It’s bright, cheery, and intentionally dated, mirroring the upbeat, country-bluegrass tempo of the track. The Subversion: The "Female Gaze" in Pop
The video opens with archived footage of introducing "Miss Lily Allen" to a stage set that looks like a technicolor farm. Everything about the visual language screams "innocent country starlet":
The brilliance of "Not Fair" lies in the sharp contrast between its "purty" presentation and its "barbed" lyrics. While the video presents a polished TV performance, the lyrics describe a partner who is "perfect" in every social way—respectful, secure, and kind—but completely selfish in the bedroom.
Lily Allen ’s official video for "" is a masterclass in the "bait and switch." Directed by Melina Matsoukas , the video subverts the wholesome aesthetic of a 1970s variety show—specifically modeled after The Porter Wagoner Show —to deliver a brutally honest critique of sexual dissatisfaction. The Aesthetic: Country Kitsch
Critics and fans often cite this as a rare example of the in pop music, as it centers female pleasure and frustration without the usual filters of "girl power" clichés. The video highlights this irony through: Lily Allen – Not Fair Lyrics - Genius
Allen performs into a vintage microphone, surrounded by backing singers dressed as cowgirls.
Cardboard cutouts of farm animals, hay bales, and a painted pastoral backdrop.