May 292011
 

Townspeople,

Can you help me out with a project? I would like to compile Rock Town Hall’s Essential Rock Video Collection, from our community’s perspective the most-visually compelling rock videos ever made. I think you’d agree that Feargal Sharkey‘s full music video for “A Good Heart” is one such example. Our Essential RockVideo Collection, however, is not limited to the ’80s but should span all eras and styles in rock music. The videos may be staged or live; all I ask is that they are essential and visually compelling. And, preferably, instructive.

The videos I seek to compile need not contain a single compelling note of music; in fact, the best way to gauge whether they are fit for this collection will be to view them with the sound off. Please post your nominees for this honor. I am hoping to compile a collection of 50 visually compelling, from a Rock Town Hall perspective, videos. Thank you.

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  98 Responses to “Rock Town Hall’s Essential Rock Video Collection”

  1. I could go all night, but I’ll start things off with three favorites (irrespective of music as per the guidelines).

    Michael Jackson – “Leave Me Alone”.
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=crbFmpezO4A

    Donald Fagen – “New Frontier”
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qBruAooXPNU

    Wax – “Building a Bridge To Your Heart”
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E0g5gKp2BHg

  2. misterioso

    Always loved New Frontier–takes me back to watching Night Flight on USA in the days before MTV came to my town.

  3. I will humbly submit The Who’s clip of “Won’t Get Fooled Again” from The Kids Are Alright. That’s all the Rock School you need right there.

    TB

  4. ladymisskirroyale

    Are we being pretty open about the definition of “rock”? If so, although the song is such a teeny-booper synth tune, Aha’s “Take on Me” was pretty cutting edge in it’s day. Historically, it needs to be in The Collection.

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=djV11Xbc914

  5. Yes, with Daltry strolling through the lasers!

  6. We are being pretty open about the definition of “rock,” but that particular video makes me sick in the stomach:) It’s too bad those terrible animated sketches were not applied to a more ridiculous and inappropriate artist, like The Boss. Now THAT would be a video worthy of the collection. As it is I feel like I’m watching the signs in the window of a hair salon.

  7. I totally forgot about that Fagan video. It’s not bad with the sound turned off.

  8. I submit this — because it showed Chrissie had a sense of humor and features two of my favorite dead rock stars.

    http://youtu.be/-7Hy7uAb_eU

  9. In all fairness, that video is so hard for me to bear that I may have to include it in the collection.

  10. Good stuff, Townspeeps. Keep ’em coming.

    Here’s another from my personal list that merits consideration, if only for its Drop the Cat moment:

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=12wP5W2R0wY

  11. hrrundivbakshi

    There are a bunch of ZZ Top videos that would qualify for inclusion in the Museum, but they all capture the same basic Zeezeitgiest. I choose this one because it has the “spinning fuzzy guitars” moment, which I know blew a lot of minds 25 years ago. I humbly request consideration for its addition to the permanent collection:

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6EXXZVdUJ98

  12. Lasers and THE Knee Drop. I know I wore out a VHS copy of said performance rewinding it over and over again.

    TB

  13. Certainly, and we’ll make sure to bookend it with videos by Prince and ELO!

  14. Once they are collected, we should set up a You Tube Channel and a running order. I am able to capture you tube videos in Real Player and create a DVD from them. Did this for my 40th birthday party and people went nuts (esp since I had things on there that had not been seen by my guests since 1987)

  15. Great idea, j2. sammymaudlin does maintain an RTH YouTube channel:

    http://www.youtube.com/user/RockTownHallTV

    When he’s back up to full speed maybe we can house this collection there!

  16. ladymisskirroyale

    Here’s a visual favorite in the Royale household from the RHCPs:

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mr_uHJPUlO8

    The Director Series on the Directors Label collects some very good directors’ music video, short film and documentary pieces. We have the Michael Gondry edition and it has some greats. My favorites:
    Cibo Matto – Sugar Water (I know I’ve promoted this video endlessly – split screen and reversal of action!):
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EN9auBn6Jys

    Daft Punk – Around the World (kitschy but love those dance moves): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s9MszVE7aR4

    White Stripes – Fell In Love With A Girl (legomania!): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q27BfBkRHbs

    Chemical Brothers – Let Forever Be (Busby Berklee finery): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s5FyfQDO5g0

    And for something international (and “close captioned”): Jean Francois Cohen’s “La Tour de Pise”: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s5FyfQDO5g0

  17. misterioso

    This is difficult, insofar as the line between great and/or memorable and ridiculous is a fine one with videos, for me. For instance, Billy Idol’s Dancing with Myself. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FG1NrQYXjLU or White Wedding http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AAZQaYKZMTI&feature=relmfu

    Classic and iconic videos, to be sure. Stupid? Yes.

