After playing under a crumbling roof in the “Addicted” video, Simple Plan are moving on top of a more stable one for the follow-up.
For the “Perfect” clip, which premieres later this week, director Liz Friedlander shot the band performing on top of a house where drama is ensuing below.
“The camera repeatedly cranes down from them into a window in the house and it changes and becomes all these different kids’ bedrooms,” explained Friedlander, whose résumé includes Kelly Clarkson’s “Miss Independent” and Michelle Branch’s “Everywhere.” “The song [is] about how kids feel like there’s an image they have to portray, especially to their parents at times, and it’s kind of about that moment when you decide to be the person you’re going to be and not the person that other people want you to be. It’s a lot of good teenage angst.”
To capture the emotion and confusion of the kids, Friedlander used special editing effects in post-production. “We blew up the shot and moved within the shot and zoomed in on specific things that trigger off each kid’s personality,” she elaborated. “There will be a girl sitting in her room and we’ll zoom in on the background and find [singer] Pierre [Bouvier] lurking in the shadows, lots of cool stuff going on.”
Simple Plan’s performance is punctuated by rain, helping capture a vibe the director called “dark and brooding.” “I did [Blink-182’s] ‘Adam’s Song,’ so I get all the downbeat videos from the power punk bands,” Friedlander joked.
“Perfect” follows “Addicted,” which earned the band a nod for Best New Artist in a Video at the Video Music Awards on August 28.
Simple Plan wrapped up their performances with the Warped Tour on Sunday in New Jersey.
