It’s been a long time coming, but Los Angeles based electronic and dance prodigy Deorro has finally released his debut album, Good Evening. Dropped on March 31st, the 24-track concept album has been making its rounds and perking the ears of music critics. Billboard Magazine called it “the kinda thing you sit back and take in as a whole at least once, and probably a lot more.” The diversity on the album alone is enough to keep even casual listeners coming back around for seconds, and earned his track “Bailar” a nomination for Tropical Song of the Year at Billboard’s Latin Music Awards. Today, I have the pleasure of premiering the music video that accompanies Deorro’s most recent single “Turn Back Time.”
Not only is “Turn Back Time” an exceptionally catchy tune, but the video accompaniment is fun, dreamy, and most of all, touching. The song itself begins with the rather upbeat and summery strumming of a ukulele, as images of a lakefront town, canoes, and trees basking in the sun introduce us to the protagonists of our video: an elderly couple. As they lay in bed, dreamily staring out the window, sun rays drape across their faces through the curtains, it becomes apparent that the woman is very ill. The strumming grows more intense as a bubbly and synthesized electro-pop melody subtly grows in the background. It’s not long before the beat kicks into gear, and we hear the titular line sung: “why don’t we turn back time?”
As we’re swept into the past, the beat takes hold and a funky bass groove helps drive the track while chopped and edited uke strumming rounds out the rhythm. Now in their twenties and in the depths of young love, we follow them and their dog to the lake as they enjoy their time together. The song itself grows and evolves subtly and precisely, as a number of tempo changes accompany the trip down memory lane. As we progress, the song takes on a new form for a brief moment; evolving with our protagonists.
The video continues, displaying the lifelong partnership and love that the two have enjoyed, replaying the same activities over multiple incarnations of the past. By the climax, we return to the elderly couple in bed as the beat drops out and an emotionally steady string of piano chords prefaces the line, “what about one last night for goodbyes?” With that, we circle back to the main groove, and the elderly couple takes one last trip down to the lake together to relive their fondest memories.
The video is a beautiful display of storytelling partnered with an electrofunk hit, that touches on a plethora of emotions. It’s a joyful celebration of love and memories made with those you care about, that perfectly captures the tone set by “Turn Back Time’s” poppy, yet impassioned composition.
Check out Deorro’s “Turn Back Time” below!
Deorro’s Good Evening is out now on Ultra Music, and available for streaming on Spotify
