Battle of the Music Videos

[Spinal]

I could go either Madonna or INXS. The INXS has some nifty effects and a random rodent. The other has Madonna giving birth to doves.

Madonna

[Watashi]

Sigh... guess I'll throw my vote towards Strong Bad. It's been my ringtone for almost a year.

[Stay Puft]

Röyksopp.

[Mara]

I first heard "Baby Got Back" at a friend's Bat Mitzvah. It was a surreal moment, and I've never forgotten it.

[Spinal]

Röyksopp 6
Animal Collective 3
Garbage 1

Röyksopp - "Remind Me"

[dreamdead]

N.A.S.A.

[dreamdead]

I like both JUSTICE and Lady Gaga, but we'll give it to the vague artistry of the former video (though I echo Sven's reservations about the t-shirts). I'm content with Lady Gaga moving on, too, though.

[dreamdead]

Madonna. Starts off incredibly slow and understated, but the second half justifiably works.

[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.

Untitled #1 (Vaka) (http://www.dailymotion.com/video/xqbge_sigur-ros-untitled-aka-vaka_music)

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.

Modern World (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1nMHGyR_i8g)

Artist: Wolf Parade

Wolf Parade is an indie rock band from Montreal, Quebec. Wolf Parade began in April 2003, when former Frog Eyes member Spencer Krug was offered a gig by Grenadine Records' Alex Megelas. With only a 3-week deadline to form a band, Krug contacted a fellow Canadian guitarist Dan Boeckner (formerly of British Columbia band Atlas Strategic) and began writing songs in Krug's apartment. Initially using a drum machine for their rhythm section played through computer speakers, Krug later invited Arlen Thompson to the lineup as the drummer; however, the newly formed trio rehearsed as a full band only the day before their first show. During the tour, Wolf Parade recorded and released their self-titled debut EP. In September 2003, Hadji Bakara joined Wolf Parade, contributing his synthesizer and sound manipulation skills to the lineup. In September 2005, the band's debut album Apologies to the Queen Mary was released on Sub Pop Records to critical acclaim, earning a 2006 Polaris Music Prize nomination.

VS.

You Oughta Know (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m8IwrpqTfEY)

Artist: Alanis Morissette

Alanis Nadine Morissette is a Canadian-American singer-songwriter, record producer and occasional actress. She has won 12 Juno Awards and seven Grammy Awards. As a testament to what was her often perceived as "precocious" talent, her first year as winning Grammy artist, she became (and remains) the youngest-ever winner of the "Album of the Year" Grammy. Morissette began her career in Canada, and as a teenager recorded two dance-pop albums, Alanis and Now Is the Time, under MCA Records. Her debut album was the rock-influenced Jagged Little Pill, which remains the best-selling debut album by a female artist in the U.S., and the highest selling debut album worldwide, selling 30 million units globally. Her following album, Supposed Former Infatuation Junkie, was released in 1998 and was a success as well. Morissette took up producing duties for her subsequent albums, which include Under Rug Swept, So-Called Chaos and Flavors of Entanglement. Morissette has sold more than 40 million albums worldwide.

[Spinal]

Justice - 7
Lady Gaga - 5
My Chemical Romance - 0

Justice - D.A.N.C.E.

[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.

Long Road to Ruin (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8ba6koGhrO4&feature=related)

Artist: Foo Fighters

Foo Fighters is an American rock band formed in 1995. Singer and guitarist Dave Grohl formed the group as a one-man project after the dissolution of his previous band, Nirvana, in 1994. Prior to the release of Foo Fighters in 1995, Grohl drafted Nate Mendel as bassist, William Goldsmith as drummer, and Pat Smear as guitarist to complete the group. The band was small, young, and they first began with performances in Portland, Oregon before expanding. The current line-up includes Taylor Hawkins and Chris Shiflett. Over the course of the band's career, three of its albums have won Grammy Awards for Best Rock Album, and all six have been nominated for Grammys.

VS.

Mirando (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fk8qcGOtBFw)

Artist: Ratatat

Ratatat is a New York City electronic music duo consisting of guitarist Mike Stroud and synthesizer player and producer Evan Mast. Mike Stroud and Evan Mast first met as students at Skidmore College, but they did not work together until they recorded several songs under the name "Cherry" in 2001. Their 2004 debut, Ratatat, was written and recorded in Mast's Crown Heights, Brooklyn apartment on Stroud's PowerBook. The album is entirely instrumental with the exception of vocal excerpts at the beginning and end of selected tracks. The group debuted by releasing the single Seventeen Years on Evan and his brother's record label Audio Dregs in the US. They then signed for XL Recordings, releasing their debut album and the single Germany to Germany. On October 6, 2006 Ratatat became the first band to perform a public show inside the Guggenheim Museum in New York City.

VS.

Doo Wop (That Thing) (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dE6Qcc6VDo8)

Artist: Lauryn Hill

Lauryn Noel Hill is an American recording artist, musician, producer and actress. Early in her career, she established her reputation in the hip-hop world as the lone female member of the Fugees. In 1998, she launched her solo career with the release of the commercially successful and critically acclaimed album, The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill. The recording earned Hill five Grammy Awards. Following the success of her debut album, Hill largely dropped out of public view, in part due to her displeasure with fame and the music industry. After a four-year hiatus, she released MTV Unplugged No. 2.0, a live recording of "deeply personal songs." The live recording was performed with an acoustic guitar played by Hill. Hill also participated in a short-lived Fugees reunion during the mid-2000s. Hill is the mother of five children with Rohan Marley, the fourth son of reggae musician Bob Marley.

[Spinal]

N.A.S.A. - 6
Sir Mix-a-Lot - 2
Pulp - 1

N.A.S.A. - "A Volta"

[Adam]

Untitled #1 (Vaka)

[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.

