Musicvideodrome

I feel a little sheepish about not writing  an end of year list of my favourite performances. What I am doing instead is producing a list of my five favourite music videos of 2008. Some you probably will have seen, some not. 

In no particular order:

Francis and the Lights "The Top"

This is amazingly simple and captures a great performance from the front man (I'm assuming Francis). The song doesn't do it for me, but to be able to enjoy the performance in a single shot is a rarity.

Omaha Bitch "Orgasmic Troopers"

At last. Ballet and metal. A match made in heaven. The concept doesn't really sustain itself. But its a great concept.

Justice "Stress"

I have my qualms about posting this. It is very violent, it is clearly in a moral grey area, it has been controversial. It is, however, a great piece of work technically. It generates stress in the viewer very successfully and breaks the 4th wall really amazingly, in a manner I have never seen before and am unlikely to again. Its extremely compelling.

Be warned.

Beyonce "Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It)"

Think what you may, this is a great clip. I don't care what you think of me for posting it. Call me what you will. I don't care about my street cred. I love this clip. Great to see editing which serves the choreography. This clip has been widely abused for being a Bob Fosse rip off - I couldn't care less. I love Fosse if there's anyone to rip off its him.

Rip him off more. Come on. Do it. I dares ya.

Beyonce - Single Ladies (Put a Ring On It) [Official Video]
Uploaded by Yannicklord

Kanye West "Flashing Lights"

Again, I don't care. Sticks and stones will break my bones... I love that of all the things in this clip to pixelate, they've gone for the lighter fluid. That'll stop those damn kids.

KANYE WEST "FLASHING LIGHTS"
Uploaded by kanyewestofficial

Gnarls Barkley "Going On"

I can't imagine a clip more unexpectedly suited to the track. Fantastic performances, choreography, art direction and concept. 

I love it. 

Gnarls Barkley - Going On
Uploaded by zegonzag

Empire Falls

This is a clip I made for Plastic Palace Alice's single 'Empire Falls'. It was directed by my good self and shot and edited by Aleks from Aleks and the Ramps aka Cobra Kitten. It was devised and performed by First Impressions Youth Theatre. We made it over a year ago and there are certainly things I would change, seeing it now.

I was thinking about Haneke's shot for shot remake of 'Funny Games' the other day. It was first made over ten years ago. I don't know anyone who would recreate something ten years later shot for shot as it were. Where does he get the chutzpah to do that?

Anyway have a good ol' butchers at this. Even though there are things that I would change, it still makes me happy.

Empire Falls from long sentence on Vimeo.