WATCH IT: Norah Jones "Chasing Pirates"

Shame on the marketing people who didn't think to release the new Norah Jones video "Chasing Pirates" on International Talk Like A Pirate Day (especially since it was only a month ago). That said, the video should hold its own without any special pirate promotions: Director Rich Lee brings Ms Jones' pirate fixation to life, turning her NYC apartment building into a pirate ship that sets sail from the isle of Manhattan and out to sea. It's a cool effect, perhaps even the best video re-imagination of NYC since since it was made into a giant record player for Lauryn Hill's "Everything Is Everything." [ps: Shame on me for not making a "poop deck" pun. Also would be shameful if I didn't mention that Rich Lee also worked on the effects for the Pirates Of The Caribbean franchise.] --> watch "Chasing Pirates"

Norah Jones "Chasing Pirates" (Blue Note)
Rich Lee, director | Justin Si Diener, producer | DNA, production co | Stephane Vallee, DP | Ken Mowe, editor | Rich Lee @ Proof, vfx | Alex Pascion, art director | Dave Hussey, colorist/telecine | Danny Lockwood, commissioner

SHOT: Norah Jones - Rich Lee, director

• artist: Norah Jones
• song: "Chasing Pirates"
• label: Blue Note
• director(s): Rich Lee
• production co: DNA

BOOKED: Elisabeth Withers - David Schlussel, director

artist: Elisabeth Withers
song: "Heartstrings"
label: Blue Note
director(s): David Schlussel
production co: The Artists Company
rep: Laure Scott Representation

SHOT: Emerson Hart - Elliott Lester, director

Maybe you remember Emerson Hart as the frontman of Tonic? Tonic, you ask? Yes, Tonic, the mid-90s purveyors of such pop/rock hits "If You Could Only See" and "Open Up Your Eyes." Yes? No? Anyone?

artist: Emerson Hart
song: "If You're Gonna Leave"
label: Manhattan/Blue Note
director(s): Elliott Lester
production co: Karma Kollective
rep: Laure Scott Representation

BOOKED: Suzanne Vega - Thomas Horne, director

Suzanne Vega is back after a six year recording gap with her first album for Blue Note.

artist: Suzanne Vega
song: "Frank And Ava"
label: Blue Note
director(s): Thomas Horne
production co: Karma Kollective
rep: RW Media

NEW RELEASE: Norah Jones "Sinking Soon"

For some reason Norah Jones conjures up instant backlash in certain sectors: She's too bland. Too mellow. Too Starbucks. Yes, her music is definitely mellow, but "Sinking Soon" is way more adventurous than what you'd come to expect from a milquetoast multi-platinum artist. First off, the track sounds like a Weimar cabaret waltz — not too dissimilar from what you might find on a Tom Waits album  — and the video is like a bizarro update of the Herbie Hancock's classic clip "Rockit." If you wanna call her meek, you can — she is dressed like a mouse at one point, after all —but at least acknowledge that there are much easier ways for Ms. Jones to guarantee her success than releasing banjo tunes and weird little videos. --> watch "Sinking Soon" in Quicktime or at YouTube

Norah Jones "Sinking Soon" (Blue Note)
Ace Norton, director | Charles Spano, producer | Partizan, production co | Shawn Kim, DP | Andrew Shulkind, DP for stop motion/narrative | David Michaelson, editor | Ingenuity Engine, effects

NEW RELEASE: Norah Jones "Thinking About You"

This playful new video for Norah Jones is in some ways a reprise of director Ace Norton's more technically impressive work from 2006. For example, you have the infinite "within the within" effect from his Peter Walker clip "What Do I Know," the animated heart from Death Cab For Cutie's "Someday You Will Be Loved" and the Claymation wonderland of "Crooked Teeth." That said, everything seems pretty fresh in the context of this video for "Thinking Of You." Cartoonish thought balloons illustrate the wishful thinking of all involved, while also serving as the transition windows between each scene.  --> watch "Thinking About You"

Norah Jones "Thing About You" (Blue Note)
Ace Norton, director | Charles Spano, producer | Partizan, production co | David Lanzenber, DP | David Michaelson, editor

BOOKED: Norah Jones - Ace Norton, director

artist: Norah Jones
song: "Sinkin' Soon"
label: Blue Note
director(s): Ace Norton
production co: Partizan

BOOKED: Norah Jones - Ace Norton, director

artist: Norah Jones
song: "Thinking Of You"
label: Blue Note
director(s): Ace Norton
production co: Partizan

BOOKED: Elisabeth Withers - Lenny Bass, director

Broadway star Elizabeth Withers of The Color Purple will debut as a Blue Note recording artist with this video scheduled to shoot in NYC...

artist: Elisabeth Withers
song: "Be With You"
label: Blue Note
director(s): Lenny Bass
production co: DNA