The National - Fake Empire

[qwertyuiopdan1]

We'll havea wee in the freakin' bath.

[JackHarkness95]

Can we have a 'love' button please on this video? :)

[HibbeSinclair]

'We're half awake, in a fake empire'

[catsdontlikeguitars]

"We will have a week of fu** and pay"

[zAOTPz]

macklemore's version is cool too - "Fake Empire" by macklemore

[ZEPoole]

These lyrics ncever made sense to me, I always thought it was, "Anne Hathaway and her fake empire"

[choochoostites]

southland brought me here

[choppertown]

This video inspired us to shoot our Ouija movie "I Am ZoZo" in Super 8mm. Fantastic job and beautiful song!

[Adhyra]

I fell in love with this song after watching the pilot episode of Southland, it's a gem :))

[AbsoltheLoner]

Can people stop commenting with stupid ideas like the comment below me? It's just really disrespectful to what may be the best band currently existing. And yes, I've already commented on this video, and yes, my computer accidentaly changed it to "half away" rather than "half awake" and yes, I got a lot of bad replies and this comment will, too. But I'm serious about this; it's just so disrespectful that it makes me sick.

[hanenbro]

"We'll have a wee in a vegan pie."

[karlsgurl]

2:38 pure sex

[EvilEleph4nt]

Awesome

[PeoplesWar]

Thumbs up if you first heard this on Season 1, Episode 1 of Southland!!!

[BlueBuzzards]

the best homemade video ever

[LadyPenttion]

Gostei...

[AngelsGrace21]

we really are half awake in a fake empire

[seb4stj4an]

Chuck !!! 

[csalamunes]

picking apples, makin' empires

[Hahnfisch]

Fucking Pie ?

[mleko80rt]

Az sie chce takiej muzyki sluchac, tresciwa, piekna, a nie jak cale to guwno co nas otacza... super!!!!

[Ketchup172]

"in a Pinkie Pie" .....no? is that just me?

[Swood44]

i love this.

[cenetor69]

i hate it when the girl starts singing wtf?



[bazicklecruzunkle]

i don't even know what to say

[billtox]

fuckin brilliant!!!!!

[redwingtrekie24]

@flawlessam - TOTALLY AGREE! RIGHTFULLY SAID :)

[nfscarbone]

this is pure art

[nationalhipster]

This is superb! Very beautifully done.

[MegaCommotion]

This was Barack Obama's song....what happened?...we still live in a fake empire

[Rendocrine]

@MegaCommotion Then it is your mistake for believing the empire to be built on the Presidents decisions. Look no farther than all those around you.

[stillmatic029]

Ohhhh fart!

[truffleshuffle94]

Did you know a park can prevent heart disease? I DONT CARE!

[14htmlo]

the song is B U T FULL all on its own, however the video just makes it the more so. Great job guys

[vereskification]

We have a whey-keen in fake imp-eye...

[TheSwiftsMusic]

check out our music, we are an indie rock band that are trying to follow the national's steps.

it would do us a great favor, thanks! :)

[AbsoltheLoner]

"We're half away in our fake empire," idiots... that's why it's called that.

[Mattgt128]

@AbsoltheLoner Do you really not understand sarcasm? Or are you using some kind of meta sarcasm?

[SmurfettesAWhore]

@AbsoltheLoner we're half awake. you're the one who got it wrong. everyone else is joking.

[AbsoltheLoner]

@AbsoltheLoner Note to self, use spellcheck; I meant awake rather than away.

[exercez]

We sat on hay with brades in hair?

GET IT RIGHT FFS

[Kaalyan32]

the pub before the video is the best one i saw on youtube

[thejujubear]

this is so a reminder of modern top forty crap except this is the same monotone instead of party beats. Same song....different lyrics

[piscavio]

i love it... american band quoting irish traditional, waterboys and a stuttered u2 all at once.

and that's a complement. old england is dying on a sunday in the pub.

[davidweflen]

what does chuck mmean

[MegaToogoodforu]

@davidweflen tv show that made this song pre popular

[Katarina2611]

CHUCK!!!! <3

[NiteManhattan]

I love how the end screen has a link to 'Elephant Gun' by Beirut. I could go back and forth between those songs all day.

[TheUltimateJordan]

Band of Brothers.

[Dunedain441]

"We're half awake now spank my thigh"

[MrsAngelgr]

Great band...

[stork101]

"We're half awake in a thinking pie."

[MrObviouslyJesus]

@stork101 Anne Hathaway in a thinking pie. Get it right.

[BFMVAILD123]

@stork101 "we're linching niggas super fucking high" that's a better line i think but still a great song.

[ayeungturtle]

@BFMVAILD123 you are disgusting.

[Rolinde94JB]

@stork101 that just made my day

[cwpix09]

I find that playing this song and then starting Terrible Love when Fake Empire's lyrics begin is awesome.

