The 2008 Best Rock Video nominees have been revealed, y’awl. Here are the five finalists, in order of alphabatism, not favoritism:
+ Fall Out Boy, “Beat It” — Pete and Patrick know they can’t bust an MJ move, so they let other people act a fool in this retro-nuevo homage. Very smart, boys.
+ Foo Fighters, “Pretender” — A super artistic clip with a ’90s feel … something symbolic about war… and something about me being still completely in love with Dave Grohl.
+ Linkin Park, “Shadow of the Day” — The world has a lot of problems, Chester has a lot of feelings.
+ Paramore, “crushcrushcrush” — I know this video’s about, like, being watched and wanting to escape and stuff, but can I just say, Hayley’s hair looks supreme? Because it does.
+ Slipknot, “Psychosocial” — The reason I still sleep with the lights on. Seriously, it’s pants-s—tingly terrifying material.
Check out more VMA noms here, and don’t miss the big night on Sunday, September 7, hosted by the inimitable Russell Brand, who’s bound to keep the guy in charge of pressing the bleep button very busy.