Nick Cave Celebrates 40 Years of “Tupelo” with AI Video Amid Criticism
to replicate his voice through it a “grotesque mockery of what it is to be human”. So it comes as a surprise that Cave has now marked the 40th anniversary of The Bad Seeds’ track ‘Tupelo’ with a new video that makes use of AI animation. It actually felt a bit hypocritical quite frankly when I heard about it.
The video, created by longtime collaborator Andrew Dominik, uses artificial intelligence to animate archival stills of Elvis Presley, the subject of the 1985 song. Cave says the film was made without his knowledge and admits his initial response was sceptical. That changed when Dominik pushed back, reportedly telling Cave to “suspend your prejudices and take a look”.
Cave did. And by his own account, it shifted his perspective. Writing in today’s Red Hand Files, Cave said he found the video to be “a soulful, moving, and entirely original retelling of ‘Tupelo’”, describing it as “rich in mythos” and “a touching tribute to the great Elvis Presley, as well as to the song itself”. He noted the eerie realism of the AI-animated images, comparing them to a resurrection, with final crucifixion-themed visuals that he called both “shocking and deeply affecting”.
It is a notable turn from a musician who has previously expressed his disdain for the concept of AI songwriting and creativity. Though Cave maintains his criticisms of AI’s wider implications, he now acknowledges that when used thoughtfully, it can provide something emotionally resonant.
The shift may come as a surprise to fans, but not to those familiar with Cave’s willingness to challenge his own convictions. In the same post, he responded to a fan’s query about the weakness of changing one’s mind. His answer, succinctly put, was no.
The AI-assisted video emerges as Cave continues to discuss openly art, grief, and creative authenticity. While he is unlikely to start inputting lyrics into a machine anytime soon, this video indicates that his thoughts on AI are no longer fixed. Which is an essential thing, in my opinion, and it establishes an important precedent about amending one’s viewpoints despite having entrenched beliefs.