Vampire Weekend has recently released a music video for Giving Up The Gun, the newest single off their second album. The video is filled with an all-star celebrity cast, including Joe Jonas, Jake Gyllenhaal, rapper Lil Jon, and RZA from the Wu-Tang Clan. It’s centered on a series of ironic tennis matches. The heroine of the video, Jenny, a friend of Vampire Weekend, plays everyone from Jonas, a samurai, a set of twins, and an alter-ego version of herself. Jenny is also matched against the comedic Gyllenhaal, a flask-drinking tennis player who rips off his pants before playing.

The visuals of this clip are both strong and perfectly choreographed with the light melodies of the song. The video effects are interesting too, like when the tennis ball turns into ball of fire or the official is able to teleport himself to the opposite side of the court and determine if the ball was ‘in’. The mise-en-scene of the video also compliments the light music, from the white clean background, to the patriotic-colored wardrobe of the performers. Vampire Weekend’s vocalist Ezra Koenig was quoted saying, “The heroine of the video isn’t an amazing tennis player, but she has heart. She stays calm despite the unfairness of it all.” The same can be said about this video. It may not be the most technically advanced, but there is a charm and originality present that only further enhances the enjoyment that comes from listening to the music.