Hooves on the Turf

I generally find it difficult to wholeheartedly love music videos: in the given format, the number of things you can do is ultimately quite limited, and there is an overwhelming tendency to do the same things over and over again, out of which some that I’m wary of are: linear stories, a literal interpretation of the lyrics, a typical ending where something explosive happens and we revel in the band’s performance, dream-like fluidity where random otherworldly things happen, and an overemphasis on tricks and effects. These tendencies aren’t always bad by nature, but they do seem to make awesomeness especially hard in music videos.

The videos I usually like are the ones where the overall impression of what you see is aligned with the overall impression of what you hear. A bad video to a song is like a bad choice of words that undermines a thought, whereas a good one brings your attention to the essential qualities of the music it was made for? My own preference seems to be for the people-oriented leaning towards simplicity:

#8. The Kills – “Black Balloon“. Directed by Kenneth Cappello.

Awesome edits. A nice rock and roll feel to it. I’m not crazy about the vampire plot, but that blood-soaked mic looks cool.

#7. A.R.E. Weapons – “F What You Like“. Directed by Austin Peters.

Old school in a Beastie Boys kind of way. Thugs in leather jackets roaming Chinatown and rooftops. Brain F. McPeck makes badass faces. The second half is totally random. I love the guy in the end.

#6. Cool Fun – “What You Do”. Directed by Unitone Productions

Pretty low-fi, but the moves are irresistible. A great song and a whole lot of other indiscernible charms.

#5. Beyonce – “Single Ladies”. Directed by Jake Nava

Have you seen these moves? They’re a miracle! I’d watch this a hundred times. The understated change of lights, sometimes washing the bare set to a white, and sometimes to a glow of a shadow, is a little bit of genius. All the minimalist choices are solid: the clothes that give the movements clarity; the number of dancers; the choice of color and camera movements.

#4. Yacht – “Summer Song“. Directed by Judah Switzer

As far as Yacht goes, this exceeds my expectations; and I love the modesty. Great music-video-actors, for a change.

#3. Parenthetical Girls – “A Song for Elie Greenwich“. Directed by Judah Switzer.

Another one by Judah Switzer. Kind of a portrait in motion, and what handsome-looking and handsomely-moving subjects. I love the shots and the tones, and, overall, the restraaaain.

#2. White Denim – “Shake Shake Shake“. Directed by Tom Haines.

Tom Haines makes good videos in general, but this one is exceptional. Like a really good movie about the English suburbs. I want to live in it!

#1. Fleet Foxes – “He Doesn’t Know Why“. Directed by Sean Pecknold

A previously-declared favorite music video of the year. This one’s pretty much perfect. Everything you see pays homage to everything you hear. There’s no rush to tell a fantastic story, the song is the story. I love Sean Pecknold.