Monday, April 02, 2007
Friday, March 30, 2007
The Sound of Violence
So, I work at a gar bar. Some of you know this, some of you do not. What those of you know who know this and have been to said gay bar, is that we play a lot of fucking music videos. Several screens, all with lots of music videos on them. Some (like the one above) are freakin nifty. Most are sad and lame. Regardless, I often have a hard time not watching music videos and actually tending to my drunken customers. The above video by Cassius is a real gem in my book. I'd really like to watch on Imax...in 3D...on lots of chemicals...forever...
Tuesday, March 27, 2007
Justify My Love
My father has been in town, so I haven't been spending much time thinking about what to put up in my little corner of the internet, but here we go again...
Madonna has always been a gender bending fag. In this video, she only play one gender, but she also brought some serious kinky gay genderfuck stuff to a mainstream audience. In case you weren't aware, this was the first video to ever be banned from MTV. And what did she do? She sold the damn thing on VHS as the first video single and made millions. Clever girl.
Below are a few examples of Madge playing a more dominant role, and also her love for top hats.
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Sunday, March 25, 2007
She's Madonna
I'm not really sure how I feel about this one. Opinions? I'm a rebellious Robbie Williams fan; ie: no one else I know really cares for him at all. I love this song, he made it with the Pet Shop Boys. The video, is somewhat enjoyable, and the idea of Robbie in bad drag is kinda interesting, but none the less nothing really happens.
What's exciting is the DL on the song, which is apparently this: Robbie wrote the song after a conversation he had with Guy Ritchie (Madonna's hubby) about how he left his then girlfriend Tania Strecker for Madonna. Robbie wanted Madonna to be in the video with him, and he played the song for her shortly after writing it, and the word is she even liked it. But when Guy figured out what the song was about, the project was dropped entirely. Shame, would have been fun.
Also of note, the video includes Alexis Arquette (of The Arquette's) who was born on my birthday, only in 1969. And finally, the video was made by none other than Johan Renck who also Madonna's "Nothing Really Matters" and "Hung Up." Everything is illuminated.
Thursday, March 22, 2007
It's Amy Winehouse day!
I was turned on to this semi-trashy woman yesterday. Yes, I'm late on the boat, considering she's already won Best New Artist at the Brit Awards, but the girl is super sexy and amazing; and her voice makes me wanna cream. It's like Rosemary Cloony and The Ronettes had a love child who wore too much eye liner, but it kinda worked for her because she looked like Minnie Driver. Anyway, her videos are kinda great too, not super awesome, both worth a look over. It took me two times to 'get' the first one, so give it a look.
Trivia? At around age 10, Winehouse founded a short-lived amateur rap group called Sweet 'n' Sour, as Sour. She described the group as "the little white Jewish Salt 'n' Pepa" in a 2003 interview with The Sun.
Tuesday, March 20, 2007
Love Today
What it is about this boy...I have no idea, but he's cute like kittens and bunnies and yet I still kinda wanna do him...to tall though...Anyway, this appeared yesterday, and it's good.
Anyway, in case you were wondering, Mika was trained by a Russian opera professional and his public performances and jobs have varied from classical performances in the Royal Opera House, writing in-flight music for British Airways and creating an Orbit Chewing Gum jingle. I guess he's versatile.
I posted his first single here if you missed it.
Monday, March 19, 2007
Who's That Girl
So apparently I'm on some sort of Gender Bender kick. While Annie's gender bending has ever been as extreme as what we saw in the last post, it's still sexy. I mean how often do we get to see pop stars making out with themselves while playing different genders? Not often enough, I'll tell you that!
Saturday, March 17, 2007
You Spin Me Round
So, apparently in 2003 Dead Or Alive released a greatest hits cd (they had other hits?), and on it there was a remix of their most notable single, "You Spin Me Round." Also, since that song had originally been released, front man Pete Burns went about 3/4ths trans. He's spent a lot of time under the knife it seems, and I for one think he (I think that's still the right pronoun...it's only 3/4ths right?) looks fantastic. Rather Amanda Lepore, but I guess that's just kinda what happens when you explode your lips with collagen. Anyway, enjoy the 2003 remix video for "You Sping Me." Then watch the original, and be amused by what was cool in the 80's.
