Synopsis
Tahiti 80's "Chinatown" video turns a simple urban setting into a surreal visual exercise. Shot around Chinatown, it presents its action entirely in reverse, making ordinary gestures, movement, and street activity appear strangely fluid and dreamlike. The band members move through the environment as if events are unfolding backward, creating a playful contrast between the polished pop song and the video's off-kilter imagery. Instead of following a conventional storyline, the clip relies on reversed motion and carefully staged physical action to generate its unusual atmosphere.
Factoids & Trivia
- The video is presented entirely in reverse. This gives routine movements an uncanny quality while preserving the impression of a continuous, choreographed performance.
- The clip was made for the "Chinatown" single, which Tahiti 80 released in 2006 as a split single with Fugu.
- "Chinatown" later appeared on the band's 2017 compilation *Singles Club*, which collected Tahiti 80 singles released between 2000 and 2010.
- Cinematographer Hiro Murai is listed in connection with the 2005 music-video production. The production date predates the single's 2006 release.
- The video has remained notable among the band's clips because its central reverse-playback concept carries the entire piece rather than appearing as a brief visual effect.