Music Video Monday

Music Video Monday: I Wanna Fly by Trevor Moran

Posted on by bernardovillela

In an example of the Effect of YouTube Trevor Moran rose to notoriety mostly for his Apple Store dances at first. Then a few years later his brief run on X Factor (USA) broadened his audience. Since then he’s been releasing music in a most 21st Century way (mainly singles).

I don’t know if it’s ever been logged but Moran is now likely the first singer to come out of the closet via a music video. You can see it here:

And if that was too subtle, or if you still had questions, he addresses it humorously and honestly here:

Music Video Monday: Etta Bond “Under the Knife”

Posted on by bernardovillela

One task I’ve been getting to is visiting all the tweets I’ve favorited because usually they had more to do with the fact that I wanted to visit a link at a later time. This was a video that BAM Award winner Bill Milner tweeted the praises of. It’s a video brilliant in its simple, unified visual theory that perfectly accompanies the lyrics.

Enjoy!

Music Video Monday: Billy Gilman – Say You Will

Posted on by bernardovillela

Introduction

I’ve debated starting this theme for a few weeks, and I ultimately decided I would as it would encourage me to looks for options that actually fit what I’m aiming for. If one pays too much attention to Top 40 type music you tend to see a dearth of creativity in the music video form. The music video is spawned from short films and can be as creative if not more so than their predecessor. Far too often it does just become singing heads. I want to try and buck that trend and find ones both new and old that do something somewhat outside the box, at the very least have some sort of visual narrative. Here we go.

Billy Gilman – Say You Will

In all honesty as I saw this video I didn’t think it’d be one to qualify save for some establishing shots, and disparate backdrops against which Gilman sings and hides jump cuts. However, the last shot changes that, and it’s not merely for the fact that one part of the frame where color breaking the monochrome (now an old-hat trick). However, combining that with the meta touch of his name on the marquee it actually ascribes, in my loose interpretation, an additional layer of meaning to the song’s final verse:

Say you will
Wade out into the water
Breathe in, breathe out with me
You’d be the words to an unwritten song
I’d be the melody
Don’t let your lips be still
Say you will
Wade out into the water
Breathe in with me (say you will)
I’d be the melody
Don’t let your lips be still
Don’t let your lips be still
Say you will
Say you will

Now on the surface this is but a love song, made more an artistic interpretation based on Gilman’s recent coming out; playing contrary to gender or orientation in songs is not new, but always brave. With the added visuals (the marquee, as well as Gilman performing on an empty stage) combined with these closing lyrics the lyrics play a bit more like request that his fan base stick with him, and then thanking them for coming through with the announcement of a sold out show. Based on some of his comments about past showcases it’s not that big a stretch.

I have been a longtime fan and was excited for the video and was glad to see an overarcing message to the video. Enjoy!

Music Video Monday: Lady Gaga (feat. Beyoncé) – Telephone

Posted on by bernardovillela

Introduction

I’ve debated starting this theme for a few weeks, and I ultimately decided I would as it would encourage me to looks for options that actually fit what I’m aiming for. If one pays too much attention to Top 40 type music you tend to see a dearth of creativity in the music video form. The music video is spawned from short films and can be as creative if not more so than their predecessor. Far too often it does just become singing heads. I want to try and buck that trend and find ones both new and old that do something somewhat outside the box, at the very least have some sort of visual narrative. Here we go.

Lady Gaga (feat. Beyoncé) – Telephone

Here is a more recent video that fit here for a number of reasons, not the least of which is the fact that this video co-stars a very famous vehicle from the Kill Bill films.

Music Video Monday: Mammút – Svefnsýkt

Posted on by bernardovillela

Introduction

I’ve debated starting this theme for a few weeks, and I ultimately decided I would as it would encourage me to looks for options that actually fit what I’m aiming for. If one pays too much attention to Top 40 type music you tend to see a dearth of creativity in the music video form. The music video is spawned from short films and can be as creative if not more so than their predecessor. Far too often it does just become singing heads. I want to try and buck that trend and find ones both new and old that do something somewhat outside the box, at the very least have some sort of visual narrative. Here we go.

Mammút – Svefnsýkt

Above I refer to “singing heads,” which is a musical equivalent of “talking heads” in a documentary. Essentially the moving image is so dynamic you want more than just speaking to occur either through mise-en-scène or montage. This video has a kinetic edit, uses some superimposition, smoke, and dramatic lighting; along with some creative framing to to take it a notch above singing heads. It then goes further adding a minimalistic story and even more intriguing visuals when the song gets going. A good sign if this is an example of the work done at the Icelandic Film School.

