About blinking time is what you are probably thinking. It has been a good 3-4 months since Darin released his Lovekiller single, the albums dropped and finally we have the video to go along with it! Blimey! Still, when the song is this good it doesn't so much matter that it's a bit behind schedule. Here's what is going on second by second in the Lovekiller video :)
It's all dusky and misty outdoors, which is always a little bit mysterious - kind of like a pre-credits sequence from Buffy The Vampire Slayer. I do love that there are a few bikes around. Europeans are so much better at cycling than Brits (most Brits)...
Oh no! There are police cars all shining their lights onto a lifeless body. DRAMA! Plus, how do the batteries never run down on these police cars? It's incredible. I only have to leave my lights on for a minute after the engine is off and I get that whirry whirry sound. And i'm a hybrid!
More and more cops/fuzz/whirley whirlies arrive at the scene (some in particularly cheap CSI jackets) and we finally see the Christ like pose of poor Darin lying there. How's he going to sing?
(Ps, I am loving that this is all playing out like a film. I feel like I don't even have to go and see Saw 3D on Friday and I am reasonably assured that Darin is a much hotter leading bloke)
Oh! That's how he sings (1m04s) - he looks quite creepy lying there singing without anything but his lips moving. And his head looks like it shouldn't bend that way. Having said all that, he certainly has more life in him than some of this year's X-Factor contestants, ho ho, etc.
He gets up off the floor (ooo he's wearing braces/suspenders - I love a fella in braces/suspenders!) and not one of the so-called police crew seem to notice. How pointless is that training? OR! (God i'm quick) something supernatural is occuring because it's gone very white and ominous.
Even Darin looks a little bit confused, but that doesn't stop him singing his little heart out (unless it's already been ripped out?) and oh! Nice bum shot at 1m57s. It's important to point these things out.
Now there is some black smoke (how Lost) and Darin is looking in on another Darin who is sitting in a fairly sparse hotel type room. I am loving his boots btw (2m13s)...
Following on from the boots shot, some woman comes up behind him in some weird attempt to recreate the Maroon 5 Hands All Over album cover. She gives his hair a good tug and goes for a lingering exposed throat shot (2m27s). How KatherineVampireDiaries of her...
Ew. The dirty minx gives his throat a good licking (not a metaphor) and then we see a shiny knife (tempered steel no doubt) behind her back. It's not looking good and jacket off Darin behind the slats gives an impassioned (half hearted) "noooooo". He is right to look a bit upset. It's all gone a bit Dexter. Someone call the blood spatter expert!
2m35s RIP poor stabby Darin...
There are a lot of gruesome shots of a bloody Darin (2m51s) as he runs through the red mists and then we are back in the park where he is unstabbed! How freaky (Friday)
Darin runs into a church where stabby lady seems to be on trial for her crimes. She doesn't look too bothered, but does rock the Alexis Morrell Carrington Colby Dexter Rowan big-rimmed-hat-in-court look. I am also appreciating the link between court and religious judgement and Darin does a stunning crucifixion pose in front of a stained glass window (3m30s)...
The case continues and all the people in the court-church get black eyes and chant along to the song. Perhaps there is some marketing genius in Darin releasing this late, but so close to Halloween.
Oh! It's 4m plus now and everyone is on their feet and stabby lady has been found guilty of being a lovekiller (and probably an actual killer unless this is all some sort of metaphorical heartbreak fantasy dream). She's not so smug now is she?
Darin is zipped up in his body bag, back to the opening shot and jobs a good un. The end. Marvelous.
A quick (and I mean quick) chat with the man (from Aug!)...
You're just about to release your fifth album in Sweden - most popstars release a greatest hits album at this point instead. Was there any temptation for you to do that? Or were you fixated on getting some new tunes out there? There will probably be a greatest hits here in Sweden soon, but right now I wanted to release my new songs. One track on the album is Can't Stop Love - which you performed at the Swedish Royal Wedding earlier this year. Such a great performance (love the bow tie!) - what was it like being part of such a huge event? Thank you so much! I felt really honored to sing and write a song for the royal wedding, it’s a true story and i think that’s what makes it so strong.
Talking of big events, you've also competed in Melodifestivalen with another track on the album - You're Out of My Life. That contest is absolutely huge in Sweden right? What was that like? Is it fiercely competitive? It’s the biggest show here in Sweden. I was really nervous of course, it was like a big challenge for me, i didn’t win, but it went really good. The only thing I tried to focuse on was to do my best.
Lovekiller seems such a huge anthemic song that could be massive across the world. Do you have any plans for going more global with your music? Yes, that’s one of my goals, to release my music in more countries.
How succinct! What are your plans with this album - will you have more singles from it? Any tours? Yes, I think I will release more singles from it, but i haven’t decided which ones yet, and I will probably go on tour again soon.
Your last album flashback was in 2008. It seemed somewhat ahead of it's time really - 6 months on from its release and everyone was mimicking that solid club-pop sound, none more so than Lady Gaga. Was the sound of the album something you consciously went for or something that evolved as you were making it? It felt like that album could have been massive internationally... Thanks, yes I wanted that type of sound for the Flashback album, something that felt new and futuristic in a club/pop-r&B/electro way, it was what I was aiming for.
You got your big break on Swedish Idol and more than any other alumni I know you've been incredibly loyal to your Idol roots - you did Viva La Vida last year and have contributed an album track to the preview advertisements for this years show. I guess you are quite fond/proud of your Idol heritage? Any thoughts? Yes, that’s what started my career in Sweden so that’s something I’m proud of, so I collaborate with the show a lot.
Sweden seems to be the one place where solid male pop is as prevelant as the massive female stars - you have Mans, Danny, Ola and now Eric Saade. You could create your own EMD supergroup - Eric, Mans, Darin! is there a pop community where you all know each other or is it just when you run into each other at events? Also, do you think there is a reason that male popstars have more success in Sweden than say currently in the UK? It’s just when I run into them on events etc. I actually don’t know.
Right - thanks for answering that! I'm a huge fan so this opportunity to chat has been great. Any parting shots?! Thanks for the nice chat and hope to see you soon in the UK!
I love it when the questions are longer than the answers!! Back soon with boyband and more christmas! EEP!
