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Chris’ Top Five Videos
When we decided to do this I thought it would be easy to pick five videos. It wasn’t. On what criteria is a video the best? Artistic importance? Future influence? Quality of the song itself? I think all of these are important among other things. So I tried to take everything into account and I know that there are some great ones that will be left off of my list. I hope the other guys can pick up my slack there.
5.) Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers - Don’t Come Around Here No More
In a time when videos was still a new thing and the staged performance or concert footage thing was already played out it was refreshing to see a twisted play on a classic. The video takes the nightmarish aspects of Alice in Wonderland and sets surreal images to a haunting tune.
4.) Madonna - Express Yourself
This is a David Fincher masterpiece. Influenced by Fritz Lang’s Metropolis, Express Yourself is both artistic and sexy. Wonderfully edited, awesomely lit, and altogether perfectly directed.
3.) Nirvana - Heart Shaped Box
This, like another that just missed my list, R.E.M.’s Losing My Religion, is an artistic statement. It is like watching a Fellini nightmare unfold right before your eyes. Come to think of it I might actually like Fellini’s films if the were only four minutes long and set to Nirvana songs. Dark, creepy, twisted humor, and difficult to watch. That, I think, is the point.
2.) U2 - Where the Streets Have No Name
When Ray and I were discussing this topic we started on the utter pointlessness of the performance video. There are only a few that carry any weight and are still relevant. I believe this is the best example of such a video. It is real. From the band, to the crowd, to the news reports, to the police action. An homage to the Beatles roof top performance this was a way for U2 to bring themselves to the people even at a risk. I still get chills when I see this.
1.) Peter Gabriel - Sledgehammer
I knew this would be my number one from the very beginning. Since it debuted in 1986 I have thought of it as the crowning achievement is music video creativeness. This is also a case where the quality of the song helps it a lot. Sledgehammer is such a driving tune that it makes it impossible to ignore this video.
Last 5 posts by Chris
- The Curious Case of Benjamin Button - A Review - December 29th, 2008
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- Hey Rolling Stone, Stick It Up Your Ass! - November 20th, 2008
- Rose is Rose is a Man! - November 14th, 2008
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4 Responses to “Chris’ Top Five Videos”
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That Tom Petty pick is pure genius. Perfect video. It also co-stars Dave Stewart of Eurythmics as the pot smoking guy on the toadstool.
The U2 pick threw me a little. I don’t even really consider it to be their best video … but as a performance video, it works as well as any other.
Great choices with Tom Petty and Madonna. Those videos are still hold up a timeless. Peter Gabriel is also really good, but now seems dated.
U2 is a good choice, because it stands out as a special moment.
I’m not really sure that I would put Heart Shaped Box on there. I think that the significance of Teen Spirit makes it a better choice and Come As You Are Is also a better video.
Sledgehammer is pretty impressive. It certainly stands out from other videos, and the songs great too.
Heart Shaped Box is a GREAT choice also. I had a hard time keeping that off my list.
I might agree that the U2 video may not be there best, but for me it defines them. I see it as more of what the band is about than any other of their videos.