GENER8ION - Storm starring Yung Lean – A Visceral Dance Performance

Set in Leeds in 2034, GENER8ION’s new video for Storm, with Swedish rapper, singer, and songwriter Yung Lean taking the lead, is something very, very different. It is immediately reminiscent of “If…” the 1968 satirical drama set in a strict boys’ boarding school where the students rebel and things escalate into chaos.  I’m not sure if that is where the inspiration for this video came from, but I was also reminded of the character of Mondain, the older, aggressive student who arrives partway through 2002’s Les Choristes and proceeds to terrorise the school.  Lean plays one such student, who rules the school through a combination of sheer thuggery and menacing charm.  As you might expect, the video is brimming with testosterone and hats off to these boys, they don’t hold back.

In case you haven’t come across GENER8ION before, it is the stage name of Surkin, a French electronic music producer. He uses the GENER8ION name for a more experimental, audio-visual project that blends electronic music with striking visuals and film-style storytelling. One of the best-known works under this name is the track The New International Sound (Part II), which has a powerful, cinematic feel and a famous video set in a Chinese martial arts school.  I have a feeling that this video is going to become equally as (in)famous.  The first part comes across, as I have said, like “If…” on acid.

Yet it is the second part of this music video that makes it so special, extraordinary even.  The boys line up for a school photo, with Lean at its heart and then they dance.  The Choreography by Damien Jalet is superb, and the whole ensemble is directed with great panache by Romain Gavras.  One of the commenters on YouTube said “AI – good luck trying to do something like this”.  Well, that’s because this isn’t just a very clever music video that contains a bit of dancing.  This is art.  Another commenter said “Easily one of the best music videos I’ve ever seen. And I’m old.”  I agree.  This is extraoridnary.

So, what is the fuss all about? Watch the video below.