Synopsis

The video presents James Dean Bradfield in a stylized Japanese gangster scenario. One version of Bradfield is taken to a lakeside location and repeatedly dunked in the water, while another, wearing sunglasses, observes the action alongside a group of suited gangsters. The deliberately strange narrative is punctuated by performance footage and comic moments, including the gangsters lip-syncing the song's "sha-la-la-la" vocal refrain. Its deadpan violence and unusual humor give the clip the feel of an offbeat crime-film parody.

Factoids & Trivia

• The video's central setup was described at the time as a recreation of a scene from Takeshi Kitano's 1993 Japanese crime film "Sonatine."

• Bradfield appears in more than one role, including the captive being held at the lake and the sunglass-wearing figure watching events unfold.

• The gangster characters lip-sync the backing vocals during the song's "sha-la-la-la" section, adding an intentionally absurd contrast to the otherwise grim imagery.

• "That's No Way to Tell a Lie" was Bradfield's debut solo single, released in July 2006 from his album "The Great Western."

• The track later gained additional exposure in the United Kingdom after being used as the music for the BBC's "Match of the Day" Goal of the Month feature.

• The single reached No. 18 on the UK Singles Chart, making it Bradfield's highest-charting solo single.