Battle of the Music Videos

[Spinal]

Kashmir 6
Tom Petty 3
Xzibit 3

Kashmir - "Surfing the Warm Industry"

[Spinal]

Instructions:

Please take the time to watch all three videos and then cast your vote by making a post in this thread. Thread will be open a minimum of 24 hours and then may close any time after that at my discretion.

Although it will naturally be difficult to vote for music you find disagreeable or against personal favorites, please remember that the primary question should be "Is this the most effective and/or artistic video?" not "Is this the best song?" Basically, just keep an open mind and allow yourself the opportunity to be pleasantly surprised.

Rock Me Amadeus (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eXs93KbBCgY)

Artist: Falco

Johann (Hans) Hölzel , better known by his stage name Falco, was an Austrian, pop and rock musician. With "Rock Me Amadeus" he is the first and so far only artist to score a #1 Hit in the U.S. with a German language song. His albums and singles have sold about 30 million copies worldwide. "Rock Me Amadeus", inspired in part by the Oscar-winning film Amadeus, reached #1 in the U.S. and UK. The song remained in the top spot of the Billboard Hot 100 for three weeks and his album, Falco 3, peaked at the number three position on the Billboard album charts. The single climbed to the upper reaches of the Billboard Top R&B Singles Chart (then called the "Black Singles" chart), peaking at number 6, becoming the first major rap hit by a white artist since Blondie's chart-topping "Rapture" six years earlier. Ultimately, "Rock Me Amadeus" went to the #1 spot in over a dozen countries including the Soviet Union and Japan. Falco died of severe injuries received from a collision with a bus in his Mitsubishi Pajero near the city of Puerto Plata, in the Dominican Republic on 6 February 1998, just two weeks before his 41st birthday.

VS.

Third Reich 'n' Roll (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ve0XrTiFiwo&NR=1&feature=fvwp)

Artist: The Residents

The Residents is an American avant-garde music and visual arts group who have been active since 1969. Their first official release under the name of The Residents was in 1972, and since then the band have gone on to release over sixty albums, numerous music videos and short films, three CD-ROM projects, ten DVDs, and have undertaken seven major world tours. Throughout the group's existence, the individual members have ostensibly attempted to conceal their identities from the public, and much public speculation and rumor has focused on this aspect of the group. In public, the group appears silent and costumed, often wearing eyeball helmets, top hats and tuxedos - a long-lasting costume now recognized as their signature iconography. Their albums are often complex conceptual pieces, composed around a theme, theory or plot, and are noted for surrealistic lyrics and disregard for standard Western pop music composition. The group received a Grammy nomination for their 1979 album Eskimo.

VS.

Kiss (http://rutube.ru/tracks/1007781.html)

Artist: Art of Noise with Tom Jones

Art of Noise were an avant-garde synthpop group formed in 1983 by producer Trevor Horn, music journalist Paul Morley, and session musicians/studio hands Anne Dudley, J.J. Jeczalik, and Gary Langan. The group's mostly instrumental compositions were novel melodic sound collages based on digital sampler technology, which was new at the time. Inspired by turn-of-the-century revolutions in music, the Art of Noise were initially packaged as a faceless anti- or non-group, blurring the distinction between the art and its creators. The band is noted for innovative use of electronics and computers in pop music and particularly for innovative use of sampling.

Sir Tom Jones OBE (born Thomas Jones Woodward) is a Welsh singer. Jones rose to fame in the 1960s as a singer with an exuberant live act that included wearing tight pants and billowing shirts, in an Edwardian style popular among his peers at the time. Jones recorded his first single, "Chills And Fever" in late 1964. The single didn't chart, but the follow-up, "It's Not Unusual," which Mills wrote and composed jointly with Les Reed, was an instant hit, released in early 1965. By March the song reached number one in the UK and the top ten in America. Jones was awarded the Grammy Award for Best New Artist for 1965. In 2009, Jones continued to tour and record. A major portion of the year he regularly performs his show at the MGM Grand hotel, located on the Las Vegas Strip.

[Melville]

Falco.

[Spinal]

This battle is glorious. :lol:

Falco - This is one of my favorite performances in a video ever. That first entrance by Falco as he exits the car is the epitomy of cool. I love the little moments of humor sprinkled throughout.

The Residents - Cracked me up when they started singing Land of a Thousand Dances. Definitely off the wall and captivating. Glad to be introduced to these guys. Not sure I understand the use of Nazi imagery unless this is merely intended as a piece of Dadaist provocation.

Art of Noise - The rising and falling screw in the background is my favorite part of this video. Very subtle metaphor. Tom Jones is thoroughly entertaining and the editing highlights his camp value.

Falco

[Adam]

Rock Me Amadeus

[ledfloyd]

that replacements video frightened me. the falco video is far better than the song deserves.

[Stay Puft]

Missy Elliott.

Generally find myself agreeing with Spinal again. Fun video, love the attitude. U2 is at the other end of the spectrum, obnoxious and full of itself. Blur thing wasn't interesting at all.

[Sven]

The UGK one is great up until the end of Andre. Then it devolves into competently executed video cliches and subpar (and I mean really subpar) lyrics and flat flow. Still, it gets my vote.

Bob Dylan, I like it, but I'm not really looking to see a roster of familiars.

Is that puppet video the same band that had that room-doing-360-in-fast-motion-life video? If so, did the same person nominate both videos? If so, can we reinstate the negative rep function?

[Sven]

I really dig the U2 video for some reason. It all feels very orchestrated, though Wikipedia tells me the police stuff is real. It very successfully captures the spirit of the moment.

But the Missy Elliot video is the best one, I think. I was loving it up until the point I realized that this is precisely the kind of video that Eric Wareheim is parodying in that one video from earlier with the craziness. Then I just started to feel awkward. Still, it's a gut punch and I like her style.

With Blur, I think direct movie homages for video themes is very tacky when done like this. Love the song lots, though.

[Sven]

I feel bad on missing out on some of these rounds, but like everyone else, I've been pretty occupied lately.

Still, fun stuff. And neat video, Russ. I am going to try to watch it again after letting it sit a bit.

[Acapelli]

But the Missy Elliot video is the best one, I think. I was loving it up until the point I realized that this is precisely the kind of video that Eric Wareheim is parodying in that one video from earlier with the craziness. Then I just started to feel awkward. Still, it's a gut punch and I like her style.
i don't believe that the video for pon de floor is parodying rap videos. while the dancing in the video seems to be an extreme version of the dancing in modern rap videos, it is actually a jamaican style called "daggering" which is done to dancehall music, the genre of which major lazer is a part of

i'd say his video for keep it goin louder is the more likely of the two he's done for major lazer to be a parody, but i think his videos are really their own beasts altogether.

check out his video for flying lotus's parisian goldfish: http://www.dancefloordale.com/ (NSFW)

[Sven]

I'm a-go w/Smashing Punkins on this'n. I love the visual theme of the rooftops. And it is probably the song of theirs I like the most, though I don't much like them in general, so...

Aerosmith is cool for what Spinal said, although I don't really like the literal narrative thing. Did they film that on the set of Alien3?

Dethklok is, being my own nomination, amazing.

[Spinal]

Did they film that on the set of Alien3?



:lol:

[Ivan Drago]

Missy Elliott

[Ivan Drago]

Dethklok

[Thirdmango]

Yeah, I'm currently trying to at least get one-two battles in per day. Once it's thursday I'll be able to do them all, but I like how quickly they go too.

[Spinal]

It will get easier. Once we get down to 128, there will be 8 videos per day to vote on instead of 12. And, of course, they will more likely be ones that you have seen previously.

[Russ]

The Residents

[dreamdead]

Dylan.

[dreamdead]

Missy Elliot

[dreamdead]

I understand the air of indulgence held against Corgan, but the Smashing Pumpkins video easily feels like the best to me.

[dreamdead]

The Residents video is freakin frightening, but I'll go with the kitsch here and say Falco.

[Russ]

Missy Elliot

[thefourthwall]

U2. I don't see the sanctimonious tone.

[MadMan]

U2's video features a great song, but the video is rather boring. Blur's was good yes, but it left me feeling a bit cold. Missy Elliott gets my vote-as others have stated, it is highly creative and just flat out crazy, but also quite good. Her videos usually are unique, and that's a good thing.

[MadMan]

Rock Me Amadeus gets my vote. "AMADEUS AMADEUS!" :lol:

[MadMan]

Even though I like the Smashing Pumpkins, that video (and the song) isn't one of their best. I've never liked Jamie's Got a Gun, but I had no idea that video was directed by Fincher-good video for a rather crappy song. So in the end, I'm voting Dethlok, which is just flat out awesome.

[MadMan]

In the end, I go with the cliche choice: Subterranean Homesick Blues.

[MadMan]

Partly out of laziness, partly because I fell behind really early, I have not been voting that much. But I'll step it up if those in charge so desire it, even though that requires, um, effort :P

[Stay Puft]

The Smashing Pumpkins.

The Pumpkins is one of those bands I assumed I would hate now, but actually find myself still enjoying a bit. I like Disarm, but that being said, I always thought the video was poorly executed. It's just a cheap effect. And that being said, I did find it more effective than the others. Aerosmith nearly put me to sleep, and the amusement of Dethklok was limited (tho I've never seen Metalocalypse).

[Stay Puft]

The Residents.

Compelling stuff. Also, "Third Reich 'n' Roll" is the greatest song title ever. Falco video awesome, too, and would be happy to see it move on. Art of Noise didn't do much for me.

[Spinal]

I'd like to see at least a couple more votes before we move on here.

[Spaceman Spiff]

hahahaha the Flaco video was awesome.

[Spinal]

Dylan 7
UGK 3
Saves the Day 0

Bob Dylan - "Subterranean Homesick Blues"

[Kurosawa Fan]

Missy Elliot. Very fun, energetic video.

[Spinal]

Instructions:

Please take the time to watch all three videos and then cast your vote by making a post in this thread. Thread will be open a minimum of 24 hours and then may close any time after that at my discretion.

Although it will naturally be difficult to vote for music you find disagreeable or against personal favorites, please remember that the primary question should be "Is this the most effective and/or artistic video?" not "Is this the best song?" Basically, just keep an open mind and allow yourself the opportunity to be pleasantly surprised.

