Jessie Ware's Provocative 'Ride' Music Video Stars James Norton as BDSM Cowboy
Jessie Ware has ignited excitement with her latest single, Ride, by enlisting actor James Norton to portray her 'sexy cowboy' lover in an erotically charged music video infused with BDSM themes. The singer, aged 41, is preparing for the release of her sixth studio album, Superbloom, scheduled for next month, and has unveiled this disco-inspired track as a preview.
Western-Themed Visuals with an Erotic Edge
The music video, directed by Thomas James and shot on film in black-and-white, embraces a stylised Western setting while incorporating unabashedly sensual elements. It samples the iconic theme from the 1966 film The Good, the Bad and the Ugly, composed by Ennio Morricone, adding a cinematic flair to the production.
The steamy visuals feature numerous provocative scenes where Jessie Ware dominates a submissive James Norton, both dressed in traditional cowboy attire. Notable moments include Ware placing her fingers in Norton's mouth, blindfolding him with rope, and sitting astride his back as he kneels on all fours. In one charged snippet, she even puts her toes in his mouth, heightening the erotic tension.
Behind the Scenes of the Video Shoot
Jessie Ware revealed how she secured James Norton for the role, explaining that she proposed the idea while attending a mutual friend's performance. 'James is a friend, and we were recently at our friend Jack Peñate’s performance, and I asked him, "James, do you ride a horse, and would you be up for being a sexy cowboy in the video?"' she recalled. Norton, a long-time fan of Ware's work, agreed after hearing the song, describing the experience as a 'properly fun ride.'
Ware praised Norton's professionalism during the filming, which took place on a freezing February day. 'By 10am I was licking his ear,' she quipped, highlighting the chemistry between the two stars. The video also includes clips of Norton riding a horse shirtless, clad only in a cowboy hat and chaps, while Ware sings the repeated refrain: 'Giddy up, giddy up, giddy up.'
Nods to Fifty Shades of Grey and Missed Opportunities
The video has been teased as 'like Wuthering Heights meets Fifty Shades Of Grey,' with clear nods to the BDSM world popularised by the franchise. For James Norton, this role offered a chance to explore themes reminiscent of Fifty Shades, after he previously missed out on auditioning for the lead role of Christian Grey. That part ultimately went to Jamie Dornan, propelling him to stardom following the film's release in 2015.
Norton reflected on his audition, recalling the director's request for more charisma. 'That's the hardest thing to just try and do. Especially since I was too young and self-conscious to even really know what she meant!' he told The Guardian. The Fifty Shades adaptation, based on E. L. James' novel, became a box office sensation despite mixed reviews, grossing £25.2 million in ten days and setting records as the UK's biggest 18-certificate film.
With Ride, Jessie Ware continues to push creative boundaries, blending Western aesthetics with bold eroticism ahead of her Superbloom album release. The video's striking visuals and the palpable chemistry between Ware and Norton are set to captivate fans and spark conversations in the entertainment world.