Mad Season (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-0bgmucAQXk)

Artist: Matchbox Twenty

Matchbox Twenty is a rock music band initiated in Orlando, Florida. Matchbox Twenty has sold over 45 million albums worldwide from the releases of Yourself or Someone Like You, Mad Season, and More Than You Think You Are. They released their latest album, Exile on Mainstream, on October 2, 2007. The current members of the band are Rob Thomas, Paul Doucette, Brian Yale, and Kyle Cook. Rhythm guitarist Adam Gaynor left the band during 2005, after performing on their first three studio albums. Rob Thomas is the main songwriter and main singer. Rob Thomas created a well-established solo career for himself after releasing the album, …Something to Be and its follow-up album, Cradlesong. The band has four total Grammy nominations to its credit.

VS.

Soratobu Toshi Keikaku (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0biV9Ph6QM0&feature=related)

Artist: capsule

Capsule is a Japanese electronic music duo consisting of vocalist Toshiko Koshijima and producer Yasutaka Nakata. Capsule formed in November 1997, after Nakata Yasutaka and Koshijima Toshiko met at the TEENS'MUSIC FESTIVAL in the Hokuriku area convention when they were 17 years old. Capsule are frequently referred to as "neo-Shibuya-kei" due to their stylistic similarities, both aesthetically and musically, to acts from the Shibuya-kei movement of the '90's, most notably Pizzicato Five. Their music contains elements of bossa nova, lounge, breakbeat, and most recently electro.

VS.

Rockit (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Npdtd62vbM)

Artist: Herbie Hancock

Herbert Jeffrey "Herbie" Hancock is an American pianist and composer. He is regarded not only as one of the greatest living jazz musicians, but also as one of the most influential jazz musicians of the 20th century. His music embraces elements of funk and soul while adopting freer stylistic elements from jazz. In his jazz improvisation, he possesses a unique creative blend of jazz, blues, and modern classical music, with a harmonic concept much like the styles of Claude Debussy and Maurice Ravel. He was one of the first jazz musicians to embrace synthesizers and funk. Hancock's music is often melodic and accessible; he has had many songs "cross over" and achieved success among pop audiences. His 2007 tribute album, "River: The Joni Letters" won the 2008 Grammy Award for Album of the Year, only the second jazz album to win the award.

[Adam]

Long Road to Ruin

[Adam]

Rockit

[Spinal]

Though it feels a bit long, the Sigur Ros video is the only one that makes an impression. A few memorable apocalyptic images is enough to take this one.

[Stay Puft]

INXS.

I hate to be that guy, but I never understood Homestar Runner. I've never found it amusing.

[origami_mustache]

Ratatat

[Ivan Drago]

Long Road to Ruin

[Spinal]

Lauryn Hill quite easily. I don't really care for the Foo Fighters it's-funny-because-it's-stupid aesthetic in their videos. It's tiresome. Beastie Boys make that sort of thing work because they do it with a straight face.

[Spinal]

Matchbox Twenty - Didn't get it.

capsule - Kinda sorta nifty. Kinda sorta forgettable.

Herbie Hancock - A true original. A perfect visual expression of the music that meets the challenge of creating a video for a song with no singing.

Herbie Hancock

[ledfloyd]

lauryn hill i completely agree with that criticism of the foo fighters

[ledfloyd]

i think matchbox twenty is trying to compare themselves to the beatles? rockit. easily. herbie is legend.

[Russ]

Madonna.

Spinal, I had to view that INXS video at another site as the page you linked to gave me a modal popup box warning me of a virus attack and trying to get me to install protection (likely malware or something similar). Happened twice. Each time I had to kill the task to get rid of it. I wouldn't consider that link safe.

(also, on some other videos from that Dailymotion site, my antivirus protection has blocked some "known threats". Anyone else having issues with the Dailymotion site?)

[Russ]

Wolf Parade

[Spinal]

Madonna.

Spinal, I had to view that INXS video at another site as the page you linked to gave me a modal popup box warning me of a virus attack and trying to get me to install protection (likely malware or something similar). Happened twice. Each time I had to kill the task to get rid of it. I wouldn't consider that link safe.

(also, on some other videos from that Dailymotion site, my antivirus protection has blocked some "known threats". Anyone else having issues with the Dailymotion site?)

I'm very very sorry. I haven't had any such indication that there might be an issue. I will fix it at my earliest opportunity.

[Russ]

Foo Fighters

[Russ]

Herbie Hancock

[Melville]

Lauryn Hill quite easily.
This.

[Winston*]

Lauryn Hill

[ledfloyd]

Sigur Ros

[Stay Puft]

Ratatat.

I hadn't seen that Foo Fighters video before. Better than the Mentos one, but I'm finding myself agreeing more with Spinal's criticism. And I like Lauryn Hill a lot, so I guess I don't care if she advances even if the video didn't do much for me.

[Melville]

I'm very very sorry. I haven't had any such indication that there might be an issue. I will fix it at my earliest opportunity.
On a similar note, some of the videos you've posted (e.g. the Madonna one) are being blocked by WMG in Canada. I'm probably the only Canadian voting in these things, so it's no big deal, but I figured I might as well let you know.

[Winston*]

On a similar note, some of the videos you've posted (e.g. the Madonna one) are being blocked by WMG in Canada. I'm probably the only Canadian voting in these things, so it's no big deal, but I figured I might as well let you know.
I get a few "This video is not available in your country"''s, but I've been just googling to find myself a new one since no one else has been mentioning them.

[Melville]

I get a few "This video is not available in your country"''s, but I've been just googling to find myself a new one since no one else has been mentioning them.
Usually my interest isn't sufficiently strong for me to try to actively seek out the videos, but I'll definitely do that if an unseen video is up against something that I really like.

[Lasse]

Lauryn Hill.

[Spinal]

INXS 5
Madonna 4
Strong Bad 1

INXS - "Need You Tonight/Mediate"

[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.

