Santigold - Nothing (Official Video)

Video Vignette for “Nothing” by Santigold from the album, ‘Spirituals’, available September 9, 2022. “Nothing is a song I wrote about invisibility. It’s a song for anyone who has not been seen, and for me it was an opportunity to explore how that feels. I wrote Nothing in the midst of the Black Lives Matter protests, and in writing the lyrics I was able to release a heaviness that I did not know I was carrying. Being Black and being a woman, particularly one who has chosen the creative path that I have chosen, I have always felt invisible to a degree. People see only what they think they know, or what they think I should be. Or sometimes, they see nothing at all. This song is about the burden of existing beneath a veil of nothingness. And the strength it requires just to be, despite it. This video vignette was inspired by a Wangechi Mutu image called Snake Eater. I had seen the image years ago and when I was thinking up visual ideas for this song, this piece came to mind. I loved the idea of a being that is woman but also beyond human in some way, and even unclassifiable. A being for whom there is no name, no category, who is totally unique, and fierce. I wanted to become this type of creature in this video because I don’t believe we have to know how to name or define what we’re seeing to accept that it exists, that it’s beautiful and powerful and worthy of being exactly what it is. How exciting to encounter a being so magnificent that it is beyond our imaginations. How exciting to find that that beast is living within you and to set it free.“ - Santigold Pre-Save ’Spirituals’ here: Stream/download ’Nothing’ here: Directed by Frank Ockenfels. Lyrics Hate me if you want to I won’t lose my head Tell me what you want I won’t believe a thing I hear you talking loud when it’s unsaid (Imagine that) All you ever told me I could be nothing Won’t you tell me what you mean yeah What do ya, what do ya? Won’t you tell me what you mean yeah What do ya, what do ya? All day I fight what I can’t see, my nothing Over and over, hangs over me On the inside I got to beat my nothing Over and over To know I mean something Won’t you say I mean something Won’t you say I mean something You keep telling me I’m nothing Got me where you want you know you’re in my head Still whatever hold I’m in you seen me rise through it Is it me or is it you I push to outdo here (Who am I outdoing?) Am I free proving I’m better just so I’m not less Won’t you tell me what you mean yeah What do ya, what do ya? Won’t you tell me what you mean yeah What do ya, what do ya? All day I fight what I can’t see, my nothing Over and over, hangs over me On the inside I got to beat my nothing Over and over To know I mean something Won’t you say I mean something Won’t you say I mean something Say I mean something Won’t you say I mean something Don’t keep telling me I’m nothing Say I mean something Follow Santigold