's sad that the music videos have lower audio quality than the single tracks :'(

[@greenwave819]

way back in the time of this song, my gf stole a kitten from a mama alley cat. and I named it Valencia. it was a sister to our rabbit Skillet. then we broke up and many tears were shed

[@satirestudios5413]

This song is that old!??!?!?

[@Lyndanet]

I absolutely adore this song 🎶

[@JoM-f7q]

Always loved this song.

[@moon.jelly.27]

I first heard this song when my 7th grade english teacher performed it for us, as well as the Crane Wife (part 1) and i loved the song songs so much, still til today :))

[@HyperionWasabi]

Probably one of the most brilliant and depressing videos i have ever seen. Absolutely amazing.

[@twin-rova-j]

What the heck? Three comments? 21 likes? only 5.6k views? This is sosososososo much better than that.

[@Aulmeyda]

"And your frame went limp in my arms..."

[@ronswasonbutcuter4474]

I came here from the Rake's Song and I'm just. How do you go from that to this? Or vice versa?

[@dopeheathen]

I listened to the song before the video and after a couple watches I like the video now.

[@CelsdergGaming]

Yea I feel like they completely changed the meaning of the words through the video.

[@agiles5196]

Song=still great. Video =garbage. Sorry, I looked it up. I hope I can forget it.

[@RoronoaZorosHaki]

One of my teachers in high school was married to a member of this band.

[@ernestwyatt3147]

GREAT MUSIC AND VIDEO!

[@jayg1438]

Still a beautiful song

[@rumpelstillkills8036]

This is my favourite movie.

[@wolfoftherain53]

a guy at work gave me a mixtape with this song on it. this is pretty fantastic.

[@nickfinch8182]

WHY HAVE I NEVER HEARD OF THESE PEOPLE BEFORE?!?!?!?!?!?!?!? THEY NEED MORE AIRTIME!!!!!

[@GregPicadash]

+Nick Finch WHY???

[@saintsea-hat7891]

Nick Finch because you're mainstream.

[@chernobylcoleslaw6698]

You listen to the radio to get music?

[@bennpenn5105]

They're in the office and parks and rec

[@robert743]

​@bennpenn5105 Yeah "why have I never heard of these guys?" LOL idk, they're only one of the most successful and well-known indie rock bands of all time. And everyone else pretending that they're not mainstream. That's funny. They've been signed to a major label for almost 20 years, and they even landed a #1 hit with the release of The King is Dead. Maybe indie music isn't quite as well known as other genres, but if you have any interest at all in music beyond what gets played on the radio, then you will have heard of The Decemberists. I hate pretentious fans. The Decemberists are a smart group of people, but you ain't a gentleman & a scholar just because you're a fan. They make catchy, upbeat, fun indie rock jams, and you don't need to be a Shakespeare Scientist to dig it and get down with these funky troubadours.

[@TV4Fun2]

I love how many people in these comments think that actually listening to the words of a song is some kind of massive novelty.

[@satirestudios5413]

?

[@personmcguy9840]

Yes, how dare people like songs

[@TV4Fun2]

@@personmcguy9840 wtf are you talking about? I love this song and I have from the first time I listened to it, I just think it's funny how many people are only just now noticing what the whole song's about.

[@camilletrosclair4120]

I have to hold back the tears every time I watch this one...

[@jacobthelioneater]

@SparkeyProducing The Decemberists are one of those bands that recieved old NMH fans after NMH stopped making music

[@Kyralik]

@ThreeEyedGod Ironically, it's not a VEVO account, they just added VEVO to the end of their name in their KZbin account.

[@Airstrip19]

Don't know if it's usual but there seem to be plenty. "The Infanta," being one huge one that comes to mind, plus a reference in "Here I Dreamt I Was an Architect."

[@jenniferhorton9879]

love this still!!

[@ubertomadachi]

Good song, the vid is great, but the end makes me cry!

[@candicekundelius1683]

GREAT SONG LOVE IT

[@sodachris3000]

This song still makes me all teary eyed..

[@vpolite1]

I vaguely recollect hearing Colin Melloy talk about this song. I believe he said the inspiration for this song came when they on a tour stop in San Francisco. He happened to venture down Valencia Street in the Mission District. The Mission used to be a hub of Hispanic culture; it is pretty much become techie and white. Valencia Street is not a hub for gang activity, but for some reason this whole West Side Story drama played out in his mind

[@ceilingotaku]

Wow. Awesome video.

[@sandyxx7034]

MySpace, those were the days ❤️

[@maiallison5473]

So. Many. Feels.

[@blithium]

@ThePackers123 This is the band "The Decemberists", not the Russian revolutionary organization "The Decemberists". Easy mistake :p

[@TheAdelmo12]

@flackenstien i agree, but whether you like it or not the decemberists are a band that took up the beatles example and ran with it. in fact a lot of bands have but they did it in their own way and using their own genres to express it. I see your point and i respect that you are sticking by it, but i do have to ask, do you see where i am coming from?

[@Justbreezintoday]

💜🎶

[@TheAdelmo12]

@flackenstien If i may say something, i think you are not wanting to accept the fact that a band since the Beatles actually has put meaning into their music. the Beatles told a story with their songs, that was meaningful to them, that is what made them so great. The Decemberists take the same ideas for what they do, they tell stories that have meaning to them, not a generic song like most nowadays. and the Decemberists arent like most bands, there is a reason they aren't mainstream yet.

