A lot of songs are constructed to set a certain mood; others to paint a specific picture. NEWMONEY’s laissez-faire banger “John Cena” seems to fall somewhere in between. I’ve listened to the track many times since its release and it’s come to formulate a distinct scene in my mind. It goes a little something like this: There’s Sea Ghost frontman Carter Sutherland dressed in pastel workout sweats with matching bandana. He’s running in place, punching the air, belting out the track’s irrepressible sing-song hook. NEWMONEY, dressed in a black suit embroidered with pink flamingos, is standing just ahead of him, eyes closed, throwing his hands up in celebration. There are balloons and confetti falling. Everything is moving in slow motion. Why this happens I have not the slightest clue, but this is the scene my consciousness forms whenever “John Cena” is blasting in my headphones.
And in a lot of ways it’s not much different from director Kaitlin Turner-Simotics vision. Pulling from an assortment of behind-the-scenes shots and live footage, Turner-Simotics utilizes a retro karaoke theme to accentuate the track’s whimsical vibe. It’s an offbeat, lo-fi affair to be sure, which is perfectly in keeping with an artist who has admitted in the past to creating fanciful songs “for the purpose of fun and absurdity.” There may not be any balloons and confetti, but “John Cena” still feels like a party.
Watch it above.
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