The Shins - Turn on Me [OFFICIAL VIDEO]

[@agdobleu]

2020 and I still think this is such a great song. This band is one of the best, ever.

[@philipholford1006]

Still watching now kid x

[@jasonphilc]

I agree in 2023😊

[@shanetwilsenach374]

Why is nobody talking about how damn good this song is?

[@bm9160]

There's not to discuss my dear friend the song is perfect

[@fastbird25]

Shanet Wilsenach Shanet, I rarely watch public television because of the one-sides tripe they program there. However, they used to broadcast a show called Austin City Limits. I had never heard of The Shins until I saw them perform on that show. They were incredible. They were like a perfect and equal blend of Indie, pop, folk, and rock. I'd never heard music like theirs before and probably never will again. I've been a fan ever since.

[@juanpablochamorro1765]

Shanet Wilsenach man.... it's because they kill the dog hahaha

[@chickennuggets8482]

William B

[@mushroomman52]

People are talking about the dog more than the human that burned to death

[@johnnyray6596]

"You had to know that I was fond of you" Such a simple line that conveys so much meaning. The object of your affection is playing with you. They are a total masochist and the flirting and the game they are playing gets them off and crushes you. The Shins are so fucking brilliant.

[@CoboProdz]

Amen

[@Dani92670]

I didn't hear this song for the first time until it showed up on one of my custom Pandora stations. I instantly loved it. I was SHOCKED to see this video was from 15 years ago and the song was released over 16 years ago. WHAT?????

[@chriswallas6962]

Wait till you hear "caring is creepy"

[@ConradMcBad]

I have so much respect for James Mercer and his lyrics. Even alone they would stand to be some fantastic poems, but his ability to write music for them makes him a songwriter who is second to none, in my mind. You real Shins fans know what I'm talking about. Mad respect, James. =)

[@Slowbell42]

"you can fake it for a while, bite your tongue and smile like every mother does an ugly child" = greatest lyrics ever :)

[@geekthegirl6961]

Amazing songwriters. They have written some of the most literary and thoughtful songs in pop music history. Love them.

[@Lozwige]

I'm in love with this song. The Shins are just too good.

[@gerardosalas9477]

This song makes me cry. I still miss those golden autumn afternoons when we walked together down that long, long street with the sun shining in your olive eyes and the wind playing with your hair.

[@vadikkasabiev3373]

+Gerardo Salas I will never miss the shit i've just read

[@michelleeverett8125]

+Vadik Kasabiev What's the matter? Nobody misses your eyes? People leave messages like those on youtube to be found, you know.

[@vadikkasabiev3373]

Gerardo Salas how is it related????

[@elwincharly1873]

+Vadik Kasabiev it is related...if u have sense think ;)

[@edmundmcgrath213]

Gerardo/ You are not a poet. I thought you should know it.

[@vladtheinhaler8940]

My favorite Shins song.

[@gptfreak]

One of the few songs I can listen to over and over and never get sick of...

[@andrewbarrett1537]

Playing through the song, I see why the music works so hand-in-glove with the lyrics (IMO). This song is told from the perspective someone who has been wronged or treated poorly and unfairly by a friend or loved one, despite the protagonist caring about them. So it is a declamatory song, both telling about what happened, and also denouncing the intended target of this lyric.. although not COMPLETELY raking them over the coals (after making a comparison to hunters hunting for rabbits to make into hats, he then sings "But brittle, thorny stems, they break before they bend, and neither one of us is one of them", which is a compliment, implying that the detractor has a sort of inner resilience to get through/over this, and the protagonist knows and respects this, which is why they feel comfortable speaking about about their mistreatment: they know the other person will not be so shamed as to be crushed (by being utterly inflexible), but will eventually get over it (hopefully after a self-reflective period). Anyway, RE the music: This song makes use of TONS of retrograde chord progressions. Usually in most tonal music, chords have a tendency to want to "go certain places" or at least move to other predictable successive chords, via normal voice-leading. HOWEVER, by employing retrograde progressions here, and the sort of voice leading to make them sound smooth, if surprising (what sounds to me like suspended 4ths and plagal cadences galore, giving a distinctly renaissance or baroque character to the music), James Mercer thus forces the chords to move BACKWARDS from normal convention, and have Tonic resolve to Dominant (or I to V, instead of the far more common opposite resolution), such as at the very end of the song. To me, this gives the song both a "forcing/turning time back" quality, also a "going against the tide" quality, and finally, due to the rather strong resolutions to the V, a quality of having a definite purpose to undo something or go backwards (in this case, to end the friendship or relationship with some finality). Also, his fast, ahead-of-the-beat, tripping-over-his-words singing style, sounds to me like he has a lot to sing about and can't wait to sing it, while still stylized and idiomatic enough to remind me of both turn-of-the-century ballads, and also more recent declaimers/"preachers" (about interpersonal problems) like Morrissey. IMO it is a good song, and further, the style of the song and style of the performance, matches the content of the lyrics.