Wednesday, March 14, 2007
Tuesday, March 06, 2007
Ride A White Horse
The last video's 'glam/gross' effect naturally made me think of this video. I mean...yuck...but damn, that's a good wig. The art direction throughout the video is fantastic, and her garbage can go go boys only make things fantastic. Be in awe ya'll, it don't get much better than Goldfrapp.
Monday, March 05, 2007
Someone Like You
This has nothing to do with anything and is totally bizzaro. I totally dig though. Bjork's makeup with peaches/madonna/le tigre sound and a snazzy monochrome video....how could you go wrong?
Sunday, March 04, 2007
Beautiful Liar / The Boy Is Mine
Feminism at it's finest. Beyonce and Shakira's new video "Beautiful Liar" is clearly "The Boy is Mine" for 2007. I'm actually surprised it took 9 years for two female popstars to do a duet where they're mad at men together. I'm also surprised, while comparing the two, how increidbly boring "The Boy Is Mine" seems now. What?! No middrifts?! You're wearing all your clothes?! No Choreography?!...just back and forth between that damn wall, over and over. I'm glad Shakira and Beyonce have learned that if you want to hate your man, you at least have to be a sex kitten and ruin your gown with fake rain.
But seriously, it is rather exciting how similar they look in this video. Why is it exciting? I'm not sure yet, I haven't had my coffee.
Friday, March 02, 2007
Champion Sound
I have no idea if this is real or not. I mean, it can't be...right? at least I hope not. Either way, the amount of obsession it took to put the thing together is a little sickening, and truely worthy of admiration.
Tuesday, February 27, 2007
Slow
I wish it was summer. I wish it was summer and there was actually a pool populated by these people, including Kylie Minogue and her legions of hot fags in skimpy swim suits. Wait, I wish it was summer and I got to be Kylie Minogue at the pool with the hot fags. I also want the giant crane over my head with a camera zooming in and out on my fantastic cleavage and trashy makeup. I want to be the only one at the pool in a designer dress.
Monday, February 26, 2007
She's My Man
I'm not usually a huge fan of the Scissor Sister's videos...their imagery is always amazing, but somehow it never really pulls together for me. However, this one is fantastic. I probably like it because it's so different from what they usually do. Enjoy the puppetry and intra-band drama, it is most excellent.
Saturday, February 24, 2007
Why
Incase you had any doubts about Annie Lennox's total and complete awesomeness, I give you her 2006 Live 8 performance. Cry.
Monday, February 19, 2007
Beethoven (I Love To Listen To)
Sophie Muller has made most of the Eurythmics' videos, and done most of Annie Lennox's solo video's as well. This gem dates back to 1987, and is all around nifty. Annie is a total stud. And can't we all relate? I mean, I know that when the housework is getting me down, a nice pair of pumps and a blond wig can turn everyday monotony into a real party. For one. Alone in my apartment. Just me, the pumps, and a shiny new bottle of Windex. No, I'm serious.
Sunday, February 18, 2007
Try
I've always loved this one. It's off Nelly Furtado's least successful album, her sophomore effort 'Folklore.' Her video's have never been that great, and since she got her brain fried and thinks she's Paris Hilton, they've gotten awful. But once upon a time, Sophie Muller made her a video, and it was good. Oh well, at least she used to be cool. Not to mention her total hottie husband she's stranded with in that colonial wasteland. Poor Nelly Furtado...stuck in the wilderness with a model and several designer gowns...I really do pity her.
Friday, February 16, 2007
Not Ready To Make Nice
Gotta love the chicks. I always kinda loved the chicks. Then they got all 'fuck-you-rebel-bitch-queen-diva-politics' and I loved them more, so much that I started talking about it. Then they won Grammys, lots of them. So, in honor of said chicks, and the aforementioned lovely Sophie Muller, I give you a super excellent Dixie Chicks video that makes superb use of black eyeliner.
Also, the grammys:
Wednesday, February 14, 2007
Happy Valentine's Day
Another unlikely and throughly un-American pop star is one Miss Lilly Allen. She's adorable and her crazy British bubble gum reggae is unique and nifty. On top of her fantastic lyrics and songs, she's hired Sophie Muller to make her a Kelly Clarkson-esque heroine in her first video. Watch and compare.
