Culture Blues

Internet Killed the Video Star: November

Every month, we scour the earth (but mostly the internet) to see what’s new in the world of music videos and to dutifully report back to you, and then tell you which ones to watch.

Vampire Weekend “Cousins” – The song sounds very similar to what Vampire Weekend has released so far, for better or worse. While the song is nothing new, the video is a blissful throwback. A tribute to the simplest of editing techniques: the cut. I imagine they received some sort of high tech help, but that doesn’t detract from the numerous and clever ways they use such basic tools to trick the eye.

Drew Mason “This Music’s In My Soul” – It seems likely you’ll hear about this openly gay rapper in the near future. The song's production is adequate if uninspired and Drew displays promising presence and charisma on the mic. Unfortunately, the fact that he is openly gay, that rarest of traits in rap music, doesn’t mean he is immune to painfully generic rhymes and subject matter. But the real crime is the video itself. The animation is awful and the selection of scenes is truly bizarre. I’m not sure if it’s tongue in cheek or not, but they make his sexuality the focus even though it’s only mentioned once in the lyrics. It becomes easy to dismiss him as a novelty act, which he just might be. Either way, you must watch this video for comedy’s sake.

Rihanna “Russian Roulette” – Rihanna is held in some sort of padded room while being observed, she plays Russian Roulette with some guy, she gets shot at while underwater, and she stands in a field wearing a really short dress with HUGE shoulder pads while a car speeds towards her. Obviously this is worth watching. The song isn’t bad at all either.

Shakira “Did It Again” – As someone who believes that Shakira is an attractive woman with ample sex appeal, and that she used to be a refreshing alternative to lily white manufactured pop stars like Britney Spears and Mandy Moore, I find the She Wolf era greatly disturbing. She’s pushing the sex factor to depressingly desperate levels (like Fergie) and her music has lost its vitality. This video sees Shakira and a male partner performing a routine on and around a bed that is sometimes dancing, sometimes choreographed fighting. It might be impressive on a purely technical level, but it’s also really, really dumb. I had to watch Whenever, Wherever and Hips Don’t Lie just to remind myself why the name Shakira didn’t used to make me shudder.

Eyedea & Abilities “Smile” – Eyedea is lyrically very talented, but his spotty charisma and penchant for extremely complex songs make him a difficult listen. His lyrics here are easier to follow but that also tends to make them boring. The song effectively strikes a mood amplified by the beautiful video. Definitely worth a viewing.

Jay-Z ft. Alicia Keys “Empire State of Mind” – Hov’s song about a fairy tale New York City that only exists in imaginations gets a video perfect for people who’ve never been there. These two New York residents spend most of the video in Times Square, a place normal residents only go as a last resort. Most telling is the way that the third verse, the one about the pitfalls of living the fast life in NYC, is delivered while Jay looks out a high rise window, watching over us mere mortals. Jigga has been a little too eager to put himself on a pedestal above the rest of us. He repeatedly claimed on BP3 that he isn’t the same man who came into the game 20 years ago, and that he’s now a grown ass millionaire. That’s all well and good for him, but it makes me think maybe those of us still living down here don’t have much reason left to listen to his music.

Lady Gaga “Bad Romance” – This song is sure to convince many painfully dull airheads that their volatile relationship with an emotionally abusive dipsomaniac frat boy is actually some sort of poetic “bad romance.” But I won’t hate on Gaga for that. It’s not nearly as catchy as Poker Face, but it’s a pretty good pop song. The video strains too hard for weirdness but undeniably produces a few bad ass moments.

Masta Ace & Edo.G (A&E) “Ei8ht Is Enough” – Two iconic hip hop veterans team up for an album and deliver a minimalist video that suits their “no frills.”  It’s so minimalist that it lacks shot variation, camera movement and editing. Apparently shot in one take, the video only offers a close ups of Ace and Ed . Radical in its refusal to titillate, the focus remains unwaveringly on two men who have never really gotten the widespread recognition they deserve.

KRS-One & Buckshot “Survival Skills” – Another new rap tag team comprised of veterans takes the complete opposite approach. It’s a big budget, special effects laden video. But it’s still a decent showcase for their skills and their approach to the album.

