10.21.14: The Last VJ’s Top 5 Music Videos of the Week
Welcome to The Last VJ, music fans! Got to admit, this week is a little schizo. I’ve got no theme or arc of style. What I do have is everything from the lighthearted creations of children to German metals clowns. None of this will make a single lick of sense, but I promise it’s all wonderful nonetheless. Put on your phones and come listen with me.
Nude Beach, “For You”
I’ll admit, I’m throwing this one in here largely because of the adorable factor. Nude Beached teamed with kids from the Children’s Museum of the Arts to put together a stop-motion animated music video that tickles the corners of your smile. No, it’s not any sort of deep exploration of a theme, and I have to admit I rolled my eyes a bit when Nude beach sang one of Bryan’ Adams’ cheesiest lines accompanied by hand-written subtitles, but it’s still fun. Just fun all around and a worthy collaborative creation. My fez also goes off to Nude Beach for forwarding the cause of the music video by getting young creators involved. You’re doing God’s work, my friends.
Fiction, “Lonely Planet”
Mike Barrett’s video for “Lonely Planet” isn’t so much a video as it is an exploration of cinematic landscaping using computer technology that reminds me of a Sega Dreamcast. That’s not meant as an insult, by the way. On the contrary, “Lonely Planet” has a wonderful retro vibe that drops me back into the days when I thought the prettiest video game ever made was Shadow of the Empire. Woven nicely with band footage, it accomplishes what it sets out to do in that it creates an interplanetary sense of malaise and dread. You tingle when you watch it.
