Released in 2001, Nikki Webster’s 'Strawberry Kisses' video is pure early-2000s pop – a colourful time capsule that defined an era. Riding high on the wave of fame from her Sydney 2000 Olympics performance, Nikki stepped into a glossy, futuristic digital world, complete with animated sidekick Digital Jimmy (DJ), who swaps her outfits at the push of a button. Bursting with colourful sets and high-energy choreography, it perfectly mirrors the song’s sugary optimism.
Looking back, the CGI and bubblegum aesthetic feel charmingly dated – an ambitious attempt at high-tech cool that now reads as delightfully kitsch. As the launchpad for Nikki’s debut single (and a massive Aussie hit), 'Strawberry Kisses' reminds us of an unapologetically playful time in pop. The song got a fresh lease of life when the Matildas revealed it was their go-to warm-up track during their historic run for the 2023 FIFA World Cup.
The National Film and Sound Archive of Australia acknowledges Australia’s Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as the Traditional Custodians of the land on which we work and live and gives respect to their Elders both past and present.