2014 Grammy Video Nominations (and other thoughts)

Of the 82(!) Grammy categories, which the academy helpfully ranks in order of importance, music video comes in at #81. For perspective, Best Liner Notes is ranked as #65. Comedy is #55. And if you're wondering, #82 is Best Music Film, which is essentially a renamed version of the old Best Long Form Music Video.

That's not to say the nominations for Best Music Video are off the mark — they're not, especially in the context of the RIAA big music focus of the awards show — but don't you think it's time for the Grammys to maybe give a bit more respect to the most visible and popular manifestation of modern music? 

Anyway. Let's dig into Category 81, and then read on for Best Music Film nominees and some other Grammy thoughts

Best Music Video For an individual track or single promotional clip. Award to the artist, video director, and video producer.

SAFE AND SOUND Capital Cities Grady Hall, video director; Buddy Enright, video producer [Capitol Records] 

PICASSO BABY: A PERFORMANCE ART FILM Jay Z Mark Romanek, video director; Shawn Carter & Aristides McGarry, video producers [Roc Nation] 

CAN'T HOLD US Macklemore & Ryan Lewis Featuring Ray Dalton Jon Jon Augustavo, Jason Koenig & Ryan Lewis, video directors; Tricia Davis, Honna Kimmerer & Jenny Koenig, video producers [Macklemore LLC] 

SUIT & TIE Justin Timberlake Featuring Jay Z David Fincher, video director; Timory King, video producer [RCA Records] 

I'M SHAKIN' Jack White Dori Oskowitz, video director; Raquel Costello, video producer [Columbia Records] 

2013's Most Popular Watched Videos on VEVO

#1 ain't a surprise. Ditto for #2. But, some of the others in VEVO's Top 10 Most Viewed Videos for 2013 might surprise ya..

But the main takeaway? The top 8 of these videos are all about the women — 4 of 'em directed by Diane Martel, including both Miley videos and the ubiquitous "Blurred Lines"...

And all of them have been previously featured on Videostatic — including Naughty Boy f/ Sam Smith "La La La," which is certainly the least well-known of these...

VEVO's 2014 Most Watched Videos:

1.  Miley Cyrus "Wrecking Ball" Terry Richardson, dir.

2.  Miley Cyrus "We Can't Stop" Diane Martel, dir.

3.  Will.i.Am f/ Britney Spears "Scream And Shout" Ben Mor, dir.

4.  Rhianna "Diamonds" Anthony Mandler, dir.

5.  Katy Perry "Roar" Mark Kudsi & Grady Hall, dir.

6.  P!nk f/Nate Ruess "Just Give Me A Reason" Diane Martel, dir.

7.  Robin Thicke f/T.I., Pharrell "Blurred Lines" Diane Martel, dir.

8.  Rihanna f/Mikky Ekko "Stay" Sophie Muller, dir.

9.  Naughty Boy f/ Sam Smith "La La La" Ian Pons Jewell, dir.

10.  One Direction "Kiss You" Vaughan Arnell, dir.

Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds "Higgs Boson Blues" (Iain Forsyth & Jane Pollard, dir.)

Some may view this performance clip as rambling ruminations of a grumpy man in his mid-50s, wondering what the heck is wrong with this world. I view it as a man in his current element, wondering what the heck is wrong with this world.

Important notes here:

1) "Higgs boson" is an elementary particle discovered last year that is heralded in the physics world as perhaps the biggest breakthrough in that field - the "missing piece" in the puzzle of possibly explaining the entire structure of the universe as we know it. This is giving physicists an existential crisis, leading them to ask themselves, "What's next to discover? Is there anything left?" So I guess Nick's "rambling" sorta makes sense. Metaphysical sense.

2) This video was shot approximately seven weeks before the twerk seen 'round the world took place, so those particular lyrics you'll be thinking about after hearing this... wonder what Nick thinks about it now.

Metric "Lost Kitten" (Sammy Rawal, dir.)

"Lost Kitten" shines a light on acclaimed ballroom dancer/actor Sheldon McIntosh aka Tynomi Banks, the "drag name" he performs under in his native Toronto.

Sammy Rawal, director: “We shot on a small island there [in Mexico] called La Isla de las Munecas. It's only accessible by a 45-minute trip via trajinera. On our way back to the mainland to shoot the last scene, we encountered a torrential rainstorm, and our trajineras started to take on water.  The entire crew and gear were on these sinking boats, and all I could picture was bloodthirsty crocodiles and mutant anacondas waiting for us in the water. We finally approached the access point where passengers exit the boat, and the boat is lifted out of the water and over a cement barricade. As we got there, we found out that it had just been struck by lightning and we couldn't go any further.  It was incredible.”

Lana Del Rey "Tropico" (Anthony Mandler, dir.)

Lana Del Rey's "Tropico" is more ambitious that almost any other music video you've seen this year — and not just because it's 30 minutes long. Director Anthony Mandler and Ms. LDR create their a sort of Pop Bible here, starting with creation and a Garden of Eden, with Jesus, John (Wayne), Marilyn (not Manson) and Elvis (certainly not Costello) peering down from up high.

And that's just the first couple minutes before the Fall... The rest is much more sinful, believe me.

Consider this a must-watch, especially if you have an appetite for a proudly blasphemous and cracked artfilm that should tickle fans of  Tony Scott and Oliver Stone's more visionary works.

Lorde "Team" (Young Replicant, dir.)

The story here is that Lorde had a dream a few months back about teens in charge of their own world, dealing with, in her own words via Facebook, "tests that didn't need to be passed in order to be allowed in: sometimes the person who loses is stronger." So, no Lord Of The Flies violence here; just the current young ruler of music running things her own way: no bling, no product placement [ed: Sorry, Hyundai], no frills. Yeezus' heiress apparent, she is not.

The Coup x Japanther "Long Island Iced Tea, Neat" (Kelly Gallagher, dir.)

You don't really think that the mighty Boots Riley of The Coup drinks Long Island Iced Tea, do you?

If so, then you also know that he's not gonna waste two minutes of your time with a mere amusement. This stop-motion animated video for The Coup's Japanther collaboration starts off seeming like sparkly fun, but then it hits its stride with references to Occupy Oakland, Oscar Grant, Trayvon Martin and a fury that would definitely resonate with a young Ice Cube.

Fall Out Boy "Where Did The Party Go" (DONALD/ZAEH, dir.)

Welcome to part seven of Fall Out Boy and director DONALD/ZAEH's 11 part series The Young Blood Chronicles. Don't worry if you're not caught up, since the situation doesn't require much backstory to enjoy: We got a hook-handed maniac, a Hospital setting that's only a couple dead bodies removed from The Walking Dead, and enough luridness to appeal to American Horror Story.

So, I guess what I'm saying is that somebody should call Netflix and make this a proper series.