| zzz is Playing: Grip Arguably the Most Montreal of all videos ever made in The Netherlands. zzz is a Dutch band that, at least at first, consisted of an organ and a drum kit... and the guys that played them. It's grown, as I've understood it. They produce a wide-range of really cool music, and Grip is one of their coolest songs. The video was made as a short film, and has played around the world at art and film festivals. I first saw it at the Museum of Contemporary Art in Montreal, which seems appropriate as it's basically what happens when the Cirque de Soleil concept merges with art rock. The video features three trampolinists jumping which displaying plaques that carry video editing terms like 'pulse' 'A/B cross-fade' and 'particle burst'. At the top of the screen, there's a guy and he's painting a progress bar. The band's at the top too. There's even a loading cycle where a rainbow umbrella spins. It's full of awesome references, and it's on e of those things that took incredible amounts of planning, didn't turn out 100%, but is actually better for it. |
The Royalty - I Want You The 1980s were a great decade for music videos. We've never really come close to that level since. The Royalty is a wonderful band, and their song I Want You is a wonderful power pop song. The video for the song, which is sorta like The Sundays meet The Smithereeens, is pure 1980s effect-heavy wonder. Lots of motion blur, lots of mirroring, and color-altered imagery over black-and-white stock footage. That technique, more than anything, SCREAMS 1980s. The video is a lot of fun, and it plays so well with the song. The reason I need to write it up? It's the perfect example of what you can do with over-editing. There's a TON of effects work, including some purposely weak green screen (to simulate old Blue Screen work) and it's gorgeous. I love the way it plays out, especially how the way the title graphics appear at the front of the video for like a second. It's the idea of the 1980s video that has managed to run through our veins to today that this video is celebrating, and thus, it's awesome! | |