Bowie has proved he is well and truly back with a bang as he debuted the video for the second track, The Stars (Are Out Tonight), from his forthcoming album, The Next Day.
Starring Tilda Swinton as the 66-year-old star’s fictional wife, the edgy six-minute video sees the happily-married pair’s world torn apart by a menacing celebrity couple, played by androgynous models, Andrej Pejic and Saskia De Brauw.
Initially, the Oscar-winning actress portrays a typical 50s housewife, complete with a perfect set of curls and a powder pink coat.
But as the story unravels, she slowly transforms into an androgynous being - bearing an uncanny resemblance to Bowie himself in his youth - and at one stage, even plants a tender kiss on the musician.
Directed by filmmaker Floria Sigismondi - best known as writer/director of Kristen Stewart film rock biopic The Runaways - and shot by Jeff Cronenweth, the story is said to ‘capture a twenty first century moment in its convergence of age, gender and the normal/celebrity divide’.
As the clip begins, Swinton and Bowie are seen going about their everyday life, and as they visit a supermarket his eyes are drawn to a gossip magazine bearing the headline ‘Celebrity Couple’s Twisted Antics’.
Tilda, dressed in an immaculately tailored coat with her blonde locks set into perfect curls, grabs the magazine off her husband and continues their shopping - but it is an omen of what’s to come for the pair.
This signals the arrival of androgynous models Andrej Pejic and Saskia De Brauw, who play a celebrity couple intent on turning the pair’s life upside down when they move next door, with Pejic appearing to channel Bowie in his younger years.Exploring the issues of the current fascination with celebrity culture, the musings of fame and androgyny, the video then sees Tilda take on a variety of different roles as she becomes a puppet for the couple.
After Bowie comes face to face with Pejic through a brick wall, De Brauw climbs into his bed and plants a tender kiss on his face, while Swinton experiences a series of terrifying night tremors.
With all three characters writhing around on the floor, Swinton’s character is suddenly reborn as a version of Bowie with short platinum androgynous hair.Planting a kiss on the musician’s character and showering him with red lipstick marks, the actress takes on a shocking new life as her puppeteers take hold of her fate.
The video continues the overriding theme of introspection that emerged from Bowie’s comeback single Where Are We Now.
