There’s always a first. And, John Mayer fans are about to be treated to one such first as the singer shows off his awkward dancing skills in a fancy and bizarre new music video. Brace yourself for butterflies and dancing pandas against an eccentric Japanese style setting - everything that makes for an unlikely John Mayer video!
In a bold move, Mayer takes a big leap of artistic faith in bringing us his whimsical side in the video of his previously released song “Still Feel Like Your Man”. While the album art indicated at a breezy depiction - the video is what none of us might have expected. As juxtaposed against the mature artistry that associates with his soothing music is the vivid and outlandish artistry of the visuals.
Like the modern format he explored in sharing of his album “The Search for Everything”, a part of it at a time- it also seems to reflect in the approach of the new video that is quite the long way from his simplistic music videos of “Your Body is Wonderland” days. Mayer justifies his publicity approach by pointing out the low attention span of today’s social media and netizens.
However, the singer seems to have gone the sharp contrast way in packaging the aural and visuals of the songs. This approach might also actually be a great tool for grabbing the depleting attention of the audience. While the song portrays heartbreak of break up and being unable to move on the video seems like a gloomy celebration of the same - the two form two distinct layer even as they somehow complement each other - like oil and water. It might make one wonder how Mayer is not afraid to stretch the boundaries of his artistry which makes him one of the greatest pop artists of our time.
The video opens in a colorful Japanese setting that Mayer terms as the “disco dojo”. It seems to be a nod to Quentin Tarantino and Kill Bill, complete with its morbid humor - and at one point one might even catch a reference of the “Bride”. Even though that might not have been the true intention of director, Mister Whitmore - one cannot help but miss the influence.
Cut-into John dancing with pandas, and the whimsical eccentricity of it all comes full circle. Fans have long waited to see the offbeat pop artist dance in one of his videos - and John Mayer manages to make them happy in his own style. Afterall, one cannot possibly turn into an authentic pop singer without shaking a little leg, right?
That brings us to the lyrics of the song - which is an ode to lost love and moving on (or being stuck on someone). Mayer has clearly indicated in one of his interviews that the song might be about Katy Perry
Once that information takes forms in our imagination you will surely notice how stylistically similar the video is to Perry’s signature style of pop colored visuals and animated, over the top actions - Intentional? Well, it surely can be another reference.
So, the video is clearly has Japanese references - and that brings us to the obvious question of cultural appropriation that has in recent times been attributed to so many videos with cultural references. However, Mayer has already anticipated and simultaneously refuted those claims. The video is indeed well crafted and attentive to cultural nuances - (there are no non-Asian actors playing Asians AND pandas are not Japanese, mind you!), so shall we focus on the more pressing question here which is -
Will we have more such innovative music videos from the album in future?
