Irrational Exuberance

You are writing a comment about Some Biased Analysis of Music Videos, here is a quick summary:

Although not very many people have been exposed to this minor hobby of mine, every once in a while I spend a week or two watching a lot of music videos. From these studies I have learned a thing or two about what makes music videos click.

You are responding to this comment written by Tim on February 5th 2008, 00:55.

So I origanally saw this post earlier today but noticed it was long and about music videos so I passed and read some NBA. Now that I have a massive stack of reading and wirting in front of me, I thought I would return.

First Impression...

SHOCKED that you included whichever Amerie song (the first one). Simply shocked. I remember your Ipod and I also remeber discussing Amerie with you. I felt much better when I scrolled down to the next vid. Seriously shocked though.

Second...

I think I dissagree with you on most of you points concerning great videos (outside of if you like one thing about it than that is usually enough). I can handle the dancing. I do like Amerie's video where she dances but only for purely sexual reasons. One dancer is better than more in my opinion. Nothing kills me more than a group of dancers dancing on a soundstage. No matter what props or lighting are used, once you get to 5-6 dancers, it is pretty much an open stage. I just think "whats the point?" Slap a song on top of a cartoon or a collage of comercials or anything. Why 6 dancers who just want to dance?

Now, this must be said and I am sure it play a role. I am not much of a dancer. I can still apreciate it when it is done really well, (not simply choreographed in my mind, thinking along the lines of 2 people dancing together or three, whatever), I feel that there needs to be a reason or some semblance of one for dancing to be included in a music video. Now that sounds completely retarded and petulant, I know. I just don't think that a soundstage and music automatically come together to form a compelling visual and audio (which supports the visual when done well, either explicitly or explictly not). Even ironic (god forbid) or mysterious is good. I want the two engaged somehow, in the Foucaultlian (help pls) sense or some shit. If music is to express a feeling (which I sure hope it is) then why does one of the most powerful modes of conveyence (visual) have to say, Hey! listen, you hear that? that is music. makes you feel something doesn't it? you know what it makes you feel? it makes you feel like you want to dance! Personally, I disagree. Can't music convey sadness, hope, excitement, fear, jelousy or any other adjective that I am scared to use since mr. programming can't program a damn spell-check. Why must the feeling being envoked, be best conveyed through dance? Can't a story, stills, nature shots, people, colors do the same or perhaps even better than 5-6 kids dancing around a soundstage or large open space? But then again, I am not much of a dancer. Well got to get reading and writing since your video critique post necessitated a 300 some word response. Damn you. Got to go. Well, M=maybe after one more peak at Amerie's dancing video though...

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