There are going to be plenty of people talking about Charli XCX's new video for Boys this morning and there's good reason. The British popstar has pulled together a lineup featuring just about everyone you've ever had a boy crush on and you're going to see them doing things you've never seen before. Diplo is shirtless playing with puppies, Mac Demarco is shirtless licking a guitar, Charli Puth is washing a car and she's even managed to get Vance Joy in there. She's been working on this video for months and has decided to sit behind the camera this time around, direct and have some fun.
Boys is the latest single off her forthcoming third album and comes straight off the bat of her Number 1 Angel mixtape. It's a fresh, minimal pop track that has Charli, "dreaming of boys." She's back at it again creating pop music that pushes the genre forward, testing the limits both with the song and the visual.
The video is so wild that we had to get Charli on the phone to chat about everything from dreaming about Nick Jonas eating sexily to making guys do the things girls are so often made to do in music videos. Have a peep at the video and then read our chat after that.
How long have you been working on this video for?
We started shooting in April and we finished two weeks ago. It’s been a very long process, chasing boys around the globe but it’s been fun.
Did you start making a list of people you wanted to be in the video or did it happen gradually?
It kind of happened as it happened. I remember when I was listening to the song I had this idea and I started thinking about Joe Jonas eating really sexily and I was like this is cool, this is a cool idea. I went with it from there and began to hit people up and tell them about this idea. People were really positive and into and it started happening. It was really just super chill. It involved me continuously annoying and texting people for a month which I’m good at.
Were there any that you were surprised to get in there?
No, I don’t think. The response was really good so I’m happy that I got what I got. I’m surprised some of the guys did what they did. I guess it’s not that surprising that the Fat Jew covered himself in rose and splashed around in a paddling pool but I was really happy that Mac Demarco did it. He was really funny and he really went there with it. He was shirtless and licking a guitar which is really cool. They all kind of went for it. There was no holding back which was really fun.
Some of the pop music videos that are coming out at the moment are amazing like Dua Lipa’s New Rules. How important is coming up with a great concept for you?
Really important. Videos have always been something that I really love and I’m starting to direct more of my own and more for other people. It’s something that I really enjoy. It’s cool but it’s an access into the artist’s world very immediately. It tells the story of the song without you having to explain it.
What’s the story behind this one then. There are boys degrading themselves but also having a good time and being humorous.
It’s not really about them degrading themselves because they’re all very much in the loop of what the concept and the story is. Obviously, it’s obvious that I made an active decision to be behind the camera than in front of it. I really enjoy that anyway because I hate being in videos so that was cool for me. It was cool to be able to direct them and help them be the sexy objects for once and they were down for it too. It was really cool to think up all these really hilarious things that girls do in videos like washing a car or playing with puppies or splashing around in a paddling pool. Obviously, I’ve done a few interviews so far about reversing the male gaze and that’s definitely something I was conscious of and the guys were too. I’m not attacking anyone but it was a very fun video to make.
I think it will be even more fun to see all the reactions because I’m sure people will have a lot to say.
I’m sure there will be one person that goes in super deep on male gaze and angry...yeah, that’s gonna be fun.
