Tuesday 29 May 2012

Never Close Our Eyes Music Video


I've finally gotten round to doing my write-up so apologies for the delay. Here's the video with my review:



We already saw the intro of this from the teaser so now we get the full thing. Adam lives in a gloomy colourless dystopian facility where everything is uniform and linear apart from the slaves that inhabit it. But even they move like robots, living a regimented existence of repetition and living off a diet of pills. Adam is the only one who seems to have had enough to want to rebel, crushing one of his sustenance pills that in turn releases an intense burst of blue smoke.

Part of the routine is to go to individual pods where it seems like the drones are being programmed and their eyes all turn black. Apart from Adam of course, who seems to be immune. Some of the shots there make his mouth look huge. The slaves start scrubbing the floors in synch and it's then that Adam decides he's had enough, starting off a chain reaction as everyone else leaves their chores to dance and make an escape by heading underground. The guards at the perimeter fence start blowing smoke at Adam and his gang, but they're protected by a forcefield which turns the smoke into vivid colours. The guards get scared and back off and that's when the rave begins and everyone's dancing away with choreographed moves in brilliant acid colours.

I think this is Adam's best video to date and very entertaining to watch. From the teaser I was expecting more of a story as it looked so cinematic but it's not very long. It's a shock to see Adam in such bright colours but he looks fabulous throughout. I do particularly like that bare fresh-faced look when he's in the pod. The euphoric dance part reminds me a bit of the IIHY music video but this is a more sophisticated effort.

I think this is a reflection of real life, an interpretation of the way many people just exist by drifting along, doing their 9-to-5s, lives mapped out and going with the flow of expectation. They are slaves to the rat race, never really opening their eyes and minds to the multitude of possibilities out there that could release their true potential. It just takes a bit of bravery (or Adam leading the charge) to break out of the comfort zone and do something different, the rewards of which could be transcendent. I wonder just how many eyes Adam has opened.

7 comments:

  1. WOW! Adam in color is almost more than a heart can take. This piece is definitely a work of art. It is the very essence of freedom and could be an ad for every club ....though using it as an ad would be disrespectful of the high art here. Needless to say I love it and I'm looking forward to Adam in films - although I don't want him to interrupt the flow of music - what a terrifically beautiful talent.

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    1. Oh I'd love to see him collaborate with Tim Burton one day, if not in film then on a music video. That would be beyond amazing!

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  2. He´s more beautiful than ever. I love the video. A chant for freedom. Thanks for posting!! What beautiful designs you made. Congrats!!!

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    1. Yes, he looks so radiant, despite the washed-out colours.

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  3. Pan(of Thrace) 5/30/2012 9:17PM
    I love Adam trying to outdo what is being played nowadays, to give life to a song that doesn't transmit anything original. MVs with messages, interesting for a guy whose early MVs were all about partying. It's a pity that BTIKM that has a generous message, let's accept ourselves how we are with demons an angels inside was not completely understood and accepted by the fans. Maybe because both the song and the video are static. NCOE video is just the opposite, it's full of energy, action, adventure. Its message is more explicit, Art is liberating, let's celebrate life by singing, dancing, just being happy. The "vehicle" used to send it is a sci-fi story. It's good because , this time, the target is clear , the young fans. We, the not so young fans have our share of pleasures , the way the director/editor alternate the pale, neutral and bright colours, an orgy of colours in the end, the short, long shots , the idea of society as an asylum, Big Brother watching us are all familiar to us.
    PS Odd, nobody has mentioned The Violet Flame, go to Google, you'll find interesting information.

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  4. Great video, great review. Adam sure adds color to my life!

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  5. I loved both the BTIKM video and this. I'm certain he's referencing Metropolis in it--which is such a great movie. I love that I can now read Never Close Our Eyes in several ways: 1) As a call to keep our eyes open to the way we live mechanized, half-lives 2)As a terrifying threat (you can never close your eyes, a'la Clockwork Orange...another film that I think invluenced this video) and 3)The more obvious joy of life, color, living out loud that is in the text of the song. Lambo--I continue to appreciate you and your blog in so many ways. Great to see new designs for Trespassing as well!

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