Must Be Santa (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qVs6X9yIM_k)

Artist: Bob Dylan

Bob Dylan (born Robert Allen Zimmerman) is an American singer-songwriter, musician, painter and poet. He has been a major figure in popular music for five decades. Much of his most celebrated work dates from the 1960s when he was at first an informal chronicler, and later an apparently reluctant figurehead, of social unrest. A number of his songs became anthems for the civil rights and anti-war movements. His early lyrics derived added vigor from a variety of political, social and philosophical, as well as literary influences. They defied existing pop music conventions and appealed hugely to the then burgeoning counterculture. Dylan has both amplified and personalized musical genres, exploring numerous distinct traditions in American song – from folk, blues and country to gospel, rock and roll and rockabilly, to English, Scottish and Irish folk music, embracing even jazz and swing. He has received numerous awards over the years including Grammy, Golden Globe and Academy Awards; he has been inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame and Songwriters Hall of Fame.

VS.

Little Drummer Boy (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gKTHvW2JcAA)

Artist: Bing Crosby and David Bowie

Harry Lillis "Bing" Crosby was an American popular singer and actor whose career stretched over more than half a century from 1926 until his death. Crosby was the best-selling artist until well into the rock era, with over half a billion records in circulation. One of the first multimedia stars, from 1934 to 1954 Bing Crosby held a nearly unrivaled command of record sales, radio ratings and motion picture grosses. Widely recognized as one of the most popular musical acts in history, Crosby is also credited as being the major inspiration for most of the male singers of the era that followed him, including Frank Sinatra, Perry Como, and Dean Martin. In 1962, Crosby was the first person to be recognized with the Grammy Global Achievement Award. He won an Academy Award for Best Actor for his role as Father Chuck O'Malley in the 1944 motion picture Going My Way.

David Bowie (born David Robert Jones) is an English musician, actor, record producer and arranger. Active in five decades of popular music and frequently reinventing his music and image, Bowie is widely regarded as an innovator, particularly for his work in the 1970s. He has been cited as an influence by many musicians and is known for his distinctive voice and the intellectual depth of his work. Bowie first caught the eye and ear of the public in the autumn of 1969, when the song "Space Oddity" reached the top five of the UK Singles Chart. After a three-year period of experimentation he re-emerged in 1972 during the glam rock era as the flamboyant, androgynous alter ego Ziggy Stardust. In 1975, Bowie achieved his first major American crossover success with the number-one single "Fame", co-written with John Lennon. Throughout the 1990s and 2000s, Bowie continued to experiment with musical styles, including blue-eyed soul, industrial, adult contemporary, and jungle.

VS.

Christmas in Hollis (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OR07r0ZMFb8)

Artist: Run-D.M.C.

Run–D.M.C. was a hip hop group from Hollis, in the Queens borough of New York City. Founded by Joseph "Run" Simmons, Darryl "D.M.C." McDaniels, and Jason "Jam-Master Jay" Mizell, the group is widely acknowledged as one of the most influential acts in the history of hip hop. They were the biggest act in hip-hop throughout the 1980s and are credited with breaking hip hop into mainstream music. In 2004, Rolling Stone ranked them number 48 in their list of the greatest musical artists of all time. In 2007, the trio was named Greatest Hip Hop Group of All Time by MTV.com. They were also named Greatest Hip Hop Artist of All Time by VH1. They were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame on April 4, 2009, the second hip-hop group to be inducted, after Grandmaster Flash and The Furious Five. Following the success of Notorious, it has been announced that a Run-D.M.C. biopic is in production. The film is rumored to depict the life and story of the group beginning from their inception in Hollis, Queens, and leading up to the 2002 murder of Jam Master Jay.

[Russ]

Dylan

[Melville]

Dylan

[Spinal]

GAH, I don't understand VEVO. The fucking video is 100% loaded and it's STILL PAUSING EVERY 5 SECONDS!!!! WTF?

Sorry about that. I'll try to find alternate links in the future.

[Adam]

Little Drummer Boy

[ledfloyd]

dylan

[Sven]

"Who laughs this way, 'ho ho ho'?"

Best part ever. That said, Bowie and Bing get my vote.

Merry Xmas, everyone!

[Kurosawa Fan]

Dylan

[Kurosawa Fan]

Foo Fighters

[Kurosawa Fan]

Wolf Parade

[Kurosawa Fan]

I don't like any of these. I was the least bored by capsule. If you'd like to count that as a vote, be my guest.

[Mysterious Dude]

Lauryn Hill

[Mysterious Dude]

Bob Dylan

[Spinal]

We've had a little holiday break, but I'll get this going again within the next day or so. Once we get through #96, we'll have our final 128 and then we can do more managle one-on-one battles.

[Stay Puft]

Wolf Parade.

I like the Sigur Ros video, but I feel they have much better videos in this tournament.

[Stay Puft]

Bing & Bowie.

[dreamdead]

Bing and Bowie.

[dreamdead]

Wolf parade. Same reasons as Stay Puft.

[dreamdead]

Lauryn Hill.

[dreamdead]

Capsule, I think. Rather like their music, too, which I've never been exposed to before. Suggestions on what to get from them?

[Spinal]

Lauryn Hill 7
Foo Fighters 4
Ratatat 2

Lauryn Hill - "Doo Wop (That Thing)"

[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.

When Do I Get to Sing 'My Way'? (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pvatys8vP3s)

Artist: Sparks

Sparks is an American rock and pop music band formed in Los Angeles in 1970 by brothers Ron (keyboards) and Russell Mael (vocals), initially under the name Halfnelson. Best known for their quirky approach to song writing, Sparks' music is often accompanied by cutting and acerbic lyrics, and an idiosyncratic stage presence, typified in the contrast between Russell's wide-eyed hyperactive frontman antics and Ron's sedentary scowling. The band's long career has seen them successfully adopt many different musical genres; including glam pop, power pop, electronic dance music, mainstream pop and most recently chamber pop. Sparks have been highly influential on the development of popular music, in particular on the late 1970s scene, when in collaboration with Giorgio Moroder, they reinvented themselves as an electronic pop duo, and abandoned the traditional rock band line up. They are held in esteem by such peers as Depeche Mode, New Order, Morrissey, Mark Burgess of the Chameleons UK and They Might Be Giants, who all cite Sparks as a major influence

VS.

