Kid Cudi - Day N' Nite

My first music video choice of the week is "Day N' Nite" by Kid Cudi.

Fantasy vs. reality

The video closely follows the lyrics as it weaves itself into a story.  Kid Cudi relays messages of trying to find a way to get away from it all, away from the reality of life.  In the video, the audience is shown an alternate world as created by the music.  The scenes change from regular camera footage to animated and warped images; yet they are all under the control of Kid Cudi and therefore, the music itself.

Kid Cudi

As the video progresses, it seems that Kid Cudi is having a hard time telling the difference between this alternate world and reality.  Images from both worlds begin appearing without a necessary rhyme or reason, further emphasizing the lyrics Cudi is trying to get across.  Animations become both a part of people as well as props or background.

The camera angles remain relatively level and still throughout the filming, making the footage much easier to follow and watch, especially with the mass of changing colors and images already present.  Neither the song or the video are too intense; rather they are relaxed and could be considered odd or strange at times.

Gorillaz - Clint Eastwood

Serving as the first of two music video choices for last week is "Clint Eastwood" by Gorillaz.

Gorillaz

This is the first animated video I have chosen, and it is one of the first of this genre that made an impact on me.  In the video, each band member is portrayed by a character which one could assume represents their individual personalities.  Each movement is coordinated with the music with precision, as the images perform the song before a backdrop of light blue and white.

Eye focus

The song itself has a dark and eery sound which seems to flow through each of the characters.  The angles used to film the scenes also ensure an extra creepy factor as focus seems to constantly shift to the lead singers seemingly bottomless black eyes.

Fantasy vs. reality

As the verses are rapped, the scenery changes to encompass the alter-reality that has been created.  This is represented by the clouds in the background of the opaque rapper.  The use of shadows seems to bring us back to reality as they are only visible on the band members.  Shadows also create a darker effect when needed for emphasis.

Final Changes

For anyone actually following my blog, I would like to apologize as it seems it is always under maintenance.  What I am doing with this blog will always revolve around music and the videos produced for songs, I have just been unsatisfied with my formatting.  However, after much contemplation, I have decided how I think I will be able to continue to run things.  From now on, my posts will be like the last video I reviewed, "Bottom's Up".  Links will be provided for the featured artist(s), and the video will actually be on the page rather than being redirected.  Again, I am sorry for the constant changes, but this is finally it! Thanks for sticking it out.

Trey Songz - Bottoms Up ft. Nicki Minaj

My second video of the day is "Bottoms Up" by Trey Songz and featuring Nicki Minaj.

Trey and Nicki in action.

The music video ironically beings without music but rather a scene shared between Trey and Nicki.  The song begins at a normal level of loudness but as soon as the chorus breaks, so does the silence, and the picture.  As the music becomes heavier and louder so do the visuals of the artists being filmed as well as their surroundings.

Before we ever get a full shot of Trey's partner Nicki, we still see plenty of other women.  The setting of the song happens to be in a club, where there are girls dancing behind the artists in rhythm with the music. The audience gets a full scope of the over sexualized bodies of these women as Trey remains the focal point of attention.

Trey with dancer in club.

Like many other music videos, especially in this genre, the "Bottom's Up" video changes moods with the music.  The drunk-and-dizzy effect the camera gives off becomes more intensified as the lyrics and rhythms become heavier and more "animalistic".

Slightly Stoopid - Closer to the Sun

Once again another late one. Maybe I should just change my updates to twice every Monday, that way we will all have one more thing to share and learn about.  This will also be a better way for me to express myself and a variety of music all at once.

So, without further ado, my first music video of the week is "Closer to the Sun" by Slightly Stoopid.

http://youtu.be/SFGmnJQ_BF0

Closer to the Sun album cover

Although I have found it to be true that just because it's your favorite song doesn't always mean it will turn out to be your favorite music video, this example could prove uncommon.  Yes, Slightly Stoopid is one of my all time favorite bands, and quite honestly, this is one of my all time favorite music videos, and for many reasons. But just to name a few...

