Selfridges, Oxford Street, London
To mark the beginning of the summer festival season, Selfridges have collaborated with ten current musicians and asked them to visualise their hit songs in 3 dimensions. It’s amazing to what lengths some of the artists have gone. My favourite is probably the Empire of the Sun – window, because I love their song so much. Knowing the songs is a key to understanding what the windows are all about, hence I’m putting links up so you can listen to the songs.
All photos by Andrew Meredith.
Florence and the Machine: ‘Cosmic Love‘ .
‘The stars, the moon, they’re all blown out. You have left me in the dark. No dawn, no day, I’m always in this twilight in the shadows of your heart.’
It’s all about light; I like the way they’ve done the mannequin’s insides with fluorescent lights as well. It’s a beautiful song, and I think this windows captures the spirit well.
Dizzee Rascal: ‘Bonkers‘
‘Some people think I’m bonkers, but I just think I’m free.. Man I’m just livin’ my life, there’s nothin’ crazy bout me.’
Great song! Dizzie’s eyes just keep rolling around in this pretty much.
Empire of the Sun: ‘Walking on a Dream‘.
‘On and on and on we’re calling out and out again. Never looking down. I’m just in awe of what’s in front of me.’
One of my favourite songs at the moment. The window stays true to the album cover and the music video, and mannequin is dressed exactly like the singer Luke Steele. I would describe their visual style as Cosmic Exotica.. Their style is really unique..
Charlotte Gainsbourg: ‘Heaven Can Wait‘.
‘She’s sliding, she’s sliding, down into the dregs of the world. She’s fighting, she’s fighting, the urge to make sand out of pearls.’
I would watch the music video; it is so wierd. Otherwise I’m not sure what this window says, it echoes emptiness to me.
Paloma Faith: ‘Do You Want the Truth or Something Beautiful?’
‘Do you want the truth or something beautiful? I am happy to deceive you.’
The window is mostly a vinyl room set on the glass, and a white chair has a red apple shaped candle on it. The way I see it the classic room is the truth and the tempting apple is the lie. I like the way different dimensions of the window have been used.
Marina and the Diamonds: ‘I Am Not A Robot‘.
‘You’re vulnerable, you’re vulnerable. You’re not a robot. Better to be hated than loved, love loved for what you’re not.’
I like the contrast of having an (ugly?) robot together with jewellery. All the props take a big part in all these windows and the product is hardly noticable. I wonder if that is a wise move commercially?
The Drums: ‘Best Friend‘.
‘You’re my best friend and then you died when I was twenty-three and you were twenty-five. You’re my best friend and then you died. And how will I survive?’
Here’s another band I like a lot at the moment. Check out the video, it is exactly like the window, just with the band in it.
The Big Pink: ‘A Brief history of Love‘.
Art work by Joe Rush and Alex Wreckage of the Mutoid Waste Co.
I like the song, and the window is so beautiful; I love the backdrop and the props make it darker and edgier.
Hot Chip: ‘I Feel Better‘
‘I only want one life. Together in our arms. This is the longest night. We’re meeting arms to arms.’
Another strange video.. But the window is cool and it incorporates felt shapes and lots of kiddies products. I have
The XX: ‘Stars‘.
‘But if stars, should’t shine, by the very first time, then dear it’s fine, so fine by me. ‘Cos we can give it time, so much time, with me.’
The X seems to be this band’s logo, which must explain the simplicity of the window.
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