Halsey dropped the totally NSFW video for his or her new single, “safeword,” on Thursday (Feb. 27) after teasing a 13-second preview of the monitor earlier this week. As promised within the sneak peek, the S&M-themed video directed by provocative stylist and Sedition Journal editor-in-chief Lana Jay Lackey opens with a close-up of the singer rocking black-and-silver studded thong underwear, a leather-based jacket, leather-based cap and knee-high, studded, stiletto boots.
Because the tune’s distorted guitar and manic, galloping rhythm kicks in, Halsey dives into dominatrix mode, kicking a leather-masked man laying on the ground in his head as they sing in a riot grrrl-inflected yelp, “Pin me to the ground, swing me by the neck/ Locked behind a door, it’s time but, time but?/ Don’t be such a bore, gimme respect/ Are you feeling sore? Are you moist but, moist but?”
Quickly sufficient, it’s Halsey who’s on the opposite finish, as somebody ties a rope round their physique, pinning it to a chair as she engages in pet play and lays inclined on a desk whereas a leather-masked dom in a swimsuit spanks their lingerie-clad backside earlier than menacingly chomping on an apple. The pressing, digital hardcore-edged tune hurtles to the howled refrain, “Oh, can you are taking it, child?/ Oh are you able to deal with it?/ Don’t inform me what to do, I’m gonna stand it,” with Halsey making it clear “you’re not the boss of me.”
The singer strikes a collection of provocative poses all through the remainder of the clip, hanging the other way up by her ankles in a mesh bra high and matching leggings — her non-public components coated by black stars and a merkin — and sipping from a shake perched on a tray held up by a latex-encased dwelling espresso desk. Little is left to the creativeness within the video, which additionally consists of scenes of simulated masturbation, mild pony play as Halsey rides a ball-gagged human horse and a scene of the singer trussed up and carrying a lamp shade, in addition to different envelope-pushing pictures that recall to mind Madonna’s 1992 Intercourse e book.
The high-energy single comes just some months after Halsey dropped her fifth studio album, The Nice Impersonator, yet one more inventive pivot from the singer through which she took on a wide range of musical personas on the confessional, eclectic idea album that spotlighted a mixture of pop, folks and rock. It was arrange by a teaser marketing campaign through which she paid homage to plenty of the LP’s inspirations, together with Dolly Parton, PJ Harvey, David Bowie, Stevie Nicks, Bruce Springsteen, Kate Bush, Cher and Britney Spears, amongst others.
Halsey additionally just lately introduced the dates for his or her upcoming spring/summer season 2025 Halsey: For My Final Trick tour. The 32-city Dwell Nation-promoted trek in assist of the singer’s Columbia Data debut is slated to kick off on Could 10 on the Toyota Pavilion at Harmony in Harmony, CA, conserving them on the highway by a July 6 present on the Yaamava’ Theater in Highland, CA.
Becoming a member of Halsey on their first headlining tour in three years will likely be: Del Water Hole, The Warning, Evanescence, Alvvays, Hope Tala, Royel Otis, Sir Chloe, flowerlove, Magdalena Bay and Alemeda becoming a member of on choose dates.
Watch the “safeword” video beneath.
