4 - Beyonce, 2011

One of my favorite things to do around the new year is reflect on the finishing year by reading lists and making some of my own.  There are a number of artists that have shaped my 2011 with new and newly discovered albums - Bon Iver, Florence, Adele, Josh Garrels - but I've decided to talk about Beyonce's 4, because I doubt I will ever be inspired to write about any of her other albums, past or future.  And I cannot stop listening to it.

Who would have expected this?  A chock-full collection of hit after hit, that somehow sound even better together, from a woman who has built her career on singles and music videos.  Beyonce has never been what I've considered great at the art of album, but 4 is an incredibly happy exception.

"1+1" reintroduces Beyonce to us as a sexy balladess with clear control on her vocal range.  Before we dance, we are asked to remember that she is not only a beautiful, engaging performer, but a vocal contender as well.  "I Care" and "Miss You" are best paired together, both using 80's instrumentation to recall a classic pop-r&b fusion, and both wrestling with relationships either on their way out or regretfully finished.  Come to think of it, "Best Thing I Never Had" is a part of the series too - but adds some real Beyonce attitude.  Sure it's a pithy chorus, but Beyonce's never been hailed as a lyricist anyway, and it's a great song to sing at the top of your lungs in the car.  Try it sometime.

By now, we've remembered what Beyonce is capable of, but we're not sure if she's still really got the power to start the party.  By the time I listened to 4 in it's entirety I had already seen the video for the last track, "Run the World (Girls)", and was at best disappointed.  Was that going to be the strongest dance song on the album?  Certainly not.  And this is where the party begins, appropriately with "Party", which brings along with it Andre 3000 and Kanye, and a sample of La-Di-Da-Di.  It's a massive summer party track, but was unfortunately released a little too late to get the attention it deserves.

There's always one song I don't love, and on 4 it's "Rather Die Young", which feels inauthentic and silly, referencing a bad boy who is worth all the trouble.  Beyonce is getting too old for that, and I find "Start Over" to be far more believable as she searches to reignite a spark with a long-term partner.

"Love on Top" is a throwback to past divas such as Whitney of the 80's and even Diana of the 60's, as she once again shows what she can do, this time in 6 key changes.  It was the perfect song to let the world know of her anticipated Knowles-Carter child in this pop-historic VMAs performance.  You should probably watch it here if you haven't yet:

The party refuses to stop as Beyonce uses a counting down sample from Boyz II Men (good move B) to "Countdown" which is one of the most eclectic songs that doesn't sound scattered ever made in the r&b world.  The video is nearly perfect as it mirrors this collage of a song, with great dance moves and even greater outfits.  If you haven't seen it, you should probably watch it here:

THEN, "End of Time" comes on, with its massive horn shots and epic marching beat.  This for me is the highlight of the album.  By now I am sold on B, and all that is left to do is shake whatever your mother gave you, regardless of how it compares to what Beyonce received from her mother.

"I Was Here" slows everything down again with the track that will likely be played at Beyonce's funeral.  Written by legendary love song writer Diane Warren, it might be a little melodramatic for my taste, but every diva needs to plan ahead for a memorial or life-time achievement award.

The album ends with "Run the World", which actually has an incredible beat and similar energy levels to "End of Time", but falls flat when compared to other girl-power/feminist anthems like Destiny's Child's earlier "Independent Women".  The video has some amazing dancing, but it mostly frustrates me by what it could've been.  Still, considering this post has been video heavy, I might as well conclude one last performance that almost convinced me of this song:

When I think of 2011, I will undoubtedly think of Beyonce's 4.  What will you think of?

The Video Stars: DANCE Vids

I have been waiting and waiting for this.  I still have one more category to go after today, but I have been anticipating this particular group of ten videos more than any others.  Here are the top 10 dance music videos of all time:
 

10.  Runaway - Kanye West, 2010.  Directed by Fredrico Fellini & Stanley Kubrick.

Why yes, I am one of those who think Kanye will get the Grammy nod this year for My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy, but that's not the point.  This video is strikingly beautiful in its juxtoposition of ballet dancers, warehouse setting, and Kanye's rap, yet everything works more than anything the rest of us could have imagined.  By far the most noteworthy excerpt from the full-length film.  If you do still want to watch the whole thing, you can watch it here.