[@jimorourke7492]

One of the best songs ever written.

[@MusicalCentipede]

Man The Shins are so amazing, they deserve so much more recognition then they get. Great video, Great song.

[@galad91]

The Shins fills me up happiness even if I feel bad, I love them. :)

[@daveidftw]

it actually says, you can fake it for a while, bite your tongue and smile like every "mother doesn't love me" child xx

[@jaredstrand6607]

"Like every mother does an ugly child"

[@hige1234]

best song. reminds me of a nostalgic dream.

[@JaneDoe-zc2zn]

Another one of my favorite songs! "You'd better hurry, rabbit. Run, run, run. 'Cause mincing you is fun!" Great lyrics again. 1:06 GO, I.

[@OddSumo]

this is one of my favourite songs. the lyrics are incredible, so weird and abstract. but it suits the music, and its oddly sad.

[@10angrytigers]

Im a Shines fan for a long time now and I think this is their best song. Amazing that a band can still write songs of this quality. Thank you shines!!! You strick a chord!

[@AbusiveUncle]

i love when a band's ego isn't so big that they must absolutely appear in their music videos

[@AI-xs4fp]

The Shins are timeless.

[@normaneperez]

Incredible album.

[@nickthebubble4060]

Every line is a winner.

[@TheMechaVile]

Is this directed by George R. Martin because everything was fine till that piano dropped on my favorite character.

[@tomharding]

Typical game of thrones fan posting spoilers 😜

[@gattifan609]

James Mercer is a genius pure and simple.

[@George_Davies]

Brilliant song, and really well directed video! Though, the number of people who seem to think the shins actually killed a dog for this music video is worryingly large. At least, in comments...

[@parzooman]

All these years later and this song still does it for me. I still think the part in the melody where he sings: "You entertaining any doubt 'Cause you had to know that I was fond of you Fond of Y-O-U Though I knew you masked your disdain I can see the change was just too hard for us Hard for us You always had to hold the reigns But where I'm headed, you just don't know the way" It could've been written by Pete Townshend. It just sounds very Who like.

[@Cactus78]

Hahahaha. I lol'd at the ending. Did anyone else laugh, or am I heartless bastard?

[@schrodingerscat8391]

You can fake it for a while Bite your tongue and smile Like every mother does her ugly child But it starts the leaking out Like spittle from a cloud Amassed resentment pelting ounce and pound You entertaining any doubt 'Cause you had to know that I was fond of you Fond of Y-O-U Though I knew you masked your disdain I can see the change was just too hard for us Hard for us You always had to hold the reigns But where I'm headed, you just don't know the way So affections fade away Or do adults just learn to play The most ridiculous, repulsive games? All our favorite ruddy sons And their double-barreled guns You'd better hurry rabbit, run, run, run 'Cause mincing you is fun And there's a lot of hungry hatters in this world Set on taking it over But brittle, thorny stems They break before they bend And neither one of us is one of them And the tears will never mend 'Cause you had it in for me so long ago Boy, I still don't know I don't know why and I don't care Well, hardly anymore If you'd only seen yourself hating me Hating me When I've been so much more than fair But then you'd have to lay those feelings bare One thing I know has still got you scared Yeah, all that cold ire And never once aired on a dare You had to know that I was fond of you Fond of Y-O-U So I took your licks at the time And a change like that is just so hard to do Hard to do Don't let it whip-crack your life And I'll bow out from the fight Those old pious sisters were right The worst part is over Now get back on that horse and ride

