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"Helena"
Single by My Chemical Romance from the album Three Cheers for Sweet Revenge
Released	March 14, 2005
Format	7" vinyl CD Digital download DVD
Recorded	2004
Genre	Alternative rock
Length	3:25
Label	Reprise Records
Writer	My Chemical Romance
Producer	My Chemical Romance Howard Benson
My Chemical Romance singles chronology
"I'm Not Okay (I Promise)" (2004) "Helena" (2005) "Under Pressure" (2005)

"Helena" is the third single and first track from My Chemical Romance's second studio album, Three Cheers for Sweet Revenge. The lyrics describe lead singer Gerard Way's feelings for his late grandmother, Elena Lee Rush (friends called her 'Helen', and because of this, Way always thought of her as "Helena"). The single has become a moderately-selling hit, both in the U.S. and internationally. Way said in an interview with Channel [V] the band got influences for Helena from the song "Aces High" by Iron Maiden and tracks by The Ventures. This song is also My Chemical Romance's seventh overall single. It is highly considered to be their signature song, as Gerard Way not only described it as representing the band's image and sound (at that point in time) it is usually used to end shows.

Version 1 (promotional CD)

1. "Helena"

Version 2 (CD and 7" vinyl)

1. "Helena"
2. "I'm Not Okay (I Promise)" (live from Sessions@AOL)

Version 3 (CD)

1. "Helena" – 3:25
2. "I'm Not Okay (I Promise)" (live) – 3:06
3. "You Know What They Do to Guys Like Us In Prison" (live) – 3:10

Version 4 (digital download)

1. "Helena" (live from the Starland Ballroom in Sayreville, New Jersey) – 4:14

A screenshot of the video.

The music video was shot on-location in the Immanuel Presbyterian church on Wilshire Boulevard in Los Angeles, California, directed by Marc Webb, and choreographed by Michael Rooney. The video has a simple plot, with Gerard Way as a priest/entertainer at a funeral where the band is performing. There are also mourners who dance and mourn the death of Helena. Near the end, the dead body of Helena (played by burlesque dancer Tracy Phillips) rises and dances down the nave representing crossing over into the afterlife. After she falls back into the casket, the pallbearers (also played by My Chemical Romance and a fan named Cameron) carry the casket to the hearse (in the pouring rain), surrounded by a phalanx of dancing men.

Though the song in general is about the band members Gerard Way and Mikey Way's late grandmother, it was stated in an interview that the video told a different story. The music video shows the funeral of a young, beautiful, twenty-something year old girl named Helena, who, according to Gerard Way, died tragically. Evidence from the song leads most to believe that the video Helena died in a fatal car accident, despite the fact that is really about the passing of Gerard and Mikey's grandmother. The sixth pallbearer and the majority of the mourners are fans who'd received emails from the band asking if they'd like to be in the video.

The video was nominated for five Moonmen at the 2005 MTV Video Music Awards: Best Rock Video, Best Choreography, Best New Artist, and the MTV2 and Viewer's Choice Awards (both of which are chosen by viewers).They lost to bands such as Green Day, Fall Out Boy, and The Killers. Though the band did not win any awards, they did do a surprise performance of the song towards the end of the show. They also won an MTV Video Music Awards Latin America "tongue" for the Best New Artist - International. They also won a Best Video award in the 2005 Kerrang! Awards. In November of 2005, the video was nominated for two MTVU Woodie Awards (voted on by college students) and won the Woodie of the Year. In the Philippines, Helena has reached a cult-like status because of the popularity of Alternative music.

The video was also voted #1 by viewers of MTV latinamerica in the 2005 "100 Most Wanted Videos".

• "Helena" lyrics
• "Helena" song meaning