Jon Hope - “Hands On The Clock”
Jon Hope uses silhouettes and light with an ease that enhances the impact of his song, “Hands on the Clock” (featuring J Stone). His nodding head in profile appears time after time, punctuating the video and centering our attention on Hope himself. As the lyrics reveal, the song largely focuses on his own growth and progress: “2020 was the year that myself I finally discovered.” It’s therefore only fitting that Hope is the star of the music video—he stands alone in virtually every shot, although he’s often depicted from the back or the side and nearly swallowed by shadow. One-shot, for example, shows Hope with his back against a wall. His attention is directed upwards and to the side; while we as viewers look at him, he shirks our gaze. His surroundings are pitch black, while an angle of red light cuts starkly across the screen—the effect is akin to a darkroom, awash in a red safelight. This artistic choice illuminates Hope’s features just enough, and the fierce contrast between black shadow and red light lends a level of drama to the scene. Similarly, another recurring shot places Hope in profile while behind him a teal spotlight shines straight ahead into the eyes of the viewer. This backlight places Hope’s face and shoulders in darkness but lights up the edges of his form.
Combined with the frequent images of dusk and sunset in the video, these shots play with light in a way that seems to represent rebirth: “Hands on the clock say I’m on a different typa time.” His lyrics welcome the future and emphasize his potential. His rhythmic rapping style articulates each and every word, thus highlighting the importance of everything he has to say. Hope addresses anyone who may doubt his upward trajectory and a self-confidence that’s reflected in the music video’s singular focus. But what sets this track apart is not its subject matter—plenty of artists meditate on their own growth and budding success—but rather the conviction and authenticity that shines through every word.
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