Jack White has still got the blues, this time in a haunted art-deco bar where love flickers and fades, but mostly conjures a madness similar to The Shining.
Everybody knows dumping a body in the LA River is a bad idea. It's paved. And shallow. But, using it as a place to set fire to bad memories, bad habits and bad vibes is very smart, indeed. Director Mark Pellington runs through memories and fears as only he can, mixing up film styles and references in a tricky way that's as easy to follow as a sharpened knife edge. If it feels a bit personal, well, maybe knowing that the star of the video is French actress Juliette Buchs — married to Cage The Elephant singer Matt Schultz — adds even more clues and resonance.
Obviously an Excessive Machine would be a bit much — the line is drawn at boob rockets — but Ariana Grande gets surprising campy and unsurpisingly sexy in a sci-fi romp that occupies a galaxy somwhere between Barbarella and Flash Gordon.
The presence of Christina Aguilera on this gorgously stripped-down pop ballad threatens to drown out brainy NYC duo A Great Big World, much in the same way that not many people noticed Mikky Ekko on his similarly fantastic Rihanna collaboration.
That said, Christina has already invited them to perform with her on The Voice, while also providing the name recognition that will open many mainstream radio and pop radio doors. And, unsuprisingly, she hits all the notes perfectly.
Canadian art-poppers Islands’ video for “Wave Forms,” the first single from their new album Ski Mask, stars Cory Zacharia, roller-skating across a desert flatland and hanging out with dogs in his trash-strewn backyard.
Enrique is on the ledge with a broken heart, an injured hand and memories of the girl who still might save him in this mini-movie (shot on film, no less)...
Despite the fairy tale setting and magical mirror, memories aren't powerful enough to stop the sands of time for Canadian power couple Avril Lavigne and husband Chad Kroeger.
If you're going to trudge into the jungle and challenge some of the most iconic film motifs ever, there's probably not a better choice than the Motion Theory creative team, which has previously tackled the high seas, candyland and way more over the course of many music videos.
Directors Grady Hall and Mark Kudsi — two independent directors at Motion Theory who collaborated on this project — took Katy Perry's "Roar" as a call to empowerment, leading the pop star on a journey from damsel in distress to queen of the jungle.
We recently chatted with the directors about everything from how.PETA recently hijacked a press cycle by questioning the treatment of the many animals in the video, and the general usage of animals in film production — claims which were rebutted by Katy in a statement and further countered in our interview — plus film inspirations, art directing nature and the truth about Junglescope.
The easy description is "Katy Perry as Queen of the Jungle," but that doesn't really capture how massive this production is. Elephants, monkeys, tigers, oh my. A lush tropical practical set — complete with waterfall — and just enough vfx magic to make things sparkle. And then there's Katy, who's got solid comedic timing and looks to remind you of Bettie Page in her jungle finest.
Plus, it was filmed in Junglescope, which I wouldn't be surprised to learn is an actual registered trademark and product from the geniuses at Motion Theory.
Any Pearl Jam video is an event for the simple reason they made one of the greatest videos of their generation — Mark Pellington's masterful and never to be imitated "Jeremy" — and then basically walked away from the medium.
