Marvel actress Florence Pugh plays the lead role of a healthcare worker in the video for Yungblud’s emotional new single ‘Zombie’.
The track dropped 30 May, marking the latest release of Yungblud’s upcoming album ‘Idols’. The video stars Florence Pugh as a healthcare worker pushed to her limits, overwhelmed by her workload despite keeping a brave face as she helps her patients. Yungblud says that the track is about battling self-esteem and body-confidence issues, inspired by his grandmother’s experiences dealing with a serious injury.
He shares in a statement: “The song was written initially about my grandmother going through serious injury and trauma, leading her to become a different person to who she was before.
“It’s about the feeling of deterioration and ugliness; shutting out the world and the people we love out of the fear of becoming a burden or an embarrassment.
“We all want someone or something to comfort us no matter how we are right now or who we become in the future. But it’s f*cking scary.”
Pugh shares her admiration for Yungblud in an Instagram post, telling her fans: “I believe in everything @yungblud stands for and am absolutely inspired by how he uses his art and his voice. Being a part of his music video for ‘Zombie’ feels surreal to me.”
She adds: “I haven’t known him for long but I’m just so proud of this beautiful British talent. Thank you for having me on your journey and thank you for making this love letter to nurses all around. What a privilege it is to make epic things, with epic people for great reasons.”
In an interview with Rolling Stone, Yungblud reciprocates the sentiment, expressing his respect for Pugh, and how he’d always envisioned her taking the lead role in the video: “Florence Pugh, in my opinion, is one of the most exciting British artists in a long time. I think she has this individuality that is not adherent to anyone else. She is completely legit and individual within her own style in her own time.”
He adds: “The song is so deep, so emotional, but so fundamentally British. I was like mind blown watching her on set. And she’s just a legend. You can tell, man. She’s just sat in a pub on a Sunday with a pint of Guinness, just talking sh*t.”
The rock musician is no stranger to a pub. In April, to celebrate the release of ‘Lovesick Lullaby’, another track from ‘Idols’, Yungblud worked behind the bar at his favourite London pub, the Hawley Arms in Camden. He’d helped out behind the bar as far back as 2019. More recently, on 31 May, both he and Florence Pugh were spotted serving pints in a London pub to celebrate the release of ‘Zombie’, this time at The Devonshire in Piccadilly. The stars were seen trying their best to pour a perfect pint of Guinness, with Pugh receiving cheers from customers after a successful attempt.
@londonbeautifullife YUNGBLUD and Florence Pugh pouring pints of Guiness. @yungblud @Universal Music @JayjayPRuk #London #LDN #LondonBeautifulLife #GlobalBeautifulLife #YUNGBLUD #FlorencePugh #Soho #Universal #UniversalMusic #Guiness ♬ original sound – London Beautiful Life
Yungblud’s fourth album ‘Idols’ is set to release on 20 June. The tracklist goes as follows:
YUNGBLUD – IDOLS
1. Hello Heaven, Hello
2. Idols Pt. 1
3. Lovesick Lullaby
4. Zombie
5. The Greatest Parade
6. Change
7. Monday Murder
8. Ghosts
9. Fire
10. War
11. Idols Pt. 2
12. Supermoon
You can pre-order ‘Idols’ here.
