Blink-182 Channel Punk Godfathers The Ramones in ‘Dance With Me’ Video
Written by djfrosty on October 5, 2023
Blink-182 go full method in the video for their One More Time… (Oct. 20) single “Dance With Me” that dropped on Thursday (Oct. 5). The latest single from the pop-punk trio’s reunion album finds Tom DeLonge, Mark Hoppus and Travis Barker dressing up in their finest Ramones cosplay outfits to channel the spirit of the punk godfathers in a clip directed by the Malloys that mostly recreates the brudders’ classic visual for their song “I Wanna Be Sedated.”
“The video serves as a love letter to the Ramones and finds the guys paying homage to one of their favorite iconic bands that came before them,” reads a description of the visual that opens with a clueless interviewer introducing the band and then asking, “what the hell is punk? And is it punk that I said hell?”
Channeling the Forest Hills, Queens-bred eff you attitude of their favorite band — while wearing Ramones-appropriate shag wigs, sunglasses and leather jackets — the guys offer sincerely annoyed answers before busting into a Ramones cosplay in which they recreate the band’s chaotic “Sedated” video.
As in the Ramones clip, the “Dance With Me” video finds the trio sitting glumly at a kitchen table as a whirlwind of crazy action swirls around them, with dozens of random dancers, brides, construction workers, doctors, cheerleaders, little kids and random weirdos running in and out of frame.
“Ole, ole, ole, ole, yeah we’re doin’ in it all night long/ Ole, ole, ole, ole, yeah we’re doing it all night long,” they sing on the raucous pop-punk tune’s chorus. The second set-up re-creates the legendarily grimy interior of the Ramones’ musical mecca, New York’s late lamented CBGB punk club, with drummer Travis Barker smashing his kit in front of a wall of graffiti and band posters while wearing a “Disco Sucks” t-shirt.
Guitarist/singer Tom DeLonge plays the hybrid part of lanky singer Joey Ramone and guitarist Johnny, while Mark Hoppus performs a more sedate take on bombastic bassist Dee Dee as a crowd of bespoke punks dance along to the galloping track. The trio also recreate the iconic low-budge brick wall album cover photo from the Ramones’ 1976 self-titled debut in the video.
Blink’s first album by the core trio in 11 years is due out on Oct. 20. The 17-song effort, produced by Barker, has already been advanced by the singles “Edging,” “More Than You Know” and the wistful title track ballad.
Watch the “Dance With Me” video below.