Synopsis
Lily Allen enters a nightclub bathroom where women primp, adjust their clothes, and deal with the messy aftermath of a night out. As she applies makeup, the mirror reveals a younger version of herself, representing the carefree but directionless woman described in the song. The two versions share the scene while the bathroom fills with other women and dancers. By the final chorus, Allen confronts the possibility of growing older without having found purpose beyond her looks and lifestyle, then turns away from the mirror.
Factoids & Trivia
- The video was filmed on June 1, 2009, in the bathrooms of Freemasons' Hall on Great Queen Street in London.
- The production reportedly included around 20 trained dancers. Allen filmed the clip with a short hairstyle and wore a chocolate-colored dress.
- The mirror sequence turns the song's central idea into a visual device: Allen is confronted by a younger version of herself rather than simply watching her reflection.
- "22" was written by Allen and Greg Kurstin, who also produced the track. It appears on Allen's second album, "It's Not Me, It's You."
- The song was released as the album's fourth single in 2009 and reached No. 14 on the UK Singles Chart. It also reached No. 4 in Scotland and No. 12 in both Australia and Ireland.
- The bathroom setting places the video among familiar nightlife rituals such as applying makeup, fixing clothes, and recovering from excessive drinking, matching the song's blend of pop accessibility and social observation.