It is hardly suprising that English rock band Kasabian music video for their new single "You’re In Love With A Psycho" (from their upcoming album For Crying Out Loud) has been criticized by Time To Change, a mental health charity that aims to dispel some of the stigma and stereotypes surrounding mental health disorders:
“As so many musicians have recently talked openly about their experiences of mental health problems it is disappointing to see this video. The use of the word ‘Psycho’ in a song and accompanying music video featuring people pretending to be psychiatric inpatients is unhelpful, damaging and disappointing when society is moving on from this sad and tired stereotype. We are sure the insult and harm was unintentional, or misjudged irony, but we are raising it as we know it will only serve to fuel stigma".
Sue Baker OBE, Director of Time to Change
While the music video and the song is certainly not mean-spirited (the song's focus is on the emotional roller-coaster experience that occurs when a significant other begins behaving erratically), it does not offer much psychological complexity or insight on its chosen subject matter either:
'Nobody's gonna take you thereI stick around for the thousand yard stareI go to sleep in a duffle bagI'm never up, never down, down, down, downHey, you're in love with a psychoYou're in love with a psychoAnd there's nothing you can do about itI got you running all around itYou're in love with a psychoYou're in love with a psychoAnd there's nothing you can do about itYou're never gonna be with--'
Lyrics: Genius
Kasabian's return to guitar-aided swagger of earlier iconic hits like "LSF" and "Club Foot" is certainly welcomed; the track offers a heady and catchy song that serves up plenty of attitude with a tinge of angst. Tom Meighan and Sergio Pizzorno's vocals are as compelling as before, even if their lyricism lacks some of the emotional intelligence and verbal inventiveness of the standouts from their two decade-long career.
