Watching this video is a little bittersweet, knowing that Emma hit a rough patch soon after and left the music industry for over a decade. In the video she’s young and seems to be singing a message of hope. If only.
The video is lovely, with slow black and white footage of Maori in small towns around New Zealand, including plenty of staunch-as bros looking real hard, eh. Meanwhile, Emma busks on the streets of Auckland, with passersby passing her by, though the infamous Queen Street busker stops for a look.
“System Virtue” feels like it has a positive and uplifting message, but Emma seems to have been studying the Shayne Carter style of singing, leaving the verses sounding like they might just be make up of interesting sounds, rather than meaningful sentences. And “system virtue” – what does that even mean? But does it need to have a meaning?
Best bit: the lady enjoying a cup of tea in an Arcoroc mug.
Next… man on the verge of a popstastic breakthrough.
2 comments
Emma. says:
May 6, 2012
The lady is my mum.
“System virtue” is a positive take on the saying “System Sux”. The lyrics are more than meets the eye. They don’t speak literally.
Robyn says:
May 6, 2012
Hey Emma! Thanks so much for your comment. It’s learning the little details, like the lady enjoying the cuppa being your mum, that makes 5000 Ways such a fulfilling project.
And thanks for the explanation of what ‘system virtue means’. With just that little explanation, suddenly everything clicks into place.