The Flaming Lips took on the George Jones classic “He Stopped Loving Her Today” in a new video. The song, and the associated video, come from the forthcoming film Arkansas.
Arkansas, due out on May 5th via Apple TV, Amazon, and On Demand services, is a dark-comedy that tells the story of drug dealers in the South. Vince Vaughan stars as drug kingpin “Frog”, who employs two park rangers (Liam Hemsworth and the film’s director, Clark Duke) to run narcotics for him.
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The video finds Flaming Lips frontman Wayne Coyne donning an eye patch and sharing the stage in some dingy honkey tonk bar with the rest of the band. Jones’s signature song takes on a new light in this film noir setting, and Coyne delivers it in his own withdrawn, raspy fashion. Perhaps making a parallel with Arkansas itself, The Flaming Lips’ version of “He Stopped Loving Her Today” rejects the trademark Southern drawl with which Jones famously performed the song. No, this cover and the film itself do not abide by the pre-conceived notions of the South or of country music. Beneath the surface layer of George Jones’s song and of this fictional community, there is a dark underbelly waiting to reveal itself.
Watch The Flaming Lips cover “He Stopped Loving Her Today” by George Jones for the upcoming film, Arkansas.
The Flaming Lips — “He Stopped Loving Her Today” (George Jones)
[Video: Lionsgate at Home]
The Flaming Lips are still set to begin a West Coast tour beginning on June 12th with a show at the Mission Ballroom in Denver, CO. Given the tumultuous state of live music as a result of COVID-19, however, the band’s summer tour schedule is likely subject to change. Head to the band’s website for any announcements, and check out the Live For Live Music concert cancellation tracker for daily updates on the state of live music.