Song Overview
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Title & Release: “Change (In the House of Flies)” was released on May 16, 2000 as the lead single from White Pony, Deftones’ third studio album
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Composition & Genre: Crafted collaboratively in an unstructured jam session, it blends elements of alternative metal, shoegaze, nu-metal, and art rock with a slow-building, atmospheric vibe
Music Video Breakdown
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Concept & Execution: Directed by Liz Friedlander (not Nigel Dick, despite initial treatment), the video was filmed May 30–31, 2000 at a rented Hollywood Hills mansion, not Chino's home as originally proposed
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Visual Palette: It captures a “never-ending party” atmosphere—models appear fatigued, joyless, some in animal masks—emphasizing detachment, decadence, and a haunting stillness as the band performs in the background
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Stylistic notes: Critics have praised the video for being “impressively un‑dated,” with static effects and mundane props (like plastic forks) that reinforce the song’s eerie tone
Critical Reception & Legacy
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Commercial Success: No. 3 on Billboard’s Alternative Airplay and bubbling under Hot 100; peaked at No. 53 in the UK; remains Deftones’ most successful single
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Critical Praise: Frequently ranked among the band’s very best—called a “modern classic” and essential in defining their shift from nu-metal outsiders to alternative metal innovators
Key Takeaways from the Video
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The narrator is portrayed as villainous—taking delight in the suffering and transformation of someone close.
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The fly metaphor captures betrayal, emotional cruelty, disintegration of identity, or personal ruin.
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The video visualizes this descent: a party as a decaying space, guests as hollow shells, the band as observers.
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The creative synergy in the song’s making—born of spontaneous jam and layered sound—mirrors the unpredictable transformation at its heart.
Summary Table
| Aspect | Details |
|---|---|
| Song | Released May 16, 2000; genre-blending and atmospheric |
| Meaning | Metaphorical depiction of transformation, emotional control, and sadism |
| Video Concept | Endless party, disaffected figures, isolation, filmed in Hollywood Hills |
| Reputation | Deftones’ most recognized single; critically acclaimed and charted highly |
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