Losing My Religion (http://www.mtv.com/videos/rem/65748/losing-my-religion.jhtml)

Artist: R.E.M.

R.E.M. is an American rock band formed in Athens, Georgia, in 1980 by Michael Stipe (lead vocals), Peter Buck (guitar), Mike Mills (bass guitar), and Bill Berry (drums and percussion). R.E.M. was one of the first popular alternative rock bands. By the early 1990s, when alternative rock began to experience broad mainstream success, R.E.M. was viewed as a pioneer of the genre and released its two most commercially successful albums, Out of Time (1991) and Automatic for the People (1992), which veered from the band's established sound. R.E.M.'s 1994 release Monster was a return to a more rock-oriented sound. In 2007, the band was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Kurt Cobain told Rolling Stone in a 1994 interview, "I don’t know how that band does what they do. God, they’re the greatest. They’ve dealt with their success like saints, and they keep delivering great music."

VS.

C'est Comme Ça (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BggXhzUhZ94)

Artist: Les Rita Mitsouko

Les Rita Mitsouko was a French pop rock group formed by guitarist Fred Chichin and singer Catherine Ringer. The duo first performed as Rita Mitsouko at Gibus Club, Paris in 1980. They went on to become one of the most successful musical acts of the 1980s in France. The duet has stated that the name "Rita Mitsouko" originates from the combination of Catherine Ringer's childhood friend and the name of a meal they enjoyed in a local Japanese restaurant soon after they met. The band first achieved major popular success in 1985, with the release of the second single from their first album: "Marcia baila" rose to number 2 on the French record charts that summer. Rita Mitsouko was a creative and eccentric debut album, combining elements of punk, rock, synth pop and jazz. Coupled with the band's colorful, wild, over-the-top image, it brought Rita Mitsouko to the attention of some important anglophone listeners. In November 2007, Fred Chichin died from cancer.

[Adam]

When Do I Get to Sing My Way?

[Spinal]

I will also take Bowie and Bing. Not much of a video in the technical sense. But a unique and extraordinary musical moment.

[Spinal]

Next vote takes it. Must be for either Dylan or Bowie/Bing.

[Spinal]

More votes needed.

[Spinal]

More votes needed.

[Melville]

I'm indifferent to all three, but I'll go with Wolf Parade.

[Spinal]

Not crazy about any of these, so I will vote for the one with the monkey.

Les Rita Mitsouko

[Melville]

Rockit

[ledfloyd]

Not crazy about any of these, so I will vote for the one with the monkey.

Les Rita Mitsouko

like a true matchcutter.

monkey for me as well.

[Lasse]

Bowie & Bing.

[Mysterious Dude]

That whole video, I was waiting for Crosby to start beating Bowie to death.

[Winston*]

Man, does Bowie's voice not fit that song.

[Kurosawa Fan]

Yeah, I don't get the love for Bowie and Bing.

[Spinal]

Bowie and Bing 6
Dylan 5
Run DMC 0

David Bowie and Bing Crosby - "Little Drummer Boy"

[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.

Once in a Lifetime (http://www.spike.com/video/talking-heads-once/2794617)

Artist: Talking Heads

Talking Heads was an American rock band formed in 1974 in New York City and active until 1991. The band comprised David Byrne, Chris Frantz, Tina Weymouth and Jerry Harrison. The new wave musical style of Talking Heads combined elements of punk rock, avant-garde, pop, funk, world music and art rock. Frontman and songwriter David Byrne contributed whimsical, esoteric lyrics to the band's songs, and emphasized their showmanship through various multimedia projects and performances. Critic Stephen Thomas Erlewine describes Talking Heads as being "one of the most critically acclaimed bands of the '80s, while managing to earn several pop hits." In 2002, the band was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Four of the band's albums appeared on Rolling Stone magazine's 2003 list of the 500 Greatest Albums of All Time. Their concert film Stop Making Sense is widely regarded as one of the finest examples of the genre.

VS.

The Weeping Song (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3kQIO7k4cDQ&feature=related)

Artist: Nick Cave

Nicholas Edward "Nick" Cave is an Australian musician, songwriter, author, screenwriter, and occasional film actor. He is best known for his work as a frontman of the critically acclaimed rock band Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds, established in 1984, a group known for its eclectic influences and musical styles. Before that, he had fronted the group The Birthday Party in the early 1980s, a band renowned for its highly dark, challenging lyrics and violent sound influenced by free jazz, blues, and post-punk. In 2006, he formed the garage rock band Grinderman that released its debut the following year. Cave's music is generally characterised by emotional intensity, a wide variety of influences, and lyrical obsessions with religion, death, love, America, and violence. Upon Cave's induction into the ARIA Hall of Fame, ARIA Awards committee chairman Ed St John said “Nick Cave has enjoyed - and continues to enjoy – one of the most extraordinary careers in the annals of popular music."

VS.

Buffalo Gals (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9SgvJY9xxcA)

Artist: Malcolm McLaren

Malcolm Robert Andrew McLaren is a performer, impresario, self-publicist and most famously, former manager of the Sex Pistols and the New York Dolls. In 1971, McLaren and his partner, Vivienne Westwood, opened a London clothing shop called Let It Rock on the Kings Road. In 1975 McLaren designed red leather costumes for the New York Dolls and used a Soviet-style hammer and sickle motif for their stage show as a provocative means of promoting them. This ploy was not successful and the Dolls soon broke up. By 1975 McLaren had started to manage The Strand. His assistant, Bernie Rhodes, spotted Johnny Rotten. His appearance and attitude impressed McLaren and Rotten was brought in to audition as a new frontman. Rotten joined, and the band was renamed The Sex Pistols. In 1983 McLaren released Duck Rock, an album which mixed up influences from Africa and the Americas, including hip-hop. The album proved to be highly influential in bringing hip-hop to a wider audience in the UK. His song "About Her" rose to prominence when used by director Quentin Tarantino in Kill Bill Vol. 2.

