Salutations, traveler of The Internets! Welcome to William's Bloody Hell, so named after our founder, Sir Bloody William.
He is seen in the likeness above in a rare, 19th century woodcut. This
image was rumoured to have been
commissioned after a bout of unpleasantness
in the White Chapel district of London. Do enjoy your stay and peruse our many, varied offerings, much of which cannot be found elsewhere!
:: Today's soundtrack: The Buggles "Video Killed the Radio Star" ::
As someone who grew up in the 1980s, I can offer a unique perspective to all of you young kiddies who were BORN then. I remember when Mtv played music videos! Boy, that was the time, I tell you. All day and all night, nothing but music only interrupted occasionally the VJ personality or to run commercials. It was like radio with pictures, which it what it was SUPPOSED to be. They'd announce sometimes weeks in advance the WORLD PREMIERE of a music video and they had a special introduction for it when it FINALLY came on. They'd really work us up for it, a music video! And then we'd talk about it at school, too! "Did you catch the World Premiere Video last night??" Of COURSE we did! And you know, when it comes down to it, the music video was just another medium for the band to sell us their record. It was a four minute advertisement, really. But, as a wide eyed youth, I never thought of them that way, for some reason. I was what, ten and had no money so I was not about to go charging off downtown to buy a band's tape. I saw them as lovely tiny television programs. Something that I'd watch for that great art of blending an image to match the music.
I really didn't care for videos that only featured the band on stage jumping around and playing their instruments while looking at the camera. Also, the ones which showed synchronized dance numbers weren't always so interesting, and I really don't need to be looking at them walking in slow motion down the street. Please. But there were some really good ones. Sometimes they'd make it out to be this huge plot, almost soap opera-esque (Guns 'n Roses' "November Rain" comes to mind, here) or then they'd go for something fun but nevertheless caught your attention (come on, well ALL remember the Beastie Boys' "(You Gotta) Fight for Your Right (to Party)" and don't act you don't).
It is in this spirit that I'd like to single out and call your attention to some of my all-time favourite and what I consider to be the best music videos I've ever seen. Whether it be for "plot", artsiness, or maybe even great direction, these are the music videos I think everyone should see RIGHT NOW under any circumstances!
Michael Jackson "Thriller." Don't just shrug it off as "Michael Jackson?!? Eeeeewwww!" Hear me out. This was probably THE first vid to not only insert massive plot, but had movie quality special effects and extended well beyond the length of the actual song itself. When I was a kid, this was THE video! Yes, there are synchronized dance numbers, but it's got ZOMBIES and is all shpookay and halloween-y, so that's okay. Do you WANT me to do the Thriller Zombie dance? 'Cause I can.
Johnny Cash "Hurt." The Cash version of this song is so strong on it's own that I thought a video would only detract from it, but I was wrong. The added visuals of a youthful Cash interwoven with the then present day Cash among his memorabilia makes for one almost tear jerking moment. It makes the lyrics take on a whole different meaning and it is truly awesome.
Tori Amos "Spark." Most of Tori's videos are nothing to write home about, but this one is just great. It's one of those that has a plot. Tori wakes on a forest floor blindfolded and with her hands tied behind her. Thankfully, she manages to get to her feet on her own and takes off into the woods. She has a small head start when her faceless abductor wakes up and starts to tracks her. It's all very well directed, matching to the music wonderfully and you're silently rooting for her to get away.
A-Ha "Take on Me." I've always loved this one and I know I'm not alone. Yet another with a bit of a plot. A woman is leafing through a comic book at a diner. The comic is a bout a motorcycle race and how these guys who lose kill the guy who won by beating him with a monkey wrench. But, before that happens, the girl finds herself looking at the hero; he's kind of dreamy. Then suddenly, the image on the page changes as he winks at her, and before she knows it, his hand projects from the comic and beckons her to join him. She accepts and the two dance around and bat their eyes at each other until the plot of the comic interrupts them and the losers of the race come chasing after them, monkey wrench in hand. But, you should know this already because secretly, it's your favourite video, too.
Rob Zombie "Living Dead Girl." This video kind of has a plot, but is more or less just great to watch. It draws from the old silent horror movie The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari, only Zombie's somnambulist is a zombie-esque woman instead of a pseudo-Edward Scissorhands type of man like the movie had. The sets and costuming are superb and it's just fun to see.
New Order "Perfect Kiss." Probably my all time favourite video ever, it was actually directed by Jonathan "Silence of the Lambs" Demme, if you can believe it, and I will now do quite a lot of gushing, so pardon me a moment. Normally I don't go for videos that just show the band member playing their instruments, but THIS is different. For one thing, they are NOT hopping around all psyched as hell to be here. No, they are simply playing to do a recording in the studio, and they are very solemn. But also when I tell you they are doing a recording, they are. They aren't just synching up to some play back, no sir, they are ACTUALLY playing and singing fresh for this video and you can tell. You have to respect that. Also, this video is superbly directed. Seriously, I don't think you'll find a better directed video out there. It starts out with nothing more than a series of relatively tight shots; the band members faces, their hands and fingers as they pluck guitar strings or press synthesizer keys. Then half way though we get our first wide shot which gives us a clear picture of the recording studio, and again back to tight shots, but then we get some that are a bit wider and we can see the Joy Division posters on the walls, and there is a man whose face we can't see standing backlit in an open doorway listening to them play. When it ends, they all just trade morbid glances, lower their eyes and bow their heads. The whole thing is pretty much in honour of their former vocalist Ian Curtis (he sang with them when they were still Joy Division, hence the posters littering the walls) who hung himself in 1980, and in case who hadn't guessed, is who the mysterious figure in the doorway is supposed to be. Their sidelong glances seem to say, that was for you, Ian.
Billy Idol "Cradle of Love." Um. Yeah.... well, you know. Because....
REM "Everybody Hurts." What better images to have over a slow song than the stillness of a traffic jam? The imagery is further accentuated by captions underneath the drivers as the camera passes by them. Sometimes it's song lyrics, others not. I wonder about those captions, though. Are they the thoughts of the people on the screen or are they what an onlooker like us might IMAGINE their thoughts are? Well, that last bit is probably just me. I also really like how the video ends with everyone in their cars just giving up on the gridlock and getting out to walk. It punctuates the idea that this really is a song of hope and most people forget that about it and think it's supposed to be all depressing.
Alien Ant Farm "Smooth Criminal." This video is just a hoot and a half. They take full advantage of this being a Michael Jackson cover and go to town with that idea, especially toying with ideas from Jackson's "Billy Jean," which is just hilarious.
Fatboy Slim "Weapon of Choice." Chris Walken. Need I say more? It sounds odd to do nothing for a video than show one person in it, dancing their heart out like no one's watching, but it REALLY works. When you have a techno-y type song, you want to show it's dance-ability, and with this video to accompany it, people won't be able to help themselves.
I think I'll stop, but I can't help but think I've forgotten a few more, but then, don't I always? This selection to me best exemplifies what a music video is SUPPOSED to do. It gives you an unforgettable image to accentuate the song. It doesn't have to be all artistic and meaningful, it can be crazy fun, but above all, it's got to sell the song and these do just that. So go forth and buy, download, Google search, do whatever you have to do, just see these videos! Perhaps you will feel a little of what I felt as a wee lad watching Martha Quinn.
William (killed the radio star)
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