Make It Stop (September's Children)

"Make It Stop (September's Children)" is the second single from rock band Rise Against's sixth studio album, Endgame. The single was released to digital music outlets on 30 May 2011. The song hit radio stations the following day.[1] It peaked at number six on Billboard's Alternative Songs chart and number eight on Billboard's Rock Songs chart. The song is part of the It Gets Better Project.

"Make It Stop (September's Children)"
Single by Rise Against
from the album Endgame
B-side"Lanterns"
Released30 May 2011
Format
RecordedThe Blasting Room, Fort Collins, Colorado
GenreAlternative rock
Length3:55
Label
Songwriter(s)Rise Against
Producer(s)
Rise Against singles chronology
"Help Is on the Way"
(2011)		 "Make It Stop (September's Children)"
(2011)		 "Satellite"
(2011)
Audio sample
Make It Stop (September's Children)
  • file
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Song meaning

In an article for Punknews.org, lead singer Tim McIlrath revealed that "a number of events were the catalyst for the creation of Make It Stop, everything from the suicides in September 2010, to our own fans voicing their fears and insecurities from time to time. I decided to create the song as a response, and when I discovered the It Gets Better campaign and [It Gets Better Project co-founder] Dan Savage's commitment to such an important and concise message, I was moved." [2]

The song explicitly deals with the bullying and harassment LGBT youth face. According to McIlrath, "The message is: It can get better, it does get better, give it a chance to get better, don't end your life prematurely." [3]

Toward the end of the track, the first 5 of the 9 names of the September 2010 suicides are read aloud: (Tyler Clementi, age 18; Billy Lucas, age 15; Harrison Chase Brown, age 15; Cody J. Barker, age 17; Seth Walsh, age 13).

Reception

"Make It Stop (September's Children)" received positive reviews from critics. Thomas Nassiff of AbsolutePunk wrote that despite its more accessible sound, "[the] song becomes an example of the way that radio-ready rock music should be written".[4] Scott Heisel of Alternative Press noted that the song borrows the guitar opening from "Boulevard of Broken Dreams" by Green Day, but characterized the lyrics as "more pointed than Billie Joe Armstrong's have ever been".[5] Davey Boy of Sputnikmusic described the children's choir and spoken names during the bridge as "effective devices employed to bring awareness to such a worthwhile issue".[6] Conversely, Jason Heller of The A.V. Club criticized the children's choir, noting that it "sends the song flying into a tear-filled well of self-parody".[7]

Commercially, "Make It Stop (September's Children)" reached several music charts, peaking at number eight on the Billboard Hot Rock Songs chart,[8] number seventeen on the Canadian Active Rock Songs chart,[9] number twelve on the Czech Republic Modern Rock chart,[10] and number twenty-nine on the Mexico Ingles Airplay chart.[11]

Music video
In this scene, a teenage girl finds her locker covered in derogatory gay slurs, such as dyke and fag.

The accompanying music video was directed by Marc Klasfeld and filmed at Rolling Meadows High School in Rolling Meadows, Illinois, the same school McIlrath attended as a student. The video was a collaboration with the It Gets Better Project, a nonprofit organization that aims to prevent suicide within the LGBT community.[12]

The music video was nominated for the "Best Video with a Message" award at the 2011 MTV Video Music Awards, but lost to Born This Way by Lady Gaga.[13][14]

Charts

References
  1. "AllAccess.com Alternative eWeekly". AllAccess. 24 May 2011. Retrieved 3 July 2016.
  2. "Videos: Rise Against: "Make it Stop (September's Children)"". Punknews.org. 21 June 2011. Retrieved 22 April 2015.
  3. Montgomery, James (20 June 2011). "Rise Against's 'Make It Stop' Tackles Bullying, Suicide". Retrieved 22 April 2015.
  4. Nassiff, Thomas. "Rise Against - Endgame". AbsolutePunk. Archived from the original on 17 July 2012. Retrieved 23 September 2015.
  5. Heisel, Scott (28 February 2011). "Rise Against - Endgame - Alternative Press". Alternative Press. Archived from the original on 17 March 2014. Retrieved 7 October 2015.
  6. Boy, Davey (14 March 2011). "Review: Rise Against - Endgame | Sputnikmusic". Sputnikmusic. Retrieved 7 October 2015.
  7. Heller, Jason (15 March 2011). "Rise Against: Endgame". The A.V. Club. Retrieved 17 May 2016.
  8. "Rise Against – Chart history". Billboard Hot Rock Songs for Rise Against. Archived from the original on 25 January 2015. Retrieved 5 October 2015.
  9. "Canadian Active Rock & Alt Rock Chart Archive - August 16, 2011". America's Music Charts. Retrieved 13 October 2015.
  10. "IFPI ČR Hitparáda - Radio - Top 20 Modern Rock Týden - 2011_51,52" (in Czech). IFPI Czech Republic. Retrieved 26 February 2016.
  11. "Mexico Ingles Airplay: October 15, 2011 - Billboard Chart Archive". Billboard. Retrieved 17 May 2016. (subscription required)
  12. ""Make It Stop (September's Children) Video Premiere". riseagainst.com. 21 June 2015. Retrieved 12 October 2015.
  13. Kavner, Lucas (28 August 2011). "VMAs 2011: 'Best Video With A Message' Category Premieres Tonight". The Huffington Post. Retrieved 12 October 2015.
  14. Hogan, Marc (29 August 2011). "Katy Perry Wins Big, Beyonce Shines at VMAs". Spin. Retrieved 12 October 2015.
  15. "Rock Songs Year End 2011". Billboard. Retrieved 12 October 2015.
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