9.  Like a Boy - Ciara, 2006.  Directed by Diane Martel.

The choreography is great, but that's not even why it's here.  Sure, Ciara isn't the only woman to ever try to use a music video to question gender roles, but here she plays both parts incredibly well, always looks super fly, and shows off her moves, which are as smooth as ever in this vid.  I think we also get a kick out of watching Ciara grab her crotch and kiss her biceps. 

8.  Vogue - Madonna, 1990.  Directed by David Fincher.

Perhaps I should have warned you, there is something about a black and white dance video, because this is clearly not the first and certainly won't be the last.  The dance in this video is subtle, because Vogue is all about the relationship between style, grace, and attitude.  But it is indeed a dance, and has inspired many partiers throughout the following decades to "strike a pose" whenever the moment deems it appropriate.

7.  Alright - Janet Jackson, 1990.  Directed by Julien Temple. 

In the style of a 50's musical, we get to watch Janet have fun dancing around an old-school New York in a pinstripe suit.  Madonna got to do Dick Tracy that year, and perhaps Janet got jealous and made this video?  I dunno, but "Alright" is proving to stand the test of time, and even being referenced by other younger dancers like Usher (at 1:35 in this Janet tribute) and Chris Brown in Yeah 3x.

6.  Tightrope - Janelle Monae, 2010.  Directed by Wendy Morgan.

Perhaps I should have also warned you of the number of women in suits that appear on this list!  Janelle Monae (if you don't know her, here's a blog I posted earlier this year) is a genius, and her feet are full of magic.  As for the video, it has a great story, the production is perfect, and it makes us want to dance just like Janelle Monae, although most of us can't because of my previous sentence. 

5.  Party Rock Anthem - LMFAO, 2011.  Directed by Mickey Finnegan.

I'm positive this is the only video from this year I'll have in any of my lists.  I've hummed and hawed over it; how can we possibly know if this will stand the test of time?  I guess we can't, and at the rate that many of us are watching it, there will likely come a time when we are so sick of shuffling.  However, I'm not there yet, and this video has a hilarious concept, and some truly great hipster dancing... which until PRA, I had thought was an oxymoron.

 4.  Lose Control - Missy Elliott feat. Ciara & Fat Man Scoop, 2005.  Directed by Dave Meyers.

This video reminds me of reminds me of a video game the way it finds itself in 5 distinct settings as if they are levels to achieve.  Each one is full of stark and surprising visuals that incorporate some truly phenomenal dancing.  Besides, even in real life the combination of Missy and Ciara is one of my faves to dance to!

3.  Single Ladies (Put A Ring On It) - Beyonce, 2008.  Directed by Jake Nava.

This has become the "R.E.S.P.E.C.T." of music videos; it is one of the most parodied videos of late; although attempted by many the dance is actually really difficult; and the whole thing - although Beyonce and her dancers are scantily clad - comes off as incredibly classy.  It's because of this that "Single Ladies" has been elevated to legendary status.

 2.  Smooth Criminal - Michael Jackson, 1986.  Directed by Colin Chilvers.

Although we don't understand what's going on (even in the context of Moonwalker - the film for which Smooth Criminal is the climax) we can't help but be sucked in to the general action of gangsters in a nightclub.  Not only is it full of drama and intrigue and costume and swagger, but the quintessential Jackson moves that, for most of us, define our pop King.

1.  Rhythm Nation - Janet Jackson, 1989.  Directed by Dominic Sena.

The only person in the world that could beat MJ in a music video contest is his sister.  Choreographed by Anthony Thomas (who also choreographed "Alright") this video uses a harsh militant routine that fits with the song and setting of an abandoned warehouse, and shows off Janet dancing unlike she ever has before (or after for that matter).  With the very short exception of some solo dance moments, the group is always dancing together in tight formation to a street style that seems as though it musically and physically demonstrates what a true rhythm nation could be.  Or perhaps it's just a lot of fun to dress up and look tough.  Either way, I'm sold.  Although it sounds crazy cheesy, and I know nostalgia is probably working against me, this video still has the power to inspire hope and desire for a better world.  If you could stomach more of me praising JJ's Rhythm Nation, here's my blog devoted to the whole album.

