Synopsis

In a dim utility room, ordinary household objects spring to life and assemble Norah Jones' backing band. Jones then performs "Sinkin' Soon" in a series of miniature worlds, appearing as a doll, dancing with an empty tuxedo, and singing from a mouse hole in a mouse costume. The handmade environments, puppetry, and stop-motion action give the video a whimsical, slightly surreal character. At the end, the animated objects return to their original places, as if nothing unusual ever happened.

Factoids & Trivia

• The video combines live action, stop motion, special effects, and puppeteering rather than relying on a single animation technique.

• It was filmed in one day in November 2006 at an industrial location south of downtown Los Angeles.

• The animators worked on the same stage while the live-action material was being shot. This created a hectic production, with equipment, lights, and sets frequently getting bumped during the process.

• The animation uses found objects and deliberately keeps a lo-fi, handmade appearance. Several shots were filmed from different angles at the same time to capture the large amount of material needed.

• The video premiered online through YouTube on March 1, 2007, ahead of the single's release outside the United States.

• A behind-the-scenes feature about the video's production was included with the deluxe CD/DVD edition of Jones' album "Not Too Late."

• The song itself was recorded in a notably spontaneous spirit. Jones and her band reportedly returned from dinner and drinks and completed the track in a first take, helping explain its loose, playful energy.

• The track's unusual percussion included household pots and pans, including Jones' own teapot, which makes the video's transformation of domestic objects into performers especially fitting.