Video Killed the Radio Star
By Hannah Maloco
Monday 19th Monday 2009
Monday 19th Monday 2009
The music video: a narcissistic exercise in self promotion or a credible artistic medium?
Since the birth of MTV in 1981 the music video has become a growing necessity for the music industry. Located somewhere between the TV commercial and the short- film the music video has inverted the traditional supporting role of a music soundtrack and allowed for the more equal collaborations of music and images in new and innovate ways.
It was The Buggles ironically named track “Video Killed The Radio Star” that became the first aired music video on MTV over 25 years ago. The video with its high-tech portrayal of a future world shows a young girl walk amongst the visual destruction of the radio and up an ever growing mound of television sets. The lyrics and video could not have provided a more appropriate start to MTV, a station which has since given its name to a new media obsessed generation. Yet, has the music-video truly brought with it the death of the elusive musical message?
The genre has been criticised for hindering the personal and introspective reactions created by music. Instead critics claim that images, installed with predetermined meanings and symbolism, destroy the uncertainty of the musical message and instead enforce a single visual interpretation of the film (these critics I would suggest have clearly never watched the videos listed below).
It is true that the music video brings with it its own message and influence. Aligning sound with image opens up a field of opportunity to artists and directors. With the advent of YouTube and internet resources music fans have more opportunity than ever to watch as well as listen to music. Constructing music idols and alter egos, inspiring trends in fashion, film and art and establishing iconic dance routines the medium has become an indispensable tool of commercial and artistic use. Those who believe that the music video simply articulates a song or promotes an artist fail to acknowledge some of the greatest music videos of all time and the auteurs that the genre has inspired and created. Listed below are 5 of the most influential, inventive or just plain interesting music videos from the last 29 years. Click the links, enjoy the music, embrace the stories and nostalgic eras they show and learn to love the music video. If however, you remain adverse to the music video then find solace in the lyrics of the song that began it all; “we can't rewind we've gone to far, pictures came and broke your heart, put the blame on VTR.”
The First: “Video Killed The Radio Star” – The Buggles (dir. Russell Mulcahy)
First aired on 1st August 1981 this music video holds both the title as the first ever aired and the 3rd most ever played on MTV. Director Russell Mulcahy- a director that has since directed over 40 films and music videos – has called the video “organised chaos”. With its jingly vocals, futuristic imagery, large white glasses and clinical white sets the video has similarities with the Oompa Loompa's rendition of Veruca Salt and Mike TV's Songs in Tim Burton's remake of Charlie and the Chocolate factory. Perhaps Burton is a Buggles fan.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XWtHEmVjVw8
The Cult: Thriller – Michael Jackson (dir. John Landis)
Consistently voted amongst the top iconic and memorable music videos of all time Micheal Jackson's Thriller has become synonomous with the dance routine and zombie costumes featured in it's music video. 14 minutes long the video is more of a short film than a music video and with it's own screenplay the video shows the fluid convergence of film and music. Amongst the inky blue images of dark alleys and deserted car parks Jackson's red costume stands out focusing the audience's attention on the stars iconic dance.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AtyJbIOZjS8
The Director – “Hyperballad” – Bjork (dir. Michel Gondry)
Director Michel Gondry is a firmly established auteur of the music video. His directorial genius can be seen in over 70 music videos, 25 adverts and a growing collection of short and feature films (most notably the recent Eternal Sunshine of The Spotless Mind). His work with Bjork over 7 music videos is praised for its technical mastery and videography, videos such as “Hyperballad” illustrating the layers of projection and manipulations that are expanded in his later films. The video also plays with the idea of inescapable thoughts and memories, a theme that is further explored in “Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind”. The still face of Bjork's becomes a canvas for the projection of thoughts and feelings creating a video that shows technical flare and a receptive emotional response to the music.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wOTsn71nWW0
The Mysterious – “Just” - Radiohead (dir. Jamie Thraves )
This video is definitely an example of how music videos do not always clarify a song’s message. In fact the video creates an entirely different set of confusions for the listener. Shots of Radiohead performing are interwoven with a subtitled plot. The climatic moment of the video comes with the fallen man's last silent message, words that director Jamie Thraves refuses to reveal. In this sense the video is truly frustrating to watch. Rewind and replay and please let us know if you solve the mystery.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oIFLtNYI3Ls
The Unofficial – “Daft Hands: Harder Better Faster Stronger” – Daft Punk (dir. FrEckleStudios)
With the birth of YouTube it is easier than ever for music fans to create and upload their own music videos. Amongst the compilations of TV and film romances and heartbreaking tunes are a few unofficial gems. The Daft Hands are voted amongst the most viewed YouTube videos of all time and best viral videos. The video has since been featured on The Ellen DeGeneres Show and inspired a whole series of Daft Hands and Daft Bodies videos. Skip to 50 seconds to see the hand action begin, claimed to be filmed in one take the video is proof that blurry shots and a shaky hand do not detract from truly original and innovative films.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K2cYWfq--Nw
The Animation: “Strawberry Swings” – Coldplay (dir. Shynola)
Film making collaboration Shynola made videos for Radiohead, Blur and Junior Senior before embarking on their latest project with Coldplay. Using stop motion photography, bright chalk drawings and Chris Martin's ability to stand very still the group create an animated and fantastical fairytale for the lead singer to take part in. Inspired by the photos of Jan Von Holleban and classic cartoon animation the directors create a colourful childlike world of escape and fantasy resulting in an innovative and magical music video.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BYtk1Z0UUuE
Since the birth of MTV in 1981 the music video has become a growing necessity for the music industry. Located somewhere between the TV commercial and the short- film the music video has inverted the traditional supporting role of a music soundtrack and allowed for the more equal collaborations of music and images in new and innovate ways.
