Chicago band Violet Crime’s video for “Heard You Like The Rolling Stones” is a colorful throwback to the glory days of MTV.
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Everybody knows that I’m chasing a lost cause…
There are plenty of songs about the early stages of relationships: “I Like You” by Man Overboard, “Be Careful” by Cardi B, or “I Want to Hold Your Hand” by The Beatles; but few are as self-aware as Violet Crime’s “Heard You Like The Rolling Stones.” The Chicago band navigate some of the superficial stages of early dating in a quirky video that matches their retro-pop sound. Atwood Magazine is proud to premiere the music video for “Heard You Like The Rolling Stones” today, from Violet Crime’s forthcoming Paper Queen EP (out June 14).
Take it slow
I just wanna know what makes you tick
Like the watch on your tattooed wrist
Let me know
If I come on too strong
’cause everybody knows
That lately I’ve been fucking up
Watching you make a fool out of me
Just sitting back
Second guessing myself
“Heard You Like The Rolling Stones” is chilled out pop-rock, perfect for a lazy Sunday. Despite being about loving a person’s superficial beliefs, Violet Crime offer a somewhat head-in-the-clouds delivery while vocalist Jeff Mills waxes poetic about his latest partner. Even when the song swells, there’s still a relaxed bliss – and though vocalist Jeff Mills sings, “Lately I’ve been fucking up,” this doesn’t really come across as serious regret. Founding member Kasey Gandham’s stoic bassline helps in grounding Mills’ falsetto, complimenting the track’s dreamy tone; meanwhile, Tom Goier’s lead guitar tones act as the middle ground for the two. Goier is a very talented guitarist, finding ways to shred with subtlety and giving the song real summer potential.
Both Violet Crime’s “Heard You Like The Rolling Stones” song and music video have a lot of charm. “‘Heard You Like The Rolling Stones’ takes the notion of living in a two-dimensional world of your own making and makes it real,” the band collectively tell Atwood Magazine. “The video shows us drawing our own instruments out of paper, and later reveals a ‘paper girl‘ as a tongue-in-cheek acknowledgment of being in love with a fictional, idealized image of someone — instead of seeing them for their real, three-dimensional self.”
I love it and I know it shows
I’m shaking down through my toes
And I can see the way this goes
I heard you like The Rolling Stones
We’ll be off to our homes in the night
I know that you like to take it slow
But now I’m blowing up your phone
’cause I heard you like The Rolling Stones
Violet Crime’s first music video, “Heard You Like The Rolling Stones” is reminiscent of so many of the classic videos that aired on MTV in the early ’80s. It’s hard not to be drawn in by the bright colors on the thoughtfully designed paper instruments. Somehow, the animation is both flashy and subtle. It’s stylized, but appears simple. It truly does well to reflect the song’s lyrical focus on surface-level details we initially tend to fall for in a person: interesting tattoos, the drinks they like, and their taste in music.
Despite the laid back nature of the song, Violet Crime’s video for “Heard You Like The Rolling Stones” is an eye-catching piece that encapsulates all the fun and energy that their upcoming Paper Queen EP does. The band’s self-awareness of superficial romanticism is a refreshing take in a pop landscape dominated by sugary-sweet love songs. Even with their conscious approach, Violet Crimes are a band with seamless crossover appeal between pop and rock audiences.
I’m a fool
I’m falling apart ’cause you
take your whiskey on the rocks
And I like when you call the shots
Just keep it cool
I’ll dance if you want me to,
even if I’m too drunk
’cause everybody knows
That lately I’ve been fucking up
Watching you make a fool out of me
Just sitting back
Second guessing myself
Stream Violet Crime’s “Heard You Like The Rolling Stones” exclusively on Atwood Magazine, and pre-order the band’s upcoming Paper Queen EP via their new Kickstarter campaign! Paper Queen EP is out June 14, 2019 via Play Together, a social impact artist management company (co-founded by bassist Kasey Gandham) that invests a portion of profits back into elementary art and music programs in Chicago.
:: support Violet Crime on Kickstarter! ::
“Heard You Like The Rolling Stones” – Violet Crime
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? © Alex Zarek