Fall Out Boy “Alpha Dog” – Their last video showed signs of musical maturation but also how restricted they still were by the trappings of their audience and early music. This Career Retrospective video begins with a “Don’t do this at home” disclaimer that somehow simultaneously condescends to fans and comes off like a very corporate ass-covering measure, and goes on to highlight previous videos, live performances and extremely juvenile antics. Basically they hit each other in the ass with things. Seeing as how they clearly took inspiration from Jackass, it's clear they don’t heed disclaimers themselves. What was surely meant as playful comes off as pathetic and passé. One step forward, two steps back I suppose.

Valient Thorr “Tomorrow Police” – If you think this song is about oppressive, fascist police in the future, then you’re absolutely right. With cyberpunk inspired lyrics and predominantly hand drawn visuals, the song and video get old well before the 4 and a half minute runtime is through. But it’s a fun ride until then.

N-Dubz “Playing With Fire” – A terrible video that could air as a digital short on SNL as is.

N.A.S.A. ft. Kool Keith & Tom Waits “Spacious Thoughts” – I had to include this just to make sure you know it exists. Two iconic, abstract weirdos from vastly different disciplines team up. It’s not a great song by any stretch, but it’s probably the only time this collaboration will ever take place. Unfortunately, they couldn’t get Keith and Tom together for a video so we get an animated clip that is weird in very pedestrian ways.

Del tha Funkee Homosapien & Tame One “Flashback” – Rap songs that reminisce (about hip hop and more personal experiences) are a dime a dozen. And in that tradition, this is an unremarkable entry. But I don’t think it is an accident that most of the video consists of Del and Tame One performing on the current hip hop summer festival circuit, which means playing to large crowds of white kids too cool, or perhaps too hot, to do much of anything beyond stand there. Which is vastly different from what this song, and almost all of these songs, fondly recalls. Draw your own conclusions.

Beyonce ft. Lady Gaga “Video Phone” – This song seems like it was made solely to be used in a cell phone commercial and to announce that we would see a low quality sex tape featuring Beyonce in the next decade or so. Other than that, the song sucks and she dances around in a whole lot of skanky outfits. Anything else you need to know?

Athens Boy Choir “EZ Heeb” – If you think that a less vulgar, ultra-jewish version of The Bloodhound Gang sounds good then I have two things to tell you. This video is right up your alley, and there is a special section of hell reserved for you.

Gallery Drive “Psycho” – This rap collective announces itself to the world with a daring large scale video that could have been unwieldy, but ends up focused and energetic. Each of the six rappers gets their own set up with a psychiatric hospital uniting them, as well as some shared scenes. Nothing revelatory in song or video, but it’s all mighty entertaining. And there is a tremendous DuckTales reference.

VIDEO OF THE MONTH: The Swell Season “Low Rising” – Those two people from Once deliver a thoroughly depressing yet triumphantly romantic video. The video is oppressive in its downtrodden nature, but there is something inspiring about the way they soldier on. And something profoundly soul crushing. Which is precisely how I like my entertainment. The concept is a simple one that could have been resulted in a much, much inferior video. Excellent performances and a perfectly matched song and video put this one over the top.

FLASHBACK OF THE MONTH: R. Kelly ft. Usher “Same Girl” - In honor of this month’s many twosomes and in honor of R. Kelly’s new album (out now!), I present to you one of the greatest tag team music video of all time. It’s pretty much perfect. You should be well familiar with the concept of the song and video by now. So, rather than rehash the many obvious, wonderful things here, I’m just going to list some of my favorite parts:

-The way Kels sings into the phone before Usher even picks up.

-Usher’s reaction shots during the first conversation.

-“Yep.”

-“Tell me what’s wrong, dog. What the hell you ‘damn’ing bout?”

-The way they start to get worked up in the car.

-“AY!”

-How Kels stops playing basketball and Usher drives right to the hoop.

-Usher’s excitement about Kels’ plan for revenge.

-How that plan involves singing.

-The dueling airplane impressions at the end.

The video’s reliance on the song’s lyrics as the entirety of dialogue and plot development is simply brilliant. It’s a mini musical. The video’s added twist is a much appreciated way to give something new to viewers already familiar with the song. The song is undeniably the definitive version though. The idea that these twins both drive a Black Durango, have an “Angel” license plate, sport an ankle tattoo, share a crib, love some waffle house, have the same beauty mark, went to Georgia Tech and work for TBS strains credulity – even for a R. Kelly/Usher video.

Tagged as: best in the world, Beyonce, Gallery Drive, Internet Killed the Video Star, Jay-Z, Kool Keith, Lady Gaga, R. Kelly, Rihanna, Swell Season, tag teams, Vampire Weekend