video

Video Killed the Radio Star?

Posted by machinery

Aug 012011

A Billy Squier song came on the radio last night and while it wasn’t great, it was a darn good serviceable rock song that Boston might have done. Of course it got me thinking about this video. I know his audience was female, but at the time, my wife and her friends thought this was the most ridiculous video ever — and any thought of Squier as a credible rocker was forever lost. Still cracks me up. You can do a million things right to build a career…and then one thing wrong. Not sure he ever recovered after this.

SHOWDOWN (Choose One): Who Made Better Use of Easy Rider for Their Video?

Posted by Mr. Moderator

Jul 182011

I like both The Fiery Furnaces and The Dead Milkmen, and I recently learned that the former made a video based around the most-influential movie of my childhood (and, possibly, entire life), Easy Rider. Each video follows for your review. Leaving the music out of it if you must—because if you’re like me you might find that the song in one of these two videos is not anywhere near a favorite in the band’s catalog—which band made better use of its source material? Choose one…after the jump!

This Is Your Rock Town Hall

Posted by Mr. Moderator

Jun 022011

Motivated, in part, by our ongoing effort to identify Rock Town Hall’s Essential Videos and to possibly compile some ambience to project during this weekend’s Sausages for Sammy extravaganza, I had my 14-year-old son show me what to do to download and edit videos for my own purposes. It’s not of the quality that many of you would deliver, but here’s my first attempt at putting some essential images to Hrrundivbakshi‘s “Rock Town Hall Theme.” What I’m really trying to say is…

Rock Town Hall’s Essential Rock Video Collection

Posted by Mr. Moderator

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.

Drop-the-Cat Video Moments

Posted by Mr. Moderator

Dec 092009

Sorry, kitty…

We’ve all got our “Wait, wait…check it out!” musical moments, those special, super-cool points in a song that you want, no, you need your friend to hear. In all the years we’ve had rock videos in our lives, are there equivalent moments, which I will call drop-the-cat moments, as the sweaty, muscular factory worker in Madonna‘s “Express Yourself” video does when surprised to see the back of our tastefully naked, freshly milk-bathed Madge?

Despite my silly (yet sincere) example, a moment that follows in the video shortly after that cat lands on all fours, these drop-the-cat video moments need not be salacious. Whatever video moment puts you in that factory worker’s state of surprise and wonder will do. Links to your video with the time at which the drop-the-cat moment occurs for you are more than welcome!

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