Outkast's 'Roses' Throws Classic Americana In The Pop Blender
Every once in a blue moon a project comes along that goes truly supernova. Something that garners high critical acclaim, public approval, as well as record sales numbers all at the same time. From the second the singles for ‘The Way You Move’ & ‘Hey Ya’ dropped in August of 2003, there was zero doubt. Outkast was not only back, but their new duel album, Speakerboxxx/The Love Below, was special.
Ostensibly two solo albums featuring sporadic involvement from the other side of the Outkast braintrust. Those first two singles served their purpose in showcasing, on one side, the Pop bonafides of Andre 3000; with the more pure mic skills of Big Boi on the other.
By the time ‘Roses’ dropped in March of 2004, it was time for both sides to come together and show the world exactly how the idea of iron sharpening iron was supposed to work. With that catchy piano hook & Andre’s throwback crooning (“Caroliiiine!”) mixed with Big Boi’s show stealing third verse, the song’s success was once again inevitable.
The music video, directed by long-time collaborator Bryan Barber, features Andre 3000 and Big Boi as rival high school crews vying for the affection of a young lady, the oft-repeated Caroline. Andre’s crew are decked out in crisp red cardigans and performing a school play that, deceptively, is completely clowning on Caroline as she sits in the crowd seemingly unaware that the joke is on her.
What was set up as a play on classic puppy love and high school romance is twisted into a joke that the entire audience is invited to get in on. With its saturated color scheme and short narrative beats, there’s no question this is a product of the early 2000s. But what a joyful product it is.
By the time Big Boi and his Speakerboxx gang show up to crash the performance and start a full-on ruckus (complete with sweet Speakerboxxx letterman jackets), it feels like the video shifting into its next gear rather than a payoff to something set up earlier in the video. It’s that level of consistent entertainment that both members of Outkast know how to provide almost effortlessly.
Pepper in moments like Kevin McDonald from Kids In The Hall playing a geeky teacher trying to stop the Dungeon Family from fighting, Faizon Love’s goofy dance moves, and Katt Williams popping up at the end dressed in his finest 2004 chic to spoil things for Andre & Big Boi and you’ve got a video that is just as entertaining today as it was back in 2004.
Outkast have always been innovators. Taking well worn ideas and spinning & mixing them together to create gold from straw. What could have been a mere pastiche of classic teenage americana is turned into something fresh, fun, and funky all just by being filtered through the lens of one of the most creative groups in hip-hop at the height of their powers.
Shoutout to Illfam79 & ItsDowntownBaby for inspiring this choice. You can recommend a music video for me to review by reaching out below:
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