R34 Nissan Skyline GT-R stars in Khalid’s latest music video

Singer Khalid’s latest single, “Skyline” sounds just like the kind of hit that was tailor made to qualify for “song of the summer” status. It’s probably going to get a lot of radio play in the next few months. Turns out, it’s actually about Nissan’s all-wheel-drive supercar slayer.

With lyrics like, “Hop into my skyline/ It’s only just a rebuild/ But I swear it feels real/ When you take my hand/ In my passenger side,” and “Leave it all/ In our rear view/ As we pass the finish line/ It’s just us/ Yes it’s you and I/ Racing under the green light,” the Skyline in question is definitely a car. But if there was any doubt, the official video features a Midnight Purple R34 Skyline GT-R. Given all the young people frolicking in a field, though, the lack of a Ken & Mary reference seems like an oversight.

A behind the scenes video has more footage of the car, including a peek at the special effects allowing it to float away under a hot air balloon. It also captures the first time Khalid gets to sit in the car. Khalid seems genuinely stoked, exclaiming, “Life’s a dream.” Alternate album art indicates that he may even have some bosozoku aspirations.

To be honest, we didn’t know much about Khalid before a tipster sent us the “Skyline” video. We’d heard his 2017 hit “Young, Dumb and Broke” before, but that was it. It’s because we are Olds. However, a quick look at some of his past videos reveals that the 24-year-old singer might be somewhat of a car nut. A 1967-68 Mercury Cougar appears in the aforementioned “YD&B” video, his “Scenic Drive” video features a 1968-69 Chevelle, and the video for “Last Call” includes a 71-72 Chevy Nova and a deep-cut International Harvester Scout.

The best part about this song is that the majority of people listening to it will probably have no idea why Khalid is singing about a 20-year-old Nissan that was never sold in the US. It’s almost certainly the most Top 40 play an R34 will ever get.