Nothing Compares 2 U (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iUiTQvT0W_0)

Artist: Sinéad O'Connor

Sinéad O'Connor is an Irish singer-songwriter. She rose to fame in the late 1980s and since then has regularly courted controversy with her views on religion. She was also noted for her appearance: her shaved head, often angry expression, and sometimes shapeless or unusual clothing. Her debut album, The Lion and the Cobra earned a Best Female Rock Vocal Performance Grammy nomination. The album I Do Not Want What I Haven't Got contained her international breakthrough hit "Nothing Compares 2 U", a song written by Prince. She received Grammy nominations including Record of the Year and Best Female Pop Vocal Performance. She eventually won for Best Alternative Music Performance, but boycotted the award show. O'Connor's career took a political shift in 1992, when she appeared on Saturday Night Live. She was singing Bob Marley's "War," which she intended as a protest over sexual abuse in the Roman Catholic Church, by changing the lyric "racism" to "child abuse." She then presented a photo of Pope John Paul II while singing the word "evil," after which she tore the photo into pieces, said "Fight the real enemy," and threw the pieces towards the camera. On a 2007 broadcast of The Oprah Winfrey Show, O'Connor disclosed that she had been diagnosed with bipolar disorder four years earlier, and had attempted suicide on her 33rd birthday.

VS.

This Train Don't Stop There Anymore (http://www.videocure.com/video/132992.html)

Artist: Elton John

Sir Elton Hercules John, CBE (born Reginald Kenneth Dwight) is an English singer-songwriter, composer and pianist. In his four-decade career, John has sold more than 200 million records, making him one of the most successful artists of all time. His single "Candle in the Wind 1997" has sold over 37 million copies, becoming the best selling single of all time. He has more than 50 Top 40 hits, including seven consecutive No. 1 U.S. albums, 56 Top 40 singles, 16 Top 10, four No. 2 hits, and nine No. 1 hits. He has won five Grammy awards, an Academy Award, a Golden Globe Award and a Tony Award. Some of the characteristics of John's musical talent and work include an ability to quickly craft melodies for the lyrics of songwriting partner Bernie Taupin, his classical and gospel-influenced piano, and the on-stage showmanship, especially evident during the 1970s. John was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1994. In 2008, Billboard magazine ranked him as the most successful male solo artist on "The Billboard Hot 100 Top All-Time Artists". (#3 overall, behind only The Beatles and Madonna)

VS.

Sixteen Military Wives (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Mbhd4LGR-g)

Artist: The Decemberists

The Decemberists are a rock band from Portland, Oregon, fronted by singer/songwriter Colin Meloy. The other members of the band are Chris Funk (guitar, multi-instrumentalist), Jenny Conlee (hammond organ, accordion, melodica, piano, keyboards), Nate Query (bass guitar, string bass), and John Moen (drums, backing vocals, melodica). The band's songs range from upbeat pop to instrumentally lush ballads. In its lyrics, the band eschews the angst and introspection common to modern rock, instead favoring a storytelling approach. The band's songs convey tales ranging from whimsical ("The Sporting Life") to epic ("The Tain") to dark ("Odalisque"), and often invoke historical events and themes from around the world. In 2006, the band encouraged fans to create a music video for the single "O Valencia!" using footage of the band in front of a green screen. On his Comedy Central program, Stephen Colbert started a mock feud with the band, claiming his "green screen challenge" came first; the band countered that its 2005 on-stage lightsaber fight in San Francisco preceded Colbert's idea. The feud culminated in a guitar solo competition on Colbert's show, with lead guitarist Funk representing the band. After Colbert feigned a hand injury, Peter Frampton took over for Colbert and won an audience vote.

[Kurosawa Fan]

Blech. I'm going with Smashing Pumpkins, which was the most tolerable of the group.

[Spinal]

Missy Elliott 9
Blur 2
U2 1

Missy Elliott - "Lose Control"

[Melville]

Sinéad O'Connor. She was seriously gorgeous back in her day.

[dreamdead]

Sinéad O'Connor. Classy and classic.

[Spinal]

Instructions:

Please take the time to watch all three videos and then cast your vote by making a post in this thread. Thread will be open a minimum of 24 hours and then may close any time after that at my discretion.

Although it will naturally be difficult to vote for music you find disagreeable or against personal favorites, please remember that the primary question should be "Is this the most effective and/or artistic video?" not "Is this the best song?" Basically, just keep an open mind and allow yourself the opportunity to be pleasantly surprised.

The Hit Song (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gc2mbfilFFs)

Artist: DJ Format

Matt Ford, better known as DJ Format (a near-inversion of his birth name), is a hip hop DJ born in Southampton, United Kingdom and living in Brighton. He collaborates frequently with Abdominal on the album Music For the Mature B-Boy and with Abdominal and fellow Canadian rapper D-Sisive on the second full album If You Can't Join 'Em… Beat 'Em, as well as with Akil and Chali 2na from Jurassic 5. As a youth, Ford's first hip hop influences included A Tribe Called Quest and Main Source. He established a relationship with Jurassic 5 and initially traveled with them as their bus driver.

VS.

Groove is In the Heart (http://www.jogyjogy.com/watch.php?id=19a90)

Artist: Deee-lite

Deee-Lite was a house and club/dance group formed in New York City. Its best-known single is "Groove Is in the Heart", from its 1990 debut album, World Clique. However, Deee-Lite achieved longer lasting success on the U.S. Billboard Hot Dance Club Play chart, where it scored six number-one hits. The band's sound was a unique mix of house, techno and dance elements. The members of Deee-lite were Super DJ Dmitri (Dmitri Brill, originally from Kiev, Ukraine), Lady Miss Kier (Kierin M. Kirby, Youngstown, Ohio) and Towa Tei (Dong-hwa Chung, originally from Tokyo, Japan). Brill and Kirby had an ongoing romantic relationship which ended prior to the release of the group's third album, Dewdrops in the Garden. Also prior to that release, Tei left the band (appearing only on the track "Call Me") and was replaced with DJ Ani. Kirby is credited with designing and creating the look of the band, as well as much of the artwork accompanying the band's albums and marketing material. Her initial look relied on revamped and exaggerated retro '60s fashions. At the height of the band's success, her style had a major influence on fashion trends, showing up in a variety of retail venues.

VS.

Give It Away (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w8pAYLJa6do)

Artist: Red Hot Chili Peppers

Red Hot Chili Peppers is an American alternative rock band formed in Los Angeles, California, in 1983. For most of the band's existence, the members have been vocalist Anthony Kiedis, guitarist John Frusciante, bassist Michael "Flea" Balzary, and drummer Chad Smith. The band's varied musical style has fused traditional funk with elements of other genres including alternative, punk rock, metal and psychedelic rock. In addition to Kiedis and Flea, the group originally featured guitarist Hillel Slovak and drummer Jack Irons. Slovak, however, died of a heroin overdose in 1988, resulting in Irons' departure. Blood Sugar Sex Magik was a significant record for the band; having sold over thirteen million copies, it provided the group's initial mainstream commercial success. Frusciante left abruptly in the middle of a 1992 tour, descending into heroin addiction. Kiedis, Flea, and Smith employed Dave Navarro of Jane's Addiction for their subsequent album, One Hot Minute (1995). Frusciante, fresh out of drug rehabilitation, rejoined the band in 1998. The Red Hot Chili Peppers have won seven Grammy Awards and hold a record of eleven number one singles on the Modern Rock charts. On September 23, 2009 the band was nominated for induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as part of the class of 2010.

[Spinal]

Dethklok - 6
Smashing Pumpkins - 4
Aerosmith - 3

Dethklok - "Hatred Copter"

[Spinal]

Instructions:

Please take the time to watch all three videos and then cast your vote by making a post in this thread. Thread will be open a minimum of 24 hours and then may close any time after that at my discretion.

Although it will naturally be difficult to vote for music you find disagreeable or against personal favorites, please remember that the primary question should be "Is this the most effective and/or artistic video?" not "Is this the best song?" Basically, just keep an open mind and allow yourself the opportunity to be pleasantly surprised.

Beat It (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ym0hZG-zNOk)

Artist: Michael Jackson

Michael Joseph Jackson was an American musician, dancer, and entertainer. Referred to as the King of Pop, he is the most commercially successful and one of the most influential entertainers of all time. His unique contributions to music, dance, and fashion, along with a highly publicized personal life, made him a prominent figure in popular culture for over four decades. Alongside his brothers, he made his debut in 1964 as lead singer and youngest member of The Jackson 5, and later began a successful solo career in 1971. His 1982 album Thriller remains the best-selling album of all time, with Off the Wall (1979), Bad (1987), Dangerous (1991), and HIStory (1995) also among the world's best selling albums.

VS.

The Carnival is Over (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LtNFQ7RJbaQ)

Artist: Dead Can Dance

Dead Can Dance is a band composed of Lisa Gerrard and Brendan Perry. Formed in Melbourne, Australia, in 1981 and initially based there, it disbanded in 1998 but reunited temporarily for a world tour in 2005. Assigning a musical genre to Dead Can Dance is difficult, as its style is particularly eclectic. However, its early work could be considered a mix between post-punk and goth rock. In its later work, starting with The Serpent's Egg, Dead Can Dance would take ancient or various musics from around the world as primary sources, with Gerrard singing glossolalia, giving it a very distinctive style. As a result, the duo's later albums sound quite different from the first three. Various sources have labeled those latter releases as neoclassical, ethereal, or dark world music. Through the 1990's, and various line up changes, the band evolved into a duo and eventually started to grow apart. Gerrard returned to Australia, while Perry moved to Ireland, where he bought the old Quivvy Church in which he now lives and works.

VS.

Goin' Down (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8D1Dzi_in5s)

Artist: The Monkees

The Monkees were a pop rock quartet assembled by Robert "Bob" Rafelson and Bert Schneider in Los Angeles in 1966 for the American television series The Monkees, which aired from 1966 to 1968. The members were Americans Micky Dolenz, Michael Nesmith, Peter Tork, and Englishman Davy Jones, who were supervised and popularized by Don Kirshner. At the time of the band's formation, its producers saw The Monkees as a Beatles-like band. At the start, the band members provided vocals, and were given some performing and production opportunities, but they eventually fought for and earned the right to collectively supervise all musical output under the band's name. The group undertook several concert tours, allowing an opportunity to perform as a live band as well as on the TV series. Although the show was canceled in 1968, the band continued releasing records until 1970. In the 1980s, the television show and music experienced a revival, which led to a series of reunion tours, and new records featuring various incarnations of the band's lineup.

