It's a circus outside! Corey Feldman has dropped the colorful, '80s-inspired music video for his latest single, “The Joke,” and the visuals, directed by Limp Bizkit's Fred Durst, premiered on Billboard.
“'The Joke' is more than just a song, it's a statement. For years, I've received criticism from people who try to undermine my dedication to music. This single is my way of reclaiming the narrative and showing that my dedication to my art is unwavering,” Feldman told Billboard. “Fred and I have worked together for a long time. We originally recorded 'Seamless' in 2016 as a feature on my album, 'Angelic 2 The Core,' which will be digitally re-released over July 4th weekend. We co-wrote and co-produced the song, but working with Fred Durst as the director of the music video was an amazing experience. He had a clear concept in mind and I left the creative part up to him. Though it wasn't what I had in mind, his version surprised me and brought laughs. I can't wait for my fans to see the energy and vision we brought to life.”
The video begins with the actor and singer leaping on stage to circus music, with dancers and a band behind him, all dressed in the most extravagant costumes of the decade. The song takes an eerie turn as Feldman cackles maniacally, before the band begins playing, wearing headbands and hairstyles inspired by musicians like Robert Smith and Alice Cooper.
During the bridge, the video slows down and the Lost Boys actor opens his colorful tracksuit jacket to reveal a Goonies T-shirt underneath – a nod to the 1985 Richard Donner classic he starred in – as he sings, “Sometimes you doubt yourself/Is pain worth more than wealth?/Maybe it's time to retreat into yourself and think about leaving/Yeah…”
The former child star covers his eyes, the familiar “Hee hee!” can be heard, and then he re-emerges dressed as his late friend Michael Jackson. “Let's show 'em hell!” Feldman sings, while dancing to the King of Pop.
The Limp Bizkit frontman makes a cameo at the end, clapping as the video ends and Feldman (still in Jackson's costume) joins the set. “Awesome!” praises the rocker, though Feldman has some concerns about the video he's just shot.
“Look, I'm thrilled you're directing this. I think it's going to be great. Everything's great,” Feldman began, gesturing to the sequined Michael Jackson costumes, “but I have no idea about this at all.”
The rocker eased his fears by saying, “Look at me, bro. I'm not in the video.” Looks like Feldman made a “joke”!
Ahead of the video's premiere on Billboard.com, the singer and actor performed the song on the Howie Mandel Does Stuff podcast, talking to the host about his music and influences. “I grew up studying with Michael. I learned from Michael,” he said. “So a lot of the things that I design musically have to have that same impulse. There has to be something that makes me want to dance, that makes me want to move, otherwise it doesn't come alive when I play it.”
Watch the music video for “The Joke” above, and be sure to check out Corey Feldman, who will be joining Limp Bizkit on their Loserville tour, which kicks off in Somerset, Wisconsin on July 16th.