CULTURE

Rita Ora’s New Music Video Looks Awfully Familiar (Ahem, Perfume Genius)

I may have started a pop music war.

by Kyle Munzenrieder

Perfume-Genius-3.jpg
Photo by Easton and Roso, styled by Sam Walker. Produced by Biel Parklee. Grooming by Linda Shalabi for Oribe at See Management. Fashion Assistant: Alex Pastore. Production Assistant: Alex Hodor-Lee.

Rita Ora‘s video for her new single “Your Song” opens with the former America’s Next Top Model judge at the head of a boardroom conference table dressed in a voluminous business suit straight out of the ’80s while a bunch of odd-looking men wearing standard Men’s Warehouse suits look on. She then jumps up on the table, turning it into her own personal catwalk, confronts the businessmen, and, at one point, gets down on her back and shimmies backwards down the table. She then exits the situation by launching herself off a ledge.

This is interesting, because indie singer-songwriter Perfume Genuis‘s 2014 video for his single “Queen” also features a scene that involves him at the head of a boardroom conference table dressed in a voluminous business suit straight out of the ’80s, while a bunch of odd-looking men in standard Men’s Warehouse suits look on. He then jumps up on the table, turns it into his own personal catwalk, confronts the businessmen, and, at one point, gets down on his back and shimmies backwards down the table. He then exits the situation by launching herself off a ledge.

To be clear, these videos both have a lot else going on in them, but these particular scenes, well, they seem oddly similar.

Here’s the Rita Ora video. The scene in question starts just after the start and lasts until the 1:10 mark:

Here’s the Perfume Genius video. The scene in question runs from about the 2:30 mark to the 3:00 mark. The part where he jumps off a ledge occurs in the next scene.

It just seemed so oddly similar that I couldn’t help but dash off a tongue-in-cheek Tweet about it. One that I was not expecting Perfume Genius’s Mike Hadreas to retweet with the “looking eyes” emoji.

All apologies for accidentally starting any drama between the Seattle-based indie rocker and the British-based popstar and TV hostess.

To be fair, there are some differences in the scenes. In the Perfume Genius video, directed by Ssion, the businessmen are eating giant shrimp. In the Ora video the conference room has a lot more natural light pouring in thanks to floor-to-ceiling windows. The suits are also different colors. So this could all be a big misunderstanding.

The rest of Ora’s video finds the artist, walking and driving backwards, to meet up with a boy she had kissed earlier and she couldn’t take her mind off of.

Perfume Genius’s video is far more surreal, and Hadreas on a crazy night of adventure that starts when a glamorous woman picks him up in a convertible.

Related: How Perfume Genius Found the Transgression—and His Most Daring Music Yet—in Self-Care

Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell

Valentino Sala Bianca 945 Haute Couture dress, bra, and clutch; Ben-Amun by Isaac Manevitz earrings; (from top) Inez and Vinoodh rings, model’s own ring (throughout); Falke tights (throughout); Saint Laurent by Hedi Slimane sandals. On Perfume Genius: Jacket, trousers, and medals from Kaufman’s Army & Navy, New York; hat from Western Costume Company, Los Angeles; Sermoneta Gloves gloves; belt from Uncle Sam’s Army Navy Outfitters, New York; his own shoes (all throughout).

Photographer: Inez Van Lamsweerde and Vinoodh Matadin Stylist: Edward Enninful

Diane von Furstenberg dress; Alexander McQueen shirt; YSL from Stone & Strand vintage earrings; Max Mara bow; Falke tights (throughout); Saint Laurent by Hedi Slimane sandals. Beauty note: Hit refresh with Bareminerals Complexion Rescue SPF 30 in Vanilla.

Photographer: Inez Van Lamsweerde and Vinoodh Matadin Stylist: Edward Enninful

J. Mendel gown and boa; Lele Sadoughi necklace; Saint Laurent by Hedi Slimane sandals.

Photographer: Inez Van Lamsweerde and Vinoodh Matadin Stylist: Edward Enninful

Alexander McQueen dress.

Photographer: Inez Van Lamsweerde and Vinoodh Matadin Stylist: Edward Enninful

Escada gown; Kenneth Jay Lane earrings; Inez and Vinoodh bangles. Beauty note: Reach the height of hair perfection with Toni&Guy Hair Meet Wardrobe Casual Matt Texture Dry Shampoo.

Photographer: Inez Van Lamsweerde and Vinoodh Matadin Stylist: Edward Enninful

Marchesa gown; Jennifer Behr veil; Silvia Furmanovich earrings; Givenchy from Stone & Strand vintage bracelet. Beauty note: Sulwhasoo Capsulized Ginseng Fortifying Serum makes skin ready for a great reveal.

Photographer: Inez Van Lamsweerde and Vinoodh Matadin Stylist: Edward Enninful

J. Mendel bolero; Tom Ford gown; Silvia Furmanovich earrings; Saint Laurent by Hedi Slimane sandals.

Photographer: Inez Van Lamsweerde and Vinoodh Matadin Stylist: Edward Enninful

Chanel jacket, blouse, and skirt. Beauty note: For lashes to look up to, use Estée Lauder Little Black Primer mascara.

Photographer: Inez Van Lamsweerde and Vinoodh Matadin Stylist: Edward Enninful

Saint Laurent by Hedi Slimane dress; YSL from Stone & Strand vintage earrings; Ben-Amun by Isaac Manevitz bangles; Saint Laurent by Hedi Slimane sandals. Beauty note: Ultra-touchable skin has Bella Schneider Beauty Culminé Essence of Fig Hand & Body Cream to thank.

Photographer: Inez Van Lamsweerde and Vinoodh Matadin Stylist: Edward Enninful

Jason Wu belted gown; Lele Sadoughi earrings; Jason Wu for Pluma bracelet; Saint Laurent by Hedi Slimane bag.

Vera Wang Collection gown; M&S Schmalberg flower; Lulu Frost earrings; Gaspar Gloves gloves; Dolce & Gabbana briefs; Saint Laurent by Hedi Slimane sandals.

Altuzarra dress; Yves Salomon coat; Eugenia Kim turban; Saint Laurent by Hedi Slimane bag; Kenneth Jay Lane bracelet. Beauty note: Nails become high-shine accessories with CND Vinylux in Clearly Pink.

Hair by James Pecis at D+V Management; makeup by Aaron de Mey at Art Partner; manicure by Deborah Lippmann at the Magnet Agency. Models: Mariacarla Boscono at Women Management, the musician Perfume Genius. Production by the Collective Shift. Creative movement director: Stephen Galloway. Studio manager: Marc Kroop. Location manager: Ernie Liberati. Lighting director: Jodokus Driessen. Digital technician: Brian Anderson. Photography assistant: Joe Hume. Fashion assistants: Ryann Foulke, Dena Giannini. Hair assistant: Holly Mills. Makeup assistant: Tayler Treadwell. Special thanks to Creative Film Cars.

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