[@little_wonderer9290]

So affections fade away And do adults just learn to play the most ridiculous, repulsive games

[@sanchitvarma1282]

aliceislooking throughtheglass I have always loved these lyrics. Kind of explains any relationships brilliantly.

[@ItchingJ]

I love the Shins. The music takes me to places I love.

[@firstgreenspace]

If I didn't already know how dogs are valued by The Shins as well as myself, I would never listen to them again. But artists depictions of music, voice and sound, sometimes tell a story underneath the video lol

[@BenDavis1736]

Sometimes they do

[@cubs201]

The best shins song of all time!!!

[@talulahgosh]

I remember reading that he wrote this song about his ex-girlfriend. She was dating him because he was "famous" (in quotes because James Mercer is famous to me, though not others) and in a upcoming rock band. When he found out how truly shallow she was (is?), he dumped her. The lyrics definitely say that and the fact that the video is intentionally unappealing is a giant "fuck you" intended for her. Mayhaps her dog was that same breed?

[@lisamclouth5926]

Emily Brown j

[@isaiahhha7560]

It’s about a fellow band member in the group James was with in Flake Music, not an ex.

[@Dominum]

This video depicts numerous issues and notions we encounter in our daily lives , and the song's is one of them.

[@shunshine77]

People, quit being so thick. Listen to the lyrics. This video is fantastic. Everything in the video is vain, materialistic, absurd, and most importantly NOT a turn on (play on the title). It's about how absurd our behavior is at times.

[@KRRREN]

I first heard this song from my best friend from middle school, after in high school I lost contact of her but each time I heard this song I would remember all the good memories of her. A few days ago I get the news that she has hung herself. May she rest in peace and I will never ever forget her

[@AllTriforces]

YES THIS IS MY FAVORITE SONG OUT OF THE SHINS weird vid though!

[@dogsoap]

The Shins aren't even comparable.. Talk about 40 year difference.

[@fletcherbraithwaite1783]

Why the dooooge!!!!!!!!

[@josephcarter4987]

The. Best. Song. Ever.

[@Scewtur]

i want that dog. i think its my spirit animal

[@slapslicks7531]

Your spirit animal has been scrapped off the pavement and into a pile of dirt.

[@idadudenmanner]

This song will always mean almost too much for me, but it means just enough to make me feel like pleasantly bursting. So much change during 2007 and this was part of the soundtrack. "I don't know why and I don't care... well hardly anymore". So real.

[@someyoungguyjohnson7239]

Woah, in a way this kinda reminds me of Soundgarden's Black Hole Sun video

[@jacobcondry514]

Nothing alike. You’ve ruined two amazing songs from respectively different genres

[@evaikwoma1658]

No need to mention that...it speaks for itself right ;))Great song indeed!

[@O0liwia]

This video made me sad

[@fuckusingfullname]

obviously to murder the doggo

[@June-tv1zr]

I just wanted to say that this is the best music video I've ever seen

[@kanjimanji]

why the dog!!>?!?

[@chickenfart6783]

kanjimanji he saw the thing coming he had it coming

[@davidprince9427]

Loved this for years, but there's a subtle harmony in the chorus (singing, maybe keys?!)- took me aaages to notice...get shivers everytime

[@bluemai8776]

why... the dog. you monsters? i'm... fu*k you really great song tho

[@JasperBitter]

Took me some effort to find this video, but happy & sweaty to be here

[@dylanmanicfanaticHipCatRecords]

Bet I can guess what that dog's name ISN'T: Lucky

[@bakismaki]

One of my favorite shins songs, but they have so many good songs...

