Blossom is a song performed by Kerli. The song came out as a single on April 28, 2016, without announcement: after posting three total black images on her social media, she published the music video on her YouTube channel. As March 1, 2018, the video was viewed more than 1 million times. It was the second single of the original version of Kerli's third studio album, scrapped along with the original album art and the original fantasy theme as happened with Feral Hearts, Diamond Hard and Spirit Animal, for the new darker album theme for the released album Shadow Works.
Background and composition[]
In the video, the first thing that can be seen is the following:
So the song is an ode to the plant kingdom and is not just a story of survival, but an audiovisual poem about thriving in the face of obstacles. It is inspired by the most powerful healing plants of ancient Estonia.
No one is safe from a rough set of cards that life can deal us but how we deal with these cards is up to us. Winning against the odds and overcoming things that seem impossible to overcome is how our gold nugget of a soul gets not only recognized but polished, shiny and awe inspiring. Whatever it is that you might have dealt with, are dealing with or are yet to deal with - remember, not only do we survive, we blossom.[1]
Release and promotion[]
The song came out, with the related music video on her YouTube channel, on April 28, 2016, without letting know in advance: she just published three total-black images on her social accounts and then the video appeared. On May 27, she released the Halls of Heaven Sessions version and on May 28 the second arrangement of the song was online to be streamed and bought.
Audio commentary[]
Music video[]
The video is inspired by the following plants:
- Mugwort
- Fireweed
- Nettle
- Malva
- Filipendula
- Great mullein
For the visuals, we created a dome frame and my mom covered it in fabric so it can be used as a projection screen. The plants that you see projected are sacred healing plants of Estonia made into moving images and everything that happens in the video is projected and shot at the same time. There is no special effects happening. I have become a huge fan of creating sets and shooting everything practically so it’s been a really fun journey playing around with different objects, shapes and lighting to create a world.[1]
Lyrics[]
A frozen heartbeat under the snow
I've been waiting, ready to grow
Shivering and weathering storms
Dreaming of some other place warm
While my roots hid deeper inside
And my leaves stay bundled up tight
I felt my faith get bigger than life
Not only did I survive
I learned to blossom
I learned to blossom
Finding sunlight in the grey
Knowing I will be okay
I learned to blossom
Finding sunlight in the grey
Through a lifetime with no rain
I'll blossom
Wilted voices ghostly in wind
Whispering "this could be the end"
Why are they forgetting me not?
Can't they see I'm hurting enough?
While my roots hid deeper inside
And my leaves stay bundled up tight
I felt my faith get bigger than life
Not only did I survive
I learned to blossom
I learned to blossom
Finding sunlight in the grey
Knowing I will be okay
I learned to blossom
Finding sunlight in the grey
Through a lifetime with no rain
I'll blossom
And I'll bloom
Track listing[]
- Blossom - 3:59
The Halls of Heaven Session[]
- Blossom (The Halls of Heaven Session) - 2:34
PledgeMusic exclusive[]
- Blossom - 4:38
- Blossom (The Halls of Heaven Session) - 2:34
- Blossom (Audio Commentary) – 3:06
Deepest Roots EP[]
- Blossom (Futuristik Remix) - 3:53
Credits[]
Song[]
- Melody and lyrics by Kerli Kõiv
- Music by Ago Teppand
- Produced and mixed by Ago Teppand
- Vox engineered and produced by Kerli Kõiv
- Choral vocals written by Kerli Kõiv
- Choral vocals performed by Ülenurme laulustuudio
- Percussion by Kristjan Kallas
Music video[]
- Creative director: Kerli
- Technical director: Sven-Erik Mandmaa
- Production: Widescreen Studios
- Production manager: Matilde Matvere
- Producer: Anneli Lepp
- Director / Dop: Cj Kask
- Ac: Raido Pedak
- Make-up artist: Maret Ubaleht
- Ice sculptures: Stina Tiidimae
- Hair: Intersalon (Liina Heck, Maarja Roots, Martin Kullus)
- Dress: Piret Kõiv
- Projection: Ethan Chancer
- Making of footage: Mart Vares
Special thanks[]
- Ülenurme laulustuudio
- Jared Barboza
- Tarmo Kiisk
- High Voltage
- Vivero
- Tencu
- Datel
- Martin Vinkel
- Overall
- Metsamoor
Gallery[]
References[]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Post by kerlimusic. March 1, 2018. Instagram.