    A number of the Beatles “videos” or movie excerpts are essential, in my book. Like Ticket to Ride from Help http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FY_6b4-N9Uo or as “performance” videos go, Revolution http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q5__5XoKUhE or She Loves You http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QoF-7VMMihA&feature=related

    More to follow.

  18. This one was unforgettable – Soundgarden and “Black Hole Sun”.
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3mbBbFH9fAg

  19. Yep, I agree – of the ZZ Top videos, “Legs” is the most prototypically Z-zey.

  20. hrrundivbakshi

    Faith No More and their floundering goldfish in “Epic”:

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ERTT_sv8sV0

  21. You accidentally pasted the Chemical Brothers’ link twice, but I’m NOT complaining. That was cool! (“Give It Away” and that White Stripes video are also classics! Still need to check out the other two.)

    By the way, RTH comments are limited to 3 links before they are held for my approval – it’s a spam-limiting protocol. That’s why your and misterioso’s comments took an hour to appear. Three or less links will get through without the need for my approval. Thanks!

  22. Good ones – and yes, that fine line is helpful to toe in determining some of our essentials.

  23. The angle at which Cornell holds his guitar always fascinates me in this video. Could be a keeper!

  24. tonyola

    For sheer Beatles campiness, it’s hard to beat “Your Mother Should Know”. I bet this was Paul’s idea, though John seems to be getting into the spirit. George and Ringo look bored.
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YlpiEPrHnBw

  25. misterioso

    For reasons I cannot really articulate, the video for Tears for Fears’ Everybody Wants to Rule the World embodies a great deal of “high style” videomaking of the era. Tastefully shot “performance” footage interspersed with seemingly unrelated “story” footage and even more random other footage (glider, black men in tuxedos dancing at the gas pump, etc.). The guitar guy gets a little too into it though–dude, your not rocking that hard.

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ST86JM1RPl0

  26. tonyola

    They Might Be Giants and “Birdhouse In Your Soul”. Not only eminently watchable but the song is pretty great, too.
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NhjSzjoU7OQ&feature=iv&annotation_id=annotation_535260

  27. mockcarr

    This video always made me think of Chiffon Margarine – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OUJ8dcLxFVg&NR=1

  28. mockcarr

    This one has a half the Beatles and half of the RTH trilogy, without the Lewis Carroll imagery – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6zWRdqmSbVc

  29. misterioso

    I’ve mentioned it before–it might have been the first thing I wrote about on Rock Town Hall–but as a catalogue of hair metal visual cliches it is hard to top Vinnie Vincent’s “Boyz Are Gonna Rock.” http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p4orXwHdK2Q

    Plus you get the guy bursting into flames at 4:06, sort of the visual equivalent of turning the amp up to eleven.

    And it is so much more entertaining with no sound.

  30. I was just looking for this video, which I do remember you posting, about an hour ago, when I posted the link in our All-Star Jam about his recent arrest for allegedly beating his wife and keeping dead dogs, or some creepy stuff like that.

  31. Never saw that one. Excellent!

  32. Man, I must have blanked that one out. Based on the amazing poodle ponytail alone, that makes the cut without the customery waiting period, like when Roberto Clemente and Sandy Koufax were fast-tracked to the Baseball Hall of Fame.

  33. The Small Faces, “Tin Soldier”:

    http://youtu.be/wcKZoFRpZCI

    Because Steve’s got the moves and P.P. Arnold is a joy to behold.

    Take it or leave it, kids.

  34. misterioso

    Sorry: “you’re not rocking that hard,” not “your.”

  35. mockcarr

    Apparently it’s Comcast’s world and we just live in it.

  36. misterioso

    Wow. I hadn’t seen your posting of that news item. That’s ugly stuff.

  37. tonyola

    Yeah, it’s Billy Joel and the song really sucks even for him. But the video is impressive even with the sound off.
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eFTLKWw542g&feature=relmfu

  38. mockcarr

    For my money (ha!) this is where it starts – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q8zx68HENIA

  39. misterioso

    Again, from what I guess must have been my peak MTV viewing years, Heart’s “What About Love” and “Never,” which I recall as their big “comeback” hits but maybe I am wrong. The hair, the set, the editing, the effects, Nancy Wilson’s leg kicks, and did I mention the hair? all capture a certain something of the era.

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KE5GGMhmo-M&feature=related
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zWzy5q_M5Ho

  40. Oh, and here’s my man Lou doing “Women”:

    http://youtu.be/77loNxyHM

    His hand and arm gestures and “acting” are thoroughly convincing. Probably better with the music down.

