At first glance it is an ordinary music video. There is dancing, revelry, and indulgence.
But just below the inebriating surface....there is a tale of heartbreak and madness.
Please press play on the "Work" video and watch up to 3:45
The first half of the video is simple.
Rihanna is at a party. She is having fun and dancing. From the lyrics we learn that she has been working and the night's festivities are her only reprieve.
But let us take a closer look at the venue and our first glimpse into the subtext of this video:
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| Where is "The Real Jerk"? What is "The Real Jerk"? Who is the "The Real Jerk"? |
As Kanye West once recounted "I ordered the jerk she said "You are what you eat," " we can assume "The Real Jerk" is not a restaurant at all.
It is a person.
But who is it?
Who is The Real Jerk?
This brings us to the other character in this video.
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| Here the shisha smoke is clouding Drake's judgement. |
Drake plays opposite Rihanna as the shisha-addled drunken object of her affection and neglection.
From the song lyrics we learn that Rihanna is working and although she likes the guy she's with she's at the end of her rope with him.
The key line here is "Nuh badda, text me in a crisis".
Do not contact her she says.
As we go through the video we see Drake sink deeper and deeper into his love for Rihanna. But he can't keep up with the drugs and the alcohol and the bubbling.
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| Drake holds his head. He cannot bear to face the truth. The bubble is too good to be real. |
At this point he is hallucinating and he begins his descent into madness. He wants Rihanna but Rihanna does not want him. Rihanna wants Rihanna.
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| Rihanna looks at herself in the mirror. She is not dancing for Drake. |
At this point I would like to ask you to pause the video.
Contrary to anybody's belief the first half of "Work" should be followed by a viewing of "Hotline Bling".
This is Drake's psychotic break.
Press play.
Drake finds himself in a surreal dimension where he is forced to dance and lament the loss of Rihanna.
"You used to call me on my cellphone" he sings. Knowing full well that Rihanna told him earlier to not bother with texting her. Drake grows paranoid with this lack of communication.
"Wonder if you're bending over backwards for someone else"
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| Here we see Rihanna bending over backwards for someone else (herself). |
In Drake's fantasy world, he continues to dance and dance in almost a ritualistic sacrifice to Rihanna. He pictures himself trapped in crooked boxes and walking up stairs leading nowhere.
This follows into the third act which is the second half of "Work".
Please unpause the "Work" video and finish viewing.
Drake has broken through with his dancing and has reunited with Rihanna.
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| Notice the similar colour palettes. |
In Drake's mind, Rihanna has accepted Drake's offering and brought him into her world.
But Drake is in pain throughout the video. Rihanna has "started wearing less and going out more".
And there is nothing he can do about it.
Drake has fallen victim to Rihanna's hedonistic lifestyle. He has been chewed up and consumed.
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| Drake holds his head as the video concludes. |
Drake is stuck in his own invented purgatory. "Hotline Bling" ultimately represents the endless want towards the unattainable.
"Work" is Rihanna's irreverence.
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