Synopsis

Elton John performs "Fascist Faces" amid a stark, surreal montage of political and social menace. Newspaper imagery, hostile faces, children, shattered glass, and scenes of apparent violence turn the song's attack on censorship, public fear, and authoritarian attitudes into deliberately unsettling visual language. Rather than following a conventional narrative, the video builds an oppressive atmosphere around the song's lyrics, contrasting John's flamboyant presence with disturbing images of innocence under threat.

Factoids & Trivia

• The video was made for *The Fox*, Elton John's 1981 studio album, and was later included in *Visions*, a VHS collection containing videos for the album's songs. *Visions* was released in 1982 and is regarded as an early long-form music-video project.

• Contemporary criticism singled out the sequence in which children's faces appear bloodied behind shattering glass. The images were described as vivid but gratuitous, reflecting the video's intentionally confrontational approach.

• "Fascist Faces" was written by Elton John and Bernie Taupin. The recording was produced by Chris Thomas and features the Rev. James Cleveland Choir.

• John reportedly viewed the track as the album's equivalent of "Bennie and the Jets" and hoped it might receive substantial FM radio exposure.

• The lyrics were partly shaped by the political accusations and press scrutiny surrounding John's public image, including claims linking him with the KGB after his 1979 performances in the Soviet Union.