[Spinal]

Looking for a few more votes here.

[dreamdead]

I'll cast a likely futile vote for Dead can Dance. Fearful that MJ will knock it off early.

[dreamdead]

I like the low-fi design of the DJ Format video, but I'll go with the RHCP. Unimpressed with the Dee-lite video.

[Spinal]

Here are videos that will be featured in match-ups coming up soon in case you would like to get a head start:

Fiona Apple – Across the Universe
The Avalanches – Since I Left You
The Cramps – Tear It Up
Eels – Last Stop: This Town
Green Day – Walking Contradiction
PJ Harvey – This is Love
Don Henley – The Boys of Summer
Janet Jackson – Got Till It’s Gone
Nirvana – Heart Shaped Box
Opeth – Porcelain Heart
Renaldo and the Loaf – Songs for Swinging Larvae
Sigur Ros – Hoppipolla

[Spinal]

Really good stuff all around. I enjoyed the humor of The Decemberists and surprising vulnerability of Elton. In the end, I have to go with the indelible image of Sinead, locked in and delivering a performance of extraordinary intimacy and intensity. The life behind those eyes is extraordinary.

Sinead O'Connor

[Spinal]

Love Lady Miss Kier's funky dance moves.

Deee-lite

[ledfloyd]

this is one of the strongest rounds yet. that dead can dance video is really fucking cool, but MJ was just on top of the world in the 80s. beat it.

[MadMan]

DJ Format's video (and the song) left me with a big grin on my face. RHCP's video is classic, sure, but they've made far better. So my vote goes to Grove is in The Heart, which is not only funky, but I wonder if That 70s Show stole its backdrop for all of those intercut scenes where the characters jump up and down. Awesome group overall, that's for sure.

[ledfloyd]

deee-lite has the bootsy factor.

[MadMan]

I hate to be cliche, but I'm voting for Beat It. Say what you want about Michael Jackson, but he had some of the greatest videos of all time.

[ledfloyd]

i really like that elton video but i'm going with the decemberists.

[Thirdmango]

Falco

[ledfloyd]

I hate to be cliche, but I'm voting for Beat It. Say what you want about Michael Jackson, but he had some of the greatest videos of all time.
OF ALL TIME!

[Spaceman Spiff]

I like the ideas of Dead Can Dance, but it looks really murky and shitty. Beat It is kinda fun, but nothing special - MJ has a ton of better videos. I really liked the simplicity and effectiveness of Going Down. It gets my vote.

[Ivan Drago]

Beat It

[Stay Puft]

The Decemberists.

I love O'Connor, but I'm no fan of the dissolves in that video. All the additional footage lessens the impact of the performance for me.

[Spinal]

I love O'Connor, but I'm no fan of the dissolves in that video. All the additional footage lessens the impact of the performance for me.

I am sympathetic to this position. There is a long instrumental break though. It would be kind of weird to just hold the camera on her through that whole time.

[Melville]

I am sympathetic to this position. There is a long instrumental break though. It would be kind of weird to just hold the camera on her through that whole time.
I think the video would be much better if the whole thing were just her face. Her performance is so damn emotional, and she's so damn beautiful, that the forty seconds with no singing would work (for me at least—hell, I could probably just watch her emote with no music at all for the whole 5 minutes). Also, a lot of the dissolves come in awkwardly, at random moments, and the whole wandering-around-in-a-trenchcoat thing looks a bit silly compared to the closeups.

[Spaceman Spiff]

Was about to mention how the dissolves are awkward. The video would have been better done in 1 take. They are dissolves to nothing as well, which makes no real sense to me.

The Rushmore knockoff was insufferable though, and I wasn't crazy about the song either.

The Elton John video had a neat concept, and the song was great. As much of a classic as Sinead's video is, I'll have to go Elton here.

[Ivan Drago]

The more I watch the "This is Hardcore" video, the more I love the song. Sounds like something out of a 40s-50s crime flick.

:puts on fedora and lights cigar:

[Spinal]

All right, good enough.

Falco 7
The Residents 2
Joe Flacco 1
Art of Noise

Falco - "Rock Me Amadeus"

[Russ]

Pretty strong grouping this time.

Liked the Decemberists' nod to Rushmore, but not as much as Elton's self-deprecating number, which I had never seen before. Even more fun that JT's young Elton was Paul 'Pee-wee Herman' Reubens as his manager.

Still, Sinead O'conner is my choice. Great video.

[Spinal]

Instructions:

Please take the time to watch all three videos and then cast your vote by making a post in this thread. Thread will be open a minimum of 24 hours and then may close any time after that at my discretion.

Although it will naturally be difficult to vote for music you find disagreeable or against personal favorites, please remember that the primary question should be "Is this the most effective and/or artistic video?" not "Is this the best song?" Basically, just keep an open mind and allow yourself the opportunity to be pleasantly surprised.

Walking Contradiction (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O5gz2d6BbaE)

Artist: Green Day

Green Day is an American rock trio formed in 1987.[1] The band has consisted of Billie Joe Armstrong (vocals, guitar), Mike Dirnt (bass guitar, vocals), and Tré Cool (drums, percussion) for the majority of its existence. Green Day was originally part of the punk rock scene in Berkeley, California. Its early releases for independent record label Lookout! Records earned them a grassroots fanbase, some of whom felt alienated when the band signed to a major label. Nevertheless, its major label debut Dookie (1994) became a breakout success and eventually sold over 15 million copies worldwide. As a result, Green Day was widely credited, alongside fellow California punk bands The Offspring and Rancid, with reviving mainstream interest in and popularizing punk rock in the United States. Green Day's 2004 rock opera American Idiot reignited the band's popularity with a younger generation, selling five million copies in the U.S. They have won three Grammy Awards; Best Alternative Album for Dookie, Best Rock Album for American Idiot, and Record of the Year for "Boulevard of Broken Dreams".

VS.

Hoppipolla (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_EyI4p0yjDQ)

Artist: Sigur Rós

Sigur Rós is an Icelandic post-rock band with melodic, classical, and minimalist elements. The band is known for its ethereal sound and lead singer Jónsi Birgisson's falsetto voice. Jón Þór (Jónsi) Birgisson (guitar and vocals), Georg Hólm (bass) and Ã�gúst Ævar Gunnarsson (drums) formed the group in ReykjavÃ*k in August 1994. Their name is Icelandic wordplay: while the individual words Sigur and Rós mean, respectively, Victory and Rose, "Victory Rose" wouldn't be grammatically correct; the name is actually borrowed from Jónsi's younger sister Sigurrós, who was born the same day as the band was formed, and then split into two words. The band was joined by Kjartan Sveinsson on keyboards in 1998. He is the only member of Sigur Rós with musical training, and has contributed most of the orchestral and string arrangements for their later work. International acclaim came with 1999's Ã�gætis byrjun ("An all right start"). The album's reputation spread by word of mouth over the following two years. Soon critics worldwide hailed it as one of the great albums of its time, and the band was playing support to established acts such as Radiohead.

VS.

Songs for Swinging Larvae (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T3m70cSgAI0)

Artist: Renaldo and the Loaf

Renaldo and the Loaf was an English musical duo active in the late seventies and most of the eighties, consisting of a pathologist (David Janssen or "Ted The Loaf") and an architect (Brian Poole or "Renaldo Malpractice", most often simply "Renaldo M"). By their own assertion, they achieved their unique sound in part by striving to get unnatural synthesizer-like sounds using only what instruments they had available (acoustic ones). To that end they routinely used muffled and de-tuned instruments, and often to striking effect, tape loops / manipulation. They were "discovered" by The Residents when Brian dropped off a tape at Ralph Records headquarters in San Francisco, during a visit to the U.S. In 2006 upon the launch of the new Renaldo & the Loaf web site, the duo were reunited for the first time in the better part of two decades. Director Graham Whifler produced a short film in 1980, Songs for Swinging Larvae, from the album of the same name. The film concerns a kidnapped child and raises questions of home and human relationship. The film has since been banned from television and film festivals due to its controversial nature.

[Russ]

Toss-up between Deee-lite and Format.

DJ Format

[Spinal]

I've been very impressed with Mr. Format. He's got at least one other video in this competition that I have previewed and it is a solid contender I think.

[MadMan]

OF ALL TIME!Heh, that whole bit never gets old.

[Russ]

Dead Can Dance

[Russ]

Renaldo and the Loaf.

That Sigur Rós song was excellent, tho.

[Mysterious Dude]

Dead Can Dance

I'm surprised how much I liked that Monkees song.

[Spaceman Spiff]

Dead Can Dance

I'm surprised how much I liked that Monkees song.

The Monkees are underrated, mostly because they weren't really musicians. In fairness to the haters, they did produce a solid shelf of shit though.

[Spinal]

Oh man, so much goodness here. The Mickey and Michael performances are extraordinary. But for the purposes of this exercise, I think Dead Can Dance is the right choice. Beautiful striking imagery.

[Spinal]

Green Day - Like the song. Video appeals to the part of me that enjoys playing Grand Theft Auto. Feels kind of slight ultimately though.

Sigur Rós - Excellent marriage of sound and image. Gently humorous and a little bit moving.

Renaldo and the Loaf - Pioneering use of the cleavage cam.

Sigur Rós

[Adam]

16 Military Wives

[Adam]

The Hit Song

[Adam]

The Carnival is Over

[Adam]

Songs for Swinging Larvae

[B-side]

The dissolves were far from pointless. The statues featured varying states of emotion and postures, reflecting her changing mood, and her figure, which is rather statuesque.

[B-side]

My vote goes to Sinead. Agree with Melville, she was quite beautiful. Looked a lot like Natalie Portman in that video.

[B-side]

Format is a helluva MC.

[B-side]

Format gets my vote. The Deee-Lite video was a bit garish. The RHCP video just wasn't particularly interesting.

[ledfloyd]

i sent the sigur ros video to a friend and said 'this is fucking awesome' neither of the others inspired such a reaction.

