WickedLiquid
Regular
In the 80's there was this cultural phenomenon in the music industry. What better way to sell music then to turn your songs into commercials and pass them off as "videos"? The results were more than impressive as kids ate up this new medium and viola! Music Videos!
For me, when it comes down to music videos there really are only two categories; the 80's and the 90's. There are some rare exceptions within the past 13 years but once the internet became a power house in the new millennium music videos sat on the back burner.
This was for obvious reasons: The music industry was no longer making as much money due to downloading. A music video in the 90's by Michael Jackson (before his shit hit the fan) or Madonna would have a multi-million dollar budget. Today it's rare to hit 100K on a video despite the fact our video quality has greatly improved.
So what were some of your favorite music videos? I really have to look at the 90's when thinking of my favorites. Sure, nothing will ever top Thriller, but I grew up in the 90's and that's the decade that speaks to me the most.
In no particular order I'll list some off...
Intergalactic - Beastie Boys
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qORYO0atB6g
Ahhhh, the Beastie Boys. You can't talk about music videos and not mention the Beastie Boys! Is there anyone out there who says they passionately hate Beastie Boys? If so then in the words of Buzz Lightyear, "you are a sad strange little man, and you have my pity." Even if you never thought twice about buying a Beastie Boys album, you still didn't hate em! Right? ......right???
So why Intergalactic? Well, it is a hard choice, there are so many great videos to choose from. But running around Tokyo while a giant robot does battle? Count me in! Also let's not forget this was one of many videos directed by MCA. RIP man...
Just - Radiohead
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XZng4Kd0Am4
Radiohead is one of those bands you either love or hate. Erm, or hated then loved or just love to hate. Regardless the band definitely dives into the bizarre, and when it came to music videos in the 90's, the weirder they were the better. If you've never seen this video please watch it! Then read the rest of what I have to say...
The first time I saw this video I was literally at the edge of my seat trying to figure out WTF was going on. Then when it ended I kinda just sat there in disbelief and wonder. Once the internet hit the mainstream I saw people were analysing the fuck out of this video like it was the ending to The Shinning.But I think the mystery behind it is what makes it so damn cool.
Freak on a Leash - Korn
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jRGrNDV2mKc
Korn? Really? Yes really. It's best music videos not best bands. But ok, I'll admit I was down with Korn in the 90's. And this video was awesome. You get Todd McFarlane to animate your video and at the time he was HUGE. People still like Spawn today but in 1998 Spawn had it's own show on HBO and it was fucking insane. Not only was the animation cool but there was bullet time... BEFORE The Matrix.
Jeremy - Pearl Jam
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MS91knuzoOA
You can't talk about the 90's without a little grunge. And IMO Jeremy was just one of those videos from the grunge era that really hits you. While Nirvana were using cheap props and having fun, Soundgarden dove into creepiness, and Alice in Chains were doing both, Pearl Jam made a video about something that mattered.
Sure the story of a school shooting has been done to death by todays standards but back in 1991 it was still a very controversial and touchy subject. In a way it is painful to see that in over 20 years we haven't changed and there are still school shootings. But if it sparks debate then the video is doing its job.
Around the World - Daft Punk
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s9MszVE7aR4
I'm not one for dance numbers but the idea behind the video was so clever that it has always stuck in my mind. The concept is simple; each dance is a visual representation of the song and it all begins to flow into one choreographed piece. Directed by Michel Gondry, he worked on a ton of music videos and you can tell from his later films he always had a flare for the whimsical and the surreal. This video is no different and does a great job at bringing the song to life.
Tonight Tonight - The Smashing Pumpkins
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NOG3eus4ZSo
The Smashing Pumpkins... Love em or hate em it just wouldn't be the 90's without em. They were an MTV favourite in a time when grunge was fading out. And amongst the Pumpkins craze was their video for Tonight Tonight. Inspired by and a homage to the 1902 film A Trip to the Moon, this music video is every film geek's secert love. A Trip to the Moon is considered by most to be the very first sci-fi movie and is the beginning of fantasy and wonder in film.
Of course I had never heard of A Trip to the Moon when I first saw this video, I was just a kid. It's a music video that got better with age, it made more sense with time and as I got older I understood why many appreciated it as a visual masterpiece.
