WATCH: Rare Americans Release Colorful Visuals for “Baby Boy”
WATCH: Rare Americans Release Colorful Visuals for “Baby Boy”
Take a trip through the animated universe of Rare Americans
Words by: Meaghan MacDonald
Vancouver-based sibling duo Rare Americans is back with visuals for “Baby Boy.” This latest single comes as an uplifting telling of a story of someone who has gained a fresh, new perspective on life. The lyrics describe this reborn feeling, “I feel hungry now/Likе a baby boy/I’m awake, I’m awake/I’m awake, I’m awake/And it’s a whole new ball game/It’s a brand new day.”
Vocalist James Priestner spoke on the message behind the song, “We all go through lulls in life. Sometimes they are harder to get out of than others but we have to learn that life isn’t a sprint, it’s a marathon. I’m really hard on myself and was starting to beat myself up too much mentally. I had to learn that good things take time.” The band has an original animated universe, showcased in the visuals for “Baby Boy.” The opening of “Baby Boy” begins with a dog waiting for his child-owner to get off the bus. As the song begins, you follow this same main character through adulthood, as he faces his demons. As the lyrics of the song turn hopeful, so does the main character. We find him adopting his dog from childhood, everyone in his town following by adopting dogs of their own. The characters begin to live brighter, happier lives, just like the song suggests.
Rare Americans are no stranger to meaningful lyrics — often painting vivid pictures of the different challenges in life. The band’s fan favorite single, “Brittle Bones Nicky,” highlights a foster child named Nicky and the hard times he’s been hit with. The music video includes the same animated universe, this time telling the story of Nicky. The song features Eminem-esque rap verses over a horn-laden beat. With 55 million views on the video, “Brittle Bones Nicky” is their most popular song yet.
The idea of the band first came in the form of a joke. Brothers James and Jared were on vacation in the Caribbean, when James jokingly suggested they try writing a song. Jared suggested they try an album, which then became their freshman album, Rare Americans. Reminiscent of the Gorillaz, Rare Americans have managed to craft their own sound, blending the sounds of rap, punk, and ska.
The brothers are also joined by Slovak guitarists, Lubo Ivan and Jan Cajka as well as drummer Duran Ritz. Together, they combine to create stomach-twisting lyrics, blended with a combination of different genres, creating a unique, original sound.
