[ Music Videos - The Spectrum ]

Hey!

So in my first post, I'll be giving a rundown of the best music videos, and for some comparison, two of the worst, past and present.

To kick off, the best music video in my opinion:

[ Jamiroquai - Virtual Insanity ]

Virtual Insanity uses clever, yet stunningly simple effects for an impressive, but relatively easy and small scale video, with limited special effects and this links with JK's exuberant and audacious trend in his music videos. The white and black set emphasises the simplicity and makes JK stand out. It also adds to the futuristic and clinical nature that he is trying to convey.

Next, the runners up, the good ones:

[ Jamiroquai - Deeper Underground ]

[ Jamiroquai - Feels Just Like It Should ]

[ A-Ha - Take On Me ]

[ OK Go - Here It Goes Again ]

[ 30 Seconds To Mars - Attack ]

[ The Vines - Ride ]

[ The Strokes - You Only Live Once ]

[ Blur - Coffee And TV ]

[ Red Hot Chili Peppers - Can't Stop ]

[ Coldplay - The Scientist ]

[ Klaxons - Magick ]

[ We Are Scientists - The Great Escape ]

What makes these music videos good in my opinion, is down to not one factor. In order for a music video to be well accepted, the song must be entertaining, the video must grip the audience's interest the whole way through, whether that be through special effects or a narrative or a fun montage. Magick, for instance uses special effects and a narrative to entertain and unnerve the audience, and also has an observed link to the song. Simple videos such as Ride, The Great Escape, Attack and Here It Goes Again all use their simple concepts and production and basic ideas to entertain the audience, since their concepts are excellent. The burned/etched photograph effect on Attack is easy to identify and gives a gritty, emotional feeling to the song. The shaky camera is powerful to observe and gives a sense of chaos and real might in Jared Leto's voice. JK's energy and ambitiousness really comes out in Deeper Underground and Feels Just Like It Should and this reflects the music well, whilst the difference between his videos and other videos really shines through. Take On Me and You Only Live Once are slightly more sophisticated and have had more production input, with larger scale ideas, but the concepts are still very simple, and the ideas are fun and enjoyable.

...and now onto the worst music videos:

[ Goldfrapp - Ride A White Horse ]

[ Armi & Danny - I Wanna Love You Tender ]

These two videos both fall in one main area. They both seem tacky, dull, repetetive and are seen to try too hard. Maybe I Wanna Love You Tender might be excused on account of being produced near the "special effects boom", where most producers seemed too eager to place tacky special effects into their work. On top of this, the synchronised dance routines and "futuristic" backdrops gave completely the wrong feel to the song (ahem, the song is about love, not space). Ride A White Horse is not so good since it goes nowhere in terms of narrative, reuses shots and just seems dull. The way that it tries to use Alison Goldfrapp's good looks in contrast to the disturbing and tacky setting is not appealing, nor does it entertain or excite the audience. The props and actors can only be described as "odd" and the video is monotonous.