[@tonipalanca]

i'm from valencia :)

[@thodoriskontogiannis7799]

amunt valencia

[@jacobthelioneater]

Its good to see the Decemberists have some genre-savy villains - It seems only natural that, when attacking one on one would fail, of COURSE they'd try attacking together.

[@exquisitevivendi]

home!

[@mattrodriguez2039]

This was a cool video

[@DAVIDInitiative]

How in the HELL does this have only 135,000 views?

[@loonylightsgood]

they took out the start of the video! thats why alot of people dont get it!

[@ragarde3861]

I'm from valencia

[@chernobylcoleslaw6698]

Obviously a better love story than 'Twilight'.

[@randywest30]

NOSTALGIA

[@baixiaolang]

@SuperJmac1988 There is also a Valencia in Spain, and another one in California.

[@JL0ndon]

Anyone here from Valencia CA and go to Valencia HS? Lol this was an anthem

[@missg8413]

Still the perfect song it is from back when I first heard it

[@brandonbuck4158]

Umm...I feel like the only one saying this, but I liked the video. I even understood it for the most part :D

[@DoctorAvvesome]

@JoshySmoshy56 Story is basically narrator falls in love with a woman of an opposing family (or gang, you could think of it), and the narrator is sworn enemies with the woman's brother. At the end of the song, the woman's brother tries to shoot the narrator but the woman jumps in front of the bullet intended for the narrator. This video really isn't what happens in the song, it's just another take on it. Still neat though.

[@FrequentFly3r]

@CelloRocks2 You are 13 and like good music? Don't see that very often, stay awesome.

[@DylanNes]

@Dingus262 I partly agree with you, but consider this. Mainstream musicians are generally targeting people that are heavily influenced by popular opinion. They keep getting more and more famous, not because their music is so great, but because everyone's listening to it. Also Bieber and Lady Gaga ARE out to make money, and The Decemberists are one of the most non-commercial bands I know.

[@jacobthelioneater]

@phillyshell94 Its short for Neutral Milk Hotel, a band founded by frontrunner Jeff Mangum. They were popular in the late '90s for their Album In the Aeroplane Over the Sea. Since disbanded (apart from a box set released recently), they were an indie band that experimented with song themes, lyrics, and music, and many of their songs can function with just acoustic guitar. If you like the decemberists, I strongly reccomend you check them out. Try Holland 1945.

[@heyearthlings]

You tell him!

[@toshitowers1497]

2022 y la sigo escuchando que hermoso tema

[@42bottlesofbeer]

@Eoinposse I propose that sex is better when The Decemberists are playing in the background, but can't entirely agree to your point.

[@Pyraticalpunk]

This is my Exes favorite song...i had an urge to listen to it today

[@lollygag161]

i can't imagine why liking a song would ever be funny.. but i know what you mean :P

[@benparkins1239]

Good taste in music brought me here

[@aperkausn]

@JadieJamboree It only has so few views because it's only been up for a couple of months, and there are others vids of this on youtube that have been up much longer.

[@AshayGupta]

Too different from what I had imagined. That's why I listen to audio tracks.

[@AshayGupta]

Lyrics www.azlyrics.com/lyrics/decemberists/ovalencia.html At the show at the 9:30 Club in D.C. somebody in the audience asked what this song was about and Meloy said he intended it to be about gang rivalries around Valencia Street in San Fransisco, but when he showed the song to his friend who lives in San Fransisco she said that that would never happen on that street but he decided to keep the name cause a more realistic one "wouldn't sound as good"

[@lorenz2418]

One of the best emo music I know

[@Kenbomp]

Nice

[@BaiBrootal]

This song and video breaks my heart so much but I love it xD

[@jamesrobertarchbald6357]

at first we laid eyes....I swore to kNOw...compromise

[@buster1837]

i love this song but its so sad!

[@MicChacon]

Get my postcard?

[@nathyatta]

This sounds really Australian to me. I was surprised to hear they're American.

[@benjones7634]

It does kinda sound australian with his accent. Interestingly, from portland; you can see hints of this throughout the video

[@nathyatta]

Ben Jones yeah..l I did mean with the accent. It really sounds like he is putting it on. We’re the ones that always put on American accents when we sing..l I never imagined it would go the other way :D :D

[@kidthekid1000]

Romeo and Juliet likes this.

[@LongLiveHumour]

SURVEILLANCE EXPERTS IN THE GUISE OF TOURING FOLK MUSICIANS

[@jacobthelioneater]

@ThePackers123 The Decemberist Revolt was by no means communist. It occurred YEARS before the Communist revolution and advocated for constitutional reform.

[@TheAdelmo12]

@flackenstien I'll agree with you on the fact that yes most new music is not good in my opinion it has not soul or real rhyme or reason to it. Im not sure if you know this, but if you do ill say it anyway. a song is composed of verses, a chorus, and a bridge. a lot of new music says the same things throughout the verses and the chorus line is repeated. I agree with you the Beatles never did do that they actually wrote songs. But the Decemberists dont repeat the same verses all the time either,

[@hartenskim]

man, Lisa Molinaro is divine

[@potepen]

One question, are usual the references to Spain in The Decembrists songs and videos? I have seen some of them, but I don´t know if they are significally.