MGMT have joined forces with Christine and the Queens for the new song “Dancing in Babylon.” The song, taken from MGMT’s Loss of Life, comes with a 1980s-indebted video in which Chris and the duo soundtrack two lovers in battle. Ray Tintori, who shot the “Time to Pretend,” “Electric Feel,” and “Kids” videos, directed, and John Cameron Mitchell and Julian Morris also guest. Watch the short below.
In press materials, Chris described having “always loved MGMT’s multiverse, their freedom and talent, their limpid songwriting and killer soundscapes.” He continued, “Regal, inspiring. When they reached out for this power ballad, I was honored and also excited to dive into their dream, because I have the same all-encompassing approach with my work. I loved the backstory of the lyrics as well, and I work my lower register here more than usual. I felt invited into their cool movie, and I’m glad to be now a part of the galaxy. Let’s work on more love in the love galaxy.”
MGMT’s Andrew VanWyngarden and Ben Goldwasser said, “Creating the ‘Dancing in Babylon’ video with Chris and Ray was a prodigious affair (love), requiring everyone involved to operate in six dimensions at once, all while simultaneously making a simple turkey sandwich with Dijon mustard. The sandwich that emerged is a cosmic mille-feuille that would be presentable in most high-end French diners.”
Loss of Life is out this Friday, February 23, via Mom+Pop. “Dancing in Babylon” is the fourth single MGMT have released from the album, following “Mother Nature,” “Bubblegum Dog,” and “Nothing to Declare.”