Happy Dancing!

PS. I can't not mention the runner up for this list, because it was so hard to leave out.  Another video by Wendy Morgan, this time for Gnarles Barkley's "Going On".  Check it out if you have time and space to move in your seat.  My other difficult choices in case you're interested, were MJ's Bad and Daft Punk's Around the World. 

The Video Stars: Science Fiction Music Videos

Sci-Fi tends to be a popular genre for music videos, possibly because it's far easier to draw attention in a short amount of time, focusing on using special effects rather than storyline to convey an idea.  I had the most difficult time yet in narrowing these down to only 10.  So don't judge me too much if a favorite isn't here.  Also, don't expect Thriller or anything else that appears in another list - I'm only considering any music video in one particular category.

10.  Can You Feel It - Jackson 5, 1980.  Directed by Bruce Gowers and Robert Abel.

I think in the end I couldn't not add this video, if for no other reason than it gives us historical context for MJ's relationship to music videos.  For 1980, the visuals here are over the top and in our face, setting the standard early for Michael, and giving him a strong sense of relationship between song and video before many others ever did. 

9.  Home - LCD Soundsystem, 2010.  Directed by Rick Darge.

Not so much the effects, but the plot in this one draws me in, as a robot tries to party all night with the local hipsters.  I am pleasantly surprised with how easily I sympathize with this wordless and  generally unimpressive robot.

8.  California Love - 2Pac feat. Dr. Dre & Roger Troutman, 1996.  Directed by Hype Williams.

A classic post-apocalyptic America set in 2095, where California
still knows how to party better than anyone.  I'm not sure why they bothered to make a second video, but they did, so make sure you click the pic and watch the right one. 

7.  In This World/In My Heart - Moby, 2002.  Directed by Stylewar.

Right up there next to E.T. and Wall-E, these are some of the most loveable aliens on film.  Beautiful, emotional, and importantly for this particular top 10 list, Sci-fi.

6.  Virtual Insanity - Jamiroquai, 1996.  Directed by Jonathan Glazer.

I suppose this is supposed to be on another planet, although this is never explicit.  Still, I would love to travel there one day.  Jamiroquai put themselves on the pop map with not only this song, but this powerful visual to conect it with. 

5.  Sock it to Me - Missy Elliott, 1997.  Directed by Hype Williams.

Missy is stylistically carving out an entire culture for herself in 1997 with this and Supa Dupa fly (with the help of Hype Williams' fisheye lens and Timbaland's beats).  Here she takes inspiration the Mega Man music videos and creates some visual fun to go along with her audio good times.  On another note, I wonder whatever happened to Da Brat's helmet... I would look boss in that thing.

 4.  Rockit - Herbie Hancock, 1983.  Directed by Godley & Creme.

A lot is going on, not only in this video, but in music history.  Here, Hancock is building a bridge between pop and jazz in an important way, and although it is moving towards the future, it still looks a little raw like the robotics in this vid. 

3.  Scream - Michael & Janet Jackson, 1995.  Directed by Mark Romanek.

When I first heard about this video I was 13 years old, and I remember thinking, "Finally Michael and Janet together".  And to this day when I watch it, although it's hard not to notice the amount of effort and money that went into this video, what gives it an unmatched charisma is the duo involved.  Janet looks as boss as ever, and both of them are bound by both love and anger.

2.  Intergallactic - Beastie Boys, 1998.  Directed by Nathaniel Hornblower (aka: MCA of the Beastie Boys).

Parodies bode well for these boys, while Sabotage worked off of Crime TV, Intergallactic bows to Japanese monster movies.  And what can I say, I am quickly acknowledging my soft spot for a dancing robot. 

1.  All is Full of Love - Bjork, 1999.  Directed by Chris Cunningham.

Slightly eerie, incredibly beautiful, and impossible not to watch.  An appropriate video of robotic love to a song composed entirely from "sounds inspired by machines" according to Bjork.  With both sound and film, Bjork shows us how sexy machines can be.  Who knew?     

The Video Stars: High School Music Videos

Ok fine, this is probably my most debatable category in this series.  Like in the world of High School movies many are duds but a few gems keep the genre alive, and as far as I'm concerned, that's enough for a top 10 list.  And oh look, here's one now!

