The Weeknd releases ‘Blinding Lights’ video featuring Playmate Miki Hamano in follow up to ‘Heartless’
The Weeknd unveiled his latest video, 'Blinding Lights', January 21, a follow-up to his previous trippy music video 'Heartless'. The single was released in November last year.
Directed by Anton Tammi, 'Blinding Lights' stars The Weeknd roaming as a lounge lizard who bears a passing resemblance to jazz legend Herbie Hancock. Check the cover art of Herbie Hancock's 1978 album 'Sunlight' on his official site. 'Blinding Lights' features music that could spark memories of '80s disco and dance new wave music like '80s bands A-ha or Pet Shop Boys, although much more energized and contemporary in its tones.
The opening of the video reveals the alternative pop singer bleeding heavily, mostly from the mouth and laughing in a maniacal way, a teaser to how it all ended up that way. The video then moves to the singer as if he awoke from a disturbing dream, looking a little lost. He makes his way to his vehicle and begins a high-speed thrill ride through a deserted city. In shots between the car ride, the singer dances merrily in the streets and even makes his way to a lounge singer who is played by Playmate Miki Hamano. This eventually leads to the singer getting into a fight with a pair of bouncers.
According to Rolling Stone, 'Blinding Lights', originally teased in a Mercedes-Benz commercial, is one of two tracks the singer released in late November, along with the chart-topping 'Heartless'. Heartless' surreal video, released on December 3, highlighted hallucinogenics and nightlife, and had the singer licking a frog which possibly initiated the chain reaction of all these events between the two videos. The Weeknd performed both singles during a two-night stand on 'The Late Show With Stephen Colbert'.
The Weeknd has not disclosed as of yet whether the songs will appear on his as-yet-announced fourth LP, which follows 2016’s 'Starboy' and 2018 EP 'My Dear Melancholy'. He was asked on Twitter in December whether he’s ever planning to release the album, and he replied, “Of course, I am eventually.”
You can watch the video for 'Blinding Lights' here.