Don’t Look Back video

I’ve just finished the Don’t Look Back video :D I’m really proud of it.

Christmas morning in London is what you’d expect – desolate and freezing. We were really limited on time, so I missed a lot of shots that I wanted to get at St Pauls, Oxford Circus and Covent Garden, meaning that the version of the song in the video is slightly shorter than the one on the album because I literally had to use every shot I filmed to fill up the time I had.

The general spirit of the video is treating London like a playground and just having fun, which I think works really well to contrast with the message of the song (that being self-indulgent can be harmful to others). I love it <3 And I’m sure you guys will love it – let me know in the comments what you think. I can’t wait to do more videos in the new year; I think a lot of people on YouTube still consider me ‘a guy that sometimes sings’ instead of ‘a serious musician’, like my music is more of a hobby to me than a career, and making regular music videos to showcase my work is a perfect remedy to that attitude.

I got a lot of comments from people who got Parrot Stories as a Christmas present, so that’s awesome. Thanks for telling me you got the CD and I hope you enjoy the music ^^

x

  • My_Name_Is_Lucy
    Wow. I'm not sure about the video clip in some parts, but as it is not my music, this does not matter. (Having said that, here's me offering my opinion anyway)

    My favourite part was in the end, where you leave your guitar and walk off. I think that's absolutely fantastic and brilliant and true to the song (and also relatively amusing when you do look back as it's fading to black.) And I'm jealous of your skills. Srsly.

    I'm not sure on the random bits with the sounds from the car and the fountain in the small blocks. If they had have been a little longer & quieter, they would have fitted in with the song and I wouldn't have noticed that they weren't actually in it. The sound from you jumping across the blocks is good though.

    In a short space of time, you've done a brilliant job, as per usual. And, I love it. Please do one for Hearts next, because that's one of my favourite songs other than Holding On, which you've already done a vid for. <3 <3 <3

    Also, I got a gift voucher for iTunes for Christmas so i can buy Parrot Stories. ULTIMATE WIN! :D
  • Mandy
    Jesus you blog a lot. Hope you had a fabby xmas. I have been in plymouth for most of it, except xmas day. Lovely video. You were so lucky to have London so quiet.

    Also I are visiting in the next few weeks I hope. Need to find places to stay will text you and be cheeky... sorry =P

    x
  • Jenny Mac
    Nice. A few audio glitches hear and there (sound of the music and backround noise on clips) but all in all a really good concept and a nicely edited video. :) Well done.
  • Alice
    i ordered parrot stories for christmas- but it came a few days earlier and i couldn't resist opening it! great album alex, well done x
  • That was so good..SO GOOD. The idea was brilliant, and executed perfectly, if I may say so myself :D

    And I'll just add, you are a lovely person with an obvious talent for music :)

    Happy New Year ^^
  • Molly Grace
    Just randomly wanted to tell you, though, I suppose it doesn't mean much to anyone but me: I used to live in London and miss it terribly. I watched this video and got so so excited and my mum laughed as I proclaimed I had been everywhere in that video(Yes, most of them were popular spots but still!)

