Devoid of any sort of halo, that’s simply JADE and not additionally the nine (similar to the 999 archived Instagram posts that sparked this new beginning) letter last name tucked on the end of her name. A sigh of relief probably sounded out from whoever spelled it wrong during her X-Factor audition eons ago. But freshly remembered through a bantering opening archival shot in the ‘Angel Of My Dreams’ music video, directed by Aube Perrie.
Then, of course, linking “halo” to the 2x “angel” reference, and you’re fast thinking in justifying that speckled between the galore of 11 looks, cataloged between the comfy drape of a familiar runway Diesel parka and Giuseppe Zanotti heels that wings are bound to be thrown in there. We don’t mean sonically, either. But those feather-scaled, white sproutings on one’s back. And in which case, you’d be right! They’re a crucial staple in the uniformed main pop girlie lookbook. They symbolize artists’ youthful innocence upon entering the music industry, even if some eventually become fallen like the spitfire redhead JADE. There’s no need to look for an extensive casting list here as she’s a multi-player.
However, not only do wings attach themselves to celestial beings. They’re also majestic on birds, particularly the swan! This takes us to one of JADE’s inspo board pins: Black Swan, starring Natalie Portman and Mila Kunis. It’s a psychological drama about perfectionism, a theme in ‘Angel Of My Dreams.’ Mila is Natalie’s shadow self, one with a haunting, darker appearance. The other wholesomely divine colorings are similar to JADE’s shadings. We wanted to step back from the divine light and see how similar these two projects are.
The concept is sort of rags to riches It was emotional actually because for one bit I’m busking and walking past a Sainsbury’s Local. When I was 16, I would stand outside my local Sainsbury’s and sing Christmas songs.
JADE in a press release
Plot
If you were to swap JADE for Nina Sayers, the complicatingly darling lead, their story wouldn’t differ too much. One’s surroundings are around ballet barres, and can flawlessly execute a pirouette. At the same time, the other is most likely to outscore you on SingStar, twisting high-hitting bars into long-winding hours in recording studios. Yet they’re both in the same industry: entertainment.
From that point, it already forms enough of a similar foundation to draw enough related points. Then topple that on Black Swan following creative director Thomas Leroy’s replacing Beth Macintyre in the musical. A dark eyeliner-smudging Winona Ryder portrays her. The makeup product is another swan dive progression into the black pool. Furthermore, no two people can play either part. They’re looking for one to play the white and black swan. The chaotic environment is akin to busker JADE kicking out Primadonna JADE. A buffed-out executive that vaguely resembles a six-packed Ryan Reynolds in Free Guy, hand-picking her is a whirlwind of change and competition.
With a blood-signed oath, she becomes one of those dead ringer artists signed under his label. She has an inside look into the catastrophe and potentially dangerous undersides of the industry with opulence and hard drugs. Even the dance studio looks more like a clinic than a place of creativity. Much like Nina, who has to stifle parts of herself to be deemed as good enough for the part. She experiences bloody toenails from manically practicing routines and points of hallucinations, obsessive drawings her overbearing stage mom drew of her coming to life and watching her.
Characters
Now that we’ve type-casted busker JADE, many other characters remain. For example, redhead JADE is easily Odile, the black swan. She represents the chess player side of her, who is not afraid to simply “let go,” as Thomas Leroy states. Obviously, the “Sellin’ my soul to a psycho” or Syco Music under the leadership of a sensationalized Simon Cowell. Even if it’s at her own cost. The over-dramatized winged eyeliner lover, a subtle hint of her having let the inner darkness win over through flirting with the said executive. Something which is another subplot in Black Swan.
It’s known throughout how much of a sleazy flirt Thomas is, teasing and making out with Nina, her succumbing to her sexuality. It has remained oppressed for so long due to her former good-girl trope. While in the movie, Odile goes against this by calling out Thomas. It makes sense in the context of ‘Angel of My Dreams’ as during the interim of Little Mix, the girls were asked to flirt with radio presenters for airtime, which they refused. It gives us the shot that fans deem the “GRAMMY shot.” A pain-stricken JADE seeing how corrupted the industry can be, bursting her naivety.
Then, in the iconic chair hit to match the beat style, glitzy JADE is possibly Beth, who was once placed on that pedestal. It’s seen through the Easter eggs of a JADE doll from the Little Mix collection released in 2012 held by a fan and then a presenter microphone reading The Jade Room, a website she runs as a hub to interact with her fans. Interestingly, while Black Swan has scales on Nina’s back throughout the film, marking her journey from pure to tarnished, ‘Angel Of My Dreams’ uses hair colors. When we first see Busker JADE, she primarily has brunette hair with a blonde ombre, whereas the diva has glamorous, entirely blonde hair. Only when she comes back after she’s been replaced are those blond locks also there. Perhaps she’s been able to reclaim parts of herself even though she’s resentful for being replaced.
It’s about how obsessed I am with the industry – so there are lyrics like “love when you call me a star” – but also there’s the dark side that comes with that. It’s not as glam as it seems.
JADE in a press release
Scene Parallels
Black Swan refers to understudies as alternates, which is something to note regarding the psychological horror at the core of this movie. The clip below examines Nina’s fear of Odile replacing her in the leading part and doing almost anything to stay on top. Did you notice the brief smile flushing onto the corners of her lips upon the seamstress saying she had lost weight? That leads us back to the constant need for females in the music industry to reinvent themselves. Each JADE, in one way or another, has the energy to take out the others.
Mirrors are also a big technique in Black Swan! We see multiple Nina’s funhouse style behind her, lined up like dominos. However, it only takes one stir from one of them, scratching her back while the OG Nina tilts her head to showcase this in absolute horror. She also looks at the camera, perhaps further drawing hallucination by hinting at meta. No matter how over-the-top dramatized the ‘Angel Of My Dreams’ music video is, JADE has pointed out that each resembles some personality trait in her.
This scene resembles busker JADE watching spitfire JADE in a choreographic haze. From an elevated level, Nina sees how perfect Odile is at playing the black swan, Thomas’s commentary in her ear over how natural it comes to her. Both scenarios are at the juncture of either being replaced or manipulatively rivaling against the other. In the ‘Angel Of My Dreams’ music video, it seems much more like a factory, spitting out older artists and bringing in a fresh, young flock. The winged creatives around the executive appear younger than JADE. This is not only a scary thought from the perspective of other examples of exploitation but also further brushes on its obsession with ageism.
What’s your favorite Black Swan callback? Let us know through our social media, Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram! We know. That question alone picks up JADE’s “It’s not fair.” A multiple roll of one’s tongue to a Geordie laugh and brazen hand-licking salute. But with an “I’m-finally-not-saying-soon” attitude and a #1 on UK’s iTunes, we can’t wait for the ‘Angel Of Our Dreams’ to drop the second single she hinted at an exclusive fan party.
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