So it’s The End: Against a black-clouded sky swarming with bat-winged demons, the Earth’s crust cracks open and Apollyon arises from the abyss, joining Surtur and his flaming sword. R’lyeh arises out of boiling oceans. The armies of the unholy dead slay and drink the blood of the living, while cyborg death machines fight a losing battle against them. The moon is blown into a field of asteroids and the sun is darkened. Suicide air crews carry 100 megaton hydrogen bombs to their targets, while missiles powered by unshielded nuclear reactors mop-up the rest. Dogs and cats are seen living together, and the joker laughs at you.
So what background music do you envision all this happening to? I nominate VanHalen’s “Running With the Devil”.
Y’see, I’m envisioning myself with a big ol’ 80s boom box, taking a stand against the hordes of hell. I press PLAY, and incredibly bouncy, optimistic pop blares forth. I start doing a White Dad Dance, as enthusiastic as it is cringeworthy. Other dads stumble to their bloodied feet and join in…
As much as this band’s hit songs all sound very alike, I’ll say Everclear’s “Santa Monica” qualifies with it’s “swim out past the breakers, watch the world die” hook.
