Declan McKenna is renowned for his indie music and strong social and political views, but unlike many of his other videos, this one hit me hard.
Upon listening to the song, I was hit with the usual reaction I get every time McKenna releases new music: generally happy and very glad to have something new to add to my indie playlist. But, watching the video was what made this really stand out for me. Personally I felt the video portrays the struggles of current affairs and problems that widely affect his age group. The way I perceived it was the battle with your own head: the video begins with McKenna looking into a mirror at a lookalike. In a sequence of events, the two appear to co-exist well while Declan has the overall power portrayed through the sleeping arrangements of him in the bed and the lookalike on the floor. However, there is a gradual power-shift where the lookalike becomes more equal with McKenna: repeating all the activities of the first sequence but equally rather than the lookalike being inferior to McKenna. In the following repeated sequence of events, the tables finish turning and the lookalike is seen to be completely superior to McKenna, having total control over everything he does. More events are added to the sequence such as the joining of the two bodies through a single jumper, demonstrating the entrapment of Declan with his mind, who has seemingly turned against him. Following the final act of the lookalike controlling him at a fancy dress party, McKenna appears back staring in the mirror, but this time at himself. This potentially demonstrates the whole sequence of events to be a physical demonstration of mental struggles when all people can see is the person in the mirror and no deeper.
(Disclaimer: Obviously this is just my own interpretation and would like to stress not to take my ideas as fact)
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