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The Best Music Video From Each Japanese Breakfast Album

Japanese Breakfast is the solo project of musician Michelle Zauner. She just released her third full-length album Jubilee on Dead Oceans. Her other records Psychopomp and Soft Sounds From Another Planet helped put her on the map. There is no doubt about her intelligence both in the studio and on the screen. Behind some of her most creative songs are equally creative music videos. We think these are the best from each respective record.

“Everbody Wants To Love You”-Psychopomp

In this video, Zauner dons a traditional formal Korean dress called a hanbok to a bar where she drunkenly selects songs on a jukebox, smokes cigarettes and graffitis her own name in a bathroom. She even pounds a 40 before hopping on the back of a motorcycle and eventually shredding her guitar on the front of an eighteen-wheeler, all while in her hanbok. This track from her first album Psychopomp immediately showed that she was ready to defy expectations. Rock on dude, rock on.

“Boyish”-Soft Sounds  From Another Planet

“Boyish” was the first music video that Zauner directed herself. The song is a dream-pop wonderland, and the video captures that same spirit. It features her and her backing group playing on stage at a school dance. Her mind was able to come up with cinematic lighting and themes she has experienced firsthand. It features a young girl who is excited to impress a boy but decides to focus on herself instead. The girl rocks a tuxedo and even ends up playing a solo on Zauner’s guitar. The video also received praise from fans for its Asian representation.

“Be Sweet”-Jubilee

Out of the videos released for Jubilee so far, this one takes the cake. It rocks from the beginning. Basslines and synths help set the tone for Zauner who plays “Shelly Breakfast.” Alongside the character “Missy,” the two do some barrel rolls overtop each other while pointing laser guns and flashing FBI badges. It reads like a modern take on the Beastie Boys “Sabotage” video. It is very 1980’s. The two are hunting aliens throughout the video, which again was directed by Zauner. It shows that her mind can come up with just about anything.

Zauner also released a video for the song “Savage Good Boy” to promote Jubilee. While it is a good video itself, it actually serves as a prequel for another track and music video, “Posing in Bondage.” Since the two are associated with one another, we have decided to leave them off this list. They are great, though, so be sure to check them out for yourself.

Japanese Breakfast’s newest record Jubilee is out now, stream it here.

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Ben Pagani

Ben Pagani

Ben is a music journalist living and working in Chicago. They joined Beyond The Stage as an intern and have stayed on the staff for several years. Now serving on the editorial board, Ben is proud to be BTS' Music Projects Manager, coordinating coverage between international record labels and our staff. Ben has interviewed, photographed and written about bands from across the world. Ben has lived all over the United States working in television and media. They are an Emmy Award-winning writer. Ben can be found spinning records as 'DJ Wearing Sunglasses' in clubs and basements across the US.