POPSCREEN: Feist

Oh, Feist, where have you gone? I miss your cute fringe bangs and awkward indie-dancing. The Feist of the blue sequined unitard, the one we all know and love from the Apple commercial, has disappeared in her latest music video. “Honey Honey” is more melancholy than her previous songs, so it comes as no surprise that she decided to tone down the dancing and crank up the serious for the accompanying music video. This of course means weathered faces, long shadows, extremely slow-moving shots, and puppets.

But these puppets are like the gnarled, ugly ancestors of the cuddly Muppets you grew up with. Seemingly carved out of wood, the husband and wife puppet duo have expressions of almost unbearable sadness etched unchangingly into their faces. It’s a very creepy and powerful effect, especially when coupled with the woman’s rag-like clothing.

Here’s the story: the wife waits on the shore as her gnarled fisherman husband is eaten by a spiny fish after the two duel in a maelstrom (conveyed by hands with cut-out lighting bolts attached). All the while, Feist gasps out soft narrative lyrics interspersed with an eerie harmony. After her husband is swallowed, the wife dons a retro-science fiction swim apparatus to search for him. Although the ending is ambiguous, the candle that has lit the scene is blown out in its final moments, so I wouldn’t hold out too much hope for the couple’s future together.

While the frequent close-ups on the puppets are a bit heavy-handed, the video does do a good job of capturing the languid nature of the song. The gently rippling water and honey-toned sky blend seamlessly with Feist’s smooth voice.

If you’re really missing Feist, her hand and later the silhouette of her face make a guest appearance as God. While I would argue that Feist is taking her influence a little bit too far, the song in itself is quite lovely. The puppets not so much. I recommend they don unitards for their next video.

—Rebecca J. Levitan