Get the Promonews daily round up

User Accounts

Get the Promonews daily round up

Kneecap & Paul Hartnoll 'Sayōnara' by Finn Keenan

David Knight - 4th Sept 2025

Following the fierce polemic of The Recap, Finn Keenan reunites with Kneecap for their collaboration with Orbital's Paul Hartnoll - and presents the brilliant Jamie-Lee O'Donnell as the office drone unable to get raving out of her head.

With the usual intensity of Kneecap ramped up even further by Hartnoll's beats, in the Sayōnara video Jamie-Lee is disturbed from her office duties by visions of uninhibited nights in clubland - episodes that are increasingly blurring into reality. She's just about keeping it together - even as she starts seeing her suspicious work colleagues in fetishwear.

Until it all kicks off: suddenly Jamie-Lee is driving around Belfast in the Kneecap-pimped Land Rover, and finally streams of light from her eyes and mouth - surely a reference to the iconic Kneecap balaclava. 

This off-the wall comic narrative really works with the track, Jamie-Lee O'Donnell is great, and as with all things Kneecap, the comedy of the raver's existence comes with some serious intent. 

"The intensity and ominous tone of Sayōnara reminded me of both the best nights out and the brutal days that followed - that’s what sparked the idea," says Finn Keenan. "But I wanted to turn a typical dance video on its head and focus on the aftermath and how the chemicals in your body change as the week progresses. I wanted to capture the visceral intensity of paranoia and intrusive thoughts. Somehow, that 'never again' anxiety of Monday slowly shifts by Friday into a 'Weekend is here. Monday will never happen again!' optimism.

Keenan adds that he and the band also wanted to nod to Belfast’s rave history. "In the 90s, raves weren’t just parties, they were acts of resistance, dangerous but vital spaces where Catholics and Protestants came to be together and dance," he explains. 

"That spirit is what fuels the scene of Jamie Lee driving the pimped-up Kneecap Land Rover across the city - a kind of rave pied piper, spreading the idea that art, music, and creativity can break down the metaphorical walls which are often stronger than the physical ones. Pent-up anger and frustration are released through dance instead of turning into hate.

"Which is what the ludicrous end of the video is about. I wanted this end scene to be feral! Working with Jamie Lee made this possible. She’s one of the most open, vulnerable and fun people i’ve ever met. Working with her was incredible.

"We didn't have a choreographer so for the end dance we’d have a chat before each take and then she channeled her own stories and emotions into the performances, each one completely different than the last and each one genuinely left the crew speechless. It was an incredible thing to witness. She’s a powerhouse!

"Massive thanks to RiffRaff for their support and to all the incredible cast and crew who created such a lovely vibe on set that meant everyone was comfortable doing some of the most bizarre stuff i’ve had to ask people to do on camera. And of course thank you once again to Kneecap for trusting me with this absolute pile of weird!"

Featured sponsors

David Knight - 4th Sept 2025

Tags

  • Comedy
  • Director's notes
  • Narrative
  • Pick of the Day
  • Rap
  • Hip Hop
  • Dance
  • Electronic

Popular content

Feedback

Problem with this page? Let us know

Featured here in the credits?

Credits

Some credits on this video are only available to PRO members.

Production/Creative

Director
Producer
Production Company
Executive Producer
1st AD

Camera

Director of Photography
Focus Puller
2nd AC

Lighting/Grip

Gaffer

Art

Production designer

Wardrobe

Hair
Make-up
Wardrobe

Casting

Lead actor

Editorial

Editor
Editor

Grading

Colour Producer
Colourist

VFX

VFX
Post production company

Agent

Director's Representation

Commission

Label

Some credits on this video are only available to PRO members.

David Knight - 4th Sept 2025

Related Content

Industry News