Make It Stop (September's Children)
Encyclopedia
"Make It Stop" is the second single from punk rock band Rise Against
's sixth studio album, Endgame
. The single was released digitally to digital stores on May 30, 2011. The single's peak at number seven on the U.S. Billboard Alternative Songs charts and number thirteen on U.S. Billboard Rock Songs
charts. The song is part of the It Gets Better Project.
spoke about this song: "The song was written inspired of the teen suicides in the month of September 2010, who were bullied for being homosexual. It deals about how people are treated from homophobic bullying and feeling so tormented that they feel there's no place for them in the future and that killing themselves is a better option."
After the song was nominated for the MTV VMAs "Best Video With a Message" Award, McIlrath also revealed that "Make It Stop (September's Children)" was also based on a gay friend of his who committed suicide when he was young.
, and it follows the lives of three teenagers who are bullied at school for being gay
. It also shows scenes of the band playing in a high school gymnasium
. It comes to a point that the teenagers can no longer stand the torment anymore that they have thoughts of killing themselves, but before they do they think about what impact they can have on society in their futures and have a purpose in life to live for. The video ends with scenes of the three kids being bullied turning out to become very successful people and footage of people from the It Gets Better Project.
The video was shot at Rolling Meadows High School
in Rolling Meadows, Illinois
, the same high school where the band's frontman, Tim McIlrath
, attended.
Rise Against
Rise Against is an American punk rock band from Chicago, Illinois, formed in 1999. The band currently consists of Tim McIlrath , Zach Blair , Joe Principe and Brandon Barnes .Rise Against spent its first five years signed to the independent record label Fat Wreck Chords, on which it...
's sixth studio album, Endgame
Endgame (Rise Against album)
Endgame is the sixth studio album by American punk rock band Rise Against. Produced by Bill Stevenson, it was released on March 15, 2011. Rise Against began work on the album in September 2010, after completing touring in support of its previous album, Appeal to Reason, in mid-2010...
. The single was released digitally to digital stores on May 30, 2011. The single's peak at number seven on the U.S. Billboard Alternative Songs charts and number thirteen on U.S. Billboard Rock Songs
Rock Songs
Rock Songs is a chart published weekly by Billboard magazine which ranks the airplay of songs on alternative, mainstream rock and triple A radio stations. The first chart was published in the issue dated June 20, 2009. "Know Your Enemy" by Green Day was the first number-one song. The Rock Songs...
charts. The song is part of the It Gets Better Project.
Song meaning
Frontman Tim McIlrathTim McIlrath
Timothy "Tim" James McIlrath is an American punk rock musician. He is the lead singer, rhythm guitarist, songwriter and co-founder for the American punk rock band Rise Against. McIlrath is known to support animal rights and actively promotes PETA with his band...
spoke about this song: "The song was written inspired of the teen suicides in the month of September 2010, who were bullied for being homosexual. It deals about how people are treated from homophobic bullying and feeling so tormented that they feel there's no place for them in the future and that killing themselves is a better option."
After the song was nominated for the MTV VMAs "Best Video With a Message" Award, McIlrath also revealed that "Make It Stop (September's Children)" was also based on a gay friend of his who committed suicide when he was young.
Music video
The song's music video was directed by Marc KlasfeldMarc Klasfeld
Marc Klasfeld is an American music video director. He has directed over two hundred music videos for artists such as Katy Perry, Jay-Z, Kid Rock, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Nelly, Foo Fighters, Jewel, Sum 41, Avril Lavigne and many others with multiple MTV award wins and nominations...
, and it follows the lives of three teenagers who are bullied at school for being gay
Gay
Gay is a word that refers to a homosexual person, especially a homosexual male. For homosexual women the specific term is "lesbian"....
. It also shows scenes of the band playing in a high school gymnasium
Gym
The word γυμνάσιον was used in Ancient Greece, that mean a locality for both physical and intellectual education of young men...
. It comes to a point that the teenagers can no longer stand the torment anymore that they have thoughts of killing themselves, but before they do they think about what impact they can have on society in their futures and have a purpose in life to live for. The video ends with scenes of the three kids being bullied turning out to become very successful people and footage of people from the It Gets Better Project.
The video was shot at Rolling Meadows High School
Rolling Meadows High School
Rolling Meadows High School, or RMHS, is a public four-year high school located in Rolling Meadows, Illinois, a northwest suburb of Chicago, Illinois, in the United States. It is part of Township High School District 214. It is part of the second largest school district in Illinois, under Chicago...
in Rolling Meadows, Illinois
Rolling Meadows, Illinois
Rolling Meadows is a city in Cook County, Illinois, United States. The population was 24,607 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Rolling Meadows is located at ....
, the same high school where the band's frontman, Tim McIlrath
Tim McIlrath
Timothy "Tim" James McIlrath is an American punk rock musician. He is the lead singer, rhythm guitarist, songwriter and co-founder for the American punk rock band Rise Against. McIlrath is known to support animal rights and actively promotes PETA with his band...
, attended.
Charts
| Chart (2011) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Canadian Alternative Songs Canadian rock/alternative chart The Canadian rock/alternative chart was first published on June 11, 1995 by RPM magazine under the name Alternative 30. The song which held the number-one spot on this first chart was "More Human than Human" by White Zombie... |
10 |
| Canadian Active Rock Songs Canadian rock/alternative chart The Canadian rock/alternative chart was first published on June 11, 1995 by RPM magazine under the name Alternative 30. The song which held the number-one spot on this first chart was "More Human than Human" by White Zombie... |
20 |
| US Alternative Songs (Billboard Billboard (magazine) Billboard is a weekly American magazine devoted to the music industry, and is one of the oldest trade magazines in the world. It maintains several internationally recognized music charts that track the most popular songs and albums in various categories on a weekly basis... ) |
6 |
| US Rock Songs Rock Songs Rock Songs is a chart published weekly by Billboard magazine which ranks the airplay of songs on alternative, mainstream rock and triple A radio stations. The first chart was published in the issue dated June 20, 2009. "Know Your Enemy" by Green Day was the first number-one song. The Rock Songs... (Billboard) |
8 |