So yeah, GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO 90's.
I talked a lot on this so rattle off some of your favourites!
For me, when it comes down to music videos there really are only two categories; the 80's and the 90's. There are some rare exceptions within the past 13 years but once the internet became a power house in the new millennium music videos sat on the back burner.
This was for obvious reasons: The music industry was no longer making as much money due to downloading. A music video in the 90's by Michael Jackson (before his shit hit the fan) or Madonna would have a multi-million dollar budget. Today it's rare to hit 100K on a video despite the fact our video quality has greatly improved.
So what were some of your favorite music videos? I really have to look at the 90's when thinking of my favorites. Sure, nothing will ever top Thriller, but I grew up in the 90's and that's the decade that speaks to me the most.
In no particular order I'll list some off...
Intergalactic - Beastie Boys
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qORYO0atB6g
Ahhhh, the Beastie Boys. You can't talk about music videos and not mention the Beastie Boys! Is there anyone out there who says they passionately hate Beastie Boys? If so then in the words of Buzz Lightyear, "you are a sad strange little man, and you have my pity." Even if you never thought twice about buying a Beastie Boys album, you still didn't hate em! Right? ......right???
So why Intergalactic? Well, it is a hard choice, there are so many great videos to choose from. But running around Tokyo while a giant robot does battle? Count me in! Also let's not forget this was one of many videos directed by MCA. RIP man...
Just - Radiohead
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XZng4Kd0Am4
Radiohead is one of those bands you either love or hate. Erm, or hated then loved or just love to hate. Regardless the band definitely dives into the bizarre, and when it came to music videos in the 90's, the weirder they were the better. If you've never seen this video please watch it! Then read the rest of what I have to say...
The first time I saw this video I was literally at the edge of my seat trying to figure out WTF was going on. Then when it ended I kinda just sat there in disbelief and wonder. Once the internet hit the mainstream I saw people were analysing the fuck out of this video like it was the ending to The Shinning.But I think the mystery behind it is what makes it so damn cool.
Freak on a Leash - Korn
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jRGrNDV2mKc
Korn? Really? Yes really. It's best music videos not best bands. But ok, I'll admit I was down with Korn in the 90's. And this video was awesome. You get Todd McFarlane to animate your video and at the time he was HUGE. People still like Spawn today but in 1998 Spawn had it's own show on HBO and it was fucking insane. Not only was the animation cool but there was bullet time... BEFORE The Matrix.
Jeremy - Pearl Jam
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MS91knuzoOA
You can't talk about the 90's without a little grunge. And IMO Jeremy was just one of those videos from the grunge era that really hits you. While Nirvana were using cheap props and having fun, Soundgarden dove into creepiness, and Alice in Chains were doing both, Pearl Jam made a video about something that mattered.
Sure the story of a school shooting has been done to death by todays standards but back in 1991 it was still a very controversial and touchy subject. In a way it is painful to see that in over 20 years we haven't changed and there are still school shootings. But if it sparks debate then the video is doing its job.
Around the World - Daft Punk
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s9MszVE7aR4
I'm not one for dance numbers but the idea behind the video was so clever that it has always stuck in my mind. The concept is simple; each dance is a visual representation of the song and it all begins to flow into one choreographed piece. Directed by Michel Gondry, he worked on a ton of music videos and you can tell from his later films he always had a flare for the whimsical and the surreal. This video is no different and does a great job at bringing the song to life.
Tonight Tonight - The Smashing Pumpkins
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NOG3eus4ZSo
The Smashing Pumpkins... Love em or hate em it just wouldn't be the 90's without em. They were an MTV favourite in a time when grunge was fading out. And amongst the Pumpkins craze was their video for Tonight Tonight. Inspired by and a homage to the 1902 film A Trip to the Moon, this music video is every film geek's secert love. A Trip to the Moon is considered by most to be the very first sci-fi movie and is the beginning of fantasy and wonder in film.
Of course I had never heard of A Trip to the Moon when I first saw this video, I was just a kid. It's a music video that got better with age, it made more sense with time and as I got older I understood why many appreciated it as a visual masterpiece.
So yeah, GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO 90's.
I talked a lot on this so rattle off some of your favourites!