[Spinal]

Some good stuff here, but "Once in a Lifetime" is in a different class than the others. Not just a music video, it's postmodern art with mainstream appeal.

Talking Heads

[Ivan Drago]

Rockit

[Adam]

Once in a Lifetime

[ledfloyd]

my love for david byrne is all encompassing. talking heads.

i must say i do applaud nick cave's use of trash bags.

[Mara]

This competition needs more Veggie Tales.

His Cheeseburger. (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0XFNtXbkelM)

Better yet,

Song of the Cebu. (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1gQXa9SgrtE)

[Russ]

Les Rita Mitsouko

[Russ]

Malcolm McLaren, but the other two are also great.

[Mara]

The Yodeling Veterinarian of the Alps (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bUkpE16b56g)

I Love my Lips. (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j1FGaCNN1aw&feature=related)

Endangered Love (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tpcf_qD3GW4)

Yeah, I'm a dork.

[Spinal]

Indifference noted.

Wolf Parade 5
Sigur Ros 3
Alanis 0

Wolf Parade - "Modern World"

[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.

One More Time (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lH-0s0pRleg)

Artist: Daft Punk

Daft Punk is an electronic music duo consisting of French musicians Guy-Manuel de Homem-Christo and Thomas Bangalter. Daft Punk reached significant popularity in the late 1990s house movement in France and were met with continued success in the years following. Daft Punk are noted for their use of visual components associated with their musical productions. Their outward personae have also changed over time. During their Homework years, the duo would usually wear masks to hide their appearance. When not wearing disguises, they occasionally preferred to be replaced by animation or have their faces digitally obscured for press kits. Very few official photos of the duo's faces exist. In their more visible Discovery years, they have appeared as futuristic robots for publicity photo shoots, interviews, live shows and music videos. Thomas Bangalter once stated, "We did not choose to become robots. There was an accident in our studio. We were working on our sampler, and at exactly 9:09 a.m. on September 9, 1999, it exploded. When we regained consciousness, we discovered that we had become robots."

VS.

Bitter Sweet Symphony (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BLhekr0cJe0)

Artist: The Verve

The Verve were an English rock band formed in Wigan, Greater Manchester in 1990, by vocalist Richard Ashcroft, guitarist Nick McCabe, bassist Simon Jones, and drummer Peter Salisbury. The members had met at Winstanley Sixth Form College. Simon Tong later became a member. Beginning with a psychedelic sound indebted to shoegazing and space rock, by the mid-1990s the band had released several EPs and two albums. They also endured name and lineup changes, breakups, health problems, drug abuse and various lawsuits. Filter referred to them as "one of the tightest knit, yet ultimately volatile bands in history". The band's commercial breakthrough was the 1997 album Urban Hymns and its single "Bitter Sweet Symphony", which became a massive worldwide hit. Soon after this commercial peak, the band broke up in April 1999, citing internal conflicts. The band's original line-up reunited in June 2007, embarking on a tour later that year and releasing the album Forth in August 2008. A year later it was announced that the band had split up for the third time in their career.

VS.

Nobody Move, Nobody Get Hurt (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Et9llKBJdEs)

Artist: We Are Scientists

We Are Scientists is a New York based rock band that formed in Berkeley, California in the year 2000. Originally formed of Keith Murray on drums, Chris Cain playing bass guitar and Scott Lamb providing vocals & guitar, before Michael Tapper became drummer and Keith became vocalist and guitarist. The band's breakthrough success came with their second album With Love and Squalor which sold 100,000 copies in the first 6 months. Their second success was with Brain Thrust Mastery which charted at 11 in the UK album chart, with two top 40 singles "After Hours" and "Chick Lit". They are currently writing their third album with Andy Burrows, as well as starring in their own television short 'Steve Wants His Money'. The series focuses around We Are Scientists owing an American man Steve money and consequently running away to England where they attempt to sell off various marketing ideas to musicians, journalists, music DJ's and promoters.

[ledfloyd]

bittersweet symphony is really funny and evocative. daft punk is good, but they have much better videos.

[Russ]

Thank god, a video that DOESN'T suck: We Are Scientists

Ok, it does suck a little, just not as much as the others.

Jeebus, Spinal, weak batch, huh?

[Russ]

Without looking, I'm guessing Watashi nominated Daft Punk?

Bring back Dinosaucers.

[Melville]

Sparks

[Melville]

Talking Heads

[Melville]

We Are Scientists

The one guy's mustache reminds me of an important question: did anybody nominate Sabotage by The Beastie Boys'?

[Spaceman Spiff]

I feel like such a CHUD voting for all of my picks, but Talking Heads. I don't really like that Nick Cave song or video, and the McLaren is kind of interesting but doesn't do much. Byrne 'dancing' however is something I can watch all day.

[Spinal]

Herbie Hancock 6
capsule 2
Matchbox Twenty 0

Herbie Hancock - "Rockit"

[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.

Without Me (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YVkUvmDQ3HY)

Artist: Eminem

Marshall Bruce Mathers III, better known by his stage name Eminem, is an American rapper, record producer and actor. Eminem quickly gained popularity in 1999 with his major-label debut album The Slim Shady LP, which won a Grammy Award for Best Rap Album. The following album, The Marshall Mathers LP, became the fastest-selling hip hop album in history. The Marshall Mathers LP and his third album, The Eminem Show also won Grammy Awards, making Eminem the first artist to win Best Rap Album for three consecutive LP's. In 2002, he won the Academy Award for Best Original Song for Lose Yourself from the film 8 Mile, in which he also played the lead. Lose Yourself would go on to become the longest running #1 rap single.

VS.

