Bernard Butler - Not Alone

What this video is

Released in March 1998 on Creation Records, 'Not Alone' appeared at a pivotal juncture: Britpop's commercial dominance was waning post-Oasis Knebworth (1996), and solo breakouts from former band members — Butler having left Suede in 1994 — were common narrative arcs in UK music press. The single reached No. 27 on the UK Singles Chart and was taken from the debut solo album People Move On. Creation Records, home to…

Why it matters

The video represents the late-Britpop solo auteur moment — a guitarist of generational critical standing (post-Suede, post-McAlmont & Butler) presenting orchestral guitar-pop in a stripped, earnest visual register. Its fast editing pace mirrors the song's wall-of-sound construction, described by…

The director

UK-based music video director active in 1998, credited on a cluster of high-profile videos in that year including Spice Girls: Stop, Tori Amos: Spark, Tori Amos: Jackie's Strength, Bernard Butler: Not Alone, and subsequently Joan Osborne: Baby Love (1999)…