From the very first frame of the video for Christian Parker’s new song, ‘Diamond Sailor’, you know that this is a treasure worth finding. Directed by Morgan Elliott, the animated clip is a feast for the eyes while the classic rock sound is certainly one for the ears.
New York artist, Christian Parker, knows what he wants from life, and in the video we see his animated likeness seeking his fortune, digging for treasure. Rather than a pirate’s trove, a chest filled with gold, he finds a guitar; to him the instrument’s value is higher than rubies.
Listen to the track first, maybe three times, before watching the video. ‘Diamond Sailor’ is a classic rock track for a modern age. It’s clear who Christian has been inspired by. There’s The Beatles (definitely John Lennon and George Harrison in there), ELO, Badfinger, Gilbert O’Sullivan, Cat Stevens, Crowded House: Parker has put his own stamp on the classic rock sound though, and his songwriting talent is evident in this as in every track on his most recent album, ‘Best Kept Secret’. It’s clear this isn’t just an homage to the classics, but rather, the result of someone who is well educated in musical history.
Lyrics like “fame can cost more than the prize / for now just say goodbye / to the world of greed and lies” just drop effortlessly and yet are packed with so much meaning and substance. Classic themes such as aspirations, dreams fulfilled and unfulfilled, overcoming hurdles, and listening to that still small voice inside you, are wrapped in a stunningly modern sound. While Parker at first appears to be a traditionalist, he very much has his finger on the pulse of the here and now.
The clip for ‘Diamond Sailor’ serves as a visual showcase for Parker’s tremendous musical talent. While Elliott portrays him as a boy seeking his fortune, it’s realistic enough to make you think that’s actual footage of Christian Parker playing piano (albeit in a rowboat), and expressing his internal passions on the red guitar he unearths.
The clip is “narrated” by the guitar-playing adult Parker, and opens with the boy in his bedroom, playing air guitar on a badminton racquet, while in his imagination he’s the diamond sailor, flying into space, transported by his musical dreams. As an adult he’s trapped in an office job, working for the man, yet his dreams are still there, the diamond sailor is able to see what his true destiny is. He buys a boat and a treasure map, and finds the very same red guitar that the narrator Parker is playing. It’s a dream fulfilled.
Watch the music video for ‘Diamond Sailor’ below and find out more about Christian Parker and his music online on his official website, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and TikTok.