It was The Buggles ironically named track “Video Killed The Radio Star” that became the first aired music video on MTV over 25 years ago. The video with its high-tech portrayal of a future world shows a young girl walk amongst the visual destruction of the radio and up an ever growing mound of television sets. The lyrics and video could not have provided a more appropriate start to MTV, a station which has since given its name to a new media obsessed generation. Yet, has the music-video truly brought with it the death of the elusive musical message?
The genre has been criticised for hindering the personal and introspective reactions created by music. Instead critics claim that images, installed with predetermined meanings and symbolism, destroy the uncertainty of the musical message and instead enforce a single visual interpretation of the film (these critics I would suggest have clearly never watched the videos listed below).
It is true that the music video brings with it its own message and influence. Aligning sound with image opens up a field of opportunity to artists and directors. With the advent of YouTube and internet resources music fans have more opportunity than ever to watch as well as listen to music. Constructing music idols and alter egos, inspiring trends in fashion, film and art and establishing iconic dance routines the medium has become an indispensable tool of commercial and artistic use. Those who believe that the music video simply articulates a song or promotes an artist fail to acknowledge some of the greatest music videos of all time and the auteurs that the genre has inspired and created. Listed below are 5 of the most influential, inventive or just plain interesting music videos from the last 29 years. Click the links, enjoy the music, embrace the stories and nostalgic eras they show and learn to love the music video. If however, you remain adverse to the music video then find solace in the lyrics of the song that began it all; “we can't rewind we've gone to far, pictures came and broke your heart, put the blame on VTR.”
The First: “Video Killed The Radio Star” – The Buggles (dir. Russell Mulcahy)
First aired on 1st August 1981 this music video holds both the title as the first ever aired and the 3rd most ever played on MTV. Director Russell Mulcahy- a director that has since directed over 40 films and music videos – has called the video “organised chaos”. With its jingly vocals, futuristic imagery, large white glasses and clinical white sets the video has similarities with the Oompa Loompa's rendition of Veruca Salt and Mike TV's Songs in Tim Burton's remake of Charlie and the Chocolate factory. Perhaps Burton is a Buggles fan.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XWtHEmVjVw8
The Cult: Thriller – Michael Jackson (dir. John Landis)
Consistently voted amongst the top iconic and memorable music videos of all time Micheal Jackson's Thriller has become synonomous with the dance routine and zombie costumes featured in it's music video. 14 minutes long the video is more of a short film than a music video and with it's own screenplay the video shows the fluid convergence of film and music. Amongst the inky blue images of dark alleys and deserted car parks Jackson's red costume stands out focusing the audience's attention on the stars iconic dance.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AtyJbIOZjS8
The Director – “Hyperballad” – Bjork (dir. Michel Gondry)
Director Michel Gondry is a firmly established auteur of the music video. His directorial genius can be seen in over 70 music videos, 25 adverts and a growing collection of short and feature films (most notably the recent Eternal Sunshine of The Spotless Mind). His work with Bjork over 7 music videos is praised for its technical mastery and videography, videos such as “Hyperballad” illustrating the layers of projection and manipulations that are expanded in his later films. The video also plays with the idea of inescapable thoughts and memories, a theme that is further explored in “Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind”. The still face of Bjork's becomes a canvas for the projection of thoughts and feelings creating a video that shows technical flare and a receptive emotional response to the music.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wOTsn71nWW0
The Mysterious – “Just” - Radiohead (dir. Jamie Thraves )
This video is definitely an example of how music videos do not always clarify a song’s message. In fact the video creates an entirely different set of confusions for the listener. Shots of Radiohead performing are interwoven with a subtitled plot. The climatic moment of the video comes with the fallen man's last silent message, words that director Jamie Thraves refuses to reveal. In this sense the video is truly frustrating to watch. Rewind and replay and please let us know if you solve the mystery.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oIFLtNYI3Ls
The Unofficial – “Daft Hands: Harder Better Faster Stronger” – Daft Punk (dir. FrEckleStudios)
With the birth of YouTube it is easier than ever for music fans to create and upload their own music videos. Amongst the compilations of TV and film romances and heartbreaking tunes are a few unofficial gems. The Daft Hands are voted amongst the most viewed YouTube videos of all time and best viral videos. The video has since been featured on The Ellen DeGeneres Show and inspired a whole series of Daft Hands and Daft Bodies videos. Skip to 50 seconds to see the hand action begin, claimed to be filmed in one take the video is proof that blurry shots and a shaky hand do not detract from truly original and innovative films.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K2cYWfq--Nw
The Animation: “Strawberry Swings” – Coldplay (dir. Shynola)
Film making collaboration Shynola made videos for Radiohead, Blur and Junior Senior before embarking on their latest project with Coldplay. Using stop motion photography, bright chalk drawings and Chris Martin's ability to stand very still the group create an animated and fantastical fairytale for the lead singer to take part in. Inspired by the photos of Jan Von Holleban and classic cartoon animation the directors create a colourful childlike world of escape and fantasy resulting in an innovative and magical music video.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BYtk1Z0UUuE