Synopsis

Natasha Khan performs "Daniel" in a stark, dreamlike landscape that shifts between a burned-out room, a boxing-ring-inspired setting, and an empty road. Dressed in red, she moves among black-clad figures whose slow, theatrical gestures turn the performance into something between a fight and a ritual. The video closes with Khan stopping her car to embrace a young boy styled after Daniel LaRusso, bringing its themes of teenage longing, fantasy, and nostalgia into sharp focus.

Factoids & Trivia

• Khan has said that "Daniel" was named partly for Daniel LaRusso, the protagonist of "The Karate Kid." She was fascinated by Ralph Macchio as a teenager, and the video makes that connection explicit at the end.

• Khan described the visual concept as a transformation of boxing into dance. She drew inspiration from boxing films, Muhammad Ali's movement, and the physical intensity of 1970s fight movies.

• The video was filmed in Sweden. During the shoot, Khan reportedly relied on heat pads because she became cold easily.

• The child appearing at the end was not a major casting discovery. The production assembled what it could, and Khan and the filmmaker approved him after seeing a photograph.

• "Daniel" was released as the lead single from "Two Suns" in March 2009. The song became Bat For Lashes' biggest-selling single and reached No. 36 on the UK Singles Chart.

• "Daniel" was named the 11th-best music video of 2009 by "Spin" magazine.

• The single artwork also features Daniel LaRusso: an image of the character is painted across Khan's back, extending the song's "Karate Kid" connection beyond the video.