Japanese Breakfast is the solo project of musician Michelle Zauner. She just released her third full-length album Jubilee on Dead Oceans. Her other records Psychopomp and Soft Sounds From Another Planet helped put her on the map. There is no doubt about her intelligence both in the studio and on the screen. Behind some of her most creative songs are equally creative music videos. We think these are the best from each respective record.
“Everbody Wants To Love You”-Psychopomp
In this video, Zauner dons a traditional formal Korean dress called a hanbok to a bar where she drunkenly selects songs on a jukebox, smokes cigarettes and graffitis her own name in a bathroom. She even pounds a 40 before hopping on the back of a motorcycle and eventually shredding her guitar on the front of an eighteen-wheeler, all while in her hanbok. This track from her first album Psychopomp immediately showed that she was ready to defy expectations. Rock on dude, rock on.
“Boyish”-Soft Sounds From Another Planet
“Boyish” was the first music video that Zauner directed herself. The song is a dream-pop wonderland, and the video captures that same spirit. It features her and her backing group playing on stage at a school dance. Her mind was able to come up with cinematic lighting and themes she has experienced firsthand. It features a young girl who is excited to impress a boy but decides to focus on herself instead. The girl rocks a tuxedo and even ends up playing a solo on Zauner’s guitar. The video also received praise from fans for its Asian representation.
“Be Sweet”-Jubilee
Out of the videos released for Jubilee so far, this one takes the cake. It rocks from the beginning. Basslines and synths help set the tone for Zauner who plays “Shelly Breakfast.” Alongside the character “Missy,” the two do some barrel rolls overtop each other while pointing laser guns and flashing FBI badges. It reads like a modern take on the Beastie Boys “Sabotage” video. It is very 1980’s. The two are hunting aliens throughout the video, which again was directed by Zauner. It shows that her mind can come up with just about anything.
Zauner also released a video for the song “Savage Good Boy” to promote Jubilee. While it is a good video itself, it actually serves as a prequel for another track and music video, “Posing in Bondage.” Since the two are associated with one another, we have decided to leave them off this list. They are great, though, so be sure to check them out for yourself.
Japanese Breakfast’s newest record Jubilee is out now, stream it here.
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