I have found the song itself to be soothing and comforting to the soul, and I'm not trying to sound cliche or cheesy either.  The group does not try to overcomplicate their sound yet it's complex enough to keep you mesmerized.  The lyrics, the voices, the guitars, the rhythm, it's all fantastic; but it's still missing that one last element: visual.  That's why I think this video really pulls it all together.

Interpretation of imagery from music 

video

Slightly Stoopid stays true to their reggae roots not only through their music, but through the video itself.  In Closer to the Sun, the screen opens with the main guitar riff and an animation of a tree unfolding as the song progresses.  Throughout the growth process, the camera shifts between the tree and footage of the band mates performing the song.

Beginning of animation during footage

A progression is also noted in the animation coloring scheme.  The music video begins in black and white until the tree develops leaves; in contrast, the live footage remains in black and white until the tree has grown enough that it's leaves begin to fall.  After this, we see color in the background of the film with the tree while the band members remain in black and white, but still in front of the ever changing tree.  The scenes seem to remain surreal and peaceful throughout.

Another side note: from here on out I will be listing information about the band, song, and album at the bottom of every post!  Enjoy!

Info: The song and the album title are both Closer to the Sun.  Released in 2005 under their own label of Stoopid Records, this was the bands fourth album and a year later they were asked to, and did, perform at Warped Tour for the first time.
Current band members: Miles Doughty (guitar, bass, vocals), Kyle McDonald (guitar, bass, vocals), C-Money (trumpet, keyboard), Dela (saxophone), Oguer 'OG' Ocon (congas, percussion, harp, vocals) & Ryan 'RyMo' Moran (drums)
Nifty find: The band was originally signed by Skunk Records under the direction of owner and Sublime's lead singer, Bradley Nowell (may he rest in peace).

Tool - Sober

For this weeks music video, I have chosen Sober by Tool.  

http://youtu.be/hglVqACd1C8

Humanoid twitching

The song, released in 1991, is very dark and creepy just like the music video.  It begins with a shutter effect which leads into the way the rest of the video will be filmed: in stop-motion animation.  The only time we actually see the band members is when the camera focuses on their instrument, otherwise we are accompanied by a humanoid.

We are introduced to a humanoid at the beginning of the video, where we follow his journey through the contents of his box (which remain a mystery).  After opening the box, events turn for the worst as we watch the main character suffer through whatever he may have unleashed.

Humanoid opening box

At the end of the video, we are left with an empty box.  It seems that this is a good way to encourage and allow the viewer to interpret their own meaning for the video.  To me, the empty box represents exactly what the title suggests: being sober.  It seems that when the box is full, it represents him as being full of the vices he uses in his life.  When it is empty, it represents what he feels when he's sober.

Nirvana - Heart Shaped Box

Again, my video that should have been posted last week is late.  I promise this will not become a habit as I will shortly be posting my video for this week after I have finished with Heart Shaped Box by Nirvana.

http://youtu.be/n6P0SitRwy8

"Heart Shaped Box", released in 1993, had originally been dubbed "Coffin Shaped Box" after a heart shaped box he had received from then girlfriend, Courtney Love.  Although the song itself was a number one on the billboard in the US and number five in the UK, the music video received much criticism.

Obese organ woman with wings

The video begins and ends with the same scene; the members of Nirvana, crowded around the bed of a dying old man in the hospital, hooked up to IV's, with a shadow of a cross across the floor.  Throughout the rest of the video we are introduced to almost hideous characters: a small girl dressed in Ku Klux Klan garb while trying to reach fetuses posted up in a tree, an obese woman with organs painted on the outside of her body and equipped with angel wings, and the bed-ridden old man climbing onto a cross with crows perched on it.

