by can- » Wed Jul 17, 2013 6:12 pm
the whole thing is 'off' because she doesn't carry the role in the way you expect her too-- like gaga or pink would-- she's still the same sweet little tween girl which is why the video has such a mesmerizing, can't-look-away-from-car-wreck feel. there are two things I would like to focus on
1. the first when she is singing into the camera from the edge of a pool-- 'can't you see it's we who bout dat life?'
it's this portion where you see that miley hasn't changed as much as the styling suggests.
'bout that life' is almost impossible to hear out of her mouth. it's a term that comes from poor black America, and what it means is that someone is willing to take a life sentence for whatever illegal shit they are doing. it's no surprise that it's been coopted by rich white teenagers, like most things, but she sings it with a twinkle in her eye and you know she's not being ironic. but it deliberately lacks the 'hardness' or edge that the production of the song suggests.
2. one of the last shots where she's on the bed looking at the camera and shaking her ass. this shit comes out of nowhere and the director slams you over the head with it. this shot captures why the video is mesmerizing and captivating, it's this graphic and depraved display of sexuality married to joan didion' innocence,
youth. she has the same twinkle in her eye as she crudely gyrates on the bed for you. 'come get it!' says 15 year old Hannah Montana.
I'm lookin for a way to link Lana del Rey's 'video games' to 'cant stop us'-- there are so many analogues in how the videos and songs are tailored so precisely and surgically to the reigning/trensing attitude of young people in their respective years
I have watched that video at least 15 times and listened to the song over 100+