6 iconic Canadian music videos starring artists' real-life love interests
Justin Bieber, Alanis Morissette, the Weeknd and more have featured their partners in their visuals
Between soaring romantic ballads and breakup anthems, love is a leading source of inspiration for many musicians. However, some artists have gone a step beyond penning a love song for their partners by featuring their real-life loves in music videos, adding another layer to their art.
From Justin Bieber's cinematic ode to his wife to Shawn Mendes's sultry duet with his ex, these are six times Canadian musicians had their muses star as their on-screen love interests.
'Let Me Go,' Avril Lavigne feat. Chad Kroeger
Avril Lavigne and Chad Kroeger were married from 2013 to 2015, and fell in love while working on Lavigne's self-titled fifth studio album. "Let Me Go" was released in 2013 after the rockers tied the knot and the song marked their first duet together. Although it was originally penned as a breakup ballad, the pair changed the song's ending to highlight their blossoming romance. The music video is a melancholy love story, with Kroeger portraying Lavigne's former lover while Lavigne belts out her romantic woes as she plays piano in a mansion. It's not entirely clear if Kroeger is supposed to be a ghost or simply a figment of Lavigne's imagination, but he embraces her as she sings before disappearing at the end.
'Anyone (On the Road),' Justin Bieber
Justin Bieber's song "Anyone" originally had a boxing-themed music video, which he dropped at the start of 2021. That version depicted Bieber training to compete in the ring and starred actress Zoey Deutch as his love interest. However, he released an alternative video for the song 20 days later featuring his wife, Hailey, as the star. "You," the pop star tweeted followed by a series of heart emojis when sharing an early clip of the video. The video features footage of the couple cuddling and kissing, as well as numerous shots of Hailey swimming and sitting in a boat. Later that same year, the couple also briefly played themselves in the music video for Drake's song "Popstar."
'Take Care,' Drake feat. Rihanna
Drake and Rihanna had an on-again, off-again relationship throughout the 2010s while also collaborating on several songs together. The Toronto rapper starred in Rihanna's music videos as her love interest for her hits "Work" and "What's My Name?" and in 2012, it was her turn to star in the video for Drake's song "Take Care." The minimalist video depicts the pair hugging each other while they sing, with Drake kissing her on the forehead. The sultry collaboration was their second-to-last song together, as Rihanna revealed in 2018 that they are no longer close.
'So Pure,' Alanis Morissette
Alanis Morissette and actor Dash Mihok dated from 1998 to 2001, and Mihok appeared in the 1999 music video for her song "So Pure." The pair portray dance partners in different time periods, twirling through different styles ranging from tap dancing to ballroom. "When it came time to create this video, there was no question that there would be dancing in it," she said in a statement.
'In the Night,' the Weeknd
The Weeknd and model Bella Hadid dated on and off between 2015 and 2019, beginning when he reached out to her to be part of the cover artwork for 2014's Beauty Behind the Madness. Although she declined, she did agree to star as a skilled murderer in his 2015 video for "In the Night." The plot follows Hadid and an army of strippers who are out for revenge, gorily assassinating men who have taken advantage of them. Ultimately, she saves the Weeknd by shooting a gangster and the two escape on a motorcycle. The bloody '80s-inspired video emphasizes the Weeknd's love of horror, which was apparent during his Beauty Behind the Madness era.
'Señorita,' Shawn Mendes, Camila Cabello
In 2019, Shawn Mendes and then-girlfriend Camila Cabello released a steamy music video for their pop collaboration "Señorita," which set the internet ablaze. Cabello portrays a waitress, who falls for Mendes while he plays guitar and later rides a motorcycle. Sparks fly as the two dance together before heading off to the bedroom, though their characters part ways at the video's end. The singers dated for two years, and ended their relationship officially in 2021, although they appeared to reunite briefly in 2023 before splitting once more.