In anticipation of their upcoming 2019 collaborative album Corpse Flower, Mike Patton and Jean-Claude Vannier have released an new NSFW video for “Chansons D’Amour.” Taking cues from the Shakespeare classic Hamlet, and a painting of the character of Ophelia, by Sir John Everett Millais, “Chansons D’Amour,” adds a disturbing, yet hauntingly beautiful interpretation of the work.
“The melody on ‘Chansons D’Amour’ chased me around in the back of my head for a few days after listening. I found it to be a haunting and unapologetically honest version of Vannier’s original piece,” Eric Livingston, the music video’s director explained. “When I was given the choice between a few songs to shoot a video accompaniment for, I gravitated towards this one. Mainly, because I knew it would be a challenge for me. To film something that is subtle, yet demands attention.”
This video displays the Ophelia character’s face covered by a metallic face veil, as various flowers cover her naked and decomposing body in the river. The figure representing the Ophelia character then awakens, before being placed into a bloody bathtub by several more hooded figures, as the musics eerie string and piano instrumentals in the background, play alongside Patton’s narration.
“When I was a little boy, love songs terrified me, with their stupid Ophelias, faded flowers of melodramatics singers, quavering vocalises of another time, barbaric rituals, screams of impatient sexes, furious and bloody refrains, like in this beautiful and poisonous video,” said Vannier in a press release. “Afterwards, I lived some love stories and it was even worse, all a bazaar puppet show that moved me despite myself, took me hostage and blames me for these crimes that I did not commit.”
Corpse Flower, is the result of numerous connections and bonds that Patton and Vannier formed since their first meeting over 8 years ago. Patton described how their first meeting formed a bond for the artist’s on a creative level which continues to this day.
“Jean-Claude and I met while working together on a Gainsbourg retrospective at the Hollywood Bowl in 2011,” explains Patton. “We bonded immediately. I could see he had a dedication and attention to detail that was relentless so the respect I had for him in my mind was magnified in person. We spoke loosely about working together in the future… and it took some time, but after a few years I contacted him and we began to ignite some sparks.”
Photo Credit: Raymond Flotat
Leave a Comment