We only recently reported the drama surrounding the copyright issue surrounding Radiohead’s parodic video to their single ‘Burn the Witch’ (see article here), and now there is a dramatic stir in the news regarding the video to One Republic’s ‘Wherever I Go’.

There is no issue regarding One Republic’s video, but it is rather celebrated for its storyline. The very nature of music is to break the routine of daily life and this video clearly demonstrates this. The grey colour scheme introduces the lyrics ‘Wherever I go there’s a shadow of you’, the protagonist stands out among his fellow commuters wearing a lighter shade of grey suit. He enters the formulaic office and begins his musical independence. This is somewhat a reminiscent of the video to Britney Spears’ ‘Womanizer’.

Then with one point of a finger he exposes a female colleagues brassier, then everything kicks off with some dancing on tables! Afterwards he’s wheeled into a room where One Republic are performing. As he reverses back into the room, viewers are greeted witch an abundance of colour: bright suits, short dresses, and female formal wear. We end in the elevator, himself and a female, and his fantasy within his formulaic world.

On 18 May One Republic caused further drama with ‘Wherever I Go’ apparently halting NBC’s the Tonight Show With Jimmy Fallon, taking over the stage to perform a dramatic performance of this single.

One Republic are making a brief performance this year in the UK after a modest appearance on the Italian version of The Voice on 25 May:

29/5 – Powderham Castle – Exeter
24/6 – MTV Music Evolution – Manila, Philippines
16/9 – Kaaboo Festival – Del Mar, Ca, USA

One Republic were formed twenty years ago in 1996 by frontman Ryan Tedder and Zach Filkins. They famously avoid pinning themselves down to a genre – reflected, perhaps, to the protagonist in the video to ‘Wherever I Go’ – and last toured from 2013-2015 with their 2013 album Native. Compare ‘Wherever I Go’ to ‘Womanizer’ below: