(Originally posted in September 2009, this is the blog post of which I am most proud.)
The winner of this years 'Best Breakthrough Video' was somewhat overshadowed by Kanye's comments at this years VMA's. The video for Lesson Learned by 'Matt and Kim' was a worthy winner with a shocking ending so realistic that some have mistakenly believed it to be real.
Matt and Kim - Lesson Learned
While impressive I couldn't help thinking that it was just a variation on a standard music video motif. A quick 'click & run' on YouTube confirmed my suspicions and threw in a few more examples I hadn't seen previously.
Individuals or groups walking down the street to a musical refrain are a familiar sight, it's origins dating back to the great musicals of yesteryear.
Gene Kelly - Singing in the Rain
The modern trend is for the action to occur in one continuous take, or at least create the illusion of it. There are exceptions to this rule which are notable for other techniques.
The Pharcyde - Drop
The single shot format is the norm and it's easy to see how a simple concept can tell a great story.
The focus upon one person can produce powerful results when coupled with the right song. Here The Verve's Richard Ashcroft (who I once met in an Italian airport) shows us how it's done.
The Verve - Bittersweet Symphony
The video may have led to conflicts on the pavements of the nation as copycats tried to emulate the iconic scenes. Some people managed it to do it quite well.
It's not all confrontational lad culture, there have been some softer songs accompanying the singers march.
And some are downright sexy!
Make The Girl Dance - Baby Baby Baby
(As a bonus here's Guitar Hero's take on the previous video)
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