Sleepless

Album: single release (2014)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • The Swedish electronic music duo (Alexander Björklund and Sebastian Furrer) brought UK artist The High as a guest vocalist on their track about losing sleep over a broken relationship.
  • Peter Huang directed the sinister music video that takes a dark spin on the song's lyrics. When Cazzette first read the treatment about a jilted lover who would rather murder her ex than allow him to move on, they rejected the idea. After a few more weeks of searching, they couldn't find anything else that worked, so they went with Huang's idea.

    The director added ominous touches that were so subtle that most viewers don't even notice them. For example, during the opening shot of the darkened living room, there are wet footprints going up the stairs, letting us know that Marla (Jenny Raven) is already in the house, lying in wait for her victims. She can be spotted again by the stairs in the background during the zoom-in shot of the couple (Aaron Abrams and Anna Hopkins) making out against in the refrigerator. "Even though you're not quite sure exactly what's off about this situation, there is something off," Huang said in a video commentary. The music doesn't take center stage in the clip, but is a backdrop to the action.
  • This peaked at #24 in the duo's homeland of Sweden.

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

Meshell Ndegeocello

Meshell NdegeocelloSongwriter Interviews

Meshell Ndegeocello talks about recording "Wild Night" with John Mellencamp, and explains why she shied away from the spotlight.

Elton John

Elton JohnFact or Fiction

Does he have beef with Gaga? Is he Sean Lennon's godfather? See if you can tell fact from fiction in the Elton John edition.

Joe Ely

Joe ElySongwriter Interviews

The renown Texas songwriter has been at it for 40 years, with tales to tell about The Flatlanders and The Clash - that's Joe's Tex-Mex on "Should I Stay or Should I Go?"

Laura Nyro

Laura NyroSongwriting Legends

Laura Nyro talks about her complex, emotionally rich songwriting and how she supports women's culture through her art.

Classic Metal

Classic MetalFact or Fiction

Ozzy, Guns N' Roses, Judas Priest and even Michael Bolton show up in this Classic Metal quiz.

Ian Astbury of The Cult

Ian Astbury of The CultSongwriter Interviews

The Cult frontman tells who the "Fire Woman" is, and talks about performing with the new version of The Doors.