Taking it back to the 80s, Nigerian Afrobeats mainstay Burna Boy has dropped his latest visuals for ‘Rollercoaster’ off his Grammy-nominated sixth studio album Love, Damini.
Accompanied by the Prince of Reggaeton J Blavin, the Loris Russier-directed short film is predominantly set within a vintage-style movie theatre. It is yet another visual offering from the LP following releases like the Ed Sheeran-assisted ‘For My Hand’, ‘Common Person’, and the album’s global hit single, ‘Last Last’.
In the pitch-dark evening, Burna Boy pulls up in a sable muscle car and a matching furry leather coat before he walks into Lafayette Theatre, where Blavin straightens his clothing. After buying tickets and 3D glasses, the two swagger in through the door with Burna singing: “I no want you to dey waste my time / I no wanna wait ‘til it’s all over / This life is a gift from the Most High, Jah / That is why I’m thankful for all I have”. The inductee of Rolling Stones‘ 200 Greatest Singers of All-Time sings his verse in a room flush with red neon lights, Blavin vibing to his verse in the background.
The scene switches to the pair now seated in the theatre, awaiting the start of the film with their 3D glasses sitting neatly on the bridges of their noses. However, the screen fissures into two, revealing it to be a curtain rather than a screen, and they take off their glasses, realising that the movie they had paid to watch was, in fact, of them and nobody else.
The theme of the rollercoaster in the visuals is depicted by a toy representation of the ride as well as with animation carefully sandwiched in between scenes. As a controlling metaphor, the rollercoaster is also presented as the women who materialise out of nowhere next to Burna Boy and J Blavin, love interests they explore the rollercoaster ride of love and life with throughout the night. These are also the scenes which coincide with the advent of the Columbian’s verse.
The visuals of “Rollercoaster” end with the words “The End” the manager closes down the New York establishment after the Nigerian singer leaves with his lover.
Watch “Rollercoaster”: YouTube Link Here