[qqsomething]

funny they're americans, but their sound is 100% british

[qqsomething]

@albertelliswearengen Reallly? The Beatles, Rolling Stones, Block Party, Indie rock in general? Are pure british sound....You're from Ireland, how would you classify The Pogues sound? American?Shame on you

[TheGodOfMusic88]

@qqsomething Not entirely true. I know plenty of Indie bands from America.

[gogolplex74]

@qqsomething I reall don't think so

[thevent]

this isn't that good

[AbsoltheLoner]

@thevent Why won't the dislike button let me click it more than once? You'd think seven thousand tries would do something.

[rayMESHUGGAHban]

we're half awake

[GPBadjoras]

"in a freaking pie"

[wishihadamonkey]

in my winking eye?

[ZeCrazyGentlemen]

I can't understand how noone I know doesn't know this band.

[shitification1]

talk about psycho trumpet from 2 38

[Mattycold01]

Very good



[CowAnne]

:( Wish we were back in our seats this minute listening to this!!! Saw them in Vancouver last week...Fantastic!

[PJmusica]

I agree with last comment, they should make this their official video for "Fake Empire" Just saw The National 3 days ago in SF. Great show!

[Annedoeslie]

This should be made the official video.

[mikhailstewart]

wait... this is not a official video.... ????? you sure?

[marial0uise]

WOW. JUST WOW.

[katzi1997]

@LostMowhereBoy ...Warum...??!!

[TheOxygenic]

I've got chills..

[katzi1997]

sooo geil...

[LostNowhereBoy]

@katzi1997 bastard...

[mimesis]

One of the best unofficial videos I've ever seen.

3 over 4 on the piano. That just slays me every time. How could his mind keep it straight?

[GraypeMalk]

@mimesis I learned it in about 20 minutes it's actually more simple than you would think.

[furrybumper]

Real quality songs like this are very rare indeed, great video as well! good job

[peter876543210]

it was the "wedding-song" of my cousin. great remembrance!! great day!!

[88fuzz]

EMPIRE!

[riemerable]

FAKE!

[Stealth0rz]

Ran into this on thesixytone great song 

[JanuaryWonder]

This is art!

[jacksonkoch]

@JanuaryWonder lol whts art

[FancyMister]

AWERSOME!!!

[2Swansway]

As they say in the USA Awsome !...as they say in Ireland Mighty..! x

[Exist64]

i love this band because of portal

[crystalmonday80]

uuggggggghhhhh!!!!! why didnt i get into this band before!!

[elem101]

I declare it the song of the decade !!!

[Joeda6]

wow

[pppatsy]

these boys are simply gorgeous musicians......

[ahotmeal]

well now i have to learn how to play piano

[TheRealAustinHarms]

Oddly enough, this song gives me hope.

[LELOLELELA]

I'm actually crying this is the most lovely things my ears have heard.

[GearheadLP]

This is Magic <3

[xlemboy]

Chuck :D

[newandimproved8]

this is so beautiful

[shottskies]

so does the original recording of this song have that annoying fucking noise in the background. It's such a shame it ruins the song a bit.

[MsWandabe]

Some songs stop time - time that is stopped already.  This is one of them.

[Lordsiyei]

I'm gonna rape that new replay button.

[hctagar]

What a great video!

[jacksonjake1]

i'm just trying to be human!

[Bigliiamm]

@jacksonjake1 wow, how inspirational can one sentence be. 

[zaharius69]

129 people like VEVO!

[SneekySnake22]

128 people have a different opinion of this video than I do. I am OK with that.

[mtnscu]

@SneekySnake22 There's more now, and it is still OK.

[jongram23]

Haha I thought he was saying "faking pie" instead of "fake empire"

[christo9116]

I love this song!

[shauno5166]

i feel sorry for anyone that isn't listening to this song right now

[nicbor1]

Anyone else notice the weirdness going on in the rhythm? it's 3/4 and 4/4 at once.

[fr1endofcharles]

@nicbor1 that's called 12/8

[nicbor1]

@fr1endofcharles Makes sense. I find it disorienting.

[mickrum]

This kind of music is ruining our percetion of what good music really is. How can this kind of tripe compare to the likes of nirvana or such.

[firespoon]

@mickrum how can PERCEPTION be judged in anyway? everyone has different tastes in music, in my opinion the national are extremely talented and have a unique quality, whereas bands such as nirvana lack some emotion, in my opinion :)

[IsThisIt1992]

@mickrum Everyone's opinion of what "good" music is, is purely subjective. You may not like The National, but others may not like Nirvana and does that make them have a bad music taste if they do not like your bands? It's all opinion, stick to yours and stick to their videos and to not troll on what I may personally think is good music. Cheers.

[wishihadamonkey]

@IsThisIt1992 spot on

[loveandmathematics99]

i decided what i want to do for the rest of my life. listen to the national. i dont ever want it to stop.

