Capital Cities Take A Stand For Oppressed Zebras In Their Allegorical “Kangaroo Court” Video: Watch

Mike Wass | September 5, 2013 4:08 pm

Capital Cities broke big with “Safe And Sound”. That catchy synth-drenched single charmed its way into the top 10, meaning the stakes are rather high for follow-up “Kangaroo Court”. The song shares the same subtly infectious dream-pop sensibility as its predecessor but the mood is considerably darker this time around — a change that’s reflected in the thought-provoking video.

“Kangaroo Court” lifts much of its narrative from George Orwell‘s classic novel Animal Farm. It similarly uses the animal kingdom as an allegory for larger societal issues but manages to do so without being heavy-handed or dull. Our zebra hero just wants to be loved, so he paints himself black. That leads to a brief romantic liaison with a ditzy poodle (Shannon Woodward from Raising Hope) and a show down with her jealous dog friend played by Glee actor Darren Criss.

The bleak finale, while artistically presented, is surprisingly dark and impactful. This is one of those rare videos that manages to be insightful or dumb fun depending on what you take from it. Watch up top.

What’s your interpetation of Capital Cities’ new video? Let us know in the comments below.