"Dead Flowers" Bring Miranda Lambert's Acting to Life
Sometimes a song is so purely brilliant, it doesn't need much of a video. Think about Sugarland's "Stay." Simple and sparse in terms of instruments, cameras and even makeup.
I thought that would be the case with Miranda Lambert's "Dead Flowers." That it was such a well-crafted song, she could just stand there and sing and it would make an excellent video. But like so many times in her evolving career, she has exceeded my expectations.
First of all, she can really act. Not that that's a mandatory requirement of country singers, but, God, does it make the video powerful. She is singing that this guy "ain't feeling anything: my love, my hurt or the sting of this rain," yet she's the one doing a great job of looking numb and hurt and kind of used to the pain. And what I think makes Lambert unique is her ability to channel that emotion she's acting out into her voice. This time it's anger, which comes through loud and clear toward the end of the song. It's the little nuances -- like how she never ever smiles during the entire video -- that reveal how deeply she's feeling the lyrics she's singing.
Secondly, the way the video was shot, with this sepia tone, makes it look a little vintage. Which feels right since this kind of love-that's-lost-its-luster trouble has been around forever. It may just be a video trend right now, but this time it seems more like a relevant statement about the song that just a gimmicky post-production trick.
I'd put money on this one for all kinds of video of the year awards.
©2008 Country Music Television, Inc., a Viacom company. A division of
Redmaz says:
Nice ‘64 GTO!
Tim S. says:
Man, I love Miranda. Every one of her songs are great, and this video shows just how amazing she is, and what a great asset she is to country music.
Dan Poltrictzky says:
Yay!! Thanks Alison for the blog about the video. Isn’t it awesome!! Well, i know this will help it be added to more radio stations and be played a lot more. Ran is always beautiful!!
Mechelle says:
Hi everyone!Thank you allison.This is great.Mirandalambert is great.Dead flowers is a great song and a great video.Also kelliepickler is great.Everyone please vote for mirandalambert and kelliepickler on cmt powerpicks every monday though thursday mornings.Also everyone please vote for both Mirandalambert and kelliepickler on the top20 countdown and for everything!Thank you to everyone who vote for both mirandalambert and kelliepickler for evrything!Mirandalambert and kelliepickler love all the fans.Take care everyone!Thank you cmt for showing mirandalambert and kelliepickler videos.Have a great weekend everyone!
bkb says:
miranda is great singer, songwriter and performer, all the things that swift isn’t and never will be. thanks for this blog, need more of this on the artists that deserve it.
Jasper says:
This song moves me so much. She looks so beautiful in the video. I hope this song will be a big hit for her.
MiaT says:
WOW….Miranda…
Speechless.
Thanks for this Alison!
MiaT says:
This song and some parts of this video remind me of Faith Hill’s “Stealing Kisses”. Both are soooo outstanding!!!
lori jean says:
Amazing, Love it! I love everything, the lyrics, her voice, the video!
Walter says:
Hi.This is a great song and great video.Thank allison.Mirandalambert is great!Mirandalambert rocks.Also kelliepickler is great.Kelliepickler rocks.Both mirandlambert and kelliepickler show alot of love to the fans also which is great!Everyone please vote for both mirandalambert and kelliepickelr for cmtpowerpicks and for the top 20 and everything!Me and my friends vote for both!Thank you to everyone who vote for mirandalambert and kelliepickelr for everything!You all are the best!Also thank you cmt for showing mirandalambert and kelliepickler videos.Take care everyone!Have a great weekend everyone!Rock on!
Ham says:
I would certainly love to see Ran get the attention she deserves for this song, her songwriting and her singing. I don’t agree however that the acting is that great. She seem too expressionless. Maybe that is what the reviewer means by her look of numbness.
David Nisbet, Scotland says:
I don’t really care for the song, but I would still like to have seen the video - but it’s the same old “unavailable outside the US” story….
Dan Poltrictzky says:
David: Can you check it out on youtube.com
donthateroamingtony says:
“I’d put money on this one for all kinds of video of the year awards.”
put me down for $10 on that bet. who did her hair? perez hilton? come on…never was, never will. she should take up acting. maybe date romo too?
Lin says:
Love the video. Miranda has so much talent in her writing and singing. The words to this song are saying alot. WOW
GRD says:
I guess it’s just me, but I don’t think this song is one of Lambert’s finest, not by a long shot. Every time she gets to “dead flowers,” I want to giggle. I suppose there’s something wrong with me — but it sounds so mawkish, it’s almost like a parody. Like all those “my dog died and my wife took off in my truck with my best friend” parodies of country music.
She’s talented and all, I’m not saying she’s not, but this song doesn’t do it for me.
Linda says:
Great video. Love the scenes of Miranda singing the first chorus and being expressive and emoting with her body language and the guy’s just laying on the couch feeling nothing. Brilliant.
Debbie W. says:
My favorite part of the video also Linda…I love this song and video, but I love all of Ran’s music. She is phenomenal. Thanks for a great blog Alison…now let’s hope someday radio gets on board with playing her more.
jedred says:
Absolute money!!! This is real country music folks!!!!! Radio should recognize her after this! Lambert rules
Paul says:
Beautiful song…very powerful.