10.  Whip My Hair - Willow, 2010.  Directed by Ray Kay.

This one surprised me slightly, but in the end it made the cut, simply for being cute and kid-friendly without making my lip curl like say, Lil' Mama did.  Willow has the attitude and spark of her mother, and the charisma and ears of her daddy - how could you not love that?  The colours and hair are fabulous in this vid, and quite simply, it makes me want to crump.

9.  Make Em Say Uhh! - Master P, 1997.  Directed by ???

Yeah, I can't find the director.  Maybe he's not proud of his work, or maybe this video isn't what most people online have ever talked about.  But it's actually great, if only because something entitled "Make em say Uhh" is set in a high school gymnasium, and is actually all about basketball...  How refreshing!  Is this just nostalgic for me?  I apologize if that's the case.

8.  1979 - Smashing Pumpkins, 1996.  Directed by Jonathan Dayton and Valerie Faris.

This video will make you nostalgic for 1979 regardless of whether you remember it, or had even been born by then.  It may not be set in a high school, but it's clearly portraying a typically ideal teen life that is both culturally specific and transcendent. And it helps that the song is so perfect for this.

7.  Opposite of Adults - Chiddy Bang, 2010.  Directed by Waverly.

The bobble head is such a simple idea, but I can't take my eyes off this video in a similar way to when I watch the one with the dog heads. 

6.  Hot for Teacher - Van Halen, 1984.  Directed by Pete Angelus and David Lee Roth.

What High School was like in the 80s, or at least how David Lee Roth would have liked it to be.  I wonder what the world would have been like if John Hughes (director of all those brat pack movies) had directed music videos...

5.  Popular - Nada Surf, 1996.  Directed by Jesse Peretz.

The band playing in the football field has been done a lot, but I think this is the best example of it.  I love how the song is being said/sung by Matthew from Nada Surf as a lesson about popularity, and I love how the band looks like greasy college students.  This one-hit-wonder probably wouldn't have even been that if it weren't for this appropriate, well stylized and memorable video. 

4.  ...Baby, One More Time - Britney Spears, 1998.  Directed by Nigel Dick.

Whatever we may think of Britney or this song, we simply can't deny the influence of this video.  What it does, it does well, and most of us will forever picture the Britney of this video when we hear her name or voice.  Videos will be trying to copy this for decades to come.

3.  Gossip Folks - Missy Elliott featuring Ludacris and Ms. Jade, 2003.  Directed by Dave Meyers.

I simply could not put this video below Britney.  At times it looks like an Adidas commercial, but that's Missy... and that's High School too.  The colours are fantastic and the choreography is even more so.  Out of every school shown in this list, this is the one I would like to attend the most. 

2.  Jeremy - Pearl Jam, 1992.  Directed by Mark Pellington.

A haunting video that boldly and tactfully wrestles with bullying and suicide.  The video jumps between contrasting images whether moving or still, or light or dark, and is meant to feel a little like a collage on film.  Stunning and creepy in the right way.

1.  Smells Like Teen Spirit - Nirvana, 1991.  Directed by Samuel Bayer.


Basically the opposite of the pep rally in Master P's video, and the antithesis to Britney Spear's Hit Me high school.  It gave voice not only to the grunge movement, but to unhappy high school haters everywhere.  This was a band that saw through the plastic of popularity, and was ready to make some noise.  The video itself is raw and eerie, and is so mentally linked with the song that it's hard to think of one without the other, which is pretty much the definition of the role of a good music video.  For a band that couldn't care less about conformity, they certaintly used the tools of the mainstream well.


I should briefly note why The Ramone's Rock and Roll High School isn't on this list.  For one, it's because the movie is a movie, not a music video.  And secondly, the music video is mostly clips from the movie.  A lot of videos do that, but I don't think it makes for a good video as it relies more on the nostalgia of the film than it does on presenting a story or concept itself.  So there's my rationalization.  Hope you have fun watching the rest of these! 

The Video Stars: Top 10 Action/Adventure

Here comes another 10 excellent music videos that you are going to want to procrastinate by watching on youtube!  Action/Adventure may not be a normal category for music videos, but there are plenty of them.  Unlike drama, their stories may not always be crystal clear, but we're kept engaged because there's always something happening: running, jumping, fighting, swaggering... you name it.

