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...

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...

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.

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?

Nobody Knows Me

Couldn't resist. Probably should have. Well, have a martini and enjoy another reason why Madonna and Jonas are so crafty.

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.

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...

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.

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.

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.

gpa

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