  41. hrrundivbakshi

    How could I have forgotten the ultimate collection of 80s pop-metal faux-performance cliches, Diamond Dave’s “Yankee Rose”!

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PP12su7JooM

  42. misterioso

    I was going to joke that I hope this is the one where Steve Vai does that thing where he makes the guitar talk…and it is! You made my day! Oh, the humanity…

  43. misterioso

    A cliche by this point in its own way, I guess, but still great. Once in a Lifetime.

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I1wg1DNHbNU

    And Pete Shelley’s great Homo Sapien. Note the cutting-edge computer in background.

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2HwmO_GZfzI

  44. misterioso

    Great with the sound on or off:

    Blondie, Heart of Glass http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WGU_4-5RaxU

    ABBA, Dancing Queen http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xFrGuyw1V8s See Frida’s hairflips at 3:19-.

  45. I think Nirvana’s Smells Like Teen Spirit is an undeniable keeper, on the tattoed cheerleaders alone.

  46. tonyola

    One for impressionistic weirdness : Visage – “Mind of a Toy”.
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yUKzxqDbNjQ

    You need a Weird Al video. “I Lost on Jeopardy” will do fine.
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BvUZijEuNDQ

  47. Spacehog’s “Mungo City”:

    http://youtu.be/E8Rwvwu3RrE

    Urge Overkill’s “Positive Bleeding”:

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ww-f4glTOdw

    Ween’s “Even If You Don’t”:

    http://youtu.be/yarfOFdopQ0

  48. trigmogigmo

    You gotta give Björk credit for consistently delivering stunning videos. One of these must be deserving.

    “Army of Me” … full of dream/nightmare imagery, creepy and amusing, lots of little things to make you smile, especially if you’ve visited the dentist recently.
    http://youtu.be/3biZkA-TNvs

    “All Is Full of Love” … whoa.
    http://youtu.be/d2tBhaVEWGM?hd=1

    Then there’s “Human Behavior” which is just amusing and charming. Best combination of bear suits, timpani, and a Vulcan perspective in a video.
    http://youtu.be/KDbPYoaAiyc

  49. “Human Behavior” is in my personal Top 5!

  50. I forgot about that Ween video. That’s a funny one.

  51. Maybe the most memorable guitar god moment ever: Jimi at Monterey http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Irc7ZntLEZw

    I never thought so highly of “Sledgehammer” or “Big Time” but “Shock the Monkey” did the trick in the early days of music video
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bo9riZYUpTw

    And this was great both as kid’s programming and 70’s RnB, the Jackson 5 “I Want You Back” http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r9abxrtFqOg&feature=related

    (I apologize if someone posted these previously in blind youtube links, I couldn’t click through to all of them)

  52. Great ones, k., and introducing our links is a good policy for this thread.

  53. ladymisskirroyale

    Oops, my mistake. Sorry about the extra videos – over zealous, I guess.

    Here is the actual Gondry/Coen video. I think it’s a lovely song:

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q9huwopKxxw

  54. ladymisskirroyale

    I was going to post the “Ticket to Ride” clip; some call it the first music video.

  55. ladymisskirroyale

    Another Michel Gondry video 🙂

  56. These guys deserve an entire wing DEVOted to their videos, so it’s difficult to narrow it down, but here are 5 especially memorable ones:

    Jocko Homo: http://youtu.be/DCpxSzacbyc

    (I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction: http://youtu.be/jadvt7CbH1o

    Whip It: http://youtu.be/Xbt30UnzRWw

    Love Without Anger: http://youtu.be/MVvFy_I8tmY

    Beautiful World: http://youtu.be/56u6g0POvo0

  57. ladymisskirroyale

    A couple more ’90’s videos:
    Portishead’s “Only You” – filmed underwater: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xtVA_N0ffmU

    Blur has several good videos. Take your pick but here’s the Kubrickesque “The Universal” (I believe I did a post about this last year): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DAJ9JX8tSLY&feature=related

  58. hrrundivbakshi

    The moments at 3:50 — when the rival “gang leaders” suddenly stop trying to stab one another and join MJ in the Beauty of the Dance — and *especially* the moment at 4:18, when nerdy gang member does the spastic head shake — make MJ’s “Beat It” a strong contender.

    For my money, it’s important that each of the videos in the Essential RTH Collection have a single defining moment of noteworthiness. “Beat It” has many of them.

  59. hrrundivbakshi

    Whoops — here’s the link:

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oRdxUFDoQe0

  60. trigmogigmo

    Love that RHCP video! For a little while I filled in with a friend’s cover band and I had to sing that one, very fun to play.

