Saoirse Ronan embodies the je ne sais quoi that is 50 years of Talking Heads music in a video for the venerable art rockers’ “Psycho Killer” that dropped this week.
Ronan captures the ennui of everyday existence and how masses of humanity lead lives of quiet exasperation. The video also illustrates the artistry of the Talking Heads and how, after 50 years, their music remains relevant beyond the Baby Boom or Gen Xers.
Watch this, Millennials and whatever Generation(s) Next will be called. This is a video that captures the feelings of a time and of a place you’re going to be in at some point, no matter what the future holds:
One YouTube commenter was spot-on when they said they planned to tell their kids the video was the sequel to “Lady Bird” — the acclaimed 2017 Greta Gerwig coming-of-age film, also featuring Ronan.
Ronan’s pantomime through the drudgeries of adulting in “Psycho Killer” is worthy of a Moon Man, the trophy given at the MTV Video Music awards.
The online music publication Stereogum caught up with Ronan.
“To simply be mentioned in the same breath as Talking Heads is hands down one of the coolest things that has ever happened to me,” she said.
Talking Heads played their first show 50 years ago today, opening for the Ramones at CBGB, and are celebrating with a video for “Psycho Killer” starring Saoirse Ronan. https://t.co/aMC3wmUaqb
Also a deluxe edition of ‘More Songs About Buildings And Food’ is coming next month. pic.twitter.com/2k8tn20Sal
— Stereogum (@stereogum) June 5, 2025
Ronan said it was also cool to work with Mike Mills, the director known for “Beginners” and “20th Century Woman” (not the REM bassist).
Making the video sounds like it was “a real live wire” (to quote the song), according to Vulture, New York Magazine’s online music imprint, which has more on the story behind the video here.
Saoirse Ronan stars in the first-ever music video for Talking Heads’ ‘Psycho Killer.’ Direct Mike Mills on his vision: ‘Saoirse isn’t at all a psycho killer or anything. It’s the environment and that life and false normality’ https://t.co/3qV7hnESmz
— New York Magazine (@NYMag) June 5, 2025
