Charlie McDonnell’s channel is active again, praise the Lord!
Charlie has always been socoollike, and a video like this shows us why. As one of the true OG creators on the platform, he’s long been in the spotlight in one way or another, and his resulting self-awareness about the pros and cons of internet fame has always been refreshing.
Hiatus has the feel of an old-fashioned video response of sorts: it was inspired by Liam Dryden‘s earlier foundation., a high-energy and brutally honest slam poem which followed over a year of silence on Liam’s channel. (It perhaps isn’t particularly surprising that Charlie drew his inspiration from Liam, considering that these two are old friends that have recently created a podcast together – available now on all good podcast services!)
Charlie has an ease in front of the camera that has been crafted over many years, and this has never been more apparent than at the end of this video’s second sentence – the moment in which you realise that it has rhythm and rhyme, and his words turn from him just speaking to the audience into something more. Charlie’s iconic voice lulls us into a false sense of security, thinking that this is off the cuff, but the rhythm that he falls into turns his words into poetry – pre-planned but so perfectly poignant.
He speaks about his need to have more of a distinction between his private and public lives. The Charlie that we the audience see is not the real Charlie; he is far too messy for us lot to see. But when you watch this video, you realise that it doesn’t matter which Charlie we see, it’s just nice to see Charlie.
This may all sound like a cry for help but this isn’t the sequel to I’m Scared. It’s more positive than that. He is more assured of his place in the world, and more confident of his own ability to process himself and what it all means for the future.
We’ve always loved Charlie and it’s always great to see him in our subscription boxes. More please, Mr McDonnell!
Want more?
Read our Video Spotlights about the discussion around overfamiliarity on YouTube, and Simon Cade‘s short Why You Shouldn’t Be an Artist.
For updates follow @TenEightyUK on Twitter or like TenEighty UK on Facebook.