Downfalls High: Machine Gun Kelly Releases 49-Minute Grease-Like Musical

Machine Gun Kelly released a 49-minute music video titled Downfalls High for his new album Tickets to My Downfall, described as a pop-punk Grease-like musical. The music video plays through the entirety of MGK’s album Tickets to My Downfall, a substantial diversion from his usual style, and embraces the musicality of an early-2000’s-era pop-punk album. The album was executive produced by Blink-182’s drummer Travis Barker who had a great deal of influence in helping Kelly craft the sound for his latest album.

Machine Gun Kelly is most well known for his label debut album Lace Up, which secured him a place at number 4 in the Billboard Top 200 when released in 2012. More recently, MGK was featured on Eminem’s song “Rap God” and acted in the comedy-drama series Roadies on Showtime. The release of his latest album, Tickets to My Downfall, follows his hip hop album Hotel Diablo which came out in 2019.  This album is Kelly’s fifth studio album and includes a whopping 21 tracks.

The 49-minute music video Downfalls High was released on Machine Gun Kelly’s YouTube and managed to receive over 1 million views within its first 24 hours. The rapper turned pop-punk artist uses Downfalls High to articulate his cynical lens on fame and the perturbing loneliness that accompanies it through the stylized visuals of a modern punk love story, mirroring the musical Grease. The nods toward Grease are evident not only in the narrative of the love story between Downfalls High‘s two unlikely main characters but through the many pink visuals that are assumed to be nods toward Grease‘s iconic Pink Ladies. The video was shot over four days in collaboration with MGK’s close friend, Mod Sun, and is the first visual piece that MGK has directed. Kelly said the video concept came from an inside joke between him and Mod Sun about frequently needing to leave situations or events to watch Grease 2.

Downfalls High has guest appearances by tons of other film, television, social media, and musical stars. TikTok star Chase Hudson plays Pheonix (akin to Grease‘s John Travolta). Euphoria actress Sydney Sweeney plays Scarlett (akin to Grease‘s Olivia Newton-John), both push the narrative on screen through the dramas of their love affair. The album has guest verses featuring Trippie Redd, BlackBear, and Iann Dior, who also make guest appearances in the video. MGK and Barker each narrate the piece as outsiders, focusing on the story of the characters inside Downfalls High.  MGK stated, “It’s an interesting concept because it hasn’t been done for an album ever, maybe outside of like Pink Floyd’s The Wall.”

MGK had loads of collaborators that supported his vision and embraced the new sound of one of his biggest visual and musical projects yet. Although some fans may be disappointed with Kelly’s decision to stray away from the rap genre, most seem to be embracing it.  Tickets to My Downfall reached No. 1 on Billboard 200 chart back in October, a career-defining moment for MGK, who has never had a single or album reach the top position. Now, as MGK presents Downfalls High, the pop-punk Grease music video film they didn’t even know they were missing, fans can be sure to expect an introduction to a whole new side of Machine Gun Kelly.

Source: Machine Gun Kelly via YouTube

About The Author