Also, fair warning that this kicks off a binge of Sophie Muller's videos, which are usually stupendous. The whole idea of a Sophie-thon was given to me by my arch nemesis blogger, over at the living laboratory
Tuesday, February 13, 2007
The Sweet Escape
And speaking off odd, I give you Gwen's latest attempt at oddity. Successful? Not really, unless you consider that this is actually popular. Which is kind of amazing, kind of predicable, and kind of sad. I don't know, I love the girl, but her video's have never been all that incredible. There's something a bit 'poser' about her if you will. It's like the director told her to be sexy, tried to shoot her looking sexy, but in reality, it was hotter to watch her doing push-ups in the "Just A Girl" video.
I rest my case.
Thursday, February 08, 2007
David Bowie and Marianne Faithfull - I Got You Babe
There is nothing that's not odd about this. Everything is odd. David is sporting a fur corset, while Marianne seems to have forgotten to take her nun Halloween costume off. And they chose, of all things, to cover Sonny and Cher, who are also odd. The performance style is perhaps my favorite part...totally fucking deadpan. This one is definitely best enjoyed with a cup of earl grey and good shot of an intravenous drug.
Wednesday, February 07, 2007
Life On Mars?
Circa 1973, the original male pop star in makeup. You just have to love him. I mean think about it people! This was pop music! Girls were screaming and fawning over this man with a red mullet, blue eyeshadow, pink lip gloss and a fabulous powder blue suit. We have nothing to even hold a candle to that. 
Sigh...well at least there's always crazy Gwen Stefani being weird and famous...but her pupils are the same size so it's not as cool.
Saturday, February 03, 2007
Lovers in Captivity
I know very little about this band (they're called Ima Robot) but this video is nothing short of fantastic. Gender bending at its finest. The sexiness of a man in makeup isn't at all like any other kind of sexy, but it sure is undeniable here. David Bowie would be proud...or perhaps jealous...or maybe even a bit put off but still think it was pretty groovy...
Friday, February 02, 2007
Thursday, February 01, 2007
Making of Sugar Water
ooh...just found this tidbit, thought I should include it. The bit at the end is adorable.
Sugar Water
Much like "Star Guitar" did yesterday, "Sugar Water" by Cibo Matto showcases Michel Gondry's signature use of really nifty ideas that hinge on really obsessive mathematics. I'm always surprised when I watch his stuff, even when I know how it turns out, or exactly how he did it. There's always this slow moving elegance that I find totally captivating and a clear "look how smart and ocd I am" mentality that is totally impressive. Cibo Matto is pretty nifty too, and they kick off a run of bizaro Asian pop that you won't want to miss.
Wednesday, January 31, 2007
Star Guitar
As promised, more trains. This video is a true staple of pop brilliance. The director, Michel Gondry, has made some of the best pop videos ever. He loves planning, organization, long shots, and tripping out his audience. I hesitated to post this one, just because it's so much better in good quality. All of the subtleties really come out.
If you're interested, I'd highly recommend his box set, which can be found here.
And finally, for those of you with patience, here's a stupefying look into how he made the damn thing.
More explorations into the slightly ocd mind of Michel Gondry are coming up tomorrow...
Tuesday, January 30, 2007
Train
MORE STRIPPERS!...sorta...When I saw Goldfrapp live at Roseland back in October, they were doing a very similar 'animal go-go girl' thing. It was totally hot in concert, and it wasn't until after the show that I watched this video and found out they'd be doing it for years. This video was one of the first in their move away from the dreamscape/james bond/la la land sounds of their first album 'Felt Mountain' which is a truly unique and delicious album. But this video sexed up Alison, got kinky w/ the go-go girls, and the electro-raunch sound kinda pissed off a lot of their fans. To those fans I say "have you tried masturbating? do you know what sex is? have you never said dirty words to someone while they pound you from behind?! if not, please consider this your introduction to a wonderful new world where it's ok to dance in your underwear with a taxidermy on your head."
in other news, more trains are on their way tomorrow...
Monday, January 29, 2007
Music
All right...so we all just saw "Smack My Bitch Up," Prodigy's 1997 video by Jonas Akerland that includes (to put it mildly) booze, cars, strippers, and girl on girl action. Three years later, Madonna decided she wanted some attention to, and made this mediocre video with Jonas that, again, included (mild) booze, cars, strippers, and girl on girl action. So it's not really the video itself that's interesting (although the bit with animated-Madonna smashing her old song titles to bits is worth mentioning) it's the Jonas Akerland connection I've been harping on so much that's really bizarre.
