Watch Karen O’s Grainy Short Film for ‘Singalong’
Karen O‘s wistful short film for “Singalong” features grainy clips of New York City strangers walking the streets, surfing their cell phones, sitting on park benches and kissing dogs. Director Asli Baykal gives the video a lo-fi quality that recalls a withering Seventies slideshow, as Karen O sings breezy lines – “All alone on your way home / You could be wrong, sing it anyway / Sing along your favorite song” – over breezy campfire strums.
The “Singalong” video is the Yeah Yeah Yeahs frontwoman’s latest promo for her debut LP, 2014’s Crush Songs. In January, Karen O teamed with photographic duo Wiissa for a nostalgic clip for “Day Go By,” which features a lovestruck couple swimming and riding a Vespa; filmmaker Spike Jonze, who included the singer’s solo track “The Moon Song” in his 2013 movie Her, directed an unorthodox video for “Ooo,” which features actress Elle Fanning’s reaction to the song.
In May, Karen O paid tribute to Nellie Bly with a hushed new track accompanying a Google Doodle honoring the pioneering investigative journalist-activist-adventurer. “Nellie, take us all around the world with you / We wanna make something of ourselves, too,” the singer croons over minimal acoustic guitar.
Karen O’s main band, veteran indie-rock act Yeah Yeah Yeahs, have remained quiet since wrapping the tour for their 2013 LP, Mosquito. However, in April, the singer teamed with bandmate Nick Zinner to perform Lou Reed’s “Vicious,” honoring the late Velvet Underground frontman, who was posthumously inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.