An odd memory or three...
The air turns colder and the night comes in earlier, and I imagine that Fall, being the most earthbound of seasons, should make me become steady about my tasks, my work. But this latest crop of videos on the kid's MTV doesn't leave me with anything particularly funny or insightful to share with you. No, I'd rather just pull some great old oddities out for your viewing pleasure.
Pumping On Your Stereo
Supergrass
This was all inspired by suddenly remembering Supergrass's classic Pumping On Your Stereo. Don't ask me how that came about; I haven't really pulled out a Supergrass album in who knows how long, mired as I currently am in my old-timey ska and prohibition-era jazz ghetto. But when I did just up and remember this one, I found it again and realized it was more than just some random album promo.
At the risk of sounding sentimental, this one manages to be both funny and warm. The use of the Oxford quartet's heads on top of goofy puppet bodies is a gimmick that pays off immediately. There's really this sort of "Sid and Marty Kroft"-with-a-wink quality to it. You feel like it would be appreciated by the 8 year old kid we all knew that got all the adult jokes before the rest of us did.
Closet Freak
Cee-Lo
And from the land of puppets to the land of... freaks, this Cee-Lo video came at a time when I wondered what he would be like away from the Goodie Mob. This was a big, big answer. Out of Cee-Lo Green's crazed mind comes 70's glamour, gospel strutting, and more than a slight nod to Earth, Wind, and Fire. In a way, this video sort of reads like some kind of black man's heaven... with laser lights. The way it pokes fun at this kind of video (this is clearly a lampoon of Let's Groove Tonight), but at the same time reveres it; that's what makes this such a classic.
I Believe in a Thing Called Love
The Darkness
And to end this on something of a bittersweet note, let me present you with the legendarily goofy I Believe in a Thing Called Love from the newly lead-singerless Darkness. Justin Hawkins quit the glam-rock collective after being admitted to rehab... what this group will be without his glass-cutting falsetto, his rock-star prancing, I dunno (this dude's some kind of Robert Plant lovechild or successor). The Darkness are famous, at least in my estimation, for being a tongue-in-cheek group that are dead serious about their music. In short, they rock the hell out and then some. It's almost as if to make great hard rock anymore, you can't take it that seriously. As this video shows... they very much don't.
However, I'm afraid that stint in rehab appears to be very much grounded in reality. As rock and roll as that may be, I think we'd be a whole lot happier if it was just part of the script.
The air turns colder and the night comes in earlier, and I imagine that Fall, being the most earthbound of seasons, should make me become steady about my tasks, my work. But this latest crop of videos on the kid's MTV doesn't leave me with anything particularly funny or insightful to share with you. No, I'd rather just pull some great old oddities out for your viewing pleasure.
Pumping On Your Stereo
Supergrass
This was all inspired by suddenly remembering Supergrass's classic Pumping On Your Stereo. Don't ask me how that came about; I haven't really pulled out a Supergrass album in who knows how long, mired as I currently am in my old-timey ska and prohibition-era jazz ghetto. But when I did just up and remember this one, I found it again and realized it was more than just some random album promo.
At the risk of sounding sentimental, this one manages to be both funny and warm. The use of the Oxford quartet's heads on top of goofy puppet bodies is a gimmick that pays off immediately. There's really this sort of "Sid and Marty Kroft"-with-a-wink quality to it. You feel like it would be appreciated by the 8 year old kid we all knew that got all the adult jokes before the rest of us did.
Closet Freak
Cee-Lo
And from the land of puppets to the land of... freaks, this Cee-Lo video came at a time when I wondered what he would be like away from the Goodie Mob. This was a big, big answer. Out of Cee-Lo Green's crazed mind comes 70's glamour, gospel strutting, and more than a slight nod to Earth, Wind, and Fire. In a way, this video sort of reads like some kind of black man's heaven... with laser lights. The way it pokes fun at this kind of video (this is clearly a lampoon of Let's Groove Tonight), but at the same time reveres it; that's what makes this such a classic.
I Believe in a Thing Called Love
The Darkness
And to end this on something of a bittersweet note, let me present you with the legendarily goofy I Believe in a Thing Called Love from the newly lead-singerless Darkness. Justin Hawkins quit the glam-rock collective after being admitted to rehab... what this group will be without his glass-cutting falsetto, his rock-star prancing, I dunno (this dude's some kind of Robert Plant lovechild or successor). The Darkness are famous, at least in my estimation, for being a tongue-in-cheek group that are dead serious about their music. In short, they rock the hell out and then some. It's almost as if to make great hard rock anymore, you can't take it that seriously. As this video shows... they very much don't.
However, I'm afraid that stint in rehab appears to be very much grounded in reality. As rock and roll as that may be, I think we'd be a whole lot happier if it was just part of the script.
posted by Maurice at 11:36 PM
1 Comments:
So, once again your writting abilities astound me.
I had totally forgotten about the video for PUNPING ON YOUR STEREO. But, as i watched it i thought, wow, this reminds me of THE DARKNESS. funny.
then i can honestly say, i have never heard the song CLOSET FREAK or saw the video before today.. Mybe that's ebcasue im one of the palest crackers out there. Anyways...
I loved that you finished with The Darkness video. Its almost like the crazy love child of the other two videos. And, really, i think something needs to be said about the "lobster puppet" that is attacking their ship. Could it be a ROCK LOBSTER (had to throw in the B52s reference because it popped into my head. Very enjoyable blog.
By the way, i have said for a long time that i believe the darkness should be on the Jukebox at the UGLY. I mean, black horse and a cheery tree is on there but i belive in a thing called love isnt.. there is just something soo wrong with that....
Shannon
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