Joseph Kahn

News

Colombia Pol Decries New Shakira Video for Lesbianism, Tabacco Use

Shakira may be the pride of Barranquilla, but that doesn't mean she gets a pass from Colombia's unofficial moral police.

Politician Marco Fidel Ramirez is calling on Colombia's National Television Authority to ban the 37-year-old's "Can't Remember To Forget You" clip from being broadcast on any of the nation's channels, saying:

"Our Shakira with her erotic video is promoting tobacco usage and has become the worst example for our youth. Shakira's new video is a shameless case for lesbianism and immorality. It is a danger to children"

Also, because he knows what children like, he made up a hashtag: #PeligroVideoShakira...

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Britney Spears "Perfume" (Joseph Kahn, dir.)

Director Joseph Kahn constructs a tale of two loves in this unexpected video from Britney Spears. "Perfume" is Britney unguarded — favoring a soaring, yet barbed ballad that's worlds away from her recent electro facades — with a video that does away with the occasional superhero and dominatrix motifs she's used in the past: This is the pop star at her most vulnerable, but still stronger than ever.

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Sisqo "Thong Song" (Joseph Kahn, dir.) [1999]

Maybe because it's summer. Or, because director Joseph Kahn mentioned it on Twitter this week. Or, as my friend suggests, in honor of Sisqo's first new album in 12 years. Maybe it's so we can revisit the hot dog cam.

Here's why: Pop can be shameless. It can be absurd. Even dumb. Consider the song itself — my favorite lyric is, "she's got dumps like a truck" — and think about what kind of video we'd get today for it. Probably something NSFW. Yawn. (Although, it'd be amazing to see Eric Wareheim do something for this song)

NSFW wasn't an option in 1999, so you couldn't take the easy way out. But you also couldn't just ignore the song and make something generic. So, Kahn and crew created something that's impossible not to notice. It's clearly a booty video — proudly a booty video — but that also mocks man's fascination with the backside. It's over the top, but it's also lighthearted, comical and dare I say charming?

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Hi Hey Hello - A Musical Short Film by Director Joseph Kahn

Samsung GALAXY S4 presents Hi Hey Hello, a musical short film

Billed as a musical short film, Hi Hey Hello is at its most base level a showcase for the Samsung Galaxy S4 smartphone, but it's much more than that: It's a clever look at how modern romance comes together these days with the equal doses of technology, fantasy and imagination. It's also a showcase for director Joseph Kahn, who strings it all together with a similar blend of skill and smarts.

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Mariah Carey f/ Miguel "Beautiful" Premiering This Week (Joseph Kahn, dir.)

MARIAH. MIGUEL. #BEAUTIFUL. 5.06.13

Maybe Mariah hasn't been getting her respect on American Idol, but what better platform could there be to set up her comeback? The Diva will look to put the show to work for her this week, with new video "Beautiful" set for a premiere during Wednesday night's episode.

The video is directed by Joseph Kahn; Miguel is the featured guest. And based on the trailer for it, the video will live up to the song title.