Current Video Reviews
Artist: Madonna
Video: “Hung Up“
Director: Johan Renck
Everyone knows Madonna practically invented the dance pop music video, for which the music video industry owes her a debt of gratitude. The new video, “Hung Up”, from the Album Confessions on a Dance Floor is a return to those early days. It plays like a tribute to Saturday Night Fever. This is apt, because it could be argued that the success of that movie made Madonna’s early career possible.
Swedish director Johan Renck (The Streets “Dry Your Eyes”, New Order “Krafty”, Robbie Williams “Trippin’”) frames the story with Madonna rehearsing, solo, in workout wear in a dance studio; accompanied only by a boom box. The intercut scenes run a gamut of dance subcultures and range in setting from an Asian noodle shop to a big city subway. A large, diverse and quite gifted troupe of dancers interpret the song in these settings. While the theme is undoubtedly a return to the early days, Renck takes advantage of technological progress over the past 25 years to make the old new. Fans will love it, though if you weren’t already a fan, this probably won’t do much to change your mind. What it will do is provide a new generation a glimpse of how it all got started. – Rick Brown
Check it out for yourself at: http://music.yahoo.com/ar-256352-videos--Madonna
Artist: Weezer
Video: "Perfect Situation"
Director: Marc Webb
“Perfect Situation” is classic Weezer, if there is such a thing. The sparse pop arrangement after a lavish intro, River’s Cuomo’s lyrical litany of frustrated shyness, Brian Bell’s distorted, pithy guitar solo, it’s all here. This is the formula that started them off as underground sensations and grew them into the major force they are today. As such, it’s a perfect way for new listeners or viewers to get to know the band. While not as ambitious as the previous clip, “Beverly Hills”, it’s entirely satisfying in all respects.
For the first two thirds of the song, Rivers’ character is utterly in thrall to his girlfriend, the front woman of “Weeze”. Her antics appear to be a parody of those of a certain real life female performer (her initials are C.L.). Finally, though, when she’s gone AWOL, he steps in and quickly wins over the hearts and minds of the fans. Director Marc Webb (Yellowcard “Lights & Sounds”, My Chemical Romance “Ghost of You”, Hot Hot Heat “Middle of Nowhere”) has a real knack for the broad stroke depiction of physical comedy that the story needs and does a splendid job on this one. – Rick Brown
Check it out for yourself at: http://music.yahoo.com/ar-269020-videos--Weezer