Paul Weller Honours Charm of Young Romance for ‘Rise Up Singing’ Music Video

Great Guns’ Calum Macdiarmid directs a sentimental vignette of first date nerves for musician Paul Weller’s latest release, ‘Rise Up Singing’.

Inspired by kitchen sink realism which platformed raw human stories in ‘50s and ‘60s Britain, the video explores the minutiae of a boy getting ready for a date with a timelessness worthy of Paul Weller and a sensitivity to match the track. Scrutinising his appearance in the mirror, facing a moment of let down when the date seems not to show, and running back for that crucial last spritz of cologne when she does, it’s a nostalgic window into the charm of young love.

The video introduces actor Joe Freeman in a leading role, cast by Kharmel Cochrane. Drawn in by the strength and naturalism of his casting tape, it was pure happenstance that Joe’s dad, Martin Freeman, had also starred in Paul Weller’s ‘Pick It Up’ promo just under a decade prior.

The location was secured just two days before the shoot. A house with many original 1960s features, now owned by a couple who work in film/TV/promos art department, it complements the music video’s contemporary yet classic timeless feel. Standing out in contrast against its patterned red carpets is Flo, a green, ring-tailed iguana, chosen by Calum as co-star to lend a quirky poetry to visuals otherwise firmly grounded in realism. Despite being brought in last minute to cover for the first lizard that called in sick, Flo puts on a marvellous performance, complete with cheeky winks and timely head turns.

Calum Macdiarmid comments: “The video was particularly fun because it felt like a short film with a focus on narrative which made getting the necessary coverage much easier. The hardest challenge was trying to tell a super minimalist concept - boy gets ready for date - in a way that gave it a little arc, and went with the flow of the music. My ambition was to make it feel almost like the music was a score written for the story, using the rise and fall of the energy to punctuate certain moments.”