Singled Out: Candlelight Red's Closer

When we wrote the song "Closer" it started out as a simple music idea that we recorded and gave to our singer Ryan. Ryan came back a few weeks later with a finished version that gave us chills! Once we started circulated the single we had gotten an interesting letter. The letter from a fan was an interesting story of how the song reminded her of a relative who committed suicide.

The lyrics "It's nothing , get it out of your mind. I tell myself, time after time" and the lyrics "Come closer and watch me bleed. Come closer and see what you've done to me" reminded her of the circumstances surrounding the incident. Apparently a husband had suspected his spouse of cheating but chalked it up to paranoia. Later he found his suspicions were true and committed suicide. As dark as that story was, it inspired us when we went to make a music video. We altered the story and depicted a gilted girlfriend come in and catch Ryan's character with his new girlfriend and shoots and kills them both. Lying brain dead, his character is seen in front of a mirror, his reflection sings the lyrics in retrospect.

The dark tone in the video sparked local controversy, which later escalated because we borrowed a local ambulance and police car off duty, for a total of 10 mins. Some claimed the video was "wasted taxpayer dollars", while other locals of the small town we shot it in, rallied behind the band. Strangers would come up to the band and say things like "Hey, we liked your video, I don't care what any of the old timers think!" So it was interesting to see a song that didn't necessarily have a dramatic story behind it, suddenly develop one after its release!