As the second single on For Your Consideration, Jason Priest’s “Strangers” is an upbeat, anthemic puzzle piece to the protagonist’s story. Priest (the alter ego of maestro Antoni Maiovvi), a struggling musician, is facing an existential crisis as he reflects on misspent years of his youth—all while losing hold of reality. “Strangers,” tinged in melancholy, could fit beside 1980s coldwave progenitors such as Turquoise Days or Little Nemo with its speedy beat and sorrowful melody. With its quick paced tempo, the song is a whiplash of emotions as it barrels through epic choruses and raw breakdowns—with “Strangers,” Priest bares it all.
Directed by Sam Wisternoff, the video for “Strangers” is soaked in an analog neon glow and replete with Barbie Dolls. But don’t be alarmed, there’s nothing too childlike about the video. Priest notes:
The video for Strangers is what would happen if Todd Haynes (Superstar: The Karen Carpenter Story) made ‘The Comfort Of Strangers’ instead of celebrated weirdo Paul Schrader (Cat People / American Gigolo) with a soundtrack performed by members of Kiss Me-era Cure, XTC and The Human League.
Based on the 1990 film starring Christopher Walken, Rupert Everett, Natasha Richardson and Helen Mirren, this particular tale of fluid sexuality, obsession and murder set in the romantic streets of Venice seems to fit right into the meta-narrative of the Jason Priest project, a world where all characters are cryptic expression of the writer.
Watch the video below.
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