    Just, random stranger telling you that you made me smile and miss what I call home. Thank you. =D
  • oana
    hey! I think your music is great and I really like the video, but a tripod would be a great investment :)
    have a great new year, alex! oana x
  • Colleen
    The video isn't working for me!! I tried watching it on Youtube as well, no luck there either :( Why, why, why, cruel world?
  • JamesPeterBailey
    umm... Alex, I think you've got one of the chords wrong in the Don't Look Back Chords and Lyrics page. You've put F# but when I play it on my uke F#Min sounds more like the original chord. But anyway, I love the video, how you managed to get London so empty I will never know :)
  • Katya
    The video is amazing :) I love love love the end. Empty London looks fun :D x
  • melodykat1
    u kno i am so annoyed!!!!!!I CANT WATCH THIS VIDEO FOR SUM REASON I CANT IDENTIFY!!!!!! i cant watch it on youtube... i cant watch it here... and i rli wanna see it :@
  • chloay
    ALL my friends LOVE YOU! but i cant get your videos to work ...:( x
  • i really liked it! it was so lovely to see all those places in London. (memories! i want to go back!) it's really good!
  • Catherine
    I love this video I love the playfulness of it The music and lyrics work perfectly. The locations are great and the one glove on (MJ impersonation )while playing the uke was brilliant.
  • Tom
    I like it a lot. The glasses work really well in this situation for some reason. Good jarb sir.
  • username1117
    This is pretty nice for doing it in such a rush! the cloudy weather really added to the empty feeling of the city, I think. So I'm wondering if you have any thoughts on the fact that you get so many comments on youtube but so few here? I come to this site a lot to listen to the songs and it amazes me that the comments section isn't flooded! Anyway, hope you're having a great holiday season!!
  • I love this video, I have only been to London a few times but it looks so different without all of the people!
    I love 'Don't look back' it has always been one of my favorite songs, ever since it was a demo on the DFTBA compilation CD.
    I didn't get parrot stories for Christmas, as I've already got it! I love your album so much, it is the only thing I really listen to now! Tbh I didn't really like it that much when I first heard it (sorry!), but it really has grown on me so much! It is by far the best album I own!
    Can't wait to see what video you do next!
    <3
  • Haha, I'm not offended. When I first heard nearly all of my favourite albums, my first impression was a shrug and a 'yeah, it's alright'. So it's fine :p
  • 1. I'm shocked you work this fast. You said earlier that you were filming today. But I was expecting a day or two to work on the editing.

    2. "I think a lot of people on YouTube still consider me ‘a guy that sometimes sings’ instead of ‘a serious musician’"

    Yes, absolutely. The way I think of you has changed entirely since hearing your album and finding/regularly reading this blog. Turns out you're pretty smart and creative, and not just that goofy charismatic guy.

    3. I did not get "Parrot Stories" for Christmas. However I did unexpectedly get some itunes cash. So I'll definitely be buying at least a few songs. I hate cutting up albums, I generally think of music in terms of albums rather than songs, but I have $20 to split between getting you, Tom Milsom, Driftless Pony Club, and Molly Lewis. So I'm gonna have to make some tough choices.
  • Heidihoeexo
    Just bought Parrot Stories on ITunes, just wanted to say that I love it and I think you are an amazing musician! [:
  • DannyReddy17
    Awesome! I haven't got the physical coz for some reason my Halifax debit card only wants to work on amazon, but i'm gonna get the digital version ASAP! loved it!

