Hey remember Duffy? Back in 2008 or so Duffy and Adele were kind of a "wave" (do two people constitute a wave?) of ladies from Europe who had strong voices and one name. Adele had "Chasing Pavements" and Duffy had "Mercy". Adele was from London and Duffy was super Welsh to the point that I found it difficult to understand her in interviews, especially when she's being interviewed by other Welsh people.
After 2008, things got kind of unfair because Adele's second album turned out to be pretty popular. Like the best selling album two years in a row popular. Duffy, understandably, didn't quite make it to that level and in 2011 took a two year break which I guess she is almost done with.
She's also made a few impressive music videos, and today we're looking at one that I think is a pretty amazing feat of acting skill - "Warwick Avenue" from 2008, directed by Daniel Wolfe.
This is one of those videos where it's almost in one shot, but a shot at the beginning ruins its distinction of being a true one shot video. However, 99% of this video is just Duffy in the back of a cab, singing "Warwick Avenue", so let's go with the spirit of the law and call this a one shot. The song is about a breakup from the perspective of Duffy, and it's a pretty sad song although Duffy is doing the dumping.
A one shot video where the camera is tight on the arist for the whole time is difficult enough, but adding some acting and emotion to the part makes it a whole different challenge. Duffy, however, handles it like an professional actress, not just looking sad, but bringing on the full-on tears and emotions throughout the entire video. When you think about it, it's actually ridiculously impressive for someone who is a singer, not an actress.
Duffy isn't going to stop at a single tear, either. By the middle of the song she's got mascara running down the side of her face and she's going for the tissue. At one point she looks genuinely overcome, waves the camera away a bit, and stops singing. Towards the end of the video it seems like she breaks character a bit, flashes a bit of a smile, and we get a cut to a different take. She stops singing entirely for the last 45 seconds or so of the song, and by the end she's got herself together.
It helps that Duffy is a good enough actress to do some occasional acting work (like a role in the 2010 film Patagonia), but even actresses rarely have to turn on the emotion solo on camera for four minutes. Her performance in the "Warwick Avenue" video manages to hold attention with just her in the back of a cab - that's something most artists aren't even going to go near. So maybe when Duffy is done with her 2 year break we'll get some more music and some more acting performances.