[@1495RTS]

As a musician, I'm fighting the impulse to feel sadder about the piano.

[@StirlingFlurr]

haha

[@slapslicks7531]

Omg ikr

[@slapslicks7531]

My thoughts literally were "I wonder if they wasted a real piano for this shot" then I got mad. Lol

[@omernos87]

i SO agree, it's a beautiful visual!

[@stephanielynn7825]

The poor dog!

[@frogsobl1v1ous]

this is the first time i ever watched a shins video and felt sad at the end. usually they leave me quite satisfied (that's what she said) but this time i just got a little depressed.

[@nikthough3110]

The Bee Effect...

[@beijon1810]

The best music video ever.

[@TheMickeyChronicals]

THIS ENDING WAS NOT OKAY!

[@ashton5959]

I was 6 when this was made. This song is one of my earliest memories.

[@carbishdenana5571]

Aplasto al wa wa tuerto

[@DanielLenaghan]

I love it. The Shins are surreal yet down to earth, weird yet totally accessible, and their videos are just fun. Poor little dog, though.

[@taylordizon5507]

I like the part where the one eyed dog gets crushed by the piano.

[@shraddha8354]

i like that part too

[@CharlieLugassi]

Now that's what i call a masterpiece

[@rebjiii]

+Charlie L. Yep - this one is of my favorites by the Shins....my other favorites are Australia, New Slang, Saint Simon, Simple song, and Phantom limb

[@edmundmcgrath213]

Oh yeah. a real masterpiece, sort of like the Mona Lisa...I'm certain you are another pestulant Millennial..Get me the bug-be-gone...Desist millennials..back to your gadgets...Duh, see you on Facebook....DORKS!!!

[@jasminemartinez1143]

😱😭😭😭why the dog !! Common anyone else just not the dog

[@kittykeerthana]

haha Ikr anybody!! Not the dog plz

[@sinathtep9310]

Jasmine Martinez jkjhvxSiojioiu

[@sinathtep9310]

M

[@mushroomman52]

What about the crane operator that burned to death

[@thecureish]

I love the video. It shows that everyone and everything is beautiful despite their faults

[@purplerico]

That ain't right ): Poor dog

[@SarahLynnM]

I love this song & video..the imagery is amazing.

[@fernandomora8202]

If You guys don't get the video..I feel bad for your intelligence, personality, and "reading between the lines." Basically, video shows what perfectionists, greed, and lust do to innocent people in this world. We're not perfect and sometimes when we are greedy we create problems that lead to our satisfaction and others down fall and misery.

[@cicimaster]

Fernando Mora their greed? I mean it's just people enduring dumb accidents. The crane operator was stung by a bee. How was that his fault?

[@BethMacDur]

I think it has more to do with the value of little things. A tiny bee stung the crane driver, he dropped the big piano. A tiny leaf made the man fall into a pool, it saved the lady's life (which is bigger). The tiny dog moves all the people to write in the comments...

[@salty4771]

Fernando Mora this may have been one of the most pretentious KZbin comments i have seen in my entire life.

[@cryptozoomauler5505]

Maybe we get it and don't care because we didn't like the video...

[@crustpunkjesuschrist]

r/iamverysmart

[@sbrons1]

This is my favorite song off the new album. Lyrics paint a great picture as usual. I can relate to this song sadly.

[@scotchleaf]

whoever directed the video ....bad....

[@qewalo]

Nah

[@zylert]

beautiful song, and BEAUTIFUL VIDEO

[@amp52]

WTF is wrong with this video. All these nasty shots that make me want to puke in my mouth, then they kill a cute puppy at the end? Wow

[@kurtisdaroule8245]

+travis kerns exposing reality is never tragic free, sadly

[@ragamuffinstv]

+travis kerns 180 puppies disliked this video

[@DirtCheapFU]

+travis kerns in defense of the dog. he wasnt that cute.