10.  Hungry Like the Wolf - Duran Duran, 1982.  Directed by Russell Mulcahy. 

This video was shot in Sri Lanka, which helps a lot with the Indiana Jones theme.  For a video in the 80's, this actually looked a bit like a film and fit the imagery in the song without being too literal.  (I am so grateful there are no hungry wolves running around in this!)

9.  99 Problems - Jay-Z, 2004.  Directed by Mark Romanek.

This one comes with a warning - there's a bit of violence that you should know about before you watch.  But you probably know that already, because the image is a powerful one that I think of nearly everytime I hear Jay-Z.  I also regularly picture him in this video: black and white, walking around Brooklyn.  This has less of a continuous plot as it is snapshots of being a black man in Brooklyn, but it still strikes me as action more than anything else.

8.  Telephone - Lady Gaga & Beyonce, 2010.  Directed by Jonas Akerlund.

Whether we like it or not, this has become somewhat legendary.  The video has absolutely nothing to do with the song, and yet no one seems to care - it almost adds to the ridiculousness of the whole thing.  This video has everything else you could imagine, and most things you never would (like cigarette shades).  I still am not convinced why Beyonce would feel the need to pair up with Gaga, but in this instance it works.  She was probably swayed with a promise she could drive the Pussy Wagon from Kill Bill.

I should probably add a warning to this as well, but I'm not exactly sure what I should say.  Lady Gaga's purpose in life is to make you cringe or feel awkward, and Telephone is no exception.

 7.  Glosoli - Sigur Ros, 2005.  Directed by Arni & Kinski.

Another beautiful video by this team, featuring beautiful Icelandic children in beautiful Icelandic scenery.  A visual representation of JD Salinger's "Catcher in the Rye" quote about catching all the children jumping off a cliff.  Clever and, well... beautiful. 

6.  Don't Come Around Here No More - Tom Petty, 1985.  Directed by Jeff Stein.

Who would have thought Tom Petty would make such a fantastic Mad Hatter, and who would have believed his band could have depicted Alice in Wonderland in an even creepier fashion?  Apparently both the song and video were inspired by Stevie Nicks, which may explain why they are so full of mystery and excellence.

5.  Beat It - Michael Jackson, 1982.  Directed by Bob Giraldi.

I can't believe I've posted this many videos before mentioning MJ.  Don't worry, this won't be the last.  His version of West Side Story is as good as anyone's, and kicks off his long music video legacy of teaching the world that all conflicts can be solved through dance.

  4.  Everlong - Foo Fighters, 1997.  Directed by Michel Gondry.

I am committed to watching everything Michel Gondry has ever been a part of, and this is one of many reasons why.  Here my favorite director collaborates with a band with a huge and creative imagination to create nothing if not a visually stimulating, action-packed spectacle.  I wish my dreams were directed by Gondry. 

3.  Hoppipolla - Sigur Ros, 2005.  Directed Arni & Kinski.

Another cinematic jewel from Iceland, this time featuring not the young, but the older.  This has become basically a perfect depiction of what I want to be like when I am a senior citizen.





2.  Sabotage - Beastie Boys, 1995.  Directed by Spike Jonze.

A masterpiece parody of 1970's crime tv, complete with fake moustaches and plenty of chase scenes on foot and wheel.  The Beastie Boys are masters of having fun and being filmed in the process, and nearly anyone who's seen this wishes they thought of it first.  Brilliant.

1.  Thriller - Michael Jackson, 1983.  Directed by John Landis. 

I'm sure you were expecting this at some point.  The only difficulty I had was in deciding which category it should be considered in.  But this is quintessential action.  Although we all know the dance, and we love the sci-fi effects of 1983, ultimately this video is ingrained into our hearts and minds because it continues to be one of the best examples of a video with a plot.  It's actually a little bit creepy - especially with Vincent Price and his pseudo-rap - and MJ makes a terribly convincing zombie.  Music videos will forever pay homage to this with red jackets, mass choreography, and dancing zombies, and people everywhere will forever learn the choreography to show off at parties or in flash mobs.  And all of these facts make the world a better place to live in.  Thanks Michael. 