    p.s.: never too late for a christmas VLR, just saying ;}
  • carole001
    love the video! how we were or impossible dreams would be great for a video
  • Alison
    Loved the video. Shame you couldn't get enough footage for the full version but it's still great XD
    PS I'm either going to sound really clever or really slow here but "the meet world" is actually supposed to be "the MEAT world" you know where everything is physical, solid and people are made out of "meat"
    PPS Please don't comment back on this to laugh at me if i'm like the last person in the world to figure that out
  • Desari
    Good music video or just a guy walking around? I thought the video was poor. You could tell that it was definitly rushed and it was pretty boring.
  • It wasn't 'rushed' - all the shots I wanted were planned the night before, so we just went to all the places we could and filmed what we'd planned already, and then I was excited about it so I put it together quickly. I could have held off and gone back to London in a couple days to get the rest of the stuff I needed, but I felt it was fine as it was. Sorry you didn't like it, but obviously I can't please everyone :)
  • Sams
    awwwwwwwww this warms my heart and makes me smile, simply adorable.
  • Catherine
    this is amazing.
    you are amazing.
    and you inspired me to learn how to play the ukulele.
    so I asked for one for Christmas.
    and now I have one :)
    so thank you for your music.
  • Kristina
    hey alex. i lvoe your music. and your video. (:
    i saw this while i was playing around on youtube. you should go check it out its pretty cool.
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iW7mhrE-MeM&NR=1
    idk who it is or anything just some chick on youtube.
    but apparently shes also a fan.
    wishing you a merry christmas. hope you have a great one.
  • Hi Alex. You should definitely check out the video Kristina mentioned above. It's a cute song about you and your videos. I'm sure it would make her day if you left her a comment :D
  • steph
    Loved how simple but cute it was. Makes me want to wake up really early and have NYC all to myself.
    great job
    can't wait to see the next one
    marry Christmas ^_^
  • I feel like it'd be harder to achieve in NYC, but that would be beautiful, yeah <3
  • Amy x
    Well done Alex its amazing <3 xx
  • .M.
    woo its christmas, i'm taking a break from my new Mario game for the wii and decided to write you a comment cause Mario is frustrating but rather addictive, but i just can't play it maybe i need to be a boy to conquer it. The video ain't working for me must be my rubbish computer but i bet it will be good :-). Love your videos and songs. I hope you had a good christmas but didn't get too drunk :P. Keep the amazing work up for 2010 :-) its gonna be a good year :D. Well see you Alex
    .M.
  • beccawho
    this was so great. don't point out that bad parts of not having enough footage it was great. your music is deep and meaningful and don't look at the faults when you hold so much talent.

    well done.

    ps. london looks so weird empty.
  • This was really good! It only makes me want to visit London even more, haha. Now when I listen to this song (because I have the CD) I'll think of London ^_^

    Merry Christmas to you, Alex!
  • I read your Storyboarding post and was knocked out by your planning and strategy for filming in a deserted London. Even more knocked out by your execution. You should be proud. I love it when you push yourself into new territory. And this is a delicious, ambitious leap from sit-and-chat-to-the-camera. Yay!

    The video suits the song so well.

    Did I miss the part where you say who shot it?
  • Well, it could have been inferred; Emma was giving me a lift into London and back, so it was just us two. I filmed everything I could, but given that I was usually in-shot, I tended to set the shot up and then tell Emma to record it.
  • Bri :D
    the video is awesome. you looked cute ^__^ your nose was all red. lol
  • TheLunarFire
    I just watched it. Amazing!
  • That was a great video. Makes me want to go to London. In the morning. All empty. :) Anyway, Merry (official) Christmas from California! Keep making great music.
  • bianca
    I love it!!
    It's amazing :)
    good job. at your gig in new york i got the parrot stories cd and my parents told me it was my present! i jsut opened it today and i LOVE it
    your a great muscian and the video was very nice.
  • Camboolio
    Alex, you were wondering if your subscribers needed a present in return - you just gave us one!! Awesome video, man! Loved the whole thing, but particularly awesome was the very end when you turned around - looked like you were about to sprint right back.

    Now we're hungry for more ^_^

    Much merry love!

    P.S. I think Atomicdomb seems to be hoping for youtube stardom through leaving lots of responses to your video! XD
  • Great job on the video! I love 1:41 - 1:45 as well. Looking forward to more in 2010. :)
  • Camille ^_^
    Simply lovely.
    Please continue being so amazing. :)
  • CAMILLE <3
  • Camille ^_^
    Lol hi.
    Merry Christmassss :D
  • tumblebard
    I said it on the video, but I'll say it again here - this is my favourite song in the whole world. The video's turned out so well, it really does it justice. So, so, so nice.
  • Karina
    absolutely amazing.. (:
    not some fancy music video, just you, london (it is london, isn't it? otherwise this will be embarrasing :D) - and the time of the year (:

    btw - wuhu i'm the first to comment :D
  • MissSherry88
    LOVE IT!!! <3
    1:41 - 1:45 is my favourite part! Very spontaneous and cute :)
    Well done Alex!

    First comment!! Yaaaay :D
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