[@purplemindarcana533]

They should have gotten that dog a diamond-encrusted eyepatch; would have given him, real panache, they would have looked out for him.

[@jantulinja8917]

bet you'd like the mainstream fucking music videos with their fake fucking pretenses of feminism? you fucking dipshit it's called art. and if someone screenshots this comment and posts it to /r/iamverysmart that's just great for you, hope you get your precious fucking internet points

[@chelseakeepsitreal]

this was the first song i heard by them and ever since then i looooove the shins :)

[@robmillist]

exactly - it all comes together at the end tbh i usually don't watch the vid and just play it at work in the background. It's totally not how I imagined it would be buy hey.

[@DebGhi]

I'm over-whelemed of this perfection

[@Oqpu]

Man i can't get this song out of my head,it's just so brilliant.. started noticing the shins after seeing Garden State, wich also rocks!:D

[@BryanBloom]

Regardless this is extremely creative. Their sound is original and awesome to listen too. Great directing on the video. Bravo

[@gking407]

Winner of the 2008 WTF Music Video Award

[@nylopa]

This video really is a life changing video! I can't even put into words how drastically it changes my views on JELLO, tanning, pool cleaning, and chiwawa's! I love how the bumble bee ties everything in! It is like God created the bumble bee to manifest a connection between the dog and the tanning! Basically it is saying the if you tan too much, you can kill your half blind chiwawa... so sad, but so life changing! God Bless!

[@CarolanneIAMTHEQUANTUM]

2021 and it's even better now.

[@imdavidavid]

alright this might sound wrong, but i freaking love this video. i got really into it. really well done. oh and amazing song. can't get enough of the shins.

[@lkaet]

wow...that video was so creative. I loved the camera work at the very begining. it was very disturbing, and I think that was intended. I love the Shins

[@DaInstinct16]

awgher my eyes but my ears are loving it

[@Twichl]

I like that everything was connected, but it's sad at the same time.

[@ricklongo]

This is a weird video, but a cool one. It's about how little things can turn into big problems. The Shins are all about the metaphores, you know. Either way, stunningly amazing song. Gorgeous melody, incredible lyrics. The usual Shins stuff.

[@that_sam_94]

This video always manages to make me smile, for some reason. I

[@gggooolllooo]

the shins save lives

[@AnExcuseToDrink]

I listen to this song every day because it's just that good.

[@anditspaganpoetry]

i used to fall aseep while listening to this song on the beach last january. the people who are saying the video is terrible and disgusting are simply too simple minded to appreciate art, it's actually a fantastic video, especially since it conveyed so much emotion from you.

[@comeonnowu]

I just love this band fro the southern skies

[@andrewbarrett1537]

Interesting: I just played through the original published piano-vocal sheet music (published by Alfred publishing) and in this recording, right before the guitar solo, at the end of the 2nd chorus, he sings: "Yeah, all that cold ire, and never once aired on a dare". However the published sheet music has it as "never once aired on an eare". For a split second I thought this was a misspelling of ear, but neither this band nor this publisher really "DO" misspellings, and looking it up, I found out that's a Middle English spelling of the modern word ear (the body part), and with a suitably Elizabethan pronunciation(?!?) it rhymes very well with "aired", which then sort of rhymes with "ire". Both "aired on a dare" (dared or goaded to openly complain) and "aired on an eare" (actually confessed to someone else who is listening, rather than only admitting it to oneself in private) work very well for this meaning and context in this part of the song. Since it is evident from live concert footage that James Mercer is rarely satisfied with his melodes going just one same way (no matter how gorgeous), and seems fo be frequently experimenting with new alternative melody lines etc., we should not be too surprised to see this alternate lyric from the official recording.

[@atasteformusic]

Such an original song.

[@ericadrueF]

i gasped at the end :x

[@gana7206]

What an incredible song

[@Dusty341]

One of the best videos I have seen in a long time:D

[@dowsena]

The video clip is actually extremely good, it really adds to the music

[@rickradicalbrown4021]

This song is so good