Synopsis
A matador stands at the center of a surreal bullfight as an enormous black bull charges through the arena. The attack leaves him impaled, but instead of focusing on his death, the video places him in a dreamlike state where time slows and fragments of the surrounding chaos drift past him. Spectators flee, furniture breaks apart and debris hangs in the air. The colorful matador and the dark bull create a stark visual contrast, turning the lyrics' bullfighting metaphor into a strange pre-death fantasy.
Factoids & Trivia
- The video was released on YouTube on September 18, 2012, ahead of the single's September 28 release. Its running time is approximately 3 minutes and 42 seconds.
- It was filmed in Los Angeles and produced as a Prettybird production for Infectious Music.
- The visual concept grew directly from the song's matador imagery. The filmmakers imagined the wounded matador experiencing a peaceful, dreamlike fantasy while glimpses of the surrounding disaster repeatedly entered his field of vision.
- The production was completed during one unusually demanding shooting day. The crew planned the schedule so that the crowd of approximately 15 to 20 extras was needed for only about an hour.
- The bull and the matador were filmed separately. Footage of the running bull was captured first, while the actor playing the matador performed matching movements against a green screen.
- Much of the apparent destruction was assembled in post-production. Debris, flying popcorn, broken furniture and the final image of the impaled matador were created through compositing and visual effects rather than by staging the complete action practically.
- The filmmakers deliberately avoided treating bullfighting as a realistic or romantic spectacle. They described the finished piece as a surreal metaphor and used stylized imagery instead of attempting documentary accuracy.
- The video received the 2013 Young Director Award for Non-European Music Video and was also included in the SHOOT New Directors Showcase.