[StinkiwinkiPoo]

first i thought its Johny Cash at the piano^^

[esquiloassasino]

@StinkiwinkiPoo Jesus, me too!

[crazysteve8]

Matt still and always will amaze me with his awesome voice

[4s5a55in]

the song fells to short ;( to little of the good!

[sicktor]

Te lo juro amor, el imperio caerá.

[sundubu97onew]

That deep baritone probably just redeemed all the generic pop shit in the world. Justice is served

[bannanas4eva]

i like to tease my sister for her hipster taste in music... but this time i've actually got to admit this is a fucking awesome song.

[roshambo1234567]

so sad, so epic, so beautiful.

check out THE LOW SUNS , if you love this , you ll love them , i m obsessed with them.

[TaranosLeGaulois]

Seriously, a sad clown...? So cliché! :D

[sickedhero]

@TaranosLeGaulois there's some sad things known to man, but ain't too much sadder than the tears of a clown

[StormaBras]

I love this music... yet I have few friends that like it... even most of the national music... but damn, listen to the last minute of this music, simply awesome... this band is very underated in my country, appreciate good music please.

[Draminaj]

This makes me wanna bang my head against a wall.. In a good way

[holdenhatesphonies]

Such a great song.

[chris12349876]

Absolutely incredible music video, fantastic job!

[BelloRiccio]

the greatest ever.

[12lookalike]

Check out B For Butterfly - Photograph

[Flip7syd]

@12lookalike thanks man!

[MurrayTheMac]

I'minspace.

[a11mykn33gr0w5]

@MurrayTheMac spaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa­aaace

[DappleFrost]

I'd never heard of this band until now, but I clicked on this video and expected some twenty-something shouting/crooning into the microphone... little did I realise I was going to get the baritone of Matt Berninger that is universal ear medicine for the world.

[obunkystaind]

@DappleFrost I like a variety of voices. There's nothing wrong w/ 20-something yr olds shouting into the microphone as long as they do it w/ passion on an amazing song.

[fabforforever]

@DappleFrost for the entire universe, I'd argue. If aliens landed on this earth and asked what was so amazing about this godforsaken planet, you would need only play The National and they would understand.

[larrycan78]

@DappleFrost well said

[grigos7]

nice video, amazing song!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Daniel11Photo]

Amazing voice... Great!!

[robinmendieta]

makes me cry and be happy at the same time

[jonnylikesmushrooms]

my whole life is a fake empire... DRUMSDRUMSMOREDRUMSMAKEMEFEELB­ETTERSAXOPHONE

[GibbsGibbsGibbs94]

We're half awake in a thinking pie.

[uknowdeath]

@GibbsGibbsGibbs94 Gamzeee Makara????

[GibbsGibbsGibbs94]

@uknowdeath No.

[qwert1238a]

@GibbsGibbsGibbs94 Making apples, making pies.

[humanbeanSD]

@GibbsGibbsGibbs94

awww come on that;s all I hear right nooow haahah

[Kidofrodo]

@GibbsGibbsGibbs94 lol

[laurenmae1550]

My addiction to this band is getting worse every time I re-hit the play button. They are also tremendously well-spoken. I'm excited to hear them speak at the New Yorker Festival on Oct. 2nd. It's sold out, but I know FORA.tv is streaming it live if anyone is interested. I figure this will hold me over until the next time I see them live.

fora.tv/conference/new_yorker_­festival_2011

[loulou333ualb]

masterpiece....'we're half awake in a fake empire'

[CJYOUFCKINBUSTER]

So Chuck has introduced me to 3 great artists now.

[neilb229]

@CJYOUFCKINBUSTER Who is Chuck and what's the other 2? Please?

[cuilwen1]

@neilb229 Chuck is a TV show about a young nerd that becomes a spy by accident. Srangely enough it also introduced me to The National. The other i can think of is group called Band of Horses which is also brilliant. I don't know what might be the third. The show has got a wonderful collection of music of all kinds anyway.

[derboZZ1609]

@CJYOUFCKINBUSTER Chuck has introduced me to like 3 dozends of great artists. :D

[777banshee]

Thanks Rasmus Ott!



[LadynGreen87]

Beautiful song.

[clutchcityrockets]

124 people hit the dislike button

[javidista]

Gracias a Granero he llegado a esta canción genial.

[Davesimo1]

Great band. Heartful song. But does this video iritate anyone else at all? It is nicely shot but mostly the shots are of mournful stares into the distance, or worse, "poignant" and cliched stares at the camera while mouthing the words. Probably going to receive some backlash here...but it looks a bit lazily done...

[fasterFuse]

TBH I think it's a generally good song hehe. What's there to complain about. Mad wanks.

[petarfelixx]

this video always sends me to some true empire of joy :))

Wow!! This is some really terrible crap. I can't think of any situation I've ever been or will be in that I would want this shit playing. Seriously, anybody who likes "music" needs to stop self-loathing and get out more.