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Thesis

Everyone loves music videos! Too easy.

Let's be honest

A phrase I'm using too much this summer. But anyway, let's be honest: I'm only blogging at the moment because I'm too tired (sic) to go to sleep. Liz Harris, goddess, is keeping me company while I mull over the dark days of the soul and what it means to be alive:

What I'm Actually Thinking About

> Going to a wedding in a week

> Turning 21 on Thursday

> Wearing dresses

> The Game Of Thrones season finale tomorrow night

SPECIAL MUSIC VIDEO EDITION

When you see three stellar music videos in the span of a few days, you gotta blog. Especially if JBiebs is featured heavily in one of said videos.

For your consideration:

VIDEO 1

In which two talented singers and dancers do their part to pretend the heterosexual imaginary. Love the music. Hate Chris Brown. The melody is pretty vanilla, but the video budget is hella ridiculous (why is the world falling apart?) and the production is fresh (see 4:20 for James Blake influence and the best part of the song).

This video is notable for the emergence of Bieber's lower register, sexuality, and post-apocalyptic Derelict steez. In other news, I'm a Belieber.

On a third listen, this song might be my favorite ever. Still hate Chris Brown.

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VIDEO 2

In which Rihanna outdoes Beyonce's "Run The World (Girls)" with a much more complicated and engaging feminist anthem. This is empowering anti-rape music that is never heard in mainstream pop music. Sure, Rihanna dresses as sexy cop at one point in the video, but the song is unambiguously about killing her rapist.

For cool discussion of the song, check this out.

Lyrics are a cut above Katy Perry's "wanna be a victim/ready for abduction." Still hate Chris Brown.

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VIDEO 3

In which the year's best album gets its first music video/short film. That's right - Grouper's A I A has reclaimed its throne (rightfully so) in part thanks to this amazing piece. The atmosphere is chilly and the vibe is righteously dark. Like Lars von Trier and David Lynch wanted to really scare you.

The imagery works really well with the song, gives me the heebie-jeebies. Also check out "Sputnik," a previous collaboration between Grouper and Weston Currie. And even still, I hate Chris Brown.

Grouper - I Saw A Ray from Weston Currie on Vimeo.

Conclusions

Can you get enough? Maybe I'll hit double digits for the month. That's a lot of blogging! Did I mention that good ole Ted came to visit the other night? Or that I went to a camping trip birthday bash? Or that I've worked 36 hours this week? Maybe next time!

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