SINGLE & VIDEO REVIEW: JACK BRATT - THE OUTSIDER
A little different to my normal music review, but I was pointed in the direction of this video and had to give it a watch. It’s super unique and a little bit edgy, from Brisbane's own Jack Bratt.
A little interesting fact here- but Jack Bratt has been considered a musical prodigy from his late teens. He was in the Triple J Unearthed winning band ‘Shifter’ and has toured all over the world supporting the likes of Grinspoon, The Living End and Evermore. He then fronted his own band ‘Blonde on Blonde’ which has received regular national airplay.
Being a solo artist, Jack really brings a unique take to covers and his own originals. He uses a looping station which showcases his immensely diverse talent. He’s been described as enigmatic… Which may explain his recent song ‘The Outsider’ and it’s accompanying music video.
The track itself is extremely uplifting and powerful. It’s a strong example of the variety that Jack Bratt can produce, it’s rock, it’s indie and it contains a strong message of the superficial world we live in and being oblivious to others around you.
The music video was directed and edited by Brad Murnane from Spilting Films, and it is just an adorable little tale of an astronaut stranded on Earth just wandering around trying to find his place, or a way home.
There are some super sweet moments like the astronaut discovering a tyre swing and then a duck, which really reminds us to stop and breathe and enjoy the little things.
I really like the allegory of the astronaut having spent all his time in space and coming back down, being an actual outsider and having to rediscover where he fits in and what the world looks like today.
There is a scene where the astronaut is walking around with a sign attempting to hitchhike… and spoiler alert, we find Jack Bratt behind the wheel! I was a bit surprised to see that it wasn't him being the astronaut because it would have suited him very well, but that’s not really the message we’re trying for here, is it?
The astronaut busts some adorable dance moves on the way to an art installation that resembles a rocket ship… No, it’s not a real ship and appears to be a statue and poor astronaut is crushed, understandably.
(Just a side note; I cannot for the life of me locate it on a map so if it is real and someone has actually seen this statue, would you care to tell me where it is?)
So, astronaut is crushed that the ship isn't a real ship and eventually resigns to giving up, woefully parking himself on a bench to feel sorry for himself
That’s when a woman sits down on the park bench next to him.
It’s your typical story- girl meets boy, girl takes boy home to a party where boy is loved and accepted and boy no longer wants to return to outer space because he is no longer an outsider.
This music video could have been a full length movie and I promise you I would watch it. I really like the use of something we are familiar with in terms of being that ‘outsider’ type, but also not being foreign enough to not apply to the narrative. Everyone knows what an astronaut looks like. We don’t see what his face looks like, ever, but we eventually see that he is a real person and not an alien (good or bad, you tell me).
The song is a great tale of not feeling like you fit in but still doing your best to try, only to find out that it doesn’t matter what’s on the outside, it’s what’s on the inside that actually matters.
Please watch this video and tell me if you like the music video reviews? And Jack Bratt, where on earth (or not) did you find that space outfit?