Music & related Videos

[TheYak]

Well, this subject comes about shortly after I heard Incubus's new single, "Megalomaniac."  I checked out the video on-line and it occurs to me: How often do new songs or videos actually try to have some sort of meaning or make a statement (whether or not you agree with 'em)?  The song/video in this example are about as subtle as throwing spotted-owls in a woodchipper.

Anyway, after most of the asinine crap I've heard on the radio and recalling the last few videos I watched (I'm a tad out of touch, I last watched MTV when the Tool-Sober vid was new) I stopped expecting anything dramatic.  This video's style reminded me of some of Trap's more demented animutations, which explains why I'm posting this topic here.  

So, any thoughts? Seen/heard anything good recently? Anything controversial (goin' for a little less obvious than Manson here), anything that made you think?  Anything that pissed you off?  Bonus question: Non-US AGSers, what's the video/band-promotion scene like where you are?

[Las Naranjas]

I like the clip to "On Your Mark" alot, and it's a testament to it's quality that the song would have dissapeared completely were it not for the clip.

But in the end, it's like the song is used as a soundtrack to a short film, rather than having visuals compliment the song.

Nonetheless...
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0114038/

[ScottDoom]

http://www.pleix.net/films.html

Go there, and watch FUTURESHOCK PRIDE'S PARANOÏA. Also, watch E-BABY, PLAID ITSU, and BEAUTY KIT.

They're not really music videos, but they're short "films" with music. And they're really good, and they have good meaning (well, the four I recommended do). I'm not really sure who makes them, but they need to start producing commercial things...

[Evil]

I remember a while back searching for a new animation program. I ran across this. (MILD SEX)

This guy said he was part of this band and he made the music video for it. It wasnt until a week later that I heard that they where number one on the dutch top ten. They're called Kashmir. I hadnt heard of them before but there music is great.

He used Plastic animation paper and Photoshop

www.plasticanimationpaper.dk

No Doubts "It's my life" video was pretty good too...

[Fizz]

Anything by chris cunnungham and spike jonze...

edit:

oh, and Michel Gondry of course.

[remixor]

Anything by chris cunnungham and spike jonze...

edit:

oh, and Michel Gondry of course.

Is it just coincidence that those happen to be the three directors whose work comprises the recently-released Directors Label series of DVDs?

Anyway, speaking of the Directors Label, I recently picked up the Spike Jonze volume.  It's got some obviously great material, such as his videos for Sabotage by the Beastie Boys, Buddy Holly by Weezer, and Weapon of Choice by Fatboy Slim, but also some really good stuff I hadn't seen before, such as the pretty incredible video to Drop by The Pharcycle.

[Shattered Sponge]

I love what I've seen of Floria Sigismondi's work; she's done videos for Marilyn Manson, David Bowie and Barry Adamson, but my personal favourite has to be this one for the first track on Sigur Ros' '()' album (all the tracks on that album are untitled).

[DGMacphee]

Coincidently, I'm currently listening to R.E.M's Bad Day, which has a great video clip.

Yes, it says something meaningful to me, especially from a journalistic perspecitve.

That chorus: "It's been a bad day; Please don't take our picture" -- so true.

Basically, the bulk of journalism is to capture and document human beings at their most depressing time.

War, fire, muder, stealing, corruption, etc -- It all sucks, and I will one day have to cover it for a paper, even though there will be people (at the saddest points of their lives) who won't want me to cover it.

Another line: "We're sick of being jerked around!"

Sometimes, after watching the news, I feel that way so much.

The way they intrude into people's lives, gloss it all up, the backstabbing, the shaddy business, etc.

"Please stay tuned while we cut to the sequel" -- the way news constantly tries to find new angles till they've sucked the soul out of whatever it is they're covering.

Stipe and Co do the clip like a pastiche of CNN and they hit the nail right on the head -- especially the mannerisms and footage style.

(And after that piece of dark poetry, I'll mention, as something lighter, that the best bit is seeing Mike Mills doing a weather impersonation!   )

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And a beautiful video clip for a beautiful song -- Elbow's Newborn.

See it now!

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Also, this isn't an offical video clip, but check out this flash animation music video for Radiohead's No Surprises:
http://www.worth1000.com/view.asp?entry=49355&display=photoshop

I love the way the visuals capture certain parts of the song -- the author really did a great job.

---

As for videos with great style, I loved The White Stripes "Fell In Love With A Girl" (But I'm biased, cause I love lego too!)

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Finally, I adore the music videos of Neil Cicierega.

If I ever meet him in real life, I'm gonna buy that man a beer!

---

Oh yeah, and watching Pink Floyd's The Wall -- that's a mindfuck!

---

And Bohemian Rhapsody, but everyone loves that.

I wonder if the same people who like Bohemian Rhapsody also like I Want To Break Free's music clip!

[Esseb]

Bonus question: Non-US AGSers, what's the video/band-promotion scene like where you are?

Exactly like in the US I expect, with the odd local band whose videos try to imitate US ones except with less than one tenth of the budget.

[Trapezoid]

Finally, I adore the music videos of Neil Cicierega.

If I ever meet him in real life, I'm gonna buy that man a beer!

Thanks. You can mail it if you want.

[Timosity]

I don't follow much music round here lately, I prefer seeing small bands at live shows.

the music culture in Australia is quite large though and influenced heavily with a good distribution from Europe & America.

There's a very large dance scene, a very sad commercial scene with world Idol types & R&B, A large alternative scene (which is commercial anyway these days)

The American influences are getting bigger with the younger generation and there is growing 'hip hop' & 'rap' scene, I'm not really into it but there is a really funny song that I'm sure the lyrics will be entertaining enough to read.

