Odd One Out – Music Video Edition

The idea of music videos has been a concept that aids the artistic vision of music since before the MTV era. Initially, an accompanying video to an artist’s song helped develop meaning behind the song itself and can create an understanding that goes beyond the lyrics or the composition alone.

Somewhere along the way this concept got lost, as choreographed dance numbers and the need for video evidence of “gangster” authenticity became the prevailing subject of modern music videos. But this is not entirely the case. The following video playlist is intended to restore a little faith in the art and provide a few of my own favorite examples that prove the notion of meaningful music videos is still very much alive. Enjoy the weirdness that is Odd One Out, Music Video Edition.

Fleet Foxes – The Shrine and Argument Sean Pecknold directed this stunning and captivating cut-paper stop motion video for Fleet Foxes a while back. Often times you will see the musicians collaborate with other fine artists to create a shared vision of aesthetics for a purposeful end result. This video is the epitome of such collaboration. The earnest song is perfectly married to Pecknold’s style, with his warmly geometric animation. Linking nature and spirituality was the perfect direction to take a Fleet Foxes video and I commend Pecknold in doing so. Eerie, perplexing and visually wonderful ─ “the Shrine and Argument” video is the obvious choice to start off this playlist

.   Flying Lotus – Zodiac Shit Flying Lotus is an amazing musician and producer who creates some of the most unique music on the scene today. It was only natural to pair Zodiac Shit with such a uniquely thought provoking video. It is very interesting to see the interpretation of a song without lyrics, and even more interesting to gaze into the intentions behind this particular songs meaning. I would suggest watching this video a few times to really let it sink in. Not to ruin it for anyone, but if you notice, the Zodiac signs progress forwards until the Devil vomits sparkles. The Zodiac animals then die and decay in reverse order. Deep.

  Rendezvous – The Murf Rendezvous teamed up with the Aniboom artist, Scott Benson, to create this simplistically animated music video. I don’t believe there was as much intention behind the subject as “Zodiac Shit”, since the UK based electro band allow Benson complete artistic freedom; however, it is a fun video nonetheless. I like the videos interpreted exploration of the creation of existence and our ultimate extinction. It really isn't as poignant as this preamble makes it seem. Benson keeps it simple and entertaining.

Phonat - Love Hits the Fan & Battles – Tonto The next two videos don’t exactly aid in any interpretation of the songs’ meanings. They are more or less just examples of how music videos can be aesthetically pleasing without the need to use sex as a weapon or wealth as a nuance. These are arguably the true music videos, as the act as an incredibly glorified iTunes Visualizer.

  Woodkid – Iron:  It would be incredibly difficult to emulate the live-action epic-ness of Woodkid’s video for the song Iron. There is definitely some reading between the lines with this video, in terms of trying to interpret the symbols of the video with the context of the song. Regardless, the song seems to paint the picture of war and is heavily aided by the videos inclusion of battles drums, soldiers, and pre-emptive fighting. The real reason this song was included on today’s Odd One Out is because I couldn’t get over how unbelievably epic the video is as a whole. 3 minutes of Saving Private Ryan meets 300. Just epic.

Is Tropical – The Greeks Is Tropical’s The Greeks video is easily the coolest video on the web right now. Remember playing cowboys and Indians as a kid? This video is like that but on crack. The stunning mix of live-action and gruesome anime make this video one of the best of its kind. I may give rap and Top 40’s videos a hard time, but it is because music videos like this exist that I feel the mainstream videos have completely dropped the ball. Job well done!

  M.I.A. – Born Free Romain Gavras was the Director for M.I.A.’s controversial “Born Free” video, which is much more of a short film than it is anything else. The video truly is a cinematic masterpiece that is neither ambiguous nor direct. There is definitely reference to a police state and the disparity of power that exists between a nation’s people and its government, however the specific meaning of the song and its video were purposefully left open to interpretation. The depiction of a bunch of red-headed youths being rounded up, like a satirical, modern day holocaust ─ paired with some intensely graphic violence ─ was the reason for some arguably just controversy after the video’s release a while back. Because of the high level of artistic quality, and its very NSFW content, it’s easy to forget that you are watching a music video, as you get encapsulated by the cinematic nature of the film.

  Aphex Twin – Windowlicker Oh yeah. No list is complete without Richard D. James’ bizarre visual interpretations of one of his own songs.  I love it. It is so comfortably weird that you can’t help but laugh. Richard D. James has always used videos to further his songs purposes, and Windowlicker  is one of his more “light-hearted” visual interpretations he has made. Again, I don’t mean to hate on any music or any particular music video accompaniment, but Aphex Twin’s Windowlicker video seems to poke fun at the common music video formula that is all too frequently used in mainstream media. On top of that it is just plain weird. Enjoy.