The Making of "Useless"
Including Interviews With Those Involved with the Song
Shinji Ikari: I was a BIG fan of Linkin Park, I was in their fan club and everything, and when I wrote these lyrics and posted them on their message boards, somehow they caught wind of it and decided they just had to do this song. Of course, I can't sing, but I couldn't turn it down…but before the music video, I was really nervous, I had to keep thinking "I musn't run away, I musn't run away…", but in the end (no pun intended), it turned out to not be so bad, it was kind of cool, actually. Since I couldn't sing, they brought in this guy called Deejay Gamer.
Deejay: Well, I had been friends with Linkin Park, and finally they gave into my pleas to do a feature in one of their songs. This song was completely brilliant, and according to Shinji, actually based on his life, so we just had to get all those people he mentioned indirectly in his song, since I was also the director of this music video, something I've always wanted to do. It was good having my say in everything; of course, the band had its say as well, of course.
Gendo: I was quite surprised by my son's openness in his lyrics…not that I'm proud of him about it…I mean…if I started being actually PROUD of him, that would be out of character, and then the song wouldn't mean anything anymore.
Interviewer: What about those rumors about the Human Instrumentality Project?
Gendo: False, completely false.
Rei: Well…Shinji doesn't seem to like his father that much…and he doesn't seem to think that it's fair that he treats me better than he treats him…and he said something to me about my monotone voice driving him insane…very strange boy.
Interviewer: Is it true that you're a clone of Shinji's late mother?
Rei: Gendo told me to give no comment on that matter.
Chester: We know good lyrics when we see them, and Shinji's where just awesome. It also gave me a nice chorus where I could scream. Deejay insisted that he also scream one line of part of the song. I was okay with that; I got plenty of screaming stuff already.
Mike: Chester…he likes to scream…not sure why. I, well…I like to rap while moving my hands around in interesting directions, I guess that's my quirk. Deejay…I think his quirk is that he has an…how should I put it-unusual sense of humor. He also likes to scream, rap, and wave his arms around, but I think that's his way of making fun of us.
Interviewer: Are you making fun of them with the screaming and arm motions?
Deejay: Maybe…
Interviewer: Asuka, do you have any comment about the fact that you weren't in the music video aside from a few memories?
Asuka: Oh, they just took some footage from his life; I thought this could be a way to break into Hollywood, but the actual music video green screen thing I decided against, because Shinji is such an idiot.
Interviewer: Why do you think everyone else seems to think he's a brilliant songwriter?
Asuka: When it comes to writing songs, he's not stupid…with everything else, he's a real dumbass.
Interviewer: Why do you think Asuka thinks you're a dumbass?
Shinji: Because she really loves me and just hides it by acting like she hates me.
Interviewer: Maybe you are a dumbass, after all. Why do you think I'm saying that?
Shinji: Deejay, this is the last time I have you interview me.
Interviewer: Sorry, I just couldn't help myself.
Rei: Shinji has a good heart, he's a bit like Forest Gump, all he needs is the southern accent and to say…
Shinji (with a southern accent): Life is like a box of chocolates, you never know what you're gonna get.
Rei: …just like that.
Asuka: Do I LOVE him? Are you kidding?!…OF COURSE I LOVE THAT ADORABLE LITTLE IDIOT!!!
Gendo: Personally, I don't give a rat's ass.
Chester: And there you have it.
Including Interviews With Those Involved with the Song
Shinji Ikari: I was a BIG fan of Linkin Park, I was in their fan club and everything, and when I wrote these lyrics and posted them on their message boards, somehow they caught wind of it and decided they just had to do this song. Of course, I can't sing, but I couldn't turn it down…but before the music video, I was really nervous, I had to keep thinking "I musn't run away, I musn't run away…", but in the end (no pun intended), it turned out to not be so bad, it was kind of cool, actually. Since I couldn't sing, they brought in this guy called Deejay Gamer.
Deejay: Well, I had been friends with Linkin Park, and finally they gave into my pleas to do a feature in one of their songs. This song was completely brilliant, and according to Shinji, actually based on his life, so we just had to get all those people he mentioned indirectly in his song, since I was also the director of this music video, something I've always wanted to do. It was good having my say in everything; of course, the band had its say as well, of course.
Gendo: I was quite surprised by my son's openness in his lyrics…not that I'm proud of him about it…I mean…if I started being actually PROUD of him, that would be out of character, and then the song wouldn't mean anything anymore.
Interviewer: What about those rumors about the Human Instrumentality Project?
Gendo: False, completely false.
Rei: Well…Shinji doesn't seem to like his father that much…and he doesn't seem to think that it's fair that he treats me better than he treats him…and he said something to me about my monotone voice driving him insane…very strange boy.
Interviewer: Is it true that you're a clone of Shinji's late mother?
Rei: Gendo told me to give no comment on that matter.
Chester: We know good lyrics when we see them, and Shinji's where just awesome. It also gave me a nice chorus where I could scream. Deejay insisted that he also scream one line of part of the song. I was okay with that; I got plenty of screaming stuff already.
Mike: Chester…he likes to scream…not sure why. I, well…I like to rap while moving my hands around in interesting directions, I guess that's my quirk. Deejay…I think his quirk is that he has an…how should I put it-unusual sense of humor. He also likes to scream, rap, and wave his arms around, but I think that's his way of making fun of us.
Interviewer: Are you making fun of them with the screaming and arm motions?
Deejay: Maybe…
Interviewer: Asuka, do you have any comment about the fact that you weren't in the music video aside from a few memories?
Asuka: Oh, they just took some footage from his life; I thought this could be a way to break into Hollywood, but the actual music video green screen thing I decided against, because Shinji is such an idiot.
Interviewer: Why do you think everyone else seems to think he's a brilliant songwriter?
Asuka: When it comes to writing songs, he's not stupid…with everything else, he's a real dumbass.
Interviewer: Why do you think Asuka thinks you're a dumbass?
Shinji: Because she really loves me and just hides it by acting like she hates me.
Interviewer: Maybe you are a dumbass, after all. Why do you think I'm saying that?
Shinji: Deejay, this is the last time I have you interview me.
Interviewer: Sorry, I just couldn't help myself.
Rei: Shinji has a good heart, he's a bit like Forest Gump, all he needs is the southern accent and to say…
Shinji (with a southern accent): Life is like a box of chocolates, you never know what you're gonna get.
Rei: …just like that.
Asuka: Do I LOVE him? Are you kidding?!…OF COURSE I LOVE THAT ADORABLE LITTLE IDIOT!!!
Gendo: Personally, I don't give a rat's ass.
Chester: And there you have it.