White Stripes Reveal Secret Collaborator (Beck), Secret Video ("Conquest"), Secret Talent (Bullfighting)

Last week, the White Stripes posted on their Web site that they will have a new single, "an exciting new video" and three new songs out soon. Apparently, the Stripes were just as impatient to reveal the details as we were to hear them. The most noteworthy revelation is that Beck has been cast as their "secret collaborator" (and not Bob Dylan). The duo recorded three songs in Mr. Hansen's living room, with all three Beck-produced songs landing on the B-side of a trio of multi-colored 7"s for the next single, "Conquest." The "Black vinyl" includes "It's My Fault for Being Famous," which features Beck on vocals and piano, while the "White vinyl" has "Honey, We Can't Afford to Look This Cheap," which has Beck on slide guitar. The "Red vinyl" contains "Cash Grab Complications on the Matter," which simply just has Beck as producer. If you can't get your hands on any of these 7"s, or you just don't have a record player, all three, plus a mariachi version of "Conquest," will be available digitally.

The last bit of news might well be the best: For the "Conquest" video, Jack White will play a matador. To make the video "as authentic as possible," White "trained extensively" with an actual bullfighter named Dennis Borba. Borba has his own Web site and bull-riding school, so you know he's the real deal. The video was shot in two days in Artesia, California, and follows "an explosive -- if unconventional -- love story that pits man against bull in the ultimate conquest." The video is set to premiere on MTV on November 26th (imagine that, videos on MTV) before conquesting over to iTunes the next day.

Related Stories:
• Jack White Meets Bob Dylan In The Evening
• Jack White Takes Bob Dylan Further Into Uncharted Territory
• White Stripes Hint At "Exciting New Video," Three Never-Before-Heard Songs, Special Collaboration

• 
  MUSIC 100 Greatest Debut Albums
• 
  MOVIES 'Star Trek' Is Crazy Good
• 
  TV 10 Shows to Watch This Summer
• 
  POLITICS No Price Big Banks Can't Fix

Song Stories

“Youth Knows No Pain”

Lykke Li | 2011

“Like on 'Youth Knows No Pain' — we are the ones that should demonstrate, because we can take it,” Likke Li said. “We can pierce ourselves, take Ecstasy, dance all night and still go to work at our McDonald's jobs.” Despite the hedonistic sentiment in the song, the Swedish singer also admitted in hindsight her youth had repercussions. “I remember when I was 18-19 and feeling that I know it all,” Li said. “I always feel that I know it all. But that song is about realizing you don’t, and reflecting, ‘Boy, if I only knew what would follow.’”

More Song Stories entries »

Twitter