[B-side]

Really dug that Monkees song, but the video is so bare bones.

MJ gets my vote, definitely. Fantastic video.

[B-side]

Songs for Swinging Larvae gets my vote.

Dug the Sigur Ros video quite a bit, too.

[HoboJoeBob]

Hoppipolla

[HoboJoeBob]

16 Military Wives. Fun video.

[ledfloyd]

I've been very impressed with Mr. Format. He's got at least one other video in this competition that I have previewed and it is a solid contender I think.
yeah, for me he's one of the cooler discoveries i've made via this thing.

[Winston*]

Format is a helluva MC.
Format is a DJ, hence the moniker.

EDIT: He's my vote for this round btw.

How many hits you got?

LOTS

[Stay Puft]

Red Hot Chili Peppers.

That video is still a lot of fun. Love the DJ Format video, too. Actually... kinda dig all three. Lady Miss Kier does indeed have some funky moves. Tough battle.

[B-side]

Format is a DJ, hence the moniker.

EDIT: He's my vote for this round btw.

How many hits you got?

LOTS

I thought he was the one rapping, too? Hm.

[Spinal]

Could use some more votes here.

[Sven]

Elton John. One of the best. Like the Sinnead. The Decemberists one is foul.

[Lasse]

DJ Format.

[Lasse]

Sigur Ros.

[Mysterious Dude]

For the first minute of that Swinging Larvae video, I absolutely hated it. By the end of it, I very nearly voted for it.

Still going with Sigur Ros, though.

By the way, Spinal, I had a dream about watching music videos last night. I just thought you should know.

[Mysterious Dude]

I'm gonna go with Elton John. I remember when that video came out, and I skipped it because it followed another lip-synced Elton John video ("I Want Love" with Robert Downey Jr.) that I thought was pretty lame. But "This Train" was really good. Good song, too.

[Mysterious Dude]

Red Hot Chili Peppers

[Ivan Drago]

Sigur Ros

[Thirdmango]

No, DJ Format is not the rapper. The Rapper is named Abdominal.

Also DJ Format

also I'm happy for this competition so I can get you all into DJ Format. I lovems DJ Format.

[Thirdmango]

Dead Can Dance

[Spinal]

Sinead O' Connor 5
The Decemberists 4
Elton John 3

Sinead O' Connor - "Nothing Compares 2 U"

[Spinal]

Instructions:

Please take the time to watch all three videos and then cast your vote by making a post in this thread. Thread will be open a minimum of 24 hours and then may close any time after that at my discretion.

Although it will naturally be difficult to vote for music you find disagreeable or against personal favorites, please remember that the primary question should be "Is this the most effective and/or artistic video?" not "Is this the best song?" Basically, just keep an open mind and allow yourself the opportunity to be pleasantly surprised.

Porcelain Heart (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mfT1A5Caq84)

Artist: Opeth

Opeth is a Swedish heavy metal band from Stockholm, formed in 1990. While the band has been through several personnel changes, singer, guitarist, and songwriter Mikael Ã…kerfeldt has remained Opeth's driving force since joining promptly after its inception. While firmly rooted in Scandinavian death metal, Opeth has consistently incorporated influence by progressive music, folk, blues rock and jazz into their usually-lengthy compositions. Many compositions include acoustic guitar interludes and strong dynamic shifts, as well as both growling and clean vocals. The band released its debut album Orchid in 1995. Although their eighth studio album Ghost Reveries was quite popular in the States, Opeth did not experience American commercial success until the 2008 release of their ninth studio album, Watershed, which peaked at number twenty-three on the Billboard 200, and topped the Finnish albums chart in its first week of release.

VS.

Heart Shaped Box (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n6P0SitRwy8)

Artist: Nirvana

Nirvana was an American rock band that was formed by singer/guitarist Kurt Cobain and bassist Krist Novoselic in Aberdeen, Washington in 1987. Nirvana went through a succession of drummers, the longest-lasting being Dave Grohl, who joined the band in 1990. With the lead single "Smells Like Teen Spirit" from the band's second album Nevermind (1991), Nirvana entered into the mainstream, bringing along with it a subgenre of alternative rock called grunge. As Nirvana's frontman, Kurt Cobain found himself referred to in the media as the "spokesman of a generation," with Nirvana being considered the "flagship band" of Generation X. Cobain was uncomfortable with the attention and placed his focus on the band's music, believing the band's message and artistic vision to have been misinterpreted by the public, challenging the band's audience with its third studio album In Utero (1993). Nirvana's brief run ended with Cobain's death in April 1994, but the band's popularity continued in the years that followed. In 2002, "You Know You're Right," an unfinished demo from the band's final recording session, topped radio playlists around the world.

VS.

Got Till It's Gone (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i9QYv9XBMHI)

Artist: Janet Jackson

Janet Damita Jo Jackson is an American recording artist and actress. She is the youngest child of the Jackson family of musicians. She first performed on stage with her family beginning at the age of seven. She went on to star in other television shows throughout the 1970s and early 1980s, including Good Times and Diff'rent Strokes. At age sixteen in 1982, she signed a recording contract with A&M, releasing her self-titled debut album the same year. She faced criticism for her limited vocal range. Beginning with her third studio album Control (1986), she began a long-term collaboration with record producers Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis. Her music with Jam and Lewis incorporated elements of rhythm and blues, disco, funk, and rap with sample loop, triplet swing and industrial beats, which led to crossover appeal in popular music. By the end of the 1990s, she was named the second most successful recording artist of the decade.

[Spinal]

DJ Format 6
Deee-lite 3
Red Hot Chili Peppers 3

DJ Format - "The Hit Song"

[Spinal]

Instructions:

Please take the time to watch all three videos and then cast your vote by making a post in this thread. Thread will be open a minimum of 24 hours and then may close any time after that at my discretion.

Although it will naturally be difficult to vote for music you find disagreeable or against personal favorites, please remember that the primary question should be "Is this the most effective and/or artistic video?" not "Is this the best song?" Basically, just keep an open mind and allow yourself the opportunity to be pleasantly surprised.

This is Love (http://new.music.yahoo.com/pj-harvey/videos/view/this-is-love--2154256)

Artist: PJ Harvey

Polly Jean Harvey is an English musician and singer-songwriter. Among the accolades she has received have been the 2001 Mercury Music Prize, seven BRIT Award nominations, five Grammy Award nominations and two further Mercury Music Prize nominations. Rolling Stone named her 1992's Best New Artist and Best Singer Songwriter and 1995's Artist of the Year, and placed two of her albums (Rid of Me, To Bring You My Love) on its 500 Greatest Albums of All Time. She was also rated the number one female rock artist by Q magazine in a 2002 reader poll. Raised in Corscombe, Dorset, Harvey formed a band (calling it PJ Harvey) as a teenager with drummer Rob Ellis and bassist Ian Olliver, who was replaced with Steve Vaughan. Ellis and Vaughan left the band after the release of Rid of Me (1993), and Harvey continued as a solo artist. To Bring You My Love (1995) was produced by Flood and John Parish, and was a worldwide success. The album received a glowing critical response and ended up being voted Album of the Year by The Village Voice, Rolling Stone, USA Today, People, The New York Times and the Los Angeles Times.

VS.

The Boys of Summer (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=41zDpASSzn8)

Artist: Don Henley

Donald Hugh "Don" Henley is an American musician, singer, songwriter and drummer, best known as a founding member of the Eagles before launching a successful seven time Grammy Award-winning solo career. Henley sang lead vocals on many of the band's popular songs, including "Desperado", "Witchy Woman", "Best of My Love", "One of These Nights", "Hotel California", "The Long Run", "Life in the Fast Lane" and "Wasted Time". The Eagles won numerous Grammy Awards during the 1970s and became one of the most successful rock bands of all time. Their Greatest Hits (1971–1975) is considered the best-selling album ever (in America), in any category. His solo hits include "The Boys of Summer", "Dirty Laundry" and "The End of the Innocence". In 2008, he was ranked the 87th greatest singer of all time by Rolling Stone magazine. Henley has also played a founding role in several environmental and political causes, most notably the "Walden Woods Project". Since 1994, he has divided his musical activities between the Eagles and his solo career.

VS.

Last Stop: This Town (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H8hyCWH1Ww0)

Artist: Eels

Eels is an American rock band formed by singer/songwriter Mark Oliver Everett, better known as E. Other members rotate frequently, both in the studio and on stage. Eels appear on several film soundtracks, including American Beauty, Holes, The Anniversary Party, Knocked Up, Yes Man, The End of Violence, Hellboy II, Hot Fuzz, and all three Shrek movies. Eels became one of the first groups to sign a record deal with DreamWorks Records. In 1996 the band released their debut album Beautiful Freak, a melancholy pop record with tormented lyrics. Musically, it demonstrated a wide range of influences including grunge and hip hop. The singles "Novocaine for the Soul", "Susan's House" and "Your Lucky Day in Hell" achieved modest national and international success, winning the Best International Breakthrough Act award at the 1998 BRIT Awards.

[ledfloyd]

Janet Jackson

[ledfloyd]

Eels

[Adam]

Last Stop: This Town

[Adam]

Got Till It's Gone

[Thirdmango]

I love that Eels video. So good.

[Melville]

Janet Jackson

[B-side]

I suppose I should vote in these. Gimme a few.

[B-side]

Dig the Opeth video, especially those camera sweeps.

Nirvana video was odd, and I like odd, but ultimately doesn't add up to much.

Janet video oozed cool, but seems pretty forgettable.

I'm going with Opeth.

[B-side]

OK, both the song and the PJ Harvey video are bad.

Brightside's blasphemy of the day: I prefer The Ataris' version of "Boys of Summer". It's more emotive, and I prefer its energy. Good video, though. Still love the song.

The Eels video was mildly amusing.

I'm going with Henley.

[Spinal]

OK, both the song and the PJ Harvey video are bad.

Brightside's blasphemy of the day: I prefer The Ataris' version of "Boys of Summer". It's more emotive, and I prefer its energy. Good video, though. Still love the song.


Your first sentence is more blasphemous.

[Spinal]

Dead Can Dance 6
Michael Jackson 4
The Monkees 1

Dead Can Dance - "The Carnival is Over"

[Spinal]

Need a few more votes here.