    I didn’t really know Gondry’s name before this thread. Good to learn!

  61. I’m with ya. When Distinctive Vid talk comes up, that always pops in my head

  62. I’m not digging too deeply and I’ve had a couple-a ten or fifteen Diet Budweisers, so I don’t think I need to provide links. Y’all know the words, it’ll be easy. Especially because most of these are about as old as Derrick Rose.

    I’ve already jumped on the “Smells Like Teen Spirit” wagon.

    “Buddy Holly” – Weezer
    “Radio Song” – R.E.M.
    “Welcome to the Jungle” – GnR
    “Closer” – NIN

    aloha
    LD

  63. ladymisskirroyale

    I’ve posted this song and written about Broadcast before, but I love this video and it’s single continuous shot:

    Tender Buttons: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CSYl_neDLIQ

  64. ladymisskirroyale

    We could also sum up all the kitschy-kitschy ya ya pop videos of the ’80s with this pastiche:

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xVkU8dDSC9w

  65. Final one from me, and this better make the cut. The druggy, wacked-out video for Hall & Oates’ “She’s Gone”:

    http://youtu.be/vZZngTkp54I

  66. ladymisskirroyale

    Astounding! That made our weekend.

  67. I don’t think I’ve ever seen that one. Thought provoking!

  68. BigSteve

    Man are they stoned or what?

  69. hrrundivbakshi

    WE HAVE A WINNER!

  70. That’s easily the funniest thing I’ve seen in the last six months. Well done, Konajinx!

    Sincerely,
    E. Pluribus

  71. ladymisskirroyale

    Two cleverly animated videos for sample-heavy songs:

    “Bathtime in Clerkenwell” by The Real Tuesday Weld
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z0PGK7a2IFo

    “The Shouty Track” from Lemon Jelly. This samples a track by Scars that has been mentioned in a previous RTH post.
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HUj4h1e9Jlg&feature=related

  72. AGREED! Bravo!

  73. I find this highly entertaining with the sound off:

    Leo Sayer – “How Much Love”: http://youtu.be/ruaPD6eaNLk

  74. The are the videos that officially made Nancy the hottest sister.

  75. misterioso

    Wow. They made some, uh, odd decisions, style-wise, at times, did they not?

  76. misterioso

    Hell yes.

  77. That’s great. I keep expecting the multiple Sayers to turn into Rick Moranis.

  78. diskojoe

    Here’s the Kinks doing “Dead End Street:

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i0WPC-N3UYE

    Here’s Oasis w/the ripoff, erm, homage:

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sv0_bFpeLI8

  79. cherguevara

    For 80’s “New Romantic” imagery, I think it’s hard to top Ultravox’s “Vienna” (Though you may have to include a Duran Duran video):
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m9WdUgn0XkU

    Like ’em or not, you probably have to include an OK Go video.

  80. I like this one for The New Pornographers cover of Toronto’s “Your Daddy Don’t Know”: http://youtu.be/8MfESZHY9Z4

  81. I’ll offer up these for inclusion
    The Fuzztones Ward 81
    http://youtu.be/htjrlGMnsJY
    Bardot Contact
    http://youtu.be/FX-RS5OrlGQ

  82. ladymisskirroyale

    Thank you for including this, cher. I thought about it but was too much of a wuss.

  83. The Nightfly’s AWESOME!

  84. The new Battles video is terrific- the song is nutty…
    Ariel Pink’s one for Politely Declined is SO funny and the song makes my tascam 424 jealous (shaky edits and all…)
    http://www.gorillavsbear.net/2011/05/09/video-battles-ice-cream/. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oc_CMLGkBuE&feature=youtube_gdata_player

  85. Visually compelling kitchen sinkathon:

    Herbie Hancock – “Rockit”

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XpvW356BPpU&feature=fvsr

  86. Here’s The Power and Glory of Rock in 3:14:

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mtnCcWOS7y8

  87. The “Rockit” link worked at first and then got blocked. Here’s another that worked and might get blocked.

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JBOBpLJeOb4

  88. That’s a good one I’d never seen before!

  89. ladymisskirroyale

    The Battles video reminded me of this classic from INXS:
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Us3LemNhFOA

  90. ladymisskirroyale

    Take your pick of version one or version two

    Bob Dylan: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d_ujAXxNxU0

    INXS: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VFUEgFdP5zE

  91. ladymisskirroyale

    All those costume changes made me think of “Love Is A Stranger” from the Eurhythmics:
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o6f593X6rv8

  92. Here’s THE MAJESTY OF ROCK! – http://youtu.be/RsOxgwF9LlM

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