Pearl Jam have confirmed that Greta Thunberg has joined them in their new climate focused video for “Retrograde.” The video was released today to promote Gigaton, the band’s first album in 7 years that was released in March.
For the visual, the band teamed up with director Josh Wakely [Beat Bugs, Motown Magic]. The animated clip opens with a lone traveler driving through the rain and descending upon a strip mall. Visiting a psychic, the protagonist witnesses the destruction of the world in a crystal ball as the seas overtake the Eiffel Tower in Paris, London Bridge in London, and the group’s native Seattle.
Fluid animation moves like an oil painting in motion as the animated musicians—Eddie Vedder, Stone Gossard, Mike McCready, Jeff Ament, and Matt Cameron—step out of their respect tarot cards and into a march. While the water continues to rise climate change activist Greta Thunberg appears behind the crystal ball as a clairvoyant.
Chris E commented on YouTube, “This honestly wasn’t one of my favorites from the album, but after watching this, the song has a much different, impacting feel now. Thank you for taking us outside of ourselves and fighting for something bigger PJ.”
Weescone001 added, “A fan since Mookie, amazed by how they’ve transitioned over all these years. Great album with some very strong songs.”
