Tegan & Sara Release Video for “Closer,” Do Karaoke, Are Generally Adorable

Carmen’s Team Pick:

In order to further prove how much they understand your every waking thought, Tegan & Sara released a video for “Closer,” that song you haven’t stopped listening to since Hansen told you about how good it was.

The video, rolling in at under four minutes, features your favorite twins doing queeraoke with hundreds of their closest friends, which we heard you’re really into. Did I mention it’s set at a ’90s house party and there’s a close-up of a floral couch? Sara says of the video that she’s getting really old and wanted to honor her memories of My So-Called Life with a general nostalgia for the end of the 20th Century.

I’m sorry but I’m not processing what isn’t to love here.

We’re happy to bring you this video in its completely legitimate form! In fact, we’ve been waiting to bring it to you all day.

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Carmen

Carmen spent six years at Autostraddle, ultimately serving as Straddleverse Director, Feminism Editor and Social Media Co-Director. She is now the Consulting Digital Editor at Ms. and writes regularly for DAME, the Women’s Media Center, the National Women’s History Museum and other prominent feminist platforms; her work has also been published in print and online by outlets like BuzzFeed, Bitch, Bust, CityLab, ElixHER, Feministing, Feminist Formations, GirlBoss, GrokNation, MEL, Mic and SIGNS, and she is a co-founder of Argot Magazine. You can find Carmen on Twitter, Instagram and Tumblr or in the drive-thru line at the nearest In-N-Out.

Carmen has written 919 articles for us.

57 Comments

  7. Just woke up. Pretty sure i over slept and missed half my shift (forgot when i was supposed to come in), feel like i should be very very worried, but yeah.
    NEW VIDEO…AWESOMEEE! *hits repeat*.

  8. I’m amazed I’m even able to type right now because my brains have melted out through my earholes from just how uber adorable this video is.

  9. This intensifies my need for a trampoline in my backyard. It also makes me want to have a queeraoke party with everyone!!! <3

  10. How does this article not mention that this is the first ever Tegan & Sara video to show ladies kissing each other? Actual queer content in a queer artist’s music video! This is HUGE. Queer artists and queer video content are pretty much mutually exclusive in the mainstream music industry.

  11. I love them, don’t get me wrong! But from a critica perspective, it’s interesting to note that their first representation of a queer kiss coincides with what’s arguably their “selling out” in terms of their sound and the size of the label they are with, etc….

    They are still the best! But these things shouldn’t go unexamined…

    • It is ironic, but maybe they feel like there’s nothing to lose now? They can afford to let the queer out?

      • Hmm optimistic, I’m more worried that with Warner Bros seeming to have more direction on their style, it’s like an inclusion of queer women with gross pandering to males intentions. But again, that’s Warner Bros and large corporate interests being shit – <3 T&S!

  14. you guys sara’s backup dancing made my heart burst into a million tiny pieces
    help i can’t find them all

  15. OMG same sex couples sharing fleeting kisses in a music video about karaoke…now I’m just waiting for the “public service announcement” from NOM telling us that karaoke makes people gay.

  20. I wonder if T and S realize that there are suddenly going to be a myriad of signs at concerts saying “All I wanna get is a little bit closer”. If there aren’t I’ll be disappointed in T&S fangirls everywhere.

  21. I feel like Sara’s thoughts in this video were “Tegan look at me I’m jumping and punching the air at the same time!” Then Tegan was like, “Jesus Christ, Sara chill.” *drops the mic*

  22. It took me a minute, but I think I’m starting to finally warm up to Tegan & Sara (I know, right?!?)

    And this video? All sorts of adorbs!

  23. So, basically my first time seeing this was at work tonight and I watched it over and over again…and my co-workers were judging me. But it was so worth it!

  25. By watching this video, I got underneath Tegan when she consensually ravished me with her eyes.

    I’m pretty sure that I’m pregnant now.

  27. This video could not be more perfectly timed for my life. The girl I’ve been courting and I have been sending gifs of this video back and forth – does that count as sexting? I’m gonna vote yes…

  28. OOOOOH NOOOOO! In Germany I can’t watch this because of the musical rights in this country, nooooo!

  29. Am I the only one who doesn’t love this song? Also, why is the only non-spin the bottle make-out, where the two people actually seem like they’re into each other, between a male and female, while the queer-kissing is all in a playful-let’s kiss ’cause we’re drunk sort of way. Sure Tegan and Sara are effing adorable in this video but everything else about the video left me feeling awkward. Like they said ‘we want it to be a house party with dance floor makeouts and spin the bottle’ and everyone in charge turned that vision that could have been awesome if it kept to the queer world I’m willing to bet they’re living in, into the queer for tv stereotype we’re fed. I don’t know, I just expect more from them.

    • there was one girl/girl spin the bottle kiss, but there was also a girl/girl non spin the bottle kiss that was kinda built up a bit..

      maybe i remember that pat wrong tho.. i’ve only watched this once.. so far

      • Rewatched and saw that if you keep your eye out for it, there’s a bit more queer love in it, but if I didn’t have to keep an eye out for the hetero-normative kissing, I shouldn’t have to look for queer kissing.

        I don’t know, I just think that this video is a far stretch from the minimum amount of queering the mainstream music video I would expect from queer icons.

        • i totally agree with you.

          but i guess all i’m saying is.. baby steps. at least there’s queers in this, period.

          and since we’re on this topic: i think it’s easier for artists to throw in some femme on femme action (hetero males love that shit).. but what about the gay boy on gay boy action? :( like, it’s almost come to the point where i don’t even see two femmes making out on screen as anything but a publicity stunt.. and that is sad (for me, personally). it’s like the mass media is saying gay boys making out will totally gross people out and everyone will hate you for doing that to your career… you know what i’m saying?
          this video has the added legitimacy that the artists themselves are totally out.. but still..

    • It’s definitely a new video by T&S. One where it’s totally possible to miss they’re singing about fucking girls! And yet, I feel vaguely delighted that homos are maybe succeeding in the mainstream while being women and good at their jobs.

      Bars so low you could scrape your knee on ’em, right here.

  31. How am I the only one who sees a direct connection between this video and Klub Deer? They must have read our recaps.

  32. they are out and they’re waving a flag here. c’mon you guys. this vid is super cute in the first place. it has trampolines and karaoke and happy people kissing. queer kissing too. it’s not ‘in your face’ but it is there. it’s definitely a great first step and it shows queerness alongside some hetero-smooching. and that’s just the way it’s supposed to be: normal and not super duper outstanding. (or am i wrong here?)

    just think about the macklemore video some weeks ago. we’re getting there..

  35. After watching this video 3 times in a row, I Youtubed every Tegan interview I could get my hands on and swooned for an hour straight. She is just the most perfect human being.

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