Sunday, January 28, 2007
Smack My Bitch Up
Jonas, Jonas, Jonas...you truly are a nifty guy. I'm endlessly curious about what made you go from making music videos about lesbo party rape for The Prodigy to your long collaboration with Miss M. Probably that fat paycheck. Why Madonna wanted you is pretty easy to see, just take a look at the vid above...it's got strippers, disco, booze, and girl on girl action...all things Madge is totally down for. Don't believe me?
Saturday, January 27, 2007
Nobody Knows Me
Couldn't resist. Probably should have. Well, have a martini and enjoy another reason why Madonna and Jonas are so crafty.
Friday, January 26, 2007
Let It Will Be
Submit Bitches! Most people's music video's don't look this hot, and this actually was one take! Okay, I'm biased, a fact that I'm sure will become evident simply based on the number of times Madonna comes up. There's a section in the documentary about "The Reinvention Tour" where Iggy Pop opens for Madonna somewhere in Ireland. Not sure why. But she watches him rehearsing and you should see the look on her face. Iggy's falling all over the place as he often does, throwing things and being all 'rock star' and Madonna is actually shocked, which never really happens. Personally having a feeling that's how she came to this little number on her next outing "The Confessions Tour." Like "Like a Feather," it's an excellent example of an incredible performance being made all the more incredible by superb editing. In cause you were wondering, it's Jonas Akerland, who also directed the filming of "The Reinvention Tour." A great spot from that particular collaboration is on its way.
Thursday, January 25, 2007
Grace Kelly
Mika is blowing up very quickly and I just wanted to do my fair share to make sure that happens to its fullest extent. This isn't the next video I was intending to post, but he's so damn adorable that I had to. I highly recommend his album, which I acquired today. 
It's all over the place and yet remains incredibly 'pop' the whole time. Other than accompanying an incredibly infectious song, the video is nothing too amazing. Although it is making me have these "do i want to be him or do I want to do him?" feelings that I haven't felt since about 7th grade. Hope you enjoy, and tune in tomorrow the promised excellent editing.
Like a Feather
Ok...her mic doesn't levitate either, but this girl out does both of the previous posts...by far. No costume changes, no special effects, but one hell of a performer. All she needs is that mic, some neon lights, and a few pieces of sticky tape and the girl is good to go. Seriously impressive, and incredibly entertaining considering nothing really happens. She does have one hell of an editor on her side though. You feel like the performance might have happened in one take, but the editing done afterwards is really what gives it that extra kick. What's that you say? Shall we explore this concept of editing a single performance into music video a bit further? Why I think we shall...
Wednesday, January 24, 2007
My Love Is Like "Whoa"
Horrible song...like really bad. Clearly I didn't post it because of its value in that department. But it is another example of simple special effects making some chick who can sorta sing look like a classy hoe with enough money to make herself look good. The clothes are even bad, whereas in the Ciara video from yesterday, they were pretty fantastic. What the girl lacks in clothes she makes up for in performance 'umph.' Even though her mike doesn't levitate, she can work the thing like all phallic objects should be worked. For more mic(phallus)work tune in tomorrow.
Tuesday, January 23, 2007
Promise
As I said yesterday, some videos use special effects in a minimalist way that allows them to be pretty damn convincing. I'm no Ciara fan, but this shit w/ the mic is pretty insane. Clearly it's not real, but it's flawless in its presentation. And not only is it cool, but it's an effective vehicle to make the girl look damn hott. Yes...two 't's. Another video where special effects actually work and make the girl look pretty fuckin fine is on the way tomorrow.
Monday, January 22, 2007
A Boy From School
Why it rocks:
The tag at the end is a kind of "see..it's real" that doesn't really come into play in most videos...in fact a lot of videos depend upon the audience knowing it's not real. It brings an authenticity to the work that is impressive, even just in a logistical sense. Computer animation has put things into a different scope, one where we try to fool the audience into believing something is real that we know isn't. It's a very difficult job to do, one that George Lucas seems to be obsessed with and has been quite unsuccessful at in my opinion. Some videos use that tool in a minimalist way that allows them to be incredibly successful. Tune in tomorrow for a video that does this remarkably well, all be it for about 45 seconds.
Thursday, January 11, 2007
Monday, January 01, 2007
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