Watching Music Videos
After screening some excellent music videos last week in class, I had some time over the weekend to channel surf in between MTV, MTV2, VH1, etc. to see what today's music videos are looking like. Since graduating from high school, I have weened myself off of the Viacom teet and I really didn't know what to expect other than knowing that MTV itself does not have music video programming until very late at night.
So after a weekend of watching music videos, it would appear that the current MTV generation only listens to Hip Hop and Rap music. This isn't necessarily a bad thing except I have a hard time keeping up with who is who. Not to mention that pretty much all of the videos sucked. All of the videos are the same cliche' over and over again; driving in a car while singing/rapping, walking through a club where hot bitches are dancing, rock bands playing a concert either on a well lighted stage or out in the street.
Maybe that's what the kids like these days. But consider these exceptional videos and ask yourself if they still make them like they used to:
The Smashing Pumpkins - Tonight, Tonight
Inspired and a tribute to A Trip To The Moon, with amazing art direction and shot with a vintage hand-crank film camera.
Nine Inch Nails - The Perfect Drug
A creepy story about a man obsessed with drinking absinthe which is a wonderful video to look at. Literally every frame could be hung in an art gallery.
Madonna - Express Yourself
David Fincher directed this video which is inspired and pays tribute to Metropolis.
Red Hot Chili Peppers - Californication
The people who did the Tonight, Tonight video for the Pumpkins did this Nosferatu/art deco styled video where the instruments are expressed in a very clever way.
Pearl Jam - Do The Evolution
Todd McFarland did the first and only video Pearl Jam has done since Jeremy. It resulted in a mind blowing animated video.
I was just listening to De Phazz - Godsdog Information