[Spinal]

Instructions:

Please take the time to watch all three videos and then cast your vote by making a post in this thread. Thread will be open a minimum of 24 hours and then may close any time after that at my discretion.

Although it will naturally be difficult to vote for music you find disagreeable or against personal favorites, please remember that the primary question should be "Is this the most effective and/or artistic video?" not "Is this the best song?" Basically, just keep an open mind and allow yourself the opportunity to be pleasantly surprised.

Tear It Up (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iCQ4QLFl01g)

Artist: The Cramps

The Cramps were an American punk rock band formed in 1976 and active until 2009, with the death of lead singer Lux Interior. Their line-up rotated much over their existence, with the husband and wife duo of Interior and lead guitarist Poison Ivy the only permanent members. Guitarist Bryan Gregory and drummer Pam Ballam rounded out the first complete lineup in April 1976. They were part of the early CBGB punk movement that had emerged in New York. The Cramps are noted as influencing a number of musical styles: not only are they one of the first garage punk bands but also by being the first known band to blend punk rock with rockabilly, The Cramps are widely recognized as one of the prime innovators of psychobilly, and they inspired many of the early goth rock bands. The content of their songs and image is campy, Americana, sexual fetishism, humor, and retro horror/sci-fi b-movie clichés. The Cramps hit the top 40 singles chart in the UK for the first and only time with "Bikini Girls with Machine Guns".

VS.

Across the Universe (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fLvhtf09V4g)

Artist: Fiona Apple

Fiona Apple is an American singer-songwriter. She gained popularity through her 1996 debut album Tidal, especially with the Grammy Award-winning single "Criminal" and its music video. Her music is influenced by everything from early jazz, pop, to alt-rock. It is also characterized by Apple's candid personal lyrics and imaginative productions, often featuring idiosyncratic arrangements with instruments as varied as the french horn and optigan. Apple's break into the music industry came in 1994 when she was seventeen, Apple gave a demo tape to the babysitter of music publicist Kathryn Schenker. Schenker then passed the tape along to Sony Music executive Andy Slater. Apple's rich alto voice, piano skills and lyrics captured his attention, and Slater signed her to a record deal. She has earned seven Grammy nominations, winning once for Best Female Rock Vocal Performance.

VS.

Since I Left You (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VfAuFAgHpzc)

Artist: The Avalanches

The Avalanches are an electronic music group from Melbourne, Australia, best known for their live DJ sets and debut album Since I Left You, which was assembled from approximately 3,500 vinyl samples. The Avalanches began in 1994 as Alarm 115, a noise-punk outfit inspired by Drive Like Jehu, The Fall and Ultra Bidet. The band (Darren Seltmann, Robbie Chater, Tony Diblasi and Manabu Etoh) bought all their instruments at junk shops, where they also discovered piles of old records. When Etoh was deported and Alarm 115 ended, those records became the core of a new project. Their first four shows were played under different names. They officially became The Avalanches at their fifth gig - a support slot for Jon Spencer Blues Explosion - and rose to prominence quickly. The Avalanches' profile grew with support slots on tours by the Beastie Boys, Public Enemy, Stereolab and Beck. Critics worldwide included Since I Left You on their "Best of 2001" lists. The album went on to place at #4 in 'Juice' magazines 'Best Australian albums of all time' list, and #5 in Pitchfork Media's top albums of the decade.

[Spinal]

Opeth - Didn't do much for me.

Nirvana - Symbolism is a bit silly and out of control, but by golly, the colors are gorgeous. Cobain's eyes in those close-ups are piercing. I enjoy it mostly for the small moments: the shaft of light on Cobain's face, Grohl placing his hand on Novoselic's hand as they sit on the bed, Cobain falling from the chair, Novoselic rubbing his head on the ceiling.

Janet Jackson - Mostly enjoyed it for the earthy color scheme. However, quickly grows tedious.

Nirvana

[Spinal]

PJ Harvey - This, to my mind, is PJ's equivilent to Bjork's "Big Time Sensuality" or Sinead's "Nothing Compares 2 U". A direct, intimate performance featuring an extraordinary talent. One of the sexiest videos ever. Love the erratic zooms and stark shifts between light and dark.

Don Henley - Don Henley is one of the most boring pop artists of all time. I have never understood the appeal.

Eels - This was definitely fun. Good song. Fun concept. Facial hair on a vegetable. Good stuff.

PJ Harvey

[ledfloyd]

i thought for sure i was going to be voting fiona. but wow. that avalanches video is the shit.

[Spinal]

Both the Fiona and The Avalanches video are amazing. Slight edge to Fiona for the jaw-dropping 360 degree spin.

[Melville]

The Cramps should win the whole contest.

[Russ]

Janet Jackson

[Russ]

Spinal said it all. PJ Harvey.

[B-side]

Your first sentence is more blasphemous.

Really? Bah.

[Melville]

I don't care for any of them, but I'll go with The Eels. I agree with Brightside that the PJ Harvey video is bad. She looks like a female Mick Jagger, and all her in-your-face mugging is both irritating and horribly unsexy (sorry, Spinal). I don't mind the song though.

[B-side]

I don't care for any of them, but I'll go with The Eels. I agree with Brightside that the PJ Harvey video is bad. She looks like a female Mick Jagger, and all her in-your-face mugging is both irritating and horribly unsexy (sorry, Spinal).

Thank you for verbalizing this for me.

[Russ]

The Cramps

[B-side]

Dead Can Dance 6
Michael Jackson 4
The Monkees 1

Dead Can Dance - "The Carnival is Over"

That's a damn shame.

[Winston*]

Eels

Love that PJ Harvey song but she doesn't have a singing carrot in her video.

[Winston*]

Sigur Ros

Though you can play that song over most any other video in this competition (especially the ones without lip syncing) and it'll work.

[Winston*]

Janet Jackson

[B-side]

Fiona, if only for that 360 spin.

[Spaceman Spiff]

Singing carrot or fiery PJ? Hurm....

Sorry Eels, your video is cute and I really did enjoy the carrot, but Ms. Harvey knows how to rock like nobody's business, and the stark simplicity of the video and passion that she exudes from every frame really amplify the sexuality and force of her music.

[Spinal]

Love that PJ Harvey song but she doesn't have a singing carrot in her video.

That carrot looks like a carrot Mick Jagger.

[Spinal]

Sigur Ros 7
Renaldo and the Loaf 3
Green Day 0

Sigur Ros - "Hoppipolla"

[Spinal]

Instructions:

Please take the time to watch all three videos and then cast your vote by making a post in this thread. Thread will be open a minimum of 24 hours and then may close any time after that at my discretion.

Although it will naturally be difficult to vote for music you find disagreeable or against personal favorites, please remember that the primary question should be "Is this the most effective and/or artistic video?" not "Is this the best song?" Basically, just keep an open mind and allow yourself the opportunity to be pleasantly surprised.

Digging in the Dirt (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t5fOvcta3Ws)

Artist: Peter Gabriel

Peter Gabriel is an English musician and songwriter who rose to fame as the lead vocalist and flutist of the progressive rock group Genesis. After leaving Genesis, Gabriel went on to a successful solo career. More recently he has focused on producing and promoting world music and pioneering digital distribution methods for music. He has also been involved in various humanitarian efforts. Gabriel was awarded the Polar Music Prize in 2009. In 2001, Boston USA radio station 92.5 The River used a computer program to generate the artist to whom all their listeners will listen. The artist was Peter Gabriel. Since 2001, Gabriel's greatest hits are required to get played every two hours, causing some to call the station "Gabriel FM".

VS.

Fat (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fqz1ojIQTBk)

Artist: Weird Al Yankovic

Alfred Matthew "Weird Al" Yankovic is an American singer-songwriter, music producer, actor, comedian, and satirist. Yankovic is known in particular for his humorous songs that make light of popular culture and that often parody specific songs by contemporary musical acts. Since his first-aired song parody in 1979, he has sold more than 12 million albums—more than any other comedy act in history— recorded more than 150 parody and original songs, and has performed more than 1,000 live shows. His works have earned him three Grammy Awards among nine nominations, four gold records, and six platinum records in the United States. Yankovic's first top ten Billboard album (Straight Outta Lynwood) and single ("White & Nerdy") were both released in 2006, nearly three decades into his career. In addition to recording his albums, Yankovic has written and starred in his own film, UHF, and his own television show, The Weird Al Show, and directed music videos for himself and other artists including Ben Folds, Hanson, and The Presidents of the United States of America.

VS.

Sleep Alone (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O1vtr9fXdg8&feature=related)

Artist: Bat for Lashes

Natasha Khan, also known by her stage name "Bat for Lashes", is a British alternative rock musician. As a musician she sings and plays the piano, guitar, harpsichord and the autoharp. Khan's debut album Fur and Gold, released on 11 September 2006, peaked at #48 on the UK Album Charts and went on to be nominated for the Mercury Prize in 2007, in the following year Khan also picked up two BRIT nominations for Best Breakthrough Artist and Best Female, leading to growing media attention. Khan’s second album Two Suns, released on the 6 April 2009, reached #5 on the UK Album Charts. The first single released off the second album "Daniel" charted within the top 40. The album Two Suns has also been nominated for the Mercury Prize.

[Adam]

Digging in the Dirt

[Adam]

Since I Left You

and now I'm kicking myself for not nominating this (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U8BWBn26bX0&feature=related)

[Melville]

That carrot looks like a carrot Mick Jagger.
Now you're just being silly.

[Spinal]

Peter Gabriel - Some effective imagery, but lacks the visual wit of his best work.

Weird Al - Yo, ding dong, man. Ding dong, ding dong, yo.

Bat for Lashes - Looks gorgeous. Didn't really get a clear sense of the narrative or purpose of the video.

Weird Al

[Spinal]

Since I Left You

and now I'm kicking myself for not nominating this (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U8BWBn26bX0&feature=related)

Oh, that's too good. I'll make room.

[Spinal]

More votes here please.

[Thirdmango]

Nirvana

[Melville]

Since I Left You

and now I'm kicking myself for not nominating this (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U8BWBn26bX0&feature=related)
I love that song and video. I guess I should have involved myself in the nominating process, though I might have still been on posting-hiatus at the time. Did anybody nominate Radiohead's "Just" (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oIFLtNYI3Ls)? The concept is kind of gimmicky, but I like it.

