POPULAR VIDEO --- Darren Hayes --- -- Watch Full Popular Video at Sony MAKING OF POPULAR VIDEO LOW | MEDIUM | HIGH Darren Hayes Stops Traffic Sorce: Herald Sun DARREN Hayes literally stopped traffic in London this week while filming the video for his new single release, Popular, dancing with bikini-clad models. Following on from the guerilla gigs trend which is sweeping the British capital, Hayes decided to stage a guerilla video shoot on the famed Oxford St tourist and shopping strip. This involved just rocking up with models, crew and boom box in hand and filming whatever happened, instead of seeking official council permits or police approval, according to music writer Kathy McCabe. All was going well, with Hayes strutting his new George Michael-style stuff in the front window of a Kookai store, but crowds swelled when the singer and crew headed out onto the pavement and people ended up on the street, disrupting traffic flow. Police arrived and Hayes and the video gang did the bolt and hid in a side street while the constabulary sorted out the bottleneck. They crept back onto the street and took up where they left off until another snarl developed and the police came to check out what was causing all the commotion. The cat-and-mouse situation went on for half a day before the police finally caught the singer and his entourage. They were ordered to cease and desist and are now waiting for the weather to clear to finish off the shoot. The single spoofs the pop business with lines like "I'm willing to sleep my way to the top/I want to be pop-popular". Expect a massive airwaves assault when radio stations are given the track on July 12 with Hayes' second solo album, The Tension and The Spark, released in late August. + + + The Video Shoot Location The single "Popular" is a satire on the music industry and being famous. The video for Pop!ular was based on an original idea by Darren and directed by Evan Bernard. The concept for the 'Popular' clip was conceived by the completely insane Jackass crew, on two handy cams. Using no actors, filming of the video took place on several locations around London including Madame Tussauds, Lords Cricket, Tottenham Court Rd tube station and Oxford Street. The crowd interaction seen in the video was filmed ad-hoc and the reactions of the members of the public, real! As the crowds amassed to catch a glimpse of Darren, and to be in his video, some of London's busiest areas came to a stand still! Keep your eyes peeled for the cops that appear in the clip - they're not actors, but real police actually trying to shut the shoot down...fortunately for us, Darren knows how to bust a move at lightening speed!! + + + Message From the Fanclub the week before the shoot UK Beware. Rumours of Random Acts of Spontaneous Karaoke continue. It has been predicted that SOMEONE may soon be singing up a storm to the unsuspecting traveller on London's Underground. If the whispers are true.. next week could be the week that SOMEBODY can be spotted shooting a music video on the streets of the Mother Country for all to see . It would seem that no one is safe from the possibility of being serenaded with the sweet refrain of 'Popular' . It has been suggested that Mr Hayes intends to musically confront everyone from the casual passer by to those hitting tourist attractions. Will no one be spared? Is fame really this contagious?? When exactly next week is this happening? + + + Fans Appear In Video Lucky fans of Darren Hayes were given a chance to appear in Darren's new Video "Popular". Darren's Official Fanclub launched a contest, and awarded prizes to fans to appear as Extra's in the Video. NEW ! Popular Videos Stills Added to Gallery The Tension And The Spark - Darren Hayes Popular Video Darren Hayes DARREN HAYES net 2004