At Your Funeral (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NwW0q65VIas)

Artist: Saves the Day

Saves the Day is an American band from Princeton, New Jersey, formed in 1994. The band consists of lead vocalist and guitarist Chris Conley, guitarist Arun Bali, bassist Manuel Carrero and drummer Durijah Lang. Saves the Day released their debut studio album, Can't Slow Down, in 1998. Stay What You Are was released in 2001, peaking at number 100 on the Billboard 200. It spawned two successful music videos on MTV2 and has since sold 200,000 copies. The album had a poppier feel with more intricate guitar work and arrangements rather than the previous power chord-based sound. The band recorded their fifth studio album, Sound the Alarm, in 2005, without a label. It was announced that Sound the Alarm was part one of a three part concept. The next album in the trilogy was released in 2007, titled Under the Boards. The final album in the series is planned to be released in 2009, titled Daybreak. Of the original lineup, only Chris Conley remains today.

VS.

Six Days (http://vimeo.com/2187876)

Artist: DJ Shadow

DJ Shadow (born Joshua Davis) is an American music producer, DJ and songwriter. He is considered a prominent figure in the development of instrumental hip hop and first gained notice in 1996 with the release of his highly acclaimed debut album. Endtroducing..... would make the Guinness World Records book for "First Completely Sampled Album" in 2001. The only pieces of equipment Shadow used to produce the album are the AKAI MPC60 12-bit sampling drum machine, a pair of turntables and a borrowed-by-visiting Pro Tools setup from an early adopter of the technology, Dan "The Automator" Nakamura. In November 2006 Time magazine named it one of its "All-TIME" 100 best albums. He has an exceptionally large record collection, with over 60,000 records.

[ledfloyd]

the saves the day video i can't get through cause the song annoys me. the eminem video is a cool idea but i don't feel like it reaches it's full potential. dj shadow by default.

[Spinal]

I like the idea of the Saves the Day video. I like the execution. Perhaps it's silly, but it bothers me that the content of the video is not well suited to the actual lyrics. The song (as I interpret it) is about a life foolishly cut short by drugs. The video conveys the full sweep of a long life and ends with the promise of a new one. It doesn't quite fit in my mind.

I think the Eminem video works best. It has energy, personality, a clear vision that is suited to the song and a few visual gags that land.

[Melville]

I like the Eminem video, but I'll go with DJ Shadow.

[B-side]

Seriously, what happened to Eminem? Even his old joke songs were at least decent. Now they're terrible. I like that song a lot. Video is mildly amusing.

The Saves the Day video did little for me.

Uh, yeah, DJ Shadow and his Wong Kar-Wai directed video ftw.

[Stay Puft]

Sparks.

It amuses me greatly that my Sparks and Les Rita Mitsouko noms both wound up in the same battle, as it just reminded me that they did a song/video together (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jgtjEjEKUA4). Ah, Fred Chichin, I'm not voting for you, but you were made of win all the same. RIP, dude.

[Stay Puft]

Also, Spinal, that was an amusingly awful use of French in the thread title. :lol:

[Stay Puft]

Daft Punk.

Gosh, I can't help it. Discovery is one of my favorite albums and Interstella 5555 is awesome. Still, this vote is more because of my being underwhelmed by the other videos (though The Verve's video is amusing at times). I think these Daft Punk singles work better in the context of the feature film. As seperate videos, they don't amount to anything. (I've been feeling the same way about my capsule noms, now that I've viewed them as seperate entities in this tournament. They have a nice cumulative effect, but seperate, not so much. Oh well.)

[Spinal]

Also, Spinal, that was an amusingly awful use of French in the thread title. :lol:

Yeah, I was pretty stumped on that one.

[Mara]

Do I Get Religion Comme Ça?

The thread titles have been consistently hilarious, I think.

[Spinal]

I'm going to let the next vote take it. Sparks or Les Rita Mitsouko?

[Spinal]

More votes please.

[Mysterious Dude]

Malcolm McLaren

[Mysterious Dude]

The Verve

[Spinal]

I watched all these and then forgot to vote. Daft Punk was pretty boring. Close between the other two, but I'll give the edge to We Are Scientists, mostly for the initial reveal. Too bad they don't do more with the premise.

[Mysterious Dude]

Saves the Day

My nominees are not doing well. :sad:

[Thirdmango]

Les Rita

[Thirdmango]

We Are Scientists

[Thirdmango]

DJ Shadow

[Thirdmango]

Talking Heads

[Spinal]

Les Rita Mitsouko 4
Sparks 3
REM 0

Les Rita Mitsouko - "C'est Comme Ça"

[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.

Say Say Say (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aLEhh_XpJ-0&feature=channel)

Artist: Paul McCartney and Michael Jackson

Sir James Paul McCartney, MBE is an English singer-songwriter, poet, composer, multi-instrumentalist, entrepreneur, record and film producer, painter, and animal rights and peace activist. McCartney is the most successful songwriter in the history of popular music. McCartney gained worldwide fame as a member of The Beatles, alongside John Lennon, George Harrison, and Ringo Starr. McCartney and Lennon formed one of the most influential and successful songwriting partnerships and wrote some of the most popular songs in the history of rock music. After leaving The Beatles, McCartney launched a successful solo career and formed the band Wings with his first wife, Linda Eastman, and singer-songwriter Denny Laine. McCartney is listed in Guinness World Records as the most successful musician and composer in popular music history, with 60 gold discs and sales of 100 million singles.

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.

Knife (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xuYZbYtAl9A)

Artist: Grizzly Bear

Grizzly Bear is a Brooklyn-based indie rock band, comprising Edward Droste (vocals, guitar, keyboards), Daniel Rossen (vocals, guitar, keyboards), Chris Taylor (bass, backing vocals, various instruments, producer) and Christopher Bear (drums, backing vocals). The band employs traditional and electronic instruments. Their sound has been categorized as psychedelic pop, folk rock, and experimental, and is dominated by the use of acoustic guitars and vocal harmonies. In summer of 2008, Grizzly Bear opened for Radiohead on the second leg of their North American tour. In Toronto, on their last date of the tour together, Radiohead guitarist Jonny Greenwood spoke of his love for Grizzly Bear, on stage, calling them his favorite band.

VS.