[Spinal]

Did anybody nominate Radiohead's "Just" (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oIFLtNYI3Ls)? The concept is kind of gimmicky, but I like it.

I'm pretty sure it's in there somewhere.

[Melville]

Weird Al

[Melville]

I'm pretty sure it's in there somewhere.
Excellent. How about Weird Al's Trapped in the Drive-Thru?

[Spinal]

Excellent. How about Weird Al's Trapped in the Drive-Thru?

"Fat" is Weird Al's only representative. I nearly nominated "Amish Paradise" though.

[Melville]

"Fat" is Weird Al's only representative. I nearly nominated "Amish Paradise" though.
Damn it.

[ledfloyd]

Weird Al

[Winston*]

Weird Al

[Winston*]

Fiona Apple.

Never seen that before. Hard choice between that and The Avalanches.

[Ivan Drago]

Weird Al

[Sven]

I've decided that Patrick Daughters may rival Gondry in my esteem as the greater director. Certainly Gondry's got the greater body of goods thus far, but Daughters is proving to provide incomparable treasures.

[ledfloyd]

dammit, i like the apple video, alot, but that avalanches video wowed me. looks like it's losing though.

[Sven]

Must vote for The Cramps. It is mighty compelling. I don't think I get the Fiona Apple one (is she supposed to be in there? why are well dressed white guys tearing down what looks to be a white diner in the pre-'nam suburbs? what's with the spin? what's with the tacky cameo?) and the Avalanches one is a less good version of the Christopher Walken video that is nice, but goes on a half-minute too long.

[Sven]

Yo, ding dong, man. Ding dong, ding dong, yo.

To this day I quote this. Weird Al. Love Gabriel but am not really comfortable with his videos. Bat for Lashes, once again, bores me.

[ledfloyd]

To this day I quote this.
same. weird al was such a key part of my childhood.

[Russ]

Weird Al

[Spinal]

Janet Jackson 5
Nirvana 2
Opeth 1

Janet Jackson - "Got Till It's Gone"

[Spinal]

Instructions:

Please take the time to watch all three videos and then cast your vote by making a post in this thread. Thread will be open a minimum of 24 hours and then may close any time after that at my discretion.

Although it will naturally be difficult to vote for music you find disagreeable or against personal favorites, please remember that the primary question should be "Is this the most effective and/or artistic video?" not "Is this the best song?" Basically, just keep an open mind and allow yourself the opportunity to be pleasantly surprised.

Can't Believe It (http://www.metacafe.com/watch/sy-1759709839/t_pain_cant_believe_it_featuri ng_lil_wayne_official_music_vi deo/)

Artist: T-Pain and Lil Wayne

Faheem Rasheed Najm, better known by his stage name T-Pain, is an American hip hop and R&B singer-songwriter, rapper and producer. He began his career as a rapper in the group Nappy Headz. In 2005, he became a singer and released his debut album Rappa Ternt Sanga with the hits "I'm Sprung" and "I'm N Luv (Wit A Stripper)". T-Pain has also had many top ten singles on the Billboard Hot 100. In 2008, he won a Grammy with rapper Kanye West for the single "Good Life".

Dwayne Michael Carter, Jr. (born September 27, 1982), better known by his stage name Lil Wayne, is an American Grammy Award-winning rapper. Formerly a member of the rap group the Hot Boys, Lil Wayne reached higher popularity with 2004's Tha Carter and its two subsequent albums Tha Carter II (2005) and Tha Carter III (2008). He earned various accolades following Tha Carter III, including eight Grammy Awards nominations. He has had two number one singles on the Billboard Hot 100 ("Lollipop" featuring Static Major and "Down" with Jay Sean). He will release a rock album titled Rebirth in 2010.

VS.

Video Killed the Radio Star (http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x714l_buggles-video-killed-the-radio-star_music)

Artist: The Buggles

The Buggles was a New Wave band formed in 1977, initially consisting of consisting of Trevor Horn (bass guitar, guitar, percussion, and vocals), Geoff Downes (percussion and keyboards) and Bruce Woolley. The Buggles' sound was characterised by a deliberately synthetic quality in keeping with the technological subject matter of their songs. Two different stories are claimed for the origin of the band's name. Horn said he chose "The Buggles" because "It was the most disgusting name I could think of at that time", but the booklet for the CD remaster of "The Age of Plastic" says that it arose out of a private joke between Horn and Downes and was actually a pun on "The Beatles". Being largely a studio creation, The Buggles never toured. "Video Killed The Radio Star' was the first video aired on MTV at midnight on August 1, 1981.

VS.

Joga (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BML2JAFUIaw)

Artist: Björk

Björk is an Icelandic singer-songwriter, composer, actress and music producer, whose work includes seven solo albums and two film soundtracks. She is best known for her expressive vocals, broad soprano vocal range, and a diverse and eclectic musical style, which incorporates influences from many different genres, including pop, alternative rock, jazz, ambient, electronic, classical, folk and trip hop, as well as her eccentric costumes and music videos. She has been nominated for 13 Grammy Awards, an Academy Award and two Golden Globe Awards (including one for acting). For her performance in Dancer in the Dark. She won the Best Actress Award at the 2000 Cannes Film Festival.

[Spinal]

eels 5
PJ Harvey 3
Don Henley 1

eels - "Last Stop: This Town"

[ledfloyd]

you're forcing us to watch a t-pain video? this is cruel and unusual.

[Spinal]

Instructions:

Please take the time to watch all three videos and then cast your vote by making a post in this thread. Thread will be open a minimum of 24 hours and then may close any time after that at my discretion.

Although it will naturally be difficult to vote for music you find disagreeable or against personal favorites, please remember that the primary question should be "Is this the most effective and/or artistic video?" not "Is this the best song?" Basically, just keep an open mind and allow yourself the opportunity to be pleasantly surprised.

Tastes Like Kevin Bacon (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZrFTR9fucr8)

Artist: Iwrestledabearonce

Iwrestledabearonce is an American avant-garde metal band from Shreveport, Louisiana, formed in 2007. Their musical style is considered experimental metal due to their use of frequent genre changes within songs, including jazz, disco, swing, and electronica, but primarily metalcore. Their music is generally described as a "spastic blending of genres" and are known for having melodic, "lounged-out" interludes in the middle of their songs. They signed to Tragic Hero Records and released their debut EP Iwrestledabearonce EP through the label. Afterwards they signed to Century Media and released their debut full-length album It's All Happening on June 2, 2009 in the USA and August 31, 2009 in Europe.

VS.

The Perfect Drug (http://www.tagtele.com/videos/voir/35284)

Artist: Nine Inch Nails

Nine Inch Nails is an American industrial rock project, founded in 1988 by Trent Reznor in Cleveland, Ohio. As its main producer, singer, songwriter, and instrumentalist, Reznor is the only official member of Nine Inch Nails and remains solely responsible for its direction. NIN's music straddles a wide range of genres, while retaining a characteristic sound using electronic instruments and processing. Underground music audiences warmly received Nine Inch Nails in its early years. Reznor produced several highly influential records in the 1990s that achieved widespread popularity; many Nine Inch Nails songs became radio hits, two NIN recordings won Grammy Awards, and the band has sold over 20 million albums worldwide. In 1997, Reznor appeared in Time magazine's list of the year's most influential people, and Spin magazine described him as "the most vital artist in music." In 2007, corporate entanglements resulted in Reznor announcing that Nine Inch Nails would split from its label and release future material independently.

VS.

Teardrop (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fG8eQBSp9Ao)

Artist: Massive Attack

Massive Attack are a music production and vocal duo from Bristol, United Kingdom. Working alongside co-producers, they assemble a collective of various favoured session musicians and guest vocalists with whom they make records and tour live. The duo are considered to be progenitors of a genre named trip hop. Originally three in number, DJs Grantley "Grant" Marshall (a.k.a. Daddy G or "G"), Andrew "Andy" Vowles (a.k.a. Mushroom or "Mush") and painter-turned-MC Robert Del Naja (a.k.a. 3D or "D") met as members of The Wild Bunch. Some of their most noted songs have been without choruses and have featured dramatically atmospheric dynamics, conveyed through either epic distorted guitar crescendos, lavish orchestral arrangements (like swelling, sustained strings or flourishes of grand piano) or prominent, looped/shifting basslines, often underpinned by high and exacting production values, involving sometimes copious digital editing and mixing. In the United States they are best known for their song Teardrop being the theme music for the medical television series House.

[Spinal]

Nine Inch Nails link will be fixed shortly.

EDIT: Fixed

[Spinal]

Need more votes here please. Some excellent videos here and I want to have a clear winner.

[Mysterious Dude]

Going with Fiona Apple. I like the Avalanches video a lot, though. I don't understand how the Cramps video can even be considered a music video. It just looks like concert footage. I guess it is a video with music, though.

[ledfloyd]

Joga

[Melville]

Massive Attack.

[Mysterious Dude]

The Buggles

[Melville]

The Buggles.

[Mysterious Dude]

Nine Inch Nails

When the fetus appeared in the Massive Attack video, I thought, "Surely they're not going to make the fetus sing. Surely." And then, they did.

[Spinal]

I don't think I get the Fiona Apple one (is she supposed to be in there?

What's to get? It's about perfect calm amidst a chaotic world. "Nothing's gonna change my world." She is both there and apart.

[Russ]

The Buggles

[Lasse]

Björk.

Probably also my favorite Björk song. Watching her perform that song at Roskilde Festival 2003 was magical.

[Russ]

Too bad it wasn't Fetal Elvis.

http://img690.imageshack.us/img690/3707/elvistour1800.jpg
http://img695.imageshack.us/img695/3231/elvistour2800.jpg




Nine Inch Nails

[ledfloyd]

NIN

[Mysterious Dude]

A futile vote for Peter Gabriel.

The Weird Al video seems completely one-joke to me.

[dreamdead]

Another vote for Gabriel. Interesting stuff.

I love the design for the Bat for Lashes video. So gorgeous. I do agree, however, that it ultimately doesn't go anywhere.

