Every now and then, some creative, innovative thinking gives me hope that the art of the music video will continue on for a little while longer before it becomes less relevant as a marketing tool. After all, it’s just a commercial for the song. But it’s when the video introduces you to a song in some completely out-of-the-box way that it suddenly becomes about the video rather than the song.
There was no better example of this in the 80’s than with pop superstars Duran Duran. The quintet made some of the finest and most indulgent pop videos ever, and even if you didn’t like the songs the videos made you watch.
So 25 years after their peak period, and after the well received launch of their album All You Need Is Now earlier this year (and the catchy title song) comes “Girl Panic”. The video is a short ‘mockumentary’ that just embraces and gives tribute to the band’s heyday. For in reality, the video and its story are really about absolutely nothing… no more than the many visuals of female models which basically leave off where we left Duran Duran after say Big Thing in 1988.
So I’m not going to give away the story, if you haven’t already heard about it. Let’s just say that the video focuses on this band that consists of Cindy Crawford, Naomi Campbell, Helena Christensen, and Eva Herzigova, with a dash of Yasmin Le Bon… directed by the celebrated Jonas Akerlund to boot. It’s one of the most humorous and very best videos of recent years. Oh, and it made me listen to the song again too after not hearing it for a few months.
And continuing in an 80’s state of mind, we arrive at the video for California-born singer/guitarist Kina Grannis who is getting all kinds of deserved attention with “In Your Arms”. The song may seem kind of slight but its carefree feel and emotion is brought out beautifully by this glorious video in which someone came up with fantastic things to do with 288,000 jelly beans! It’s almost way too cool for 2011, channeling the claymation triumphs of videos like Peter Gabriel’s “Sledgehammer” with a lot of incredible effort – I’m thinking just the patience alone – that will allow the video to continue to reap awards. Kina is currently touring in the UK and Europe. Methinks she will come back to North America with a lot of great things waiting for her 🙂
Another video with a great sense of humour is Foster The People’s “Call It What You Want”. A lot of people love this California trio so I’m not sure why others are thinking that they’re done as a one hit wonder after incredible success internationally with “Pumped Up Kicks”. Not so, if this video (and their sold out shows) is any indication. So this is what happens in the private mansion of a young band. There’s some cute stop animation and some quirky imagery that seems like it is parodying numerous videos in the mid-80’s heyday. “Call It What You Want” has an anthemic, clubby sound that will keep you grooving too.
Another talented trio is New York dance group Jessica 6, led by the stunning Nomi Ruiz. While the video for “Prisoner Of Love” (a huge recent favourite of mine) is a fine showcase for the band and in particular Nomi, duet partner Antony Hegarty almost steals it away with his powerful voice and laid back style, with an outtake at the end that will make you smile even if it has nothing to do with the song. The late, late night disco sound of NYC will get its day and Jessica 6 will be leading the way.
Mr. Soulful himself, Nick Hagelin, is back, with another mainly acoustic video to put you in a better mood. This time he’s taking on “Stereo Hearts”, a current hit by Gym Class Heroes featuring Adam Levine. Nick handles both Adam’s mellow tones and Gym Class Heroes’ rapping just fine, all the while trying hard not to let the extras steal the spotlight away… oh wait, maybe that was the idea. Keep ’em coming, Nick.
One of my very favourite songs ever is Chris Isaak’s “Wicked Game”, and considering I recently wrote about Chris’ new album Beyond The Sun, I decided to take a look at Il Divo’s interpretation of “Game”. While it’s not in a style I always appreciate, you can’t help but be moved by the voices in the quartet’s new version subtitled “Melanconia”.
Here’s a song that doesn’t have a video yet, but I suspect it will be his ticket to international success. Of course I’m talking about Eric Saade, whose Saade Volume Two will drop on November 30. His latest domestic success in Sweden is “Hotter Than Fire”, featuring Dev, and their voices play off of each other quite nicely. The song is irresistible and I picture it blasting at many New Year’s Eve parties. Listen below – can’t wait for the album, and maybe the video too!
Lastly, take a look at this snap from Adam Tyler’s upcoming video for “Like A Drug”. Looks like huge choreography happenin’ so watch for it! 
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