Red Flag (song)

This article is about the Billy Talent song. For the socialist anthem, seeThe Red Flag.For other uses, seeRed flag (disambiguation).

Not to be confused withRed Flags (song).

"Red Flag"is a song by Canadian rock groupBilly Talent.It was released in September 2006 as second single from their second album,Billy Talent II.

"Red Flag"
SinglebyBilly Talent
from the albumBilly Talent II
Released	September 11, 2006
Recorded	2005
Genre	Punk rock post-hardcore
Length	3:16
Label	Wea,Atlantic
Songwriter(s)	Billy Talent
Producer(s)	Gavin Brown
Billy Talentsingles chronology
"Devil in a Midnight Mass" (2006) "Red Flag" (2006) "Fallen Leaves" (2006)
Music video
"Red Flag"onYouTube

The Canadian rock music radio station 102.1 The Edge listed "Red Flag" at #145 of their 200 Best New Rock Songs of the Millennium in 2010.

Music video

The music video for this song, directed byFloria Sigismondi– known for her work with artists such asSigur RósandBjörk – began shooting on July 21, 2005, and first began playing in theUnited Kingdom,on January 20, 2006, (onScuzz). It debuted in Canada onMuchMusicthe following day.

The final scene of the music video.

The video depicts a spontaneous revolution by youths, with the titularred flagitself being a symbol ofsocialismand revolt. It begins with a group of school children locked inside a school, screaming, "We want out!" Finally, they break through thehandcuffeddoors and proceed to run around the school and surrounding area, covering various symbols of authority and luxury – including aCCTV camera,abarbecue,a boat, a car,gas pumpsand eventually the town hall – with red flags. As they run through the town, more people join in. Finally, they arrive atcity hallwhere the members of Billy Talent are performing, and which has been covered with red flags. Most children begin tomoshto the song, while others continue to run around, covering things with red flags. One of the children throws history books into the crowd, destroying them. The video ends with the children standing under red smoke, with pages of the books falling behind them, all wearingSovietGP-5gas masks.Voices chanting "We want out!" can also be heard at the end of the video.

Track listing

UK 5 "single

1. Red Flag (Album Version)
2. Red Flag (Live at MTV Campus Invasion Germany)

UK 7 "single

1. Red Flag (Album Version)
2. Where Is the Line? (Demo Version)

US single

1. Red Flag (Album Version)
2. Red Flag (Live at MTV Campus Invasion Germany)
3. Red Flag (Live at The Horseshoe Tavern)
4. Ever Fallen in Love (With Someone You Shouldn't've?)

In popular culture

The demo version of the song originally appeared in 2005 as a part of the soundtracks of a number ofElectronic Artsvideo games, includingNHL 06,Burnout Revenge,Burnout LegendsandSSX On Tour.This demo was released by Atlantic Records on theBlack Sampler II.The album version is different from the earlier release, with thebridgeandrefrainhaving been changed. It has also been used in thesoundtrack for the 2007 movieTMNT.

Chart performance

Chart (2006)	Peak position
Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)	19
Canada Rock Top 30 (Radio & Records)	10
Germany (GfK)	34
UK Singles(OCC)	49

Certifications

Region	Certification	Certified units/sales
Canada (Music Canada)	2× Platinum	160,000‡
Germany (BVMI)	Platinum	600,000‡
‡Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

External links

• Music Emissions (3.5/5)link