It makes me laugh everytime I hear it, I've seen the clip and the guys are really young:

EVERY TIME
(Eddie Jacobson / Olly Thomas / Dave Crane / Damien Green)
Butterfingers


Every time I clean my room I make another mess
Every time I miss the bus I’m late for a test
Every time I’m reincarnated it’s in the lowest form
I leave my window open every time there is a storm
Every time I have a hang over I have to go to work
Every time I masturbate dry it tends to hurt
Every time I pat a dog he bites me on the hand
Every time I talk to aliens they don’t understand
Every time I skate I get another bruise
Every time I get drunk I vomit on my shoes
Every time I scratch the needle jumps
Every time I drink milk it comes out in lumps
Every time I freestyle I just talk shit
Every time I catch the bus there’s nowhere to sit
Every time I catch the train I’m hassled for a ticket
Every time I bat in cricket first ball takes a wicket
Every time I’m drunk at a party in a toga
I pull a damn hamstring to prove I do yoga
Every time I eat I get a pain in my chest
Every time I think it’s heartburn it’s cardiac arrest
Every time I make a phone call waiting interrupts
Every time I dump a load at someone’s house it won’t flush
Every time it won’t flush it stains the ceramic
If you ever see me happy it’s because I’m manic

(Chorus)
Born to fail
Born to fail

Every time I give advice it comes out wrong
Every time I get raided my lips are on the bong
Every time I score I get shitty leaf
I was living with another hobo until he heard me dis his chief
But every time we smoke a joint I end up with the roach
Every time I skip sport I get drilled by the coach
Every time I play footy I get tackled in the dirt
And I crack another rib and it really fucking hurts
Every time I brush my teeth I find another cavity
Every time I try to fly I discover gravity
Every time I have a craving of we’re out of food
Every time we spin the bottle I’m the one who ends up nude
Every time I give a girl an orgasm she fakes
Every time I jam it in the condom breaks
Every time I gamble I lose all my chips
And every time I eat all bran I get the shits
But every time I shit it takes about an hour
And there’s never any paper so I have to have a shower
But every time I shower the towel’s already wet
And it’s not wet with water but wet with cum and sweat
Every time I pluck my pubic hairs to make my self attractive
My dick gets sore and I fuck like a spastic
Every time I write a song radio stations ban it
Because when you play my records in reverse they’re satanic
Worship Satan
Worship Satan
Worship Satan
Worship Satan
Worship Satan
Worship Satan
Worship Satan
Worship Satan
Every time I make a joke people take me serious
Every time I go down on a girl she’s on her periods
Every time I drive a car a cop will pull me over
But I say that I’m someone else and that I’m sober
Every blind date turns out to be blind
My looks are all I have and that is why I mind
Every time I have the dream where I’m at the school dance
Every one is looking at me cos I don’t have any pants
Every time we play piggy in the middle I’m the pig
Every time we play tiggy I’m the one who’s it
Every time I lick a toad I get worts on my tongue
And every time I see a killer bee it’s when I’m getting stung
Every time I play scrabble I make the word “AT”
Every wet fart leaves a stain where I sat
Every time I fuck your mum she wants it in the bum
And every time I’m done it’s not because I’ve cum
Every time I crack onto a chick I pull my sack out
Every time I try to suck my dick I put my back out
Every time I catch a wave I hit a coral reef
And every time I order vegetarian I get beef

(Chorus) x2
Born to fail (I get paid)
Born to fail (a chick is not a vegetable)

[Krynge]

Here's one most of you will like -

Pearl Jam - Do the Evolution / Evolution (not sure what it's called)

doesn't completely follow the lyrics, but an amazing film clip all the same.

For those who own the rights to the clip or have legal possession I urge you DOWNLOAD THE CLIP FROM A FILE-SHARING PROGRAM ASAP!

For those who don't - you'll just have to wait until is screens on MTV...

[Layabout]

SABOTAGE was the best video clip ever.

I like the Hey Ya film clip too.

I'm a big fan of the 'baby's got back' filmclip by sir mix-a-lot, but that is old now.

Um... new... Nothing really shines....

[Femme Stab Mode >:D]

Tim, I went shoping a week ago and that song was playing in the store, I didn't get most of the lyrics but it was so damn repetitve I wanted to get out of that shop as fast as possible. It was so trippy, trying on clothes while this song was playing over and over.

And the good-looking clerk left just before I got to the counter

[Igor]

My all time favorite video must be Smashing Pumpkins's- Tonight, Tonight.
Beautiful video acompanied with beautiful song.

[Timosity]

And the good-looking clerk left just before I got to the counter

I thought you were a famous stalker, maybe you should utilise those skills, then they'll never slip away.

and yes that song is very repetitive

[Trapezoid]

CORNELIUS, one of my favorite artists, recently released a double-CD set-- one cd with remixes of songs from his last album "Point", and the other is a DVD containing music videos for the songs from Point. I love the music videos. They're very artistic and expiremental executions of simple concepts that add up to beautiful eye-candy to match the incredible music. It costs the same as any normal CD.
There's also a bonus video on it, which is simply washed-out looking slow-motion footage of people walking through a Japanese park, with beautiful calming music set to each person's footstep, or leaf falling from a tree, etc. Everything is creative and mystifying.
If you see it in a music store, pick it up. It flat out rocks in its own nifty little Japanese way. And get the original Point CD, as well as his previous album "Fantasma" which is equally as good.