Heart-Shaped Box

It isn't until the end of the video that we actually see a heart shaped box, which is performed on and tossed around by the band members.  Once we have been introduced to all of the characters, the rest of the video focuses on the band playing in an outdoor, trippy setting.  The thing I always notice most is Cobain's eyes; their hue of blue against the colors in the background are something I will never forget.

Marilyn Manson - The Beautiful People

 First of all, I would like to apologize for the delay in the posting of last weeks blog.  I had attempted to post one numerous times but struggled finding a video I actually wanted to discuss with the time that I had.
So, without further ado, I give you my music video choice for last week: "The Beautiful People" by Marilyn Manson.

Manson in Beautiful People

http://youtu.be/Ypkv0HeUvTc

Released in 1999, the video and the music both begin in the same manner: dark, cryptic, and intense.  The first time I heard the song, I found it hard to not keep listening to find out how the song was going to progress; I had the same initial reaction with the video.  The darkness Manson involves in this video and song is present in almost all of his art, which I think is part of the reason he stands out in the musical world.

Manson close-up

As Manson's gravely voice reverberates over the minor chords and instruments he is accompanied by, the video flashes between grotesque images and Manson himself.  Honestly, I think he is talented in what he does, but he is a very creepy individual to see and I think he emphasizes this characteristic in his music videos.  The colors are muted and the images are often distorted, flashing and pulsing with the screaming beat of The Beautiful People.

Kanye West - Welcome to Heartbreak ft. Kid Cudi

This week I chose a more recent music video, "Welcome to Heartbreak", which was released in 2009 by Kanye West:

http://youtu.be/wMH0e8kIZtE

Kanye West

The song, featuring Kid Cudi, seems to reflect what is depicted in the music video.  By this I mean the song has a techno vibe to it and so does the video itself.  The images in the music video beat in rhythm and pulse along with the beat of the song and objects also move in this same sense.

Kid Cudi

Both Kanye and Cudi are featured in the video, but they seem to be part of the techno world which has been created by the song.  They both appear to be nothing more than images as the song progresses, the beats become more resonant, and the mood seems to swing into a more intense scene.  The colors also reflect this alternate world that seems to have been created by West.  They are vibrant, flashing, and pulsating, capturing the attention of viewers with every kaleidoscopic change.

Kanye West

Overall, I think this video accomplished what it was intended to do exactly, and that is to create an alternate musical world where everything is connected through the pulsation of beats and colors that vibrate with sound.

George Michael - Faith

Hello again to anyone and everyone reading my blog!  I've had a lot of time to decide how I really want to make my blog work and hope that I will inspire all of those following to join along in my conversation.

"Butt shot"

This week, I've decided to share George Michael's "Faith" music video: http://www.youtube.com/watch

George was originally the lead singer of hit 80's group Wham! before he went off on a solo career.  In 1987 he released his first solo album entitled Faith, on which he wrote and produced every track but one.  The song "Faith" was his second single off the album to find it's way to the top of the billboard charts; in fact, 6 of the songs off of the Faith album landed on the top 5 of the Billboard hot 100 hits between 1987-88.

Shot from video

For me, this music video was far ahead of it's time in the fact that it allowed the focus to be on Michael's tightly fitted butt.  It was rare for male sexuality to be explored in that way in music videos, especially by the artist themselves.  But honestly, I think this video does justice for the song, as I think many 80's music videos did (however, that's because I feel the 80's had more raw talent and less people pleasing/editing).  The use of color and the scaling kept the video in motion and the framing helped set up the video.  Overall, I think this music video as well as the song belonged on the top of the charts and should be remembered!

Just getting started

Hello, and welcome to my blog!  I have tried to start a blog numerous times but I never really knew how to take it seriously or even how to make it look cool enough so that other people would want to read it.  I have brainstormed and outlined ideas as to what would be the best focus point for my blog and came to the conclusion of music.  However, just music is too broad.  For this blog, I would like to select a music video each week to analyze and share.  Music has always been a large part of my life and it always will be.