Good Music Videos (Minus Shouty Rappers)

Good morning!

Today I thought I would talk about music videos. A good music video can really make a song stand out, and it's always important to make your song stand out. Nowadays music videos all seem to be the same: sexy girls rolling around in ludicrous places (playgrounds, fields etc) not wearing much and men wearing their trousers around their ankles whilst getting angry at the camera.  I like music videos that are clever, and so, continuing with the theme of lists, I thought I would present you with a list of my favourite music videos. 

So, without further ado, I am cutting the invisible red ribbon on 

'Elbows on the Table's Official List of Good Music Videos (minus shouty rappers getting angry at inanimate objects) ' 

In no particular order: 

1) 'Sophie' by Goodshirt 

Goodshirt are a little kiwi band I discovered a couple of years ago, and much to my dismay they do not seem to be on iTunes, so I'm left listening to their stuff on YouTube. I'm not actually sure if they're together anymore, but that wouldn't stop this video being genius. It's a simple concept- girl sits down to listen to music with large headphones so she can't hear a thing (headphone deafness is something I have experienced often) and a load of blokes dressed in black come in and nick all of her stuff. It's funny, and it really *ahem* takes the cake. 

2) 'Here It Goes Again' by OKGO

It is near impossible to talk about brilliant music videos without mentioning this one. It is possibly the most famous music video, I think everyone has seen it, but it is amazing. It is what we call a 'one take wonder' and half the wonder of it is the thought of how much practice must have gone into creating it. No matter how many times you watch it, it still makes you smile. It has been replicated so many times, but nothing beats the original. The only slip up is a tiny one by the guy in the red pants- see if you can spot it. The Treadmill Dance is right up there with the funky chicken and the YMCA. 

3) 'Just' by Radiohead 

You have to watch this one all the way through to get why it's so fantastic. The surprise at the end makes watching the whole thing through worth every second of it. It has a kind of story, and that's what separates it from most modern music videos. You get completely and utterly besotted and engaged with it as it develops, and by the end you're hanging on every last subtitle like your life depends on it. You can also get a kick out of reading the comments on the video on YouTube. 

4) 'Weapon Of Choice' by Fatboy Slim 

The thing that makes this one is Christopher Walken. His hangdog expression at the start, the build-up, the anticipation, and suddenly he just bursts into this mad dance and it's just spectacular. The fact that he seems to be totally alone in this massive hotel just busting moves that wouldn't look right on anyone else is like a recipe for the perfect music video. And then he starts flying? What is this delicious lunacy!? 

5) 'Fluorescent Adolescent' by the Arctic Monkeys 

I'm not sure if this is good so much as slightly terrifying. On paper, it's clowns beating people up. In reality, it's like being high at a murderous clown convention that has just been just let loose into the high street. It's also a really good song, so thumbs up for that, but otherwise, I'm not sure if I want to join in or run for the hills. 

6) 'This Too Shall Pass' by OKGO

Let's face it, OKGO are just very good at making music videos. They're ambitious with it, and everybody loves a Rube Goldberg machine. It pains me to think about how many times this had to be done, and how frustrated the director got (I imagine much tea and coffee was needed in the creation of this video) but they must have been pleased with the final product. OKGO once again wins the prize for the 'lots of sleepless nights but it was worth it in the end' video. 

7) 'He Said He Loved Me' by Reverend and the Makers 

I've kind of cheated a bit on this one, because I've interpreted 'good' as 'mind meltingly strange'. The first person who manages to explain the presence of the fish deserves a medal, because I have absolutely no idea. At least the rest of it makes some sense, it's just put against a random backdrop with a scary woman and a pram. (Oh, and a pair dancing legs- scratch that, several pairs). 

There you have it! Why do all my lists seem to come in sevens? I like the number seven... Seven is a good number. Feel free to share your favourites in the comments, and I hope you enjoy the rest of your day!