[dreamdead]

Yeah, Iwrestledabearonce can't compete with the artistry of NIN. I like the former video's humor and complete disregard of heavy metal's dullard seriousness and machismo, but the NIN video is a thing of beauty.

[dreamdead]

Buggles.

[Dead & Messed Up]

NIN.

[Ivan Drago]

Gonna vote for Nine Inch Nails. But iwrestledabearonce...that's a girl singing????? :eek:

[Dead & Messed Up]

The T-Pain was a struggle. The Buggles was cheerfully cheesy. But Bjork takes it.

[Dead & Messed Up]

Weird Al. To fully appreciate it, one must watch the video for "Bad." The ways he plays off the inspiration are hilariously clever (the swirling camera especially).

[ledfloyd]

the opening is hilarious. there's the sight gag of seeing a fat guy doing michael jackson dance moves, and then the spinning camera bit and the wind and stuff is a funny lampooning of the overly dramatic stuff taken for granted in music videos.

[Spinal]

Weird Al 8
Peter Gabriel 3
Bat for Lashes 0

Weird Al Yankovic - "Fat"

[Spinal]

Instructions:

Please take the time to watch all three videos and then cast your vote by making a post in this thread. Thread will be open a minimum of 24 hours and then may close any time after that at my discretion.

Although it will naturally be difficult to vote for music you find disagreeable or against personal favorites, please remember that the primary question should be "Is this the most effective and/or artistic video?" not "Is this the best song?" Basically, just keep an open mind and allow yourself the opportunity to be pleasantly surprised.

Peacebone (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fxvGHQHiY70&feature=channel)

Artist: Animal Collective

Animal Collective is a band originally from Baltimore, Maryland, currently based in New York City. Animal Collective consists of Avey Tare (David Portner), Panda Bear (Noah Lennox), Deakin (Josh Dibb), and Geologist (Brian Weitz). Records released under the name Animal Collective may include contributions from any or all of these members; the lineup is not uniform. The band members met in school and started recording together in various forms of collaboration from a young age. The group also runs the record label Paw Tracks on which they have released their own material as well as that of other artists.

VS.

Remind Me (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lBvaHZIrt0o)

Artist: Röyksopp

Röyksopp are a Norwegian electronic music duo from Tromsø, composed of Torbjørn Brundtland and Svein Berge. The group formed officially in 1998 and released their debut album Melody A.M. on Wall of Sound in 2001. The word Röyksopp is a stylized version of the Norwegian word for the puffball mushroom, "røyksopp" or literally, "smoke mushroom". Many Röyksopp tracks have been used in commercials or as background music in television programs and movies. Two of their songs were used in the EA Sports football (soccer) video game franchise FIFA.

VS.

Queer (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ogk467BZLmc)

Artist: Garbage

Garbage is a Scottish/American rock group formed in Madison, Wisconsin, in 1994. The band consists of Scottish vocalist Shirley Manson and American musicians Duke Erikson, Steve Marker and Butch Vig. Their debut album, Garbage, was an unexpected smash, selling over 4 million copies and certified double platinum in the UK, USA and Australia. Garbage won the Breakthrough Artist award at the 1996 MTV Europe Music Awards. Garbage spent two years working on follow-up album, Version 2.0, which topped the charts in the UK upon its 1998 release and the following year was nominated for two Grammy Awards, Album of the Year and Best Rock Album. Garbage quietly disbanded in late 2003, but regrouped to complete fourth album Bleed Like Me in 2005. In 2006, Vig returned to producing while Manson recorded a solo album. Garbage ended a second hiatus in 2007, and released greatest hits retrospective Absolute Garbage, with a view to record its fifth studio album in 2009.

[Melville]

Animal Collective.

[Spinal]

T-Pain - It would take a brilliant video to salvage that dreadful song. People actually listen to that and enjoy it?

The Buggles - I adore this song and the video holds up surprisingly well. I love the tugging back and forth between nostalgia for the past and excitement for the future. Ah, MTV, this is who you used to be.

Bjork - One of her most thrilling songs. Quite possibly her worst video. Never understood this one.

The Buggles

[Spinal]

Iwrestledabearonce - I have no idea how it is humanly possible to switch back and forth from screaming and singing like that. Not exactly my cup of tea, but impressive on some level.

Nine Inch Nails - I've never been a big fan of this video. Lots of pretty stuff to look at, but I don't feel like it is very involving. It's basically just a haphazard series of images without a compelling unified throughline.

Massive Attack - I find this one oddly moving. It's a simple idea, but it is also audacious. And it's perfect, because it's hard to imagine the concept working with any other song.

Massive Attack

[Russ]

I don't understand how the Cramps video can even be considered a music video. It just looks like concert footage.
I understand that feeling, though, imo, this is one of the few live videos that really trancends its "concert footage" trappings. The overall outrageousness, Lux's unequaled frontman presence, and the rather nonchalant attitude of his female bandmates all contribute to the 'lightning in a bottle' timelessness of the performance and the overall iconic nature of the video. Regardless of whether it advances, it's one for the ages.

[Adam]

Gah, i hate to throw two very late nominations into one thread but, holy god, if we were allowed to vote for concert footage, David Byrne's lamp dance has gotta take this whole dang tourney in a walk, yeah?

EDIT: But there's no footage of it anywhere on the internet?! !!!!!

[Adam]

Teardrop

[Adam]

Video Killed the Radio Star

[Adam]

Remind Me

[Spinal]

Animal Collective - One striking, memorable moment. Wasn't too keen on the rest.

Royksopp - Excellent concept. Dense, captivating, thought-provoking.

Garbage - Shirley Manson is fantastic in this and I really enjoy the camerawork. Sexy, creepy and subtly funny. Nicely rides the line of absurdity.

Garbage

[Spinal]

I will call a winner at 9pm (Pacific time), but I would still like to see more votes here.

[origami_mustache]

Buggles

[origami_mustache]

Animal Collective

[origami_mustache]

Avalanches

[ledfloyd]

Royskopp

[Stay Puft]

The Federal Commission of T-Pain approves!

But seriously, I'm voting for The Buggles. I love that Bjork song, but the video is tacky as all get out.

[Stay Puft]

Iwrestledabearonce is kind of amazing. The camera work is hilarious. It gets my vote.

[Lasse]

Massive Attack. I thought it was very moving.

[Spinal]

The Buggles 8
Bjork 3
T-Pain 0

The Buggles - "Video Killed the Radio Star"

[Spinal]

Instructions:

Please take the time to watch all three videos and then cast your vote by making a post in this thread. Thread will be open a minimum of 24 hours and then may close any time after that at my discretion.

Although it will naturally be difficult to vote for music you find disagreeable or against personal favorites, please remember that the primary question should be "Is this the most effective and/or artistic video?" not "Is this the best song?" Basically, just keep an open mind and allow yourself the opportunity to be pleasantly surprised.

The Ghost of You (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uCUpvTMis-Y)

Artist: My Chemical Romance

My Chemical Romance is a Grammy-nominated American rock band from New Jersey, formed in 2001. The band consists of lead vocalist Gerard Way, bassist Mikey Way, guitarists Frank Iero and Ray Toro and drummer Bob Bryar. Shortly after forming, the band signed to Eyeball Records and released their debut album I Brought You My Bullets, You Brought Me Your Love in 2002. They signed with Reprise Records the next year and released their major label debut Three Cheers for Sweet Revenge in 2004; the album was a commercial success, selling over one million copies. My Chemical Romance's music has been described by the media as alternative rock, post-hardcore, punk revival, pop punk and emo. The band's official website describes their music as simply "rock" or "violent, dangerous pop". My Chemical Romance won the award for Best International Band at the 2007 NME Awards and Gerard Way also won the Hero of the Year award.

VS.

Paparazzi (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qStFzmQGQNw)

Artist: Lady Gaga

Lady Gaga (born Stefani Joanne Angelina Germanotta) is an American singer, songwriter and performance artist. She began performing in the rock music scene of New York City's Lower East Side. During her early time at Interscope Records, Gaga worked as a songwriter for fellow label artists and captured the attention of Akon who recognized that she also had vocal talent. Her debut album The Fame was released in August 2008 and was a critical and commercial success. In addition to receiving generally positive reviews, it went number-one in four countries, also topping the Billboard Top Electronic Albums chart in the United States. "Just Dance" was nominated for Best Dance Recording at the 51st Grammy Awards. Lady Gaga has been influenced by pop singers Michael Jackson and Madonna, as well as glam rock stars such as David Bowie and the band Queen. The Queen song "Radio Ga Ga" inspired her stage name.

VS.

D.A.N.C.E. (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=49esza4eiK4)

Artist: Justice

Justice is a French electronic music duo consisting of Gaspard Augé and Xavier de Rosnay. Justice is known for incorporating a strong rock and indie influence into their music and image. Their debut album â€* was released in June 2007 to critical acclaim. The album was later nominated for a Grammy Award for "Best Electronic/Dance Album" and came in at number 15 on Pitchfork's Top 50 Albums of 2007. Their style has been thought of as having some heavy metal influence and combines cut-up bass lines with a compressed and distorted synth sound. Their music often includes bass slapping. In August 2008, the band announced via Myspace that their next major release would be a DVD documentary/concert film titled A Cross the Universe. The announcement was also tied in with an invitation for fans to email photos, images and artwork to an address so that the received photos could be compiled for use as artwork for the release.

[Dead & Messed Up]

I'm really surprised by this...but I think Lady Gaga.

[Mara]

I'm really surprised by this...but I think Lady Gaga.

She's annoying, but she actually has a really strong voice.

Skarsgard is hot as hell.

[Mysterious Dude]

Justice

[Mara]

I'm a mildly talented singer, myself. Do you think if I wore seven pounds of makeup, wigs, insane outfits, and lost all sense of dignity, that I'd make enough money to hire Alex Skarsgard to make out with me on camera? Because I could be persuaded.

[Spinal]

My Chemical Romance - I liked some things about this one, particularly the surprise moment that links the two locations. I couldn't get over the nagging feeling that the subject matter was not earned by the substance of the music.

Lady Gaga - Makes very little sense in the end, but, by golly, it's compulsively watchable. Art direction and costumes are extraordinary. Love the lushness and the bad girl antics.

Justice - This one was fun too, though the song makes more impact than the video. Still, some nifty moments and I enjoyed the quick Buggles reference.

