A lot happens in the great new video for the New Pornographers’ “Dancehall Domine,” and none of it quite makes sense. The visuals for the super catchy song off the Canadian indie rockers’ latest album, Bill Bruisers, are random, bright, and superbly stylish. The video has it all — body painting, romantic horseback riding, a black and white talk show, and someone literally getting stabbed in the back. At one point, 3-D glasses are required for the full viewing experience.
The only connection these wacky vignettes have besides the New Pornographers’ killer harmonies are all the clapper boards and cameras that pop up throughout, giving the whole video a behind-the-scenes vibe. Scott Cudmore, one of the directors, explained his inspiration:
Sometimes I like watching the b-roll or behind the scenes or outtakes on DVDs and blu-rays…”Dancehall Domine” is meant to feel like a whole bunch of those clips sort of strung together as if they’re taken from some fucked up Italian or French musical maybe. Or a bunch of fragments from films like that—thrillers, bad romances, in one case we’re clearly referencing Clouzot’s famous L’enfer tests. We even have the man himself in there!
The New Pornographers are currently touring in Canada and the West Coast, and they’ll continue on the road for the next few weeks.