California Love (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FWOsbGP5Ox4)

Artist: 2Pac

Tupac Amaru Shakur, known by his stage names 2Pac and Makaveli, was an American rapper. He has sold 75 million albums to date and is one of the best-selling music artists in the world. In addition to his status as a top-selling recording artist, Shakur was a promising actor and a social activist. Most of Shakur's songs are about growing up amid violence and hardship in ghettos, racism, problems in society and conflicts with other rappers. Shakur was initially a roadie and backup dancer for the alternative hip hop group Digital Underground. Shakur became the target of lawsuits and experienced other legal problems. He was later shot five times and robbed in the lobby of a recording studio in New York City. Following the event, Shakur grew suspicious that other figures in the rap industry had prior knowledge of the incident and did not warn him; the controversy helped spark the East Coast-West Coast hip hop rivalry. On the night of September 7, 1996, Shakur was shot four times in a drive-by shooting in the Las Vegas metropolitan area in Nevada. He died six days later of respiratory failure and cardiac arrest at the University Medical Center.

[Sven]

The Say Say Say is good, but way random and the narrative is a whimper.
The Grizzly Bear video is too inexplicable.
California Love is solid.

[Melville]

Say Say Say

[Mysterious Dude]

Grizzly Bear

[ledfloyd]

strong round. i agree with sven that say say say seems random. i did enjoy it though. i'm going with grizzly bear. inexplicable as it is.

[Adam]

Say Say Say

[Adam]

Six Days

[Spinal]

I'm fond of the playful, carefree interaction between Paul and Michael. Though Dre and and 2Pac are pretty cool as well. West Coast, West Coast.

Paul and Michael

[Spinal]

More votes please.

[Spinal]

Talking Heads 6
Malcolm McLaren 2
Nick Cave 0

Talking Heads - "Once in a Lifetime"

[Russ]

Eminem

[Russ]

Grizzly Bear

[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.

Never Gonna Give You Up (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dQw4w9WgXcQ)

Artist: Rick Astley

Richard Paul "Rick" Astley is an English singer-songwriter and musician. In March 1988, "Never Gonna Give You Up" topped the U.S. singles chart and was followed by a second U.S. #1 in June with his second U.S. single release, "Together Forever". In 1989 he was nominated for a Grammy Award for Best New Artist, but lost to Tracy Chapman. He achieved one more major success with the 1991 ballad "Cry for Help", which reached the top 10 in both the UK and the US. The song was taken from his third album, Free, which featured a move towards soul music, leaving his synth-pop days behind. After fading into obscurity in the 1990s, Astley made a comeback in 2007 when he became an Internet phenomenon, as his video for "Never Gonna Give You Up" became part of a popular Internet meme known as "Rickrolling". Astley was voted by Internet users "Best Act Ever" at the MTV Europe Music Awards 2008.

VS.

Stupid Girl (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lLY0X_eY3OY)

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.

VS.

Right Now (http://www.strimoo.com/video/17158333/Van-Halen-Right-Now-Veoh.html)

Artist: Van Halen

Van Halen is an American hard rock band formed in Pasadena, California in 1972. They have enjoyed large scale success since the release of their self titled debut album in 1978. During the 1980s they also had more Billboard Hot 100 hits than any other hard rock or heavy metal band. According to the Recording Industry Association of America, Van Halen is the 20th best selling band/artist of all time. In addition to being recognized for success, the band is known for the drama surrounding the exits of former members. The (multiple) exits of singers David Lee Roth and Sammy Hagar were surrounded in controversy and mass press coverage with various contrasting press statements between them and the band. More recently, Michael Anthony left the band for controversial reasons. Following their 2004 concert tour the band was on a hiatus from the public until September 2006, when new bassist Wolfgang Van Halen's place was confirmed and Roth-reunion rumors began to re-surface coinciding with the band's Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction on March 12, 2007. After years of speculation, Van Halen began a tour with Roth in late 2007 across North America. The tour continued into 2008.

[Russ]

Garbage

[Sven]

I don't care if I'm falling prey to disaffected irony, that Astley video has staying power.

[Melville]

Strong group. The Van Halen video is surprisingly clever, and Rick Astley's got the moves. But I like scratched-up film stock too much to vote for anything other than Garbage.

[Spinal]

Shirley Manson is so darn sexy, but I have to vote for the Van Halen video, which is a lot more poignant and clever than I remembered.

[Ezee E]

Always been a big fan of the Garbage video.

[Adam]

Bitter Sweet Symphony

[Adam]

Stupid Girl

[Spinal]

DJ Shadow 5
Eminem 2
Saves the Day 1

DJ Shadow - "Six Days"

[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.

Pyramid Song (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s2VzLn6DMCE)

Artist: Radiohead

Radiohead are an English alternative rock band from Abingdon, Oxfordshire, formed in 1985. The band consists of Thom Yorke (lead vocals, rhythm guitar, piano, beats), Jonny Greenwood (lead guitar, keyboard, other instruments), Ed O'Brien (guitar, backing vocals), Colin Greenwood (bass guitar, synthesizers) and Phil Selway (drums, percussion). Radiohead released their first single, "Creep", in 1992. The song was initially unsuccessful, but it became a worldwide hit several months after the release of their debut album, Pablo Honey (1993). Radiohead's popularity rose with the release of their second album, The Bends (1995). Radiohead's third album, OK Computer (1997), propelled them to greater international fame. Featuring an expansive sound and themes of modern alienation, OK Computer has often been acclaimed as a landmark record of the 1990s. Radiohead has received the Best Alternative Music Performance award three times at the Grammy Awards, for OK Computer in 1998, Kid A in 2001, and In Rainbows in 2009.

VS.

