I found some more fodder for our recent experiment with love and live music.
It’s the video for the song “Someone That I Used To Know” by Austrialin musician Wally De Backer (aka Gotye) who will be touring the US for the first time this spring.
As one of the most creative music videos I’ve seen in awhile, it’s no surprise that it’s has racked up over 70 million views on YouTube. The song alone is mysterious and alluring, and the seductive visual storytelling just makes the experience even more provocative and engaging.
After watching just the first minute I immediately began to wonder…
How will Gotye transfer such a palpable and sensual video experience to his live show?
What will the shows teach us about what triggers our emotions during concerts?
What type of emotions will bubble up in the hearts of fans as Gotye’s performance unfurls on stage?
Will it lead fans to find and feel love at the show?
How will fans react to watching the video online versus experiencing the song live in concert?
Hey, Where’s The Body Paint?
After watching Gotye’s debut US performance on Jimmy Kimmel this past week, Kimbra was there to sing her part, but it doesn’t look like there’s any body paint being used to connect the video with the live show.
But again, just because the video isn’t being duplicated on stage doesn’t mean that it won’t be on constant rotation in fans’ minds during the show. As concert fans, our emotions usually kick in automatically, especially when we’re enticed by the memory of such a captivating video.
A Different Kind of Tour Primer
Yes, many bands have videos that precede their tours. But I think Gotye’s video is different because it is so visually stunning, sonically sensual and psychologically triggering. It has the power to conjure all sorts of strong emotions for fans subconsciously in ways other haven’t. And that’s what Gotye has going for him as he tours across the US and hopefully into journeys deep into the hearts of American fans.
What About The Emotional Fallout?
But there could be a downside to such a successful video.
What if fans come to the show expecting to have the same experience during the concert as they had while watching the video, and Gotye doesn’t deliver on those expectations?
We’ve all had moments where we watch a great video online only to be completely let down at the show. So could the same creative backfire happen to Gotye? Possibly. But I think something else will happen. And we’ll have to wait and see.
Whatever happens, I’m looking forward to hearing what you experience during the show so we can continue our exciting Gotye live experiment.
What’s Your Gotye story
Have you seen Gotye live? What did you feel during the concert? What other videos have created similar pre-concert emotional experiences for you?
Tell us what you think and share your concert experiences and thoughts about in the comments below, on Twitter @livefixmedia, on Facebook , Google Plus, or call the concert fan hotline at 773-609-4341, and we’ll include them in a future episode of Live Fix Radio.
Check out Goyte’s tour schedule and other tunes here, and watch his interview below via “Off Duty,” a new series from the Wall Street Journal.
Jimmy Kimmel US live debut
WSJ interview