Fiona Apple Reunites With Paul Thomas Anderson for ‘Hot Knife’
Fiona Apple reunited with former love Paul Thomas Anderson for her new video, “Hot Knife.” Anderson directed the video, which opens with Apple beating a drum, hair slicked into a bun, sans makeup in a black sleeveless top. Immediately, Apple begins singing “If I’m butter, than he’s a hot knife,” in a way that’s more like a monk chanting a prayer than it is sing-song.
50 Best Songs of 2012: Fiona Apple, ‘Hot Knife’
Apple and Anderson dated in the 1990s and early 2000s, during which time Anderson directed a number of the singer’s videos including “Paper Bag,” “Limp,” “Fast as You Can” and her cover of “Across the Universe.” “Hot Knife” is Thomas’ first music video in 11 years.
“Hot Knife” closes Apple’s The Idler Wheel . . ., which was released last year. The stripped-down video features multiple split-screen shots juxtaposing Apple’s sister, Maude Maggart, singing to the right and left of Apple who is in the center of the frame. It’s a simple video for a complex song.