The Video Stars: Top 10 Comedies

Time for my second installment of music videos.  Here's my choices for the top 10 comedy music video.  Enjoy!

10.  I Feel Better - Hot Chip, 2010.  Directed by Peter Serafinowicz.

At first you just think it's a great boy-band-parody video, and then a bizarre thing happens.  I nearly peed myself when I first saw this one.

9.  All the Small things - Blink 182, 1999.  Directed by Marcos Siega

Probably more the parody vid you were expecting.  Makes fun of nearly every bubblegum pop video that was out in the 90's, and does so in true Blink 182 style.  Now when I see an old Backstreet Boys video, I think of this.  Classic. 

8.  Bien o Mal (Right or Wrong) - Julieta Venegas, 2010.  Directed by Agustin Alberdi.

So, I can't understand any of the lyrics, which may actually be part of the charm of Bien o Mal.  I find it adorable, lovely, and terribly giggle-worthy.  Even better, it's meant to be a feminist critique of who decides what is "lady-like".  I am totally for this parallel universe, especially if I get to fart butterflies too!

7.  I'm On a Boat - The Lonely Island featuring T. Pain, 2009.  Directed by Akiva Schaffer.

The Lonely Island have now made a bunch of videos to choose from, but this one stands out for not only its humor, but production.  It looks like the kind of rap videos it's making fun of, and got so much acclaim that  it was even nominated for a grammy!  Most importantly, I don't think I've since been on any kind of boat without this song being referenced at least once.  Granted, I am usually doing the referencing...

6.  Frontier Psychiatry - The Avalanches, 2002.  Directed by Tom Kuntz & Mike Maguire.

This is possibly the most random music video I've ever seen, and yet it ideally suits the song (which is composed of samples from 37 different spoken tracks).  Plus, there is just something so awesome about an old woman playing the drums.  

5.  Learn to Fly - Foo Fighters, 2001.  Directed by Jesse Peretz.

I've been noticing that I especially love videos where someone in the band is duplicated.  This is an extreme example, and I absolutely love it.  Especially when Dave Grohl asks Dave Grohl for his autograph.  For fun, try to figure out which characters are all played by which band members.  Also, see if you can recognize the song that's played muzak-style at the beginning. 

4.  Weapon of Choice - Fatboy Slim, 2001.  Directed by Spike Jonze.

What a beautiful marriage between band, director, and actor.  There is possibly no other actor that could have created the same effect that Christopher Walken does here; he has no deadpan/dance equal.  The comedy of this video relies entirely on his creepiness, and there was never any doubt it would succeed.

3.  Land of Confusion - Genesis, 1987.  Directed by John Lloyd & Jim Yukich

So many puppets, so much happiness.  Especially when the puppets represent Ronald and Nancy Reagan, a few other presidents and a whole host of celebrities.  The only video from the 80's in this particular list, and isn't it appropriate that it features puppets?  What was with the 80's and puppets anyway?

2.  Praise You - Fatboy Slim, 1999.  Directed by Spike Jonze.

So great.  Yes, it looks like someone caught a flash mob on their camera phone, and that's the point.  The choreography is wonderfully goofy, the crowd's reactions are 100% genuine, and this likely goes down in history as the cheapest music video to ever be shown on MTV.  Also, whenever this song gets played at a party, guess what happens. 

1.  It's Oh So Quiet - Bjork, 1995.  Directed by Spike Jonze. 

I won't pretend like this was an easy choice; at some point I considered nearly all of the top 5 videos for the number 1 position.  Yet, it does seem appropriate that Spike Jonze is involved considering his name is on so many videos I would consider hilarious or clever.  You should probably go right now and watch his entire videography if you haven't already.   

But in the end, Bjork's emotional ode to falling in love stands out.  There are two thoughts that simultaneously enter my head when I watch this entertaining video: 1. Where did they come up with these ideas?  I could never have this kind of imaginitive creativity!  and 2.  This video is exactly what the song needs - no other video could have possibly existed!  It captures Bjork's quirkiness, and her shifts between mellow and exstatic, with such fluidity considering they're terribly abrupt.  Genius.  Also, I totally have "dance with a mailbox" on my bucketlist thanks to this.  Totes.