Lee Brice I Drive Your Truck Video: Review

Lee Brice Gets Intense with “I Drive Your Truck” Video: Review.

This song is one of my favorites of the past year for its deep meaning and emotional intensity, so
I was excited to finally see the video. The main structure of the video follows the narrative very
closely at times – a man who isn’t Lee Brice but looks suspiciously like him – is standing by
a truck that holds everything described in the first verse, before driving it along some back roads and
around a field, and handing the keys back to (presumably) his wife. In fact, it is the most song-faithful
music video I have seen in a long time, and there are benefits and perhaps disadvantages to this.

The Video.

Because I like literal videos, unless there is scope for really playing with confusing meanings
and images, I liked the faithfulness of this video to the original song. This song would not suit
doing something else with the video because of the emphasis on the emotion and story, so the video
needs to reflect that. Even the sunset/sunrise dusty filter on the camera is how I imagined it, and perhaps is a cinematic representation of how people think of the rural South, the
farms and back roads. It certainly adds something to the setting!

The video movement is very slow at first which fits the pace of the song, cutting between the leading
man simply staring into the truck and Lee Brice gently singing the song, not looking at the camera as
if it’s too painful, and apparently standing in a field of wheat. A lot of work has been done setting the
whole thing up to really represent an actual story and make the song really come to life. I have to
commend the director on the subtle but very effective change in pace as the song builds momentum
leading up the chorus. To add to that, as soon as the chorus kicks in Lee Brice is suddenly playing
with his band in the wheat field, which taps into country music’s video focus on physically playing
the song. There perhaps could have been scope for slightly more airtime of the narrative rather
than Lee, but I suppose it’s him the video is promoting. Also, there could have been a montage
of ‘memories’ which would have perhaps helped reinforce the meaning of the song, but that’s quite
over-used so perhaps they decided to keep it very simple and let the song do the talking.

I do think the actor in the narrative could have been a little more physically dynamic, and produce
a wider range of expressions, because he appears a little more numb than the song suggests
and dealing with loss provides a variety of different emotions that could have been shown here.
However, I think I’m just being really picky, and the video works really well as it is.

The Emotion.

During the bridge, the slow motion takes on fast and aggressive movements in full force, and this
is where the actor really lets loose on letting out his anger and frustration and pain. In addition,
Lee is shown to be sharing in this. Although I think him half-lying on the floor is kind of distracting
and a little weird because the position just doesn’t work for him. Having said this, the rest of this
section really adds to the video and enhances the intensity of the emotion, and the interesting array
of camera angles and quick cuts is a new element that I haven’t really seen in other country music
videos.

The Impact.

Overall I like this video, it represents much of what I saw in my head when I first listened to the song
but still has parts that surprise me. There are a couple of things I have issues with, but I think I’m more
picky and analytical than most and I don’t think the things I pointed out will matter to the majority of people who watch this. It’s a very solid effort that nicely accompanies and supports the song, but
it’s still simple and allows the lyrics to breathe and get the message across. The director plays with
the pace and camera angles and has clearly thought a lot about video techniques in order to put the
emotion across effectively.

Watch: Lee Brice “I Drive Your Truck” Video!

Vickye is a guest contributor! Find her on Twitter: @planmymistake or her own site: www.forthecountryrecord.tumblr.com!

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