The Grateful Dead continued the American Beauty 50th anniversary celebrations this week with the release of a new music video for “Ripple”. After several days of teases across social media, the music video for the Robert Hunter/Jerry Garcia collaboration arrived on Thursday morning.
Animated by Actuality Films, a table of tarot cards at the beginning of the video launches the viewer into a mystical world. Throughout the video, the protagonist—The Fool—wanders through the spiritual space, The World, aided by The Star, The Moon, and The Sun. As The Fool journeys through this otherworldly experience, he meets characters such as The Devil, The Magician, and The Empress, who guide him along.
According to jambands.com, a press release noted, “The Grateful Dead’s “Ripple” became a kind of cosmic spiritual after its debut 50 years ago. Since then, the universal appeal of Robert Hunter’s serene prose and the band’s heartfelt performance have made the song a popular choice at everything from weddings to funerals.”
It continued, “As relevant now as ever before, the enduring optimism of ‘Ripple’ is a welcome reminder of better days ahead, when songs will, once again, fill the air. In that hopeful spirit, the band has premiered the first official video for the song today.”
Check out the new music video for “Ripple” below and click here to purchase a 50th Anniversary Edition of American Beauty.
Grateful Dead – “Ripple” (Official Music Video)
[Video: Grateful Dead]
[H/T jambands.com]