Music Video Monday: Billy Joel – Pressure

Posted on by bernardovillela

Introduction

I’ve debated starting this theme for a few weeks, and I ultimately decided I would as it would encourage me to looks for options that actually fit what I’m aiming for. If one pays too much attention to Top 40 type music you tend to see a dearth of creativity in the music video form. The music video is spawned from short films and can be as creative if not more so than their predecessor. Far too often it does just become singing heads. I want to try and buck that trend and find ones both new and old that do something somewhat outside the box, at the very least have some sort of visual narrative. Here we go.

Pressure – Billy Joel

This was one of the videos I thought of when first considering this theme. I will return with more new-to-me tunes and vids soon but it’s been too long since I posted in this theme, so I figured I may as well get back to it.

One thing I always recall about this was that Joel went with a director’s idea that contrasted sharply with a piece of the lyrics because he misunderstood a baseball reference being from the UK. Joel didn’t want to be too literal. It sets the tone, it’s a memorable one.

Enjoy!

Music Video Monday: Tyler Carter – Find Me

Posted on by bernardovillela

Introduction

I’ve debated starting this theme for a few weeks, and I ultimately decided I would as it would encourage me to looks for options that actually fit what I’m aiming for. If one pays too much attention to Top 40 type music you tend to see a dearth of creativity in the music video form. The music video is spawned from short films and can be as creative if not more so than their predecessor. Far too often it does just become singing heads. I want to try and buck that trend and find ones both new and old that do something somewhat outside the box, at the very least have some sort of visual narrative. Here we go.

Tyler Carter – Find Me

Yes, in this video you have a journey like in the first one I featured, there are also randomly-place, creatively-use televisions like in this video; what sets this video apart is the photography, the elliptical storytelling and the performance. Like those other videos this song is also quite good. Enjoy!

Music Video Monday: Sigur Rós – Hoppipolla

Posted on by bernardovillela

Introduction

I’ve debated starting this theme for a few weeks, and I ultimately decided I would as it would encourage me to looks for options that actually fit what I’m aiming for. If one pays too much attention to Top 40 type music you tend to see a dearth of creativity in the music video form. The music video is spawned from short films and can be as creative if not more so than their predecessor. Far too often it does just become singing heads. I want to try and buck that trend and find ones both new and old that do something somewhat outside the box, at the very least have some sort of visual narrative. Here we go.

Sigur Rós – Hoppipolla

Really easy to intro this music video if you get the reference I am to make: this video is like Speilberg’s segment in The Twilight Zone Movie without the literal transformation. If you don’t get it just push play and you’ll soon see what it means.

Music Video Monday: Violacida – La ballata degli ostinati

Posted on by bernardovillela

Introduction

I’ve debated starting this theme for a few weeks, and I ultimately decided I would as it would encourage me to looks for options that actually fit what I’m aiming for. If one pays too much attention to Top 40 type music you tend to see a dearth of creativity in the music video form. The music video is spawned from short films and can be as creative if not more so than their predecessor. Far too often it does just become singing heads. I want to try and buck that trend and find ones both new and old that do something somewhat outside the box, at the very least have some sort of visual narrative. Here we go.

Violacida – La ballata degli ostinati

It starts with the surreal image of an audio jack being stuck in an ear (pictured). The make-up vaguely reminiscent of commedia dell’arte the edits being driven by percussion (hard cuts for drumbeats, quick dissolves for tambourines) make this quick song’s visuals move as quickly. There’s a surreal home video feel to the rest of the video that’s very fitting. Quick viewing. Enjoy!

Music Video Monday: Oren Lavie – Her Morning Elegance

Posted on by bernardovillela

Introduction

I’ve debated starting this theme for a few weeks before starting last week, and I ultimately decided I would as it would encourage me to looks for options that actually fit what I’m aiming for. If one pays too much attention to Top 40 type music you tend to see a dearth of creativity in the music video form. The music video is spawned from short films and can be as creative if not more so than their predecessor. Far too often it does just become singing heads. I want to try and buck that trend and find ones both new and old that do something somewhat outside the box, at the very least have some sort of visual narrative. Here we go.

Oren Lavie –Her Morning Elegance

Here is the first of the videos recommended to me. This one would be notable enough if it was just actors being used in stop-motion animation. You add to that the creative use of abstract staging that still concretely conveys the story and you have something rather intriguing. Enjoy!