Lady Gaga

[Spinal]

Fiona Apple 4
The Avalanches 3
The Cramps 3

Fiona Apple - "Across the Universe"

[Spinal]

Instructions:

Please take the time to watch all three videos and then cast your vote by making a post in this thread. Thread will be open a minimum of 24 hours and then may close any time after that at my discretion.

Although it will naturally be difficult to vote for music you find disagreeable or against personal favorites, please remember that the primary question should be "Is this the most effective and/or artistic video?" not "Is this the best song?" Basically, just keep an open mind and allow yourself the opportunity to be pleasantly surprised.

Baby Got Back (http://www.myvideo.de/watch/3662092/Sir_Mix_A_Lot_Baby_Got_Back)

Artist: Sir Mix-a-Lot

Anthony Ray, better known by his stage name Sir Mix-a-Lot, is an emcee and producer based in Seattle, Washington. Swass, his debut album, was released in 1988, with two other singles: "Square-Dance Rap" and a hip hop cover of the Black Sabbath song "Iron Man" backed by the band Metal Church. In 1992, he debuted on a major label with his album Mack Daddy, whose single "Baby Got Back" reached the top of the American singles chart and won a Grammy Award for Best Rap Solo Performance. Low label promotion of his 1996 album Return of the Bumpasaurus led Sir Mix-a-Lot to leave the American label. During the three year break, Sir Mix-a-Lot worked closely with another group, The Presidents of the United States of America under the group name "Subset" with a combination of rock and rap music, but nothing was ever officially released. Sir Mix-a-Lot signed with the independent Artist Direct label for his 2003 album Daddy's Home with "Big Johnson" as its lead single.

VS.

A Volta (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q3D-SCHiVzc)

Artist: N.A.S.A.

N.A.S.A. is a hip hop indie music duo, consisting of L.A.-based producers Squeak E. Clean and the brazilian DJ Zegon. N.A.S.A. stands for North America/South America and, in addition to the two principals, includes approximately three dozen other artists from both coasts of the U.S. and abroad. Their debut album, The Spirit of Apollo, features a wide variety of artists, including Kanye West, Karen O and Nick Zinner of Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Lykke Li, Sean Lennon, John Frusciante of Red Hot Chili Peppers, Tom Waits, Nina Persson of The Cardigans, George Clinton, David Byrne, Cee-Lo Green, Seu Jorge, M.I.A., and RZA, Method Man, Ghostface Killah, and Ol' Dirty Bastard of Wu-Tang Clan. The Spirit of Apollo took over five years to create, and some songs required N.A.S.A. to wait up to three years for collaborators' schedules to match. It was finally released on February 17, 2009, and received generally favorable reviews.

VS.

Babies (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7T_ucNb7GqU&feature=related)

Artist: Pulp

Pulp were an English alternative rock band formed in Sheffield in 1978. Upon their split in 2002, their lineup consisted of Jarvis Cocker (vocals, guitar), Candida Doyle (keyboards), Mark Webber (guitar), Steve Mackey (bass) and Nick Banks (drums). Throughout the 1980s, the band struggled to find success but gained prominence in the UK in the 1990s after the release of the albums His 'n' Hers in 1994 and Different Class in 1995, of which, the latter reached the number one spot in the UK Albums Chart. Pulp's musical style in this successful era consisted of disco influenced pop-rock coupled with "kitchen sink drama"-style lyrics. This period of success led to the band and frontman Jarvis Cocker becoming major figures in the Britpop movement in the mid-1990s. In June 2009, Cocker stated in an article in The Sun that he had no intention of reuniting the band but suggested that a financial incentive might sway him.

[Ezee E]

Lady Gaga. I think she's on her way to making some sweet music videos.

[Winston*]

Massive Attack

Kind of liked NIN's Gormenghastiness though. At least Iwrestledabearonce seem aware that they're terrible, I guess.

[Mysterious Dude]

I'm going with N.A.S.A., though I have a lot of reservations about that video. It would have been nice if they hadn't moved the 'camera' around so much and so quickly, so I could maybe follow what's happening (and I have to read subtitles on top of that).

I can't support the others, though. I don't know why I never noticed how sexist/racist that Mix-a-lot song is.

[Winston*]

Justice

I like the crazy Gaga outfits but that video should've been cut down to song length.

[Spinal]

I like the crazy Gaga outfits but that video should've been cut down to song length.

A fair point. The three-minute prologue is fairly indulgent and doesn't add much.

[ledfloyd]

Lady Gaga

[Russ]

Animal Collective. Strong group, tho.

[Russ]

Justice

[Sven]

MCR - Oof. Misguided.

Gaga - This is what people are talking about? Ouch.

Justice - Excellent excellent, though the graphic T celebration is a too-worn aesthetic at this point. Maybe I'm just sick of it because I live in Brooklyn.

[Ivan Drago]

Lady Gaga. I think she's on her way to making some sweet music videos.

Yup. The Bad Romance video is very WTF, but awesome as well.

[Spinal]

Yup. The Bad Romance video is very WTF, but awesome as well.

I can't tell if this is a vote or not.

[Spinal]

Close. I'll give this two more hours.

[Spinal]

Nine Inch Nails 6
Massive Attack 5
Iwrestledabearonce 1

Nine Inch Nails - "The Perfect Drug"

[Spinal]

Instructions:

Please take the time to watch all three videos and then cast your vote by making a post in this thread. Thread will be open a minimum of 24 hours and then may close any time after that at my discretion.

Although it will naturally be difficult to vote for music you find disagreeable or against personal favorites, please remember that the primary question should be "Is this the most effective and/or artistic video?" not "Is this the best song?" Basically, just keep an open mind and allow yourself the opportunity to be pleasantly surprised.

Everybody to the Limit (http://www.homestarrunner.com/fhqwhgads.html)

Artist: Strong Bad

Strong Bad is one of the major characters of the Homestar Runner series of animated Flash web cartoons. He is portrayed by Matt Chapman, the principal voice actor and co-founder of the series. Strong Bad enjoys pranking the other characters of the series, along with his ever-diligent lackey pet named "The Cheat" and his older brother Strong Mad. The main segment that Strong Bad is a part of is "Strong Bad Email", in which he answers emails sent to him by fans. Strong Bad Email has turned into several DVDs, as well as a podcast, since its first episode in 2001. Strong Bad is sometimes referred to as the main antagonist of the series due to his pranks that he, Strong Mad, and The Cheat play on the other characters, and his insulting of his brother Strong Sad. He seems to be a character influenced by the American popular culture trends of the 1970s, 1980s, and 1990s, such as heavy metal music and the second and third generations of video games and video game consoles.

VS.

Bedtime Story (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CSaFgAwnRSc)

Artist: Madonna

Madonna (born Madonna Louise Ciccone) is an American recording artist, actress and entrepreneur. Born in Bay City, Michigan, and raised in Rochester Hills, Michigan, she moved to New York City in 1977, for a career in modern dance. After performing as a member of the pop musical groups Breakfast Club and Emmy, she released her self-titled debut album Madonna in 1983 on Sire Records. A series of hit singles from her studio albums Like a Virgin (1984) and True Blue (1986) gained her global recognition, establishing her as a pop icon for pushing the boundaries of lyrical content in mainstream popular music and imagery in her music videos, which became a fixture on MTV. Guinness World Records listed her as the world's most successful female recording artist of all time.

VS.

Need You Tonight/Mediate (http://www.mtv.com/videos/inxs/186223/need-you-tonight-mediate.jhtml)

Artist: INXS

INXS (pronounced "in excess") are an Australian rock band, formed as The Farriss Brothers in 1977 in Sydney. Mainstays are Garry Gary Beers on bass guitar, Andrew Farriss on keyboards, Jon Farriss on drums, Tim Farriss on lead guitar and Kirk Pengilly on guitar/sax. For twenty years, they were fronted by Michael Hutchence on lead vocals, whose "sultry good looks" and magnetic stage presence made him the focal point of the band. Initially known for their New Wave/ska/pop style, they later developed a harder pub rock style, including funk and dance elements. INXS achieved international success with a series of hit recordings through the 1980s and 1990s, including the albums Listen Like Thieves, Kick, X and Welcome to Wherever You Are. Hutchence died in 1997 and INXS did not perform publicly for a year. In 2005, members of INXS participated in a reality television series, broadcast worldwide, culminating in the selection of their new lead singer, Canadian J. D. Fortune.

[Adam]

Hmmm, I nominated that Pulp deal without watching it first. It's fine, but not worthy of the tourney. Maybe I was thinking Underwear? I don't remember

ANYway, I don't like the other two, so I'm going with the sorta lame Pulp video. Great song, at least

[Adam]

Need You Tonight/Mediate

[Kurosawa Fan]

INXS

[Kurosawa Fan]

Sir Mix-a-Lot. Nostaglia FTW.

[Kurosawa Fan]

Royksopp

[Kurosawa Fan]

Justice

[Adam]

This is a devastatingly close call for me between LG and Justice

I'll go with D.A.N.C.E

[ledfloyd]

NASA. mickey mouse dealing drugs? yes please.

[ledfloyd]

INXS

[Winston*]

NASA

That Pulp song is great but that video is obnoxious. "A promo video is simply an advertisement for a song"? Piss off.

[Russ]

N.A.S.A.

[Spinal]

I was really excited when the N.A.S.A. video started, but ultimately felt that it did not live up to the promise.

Not a big Pulp fan to begin with and this did nothing to sway me.

So I am left with Sir Mix-a-Lot, which, I must confess, still strikes me as being amusing and fun with its straightforward nastiness.

Sir Mix-a-Lot

[Ivan Drago]

N.A.S.A.

I really like the Pulp song, the video not so much. Pulp is growing on me though, with Babies and This Is Hardcore in the tournament. And I grew up with Baby Got Back. I wish I didn't.

[Ivan Drago]

INXS

[Ivan Drago]

I can't tell if this is a vote or not.

It's not. Just conversation. A vote IS coming up though - this is a toughie. I really like all three of these videos, and artists for that matter.

[Ivan Drago]

Lady Gaga

[Ivan Drago]

Royskopp

[Mysterious Dude]

Madonna

[Mysterious Dude]

Röyksopp