Helpless Corpses Enactment (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ELyco68w5ks&feature=related)

Artist: Sleepytime Gorilla Museum

Sleepytime Gorilla Museum (often abbreviated to SGM) is an American experimental rock band, formed in 1999 in Oakland, California. The band fuses classical, industrial, and art-rock themes throughout their music. They are known to perform elaborate routines on stage and discuss possibly fictitious stories of dada artists and mathematicians. After the disbanding of Idiot Flesh, Dan Rathbun and Nils Frykdahl joined with Charming Hostess member Carla Kihlstedt to form Sleepytime Gorilla Museum with Moe! Staiano and David Shamrock. Their first performance, on June 22, 1999, was to a single banana slug (Ariolimax dolichophallus). The following night's performance was their first to a human audience. Dan Rathbun plays, among other custom-made instruments (though he uses a common bass guitar most of the time), a custom-stringed bass instrument referred to as the Sledgehammer Dulcimer (or, alternately, the Slide Piano Log), which uses piano strings and is possibly more than 7 feet long; it is played with two sticks: one in the left hand generally used as a fret, and another in the right hand to strike the strings.

VS.

Faint (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LYU-8IFcDPw)

Artist: Linkin Park

Linkin Park is an American rock band from Agoura Hills, California. Formed in 1996, the band has sold more than 60 million albums and won two Grammy Awards. It achieved mainstream success with its debut album, Hybrid Theory, which was certified Diamond by the RIAA in 2005. Its following studio album, Meteora, continued the band's success, topping the Billboard 200’s album charts in 2003, and was followed by extensive touring and charity work around the world. In 2003, MTV2 named Linkin Park the sixth greatest band of the music video era and the third best of the new millennium behind Oasis and Coldplay. Having adapted the nu metal and rap rock genres to a radio-friendly yet densely-layered style in Hybrid Theory and Meteora, the band explored other genres in their next studio album, Minutes to Midnight. The album topped the Billboard charts and had the third best debut week of any album that year. They are the only musical act in the world that formed after the millennium to have sold over 50 million records worldwide.

[ledfloyd]

stupid girl. some bits of the van halen video are good and then there's stuff like 'right now, god is killing, moms and dogs, because he has to' or 'nothing is more expensive than regret' and a picture of a condom shows up and i start laughing. i can't tell if they're taking the piss or not, but i tend to think they're being serious.

[Spinal]

Sleepytime Gorilla Museum

But only because Satan is making me.

[Spinal]

'right now, god is killing, moms and dogs, because he has to'

That's the best one! I thought that was supposed to be funny.

[Melville]

Radiohead

[Spinal]

We Are Scientists 4
The Verve 3
Daft Punk 1

We are Scientists - "Nobody Move, Nobody Get Hurt"

[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.

One Minute Movies (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pYvAIqexGZE)

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.

Hyperballad (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yGpLMNnhLFo)

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.

VS.

Hell Bent (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A5kyRn9CKTc)

Artist: Kenna

Kenna Zemedkun, known professionally as simply Kenna, is an Ethiopian-born American musician. The eldest son of an immigrant family that relocated to Cincinnati, Ohio (and later raised in Virginia Beach, Virginia), Kenna began to express an interest in music upon receiving a copy of U2's The Joshua Tree. His track "Say Goodbye To Love" was nominated for Best Urban/Alternative Performance in the 2009 Grammy Awards. With the release of his first single in 2001, "Hell Bent", Kenna gained moderate popularity and an underground following of fans who eagerly awaited the release of his debut album, New Sacred Cow. After many delays and swapping of record labels, the album was finally released under the Sony imprint Flawless in 2003. The album, which was co-produced by Chad Hugo of The Neptunes, contained elements of electronica, synth pop, post rock, and house music. Kenna has organized an expedition to the top of Mt. Kilimanjaro called Summit On The Summit to raise awareness of the billion people worldwide who lack access to clean drinking water. Other celebrities, including Jessica Biel and Lupe Fiasco, have also committed to the treacherous climb, which will take place in January 2010.

[Spinal]

The Bjork video is excellent, but the Kenna video is utterly heartbreaking.

[Russ]

The Residents

[ledfloyd]

sleepytime gorilla museum

[Mysterious Dude]

Garbage

[ledfloyd]

isn't the kenna video just a re-edit of mark osborne's more? great short, but i'm not sure how i feel about making it the video. bjork.

[Mara]

isn't the kenna video just a re-edit of mark osborne's more?

...hey.

The original music from More is better.

[ledfloyd]

...hey.

The original music from More is better.
much.

[Mysterious Dude]

My vote goes to Sleepytime Gorilla Museum, but sweet Jesus, that music is awful. I'm pretty sure they use that kind of music to torture prisoners at Guantanamo.

[Russ]

Radiohead

[Stay Puft]

Grizzly Bear.

I like the "Say Say Say" video but agree the narrative is ultimately a whimper.

[Thirdmango]

I'm going to do a token vote for Faint. I've always liked the style of that video.

[Mysterious Dude]

Björk

[Spinal]

More votes please.

[Spinal]

Garbage 6
Risk Astley 1
Van Halen 1

Garbage - "Stupid Girl"

[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.

Carol Brown (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1cGoDns8wTA)

Artist: Flight of the Conchords

Flight of the Conchords is a New Zealand comedy duo composed of Bret McKenzie and Jemaine Clement. Billing themselves as "Formerly New Zealand's fourth most popular guitar-based digi-bongo acapella-rap-funk-comedy folk duo", the group uses a combination of witty observation, characterisation and acoustic guitar music. The duo's comedy and music became the basis of a BBC radio series and then an American television series, which premiered in 2007, also called Flight of the Conchords. They were named Best Alternative Comedy Act at the 2005 US Comedy Arts Festival and Best Newcomer at the Melbourne Comedy Festival, and they received a nomination for the Perrier Comedy Award at the 2003 Edinburgh Festival Fringe after performing at a venue called The Caves. The duo's live performances have gained them a worldwide cult following.

VS.

Smells Like Teen Spirit (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hTWKbfoikeg)

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.

B.O.B. (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fVyVIsvQoaE)

Artist: OutKast

OutKast is an American hip hop duo based in East Point, Georgia, a city south of Atlanta, Georgia. They were originally known as The OKB (The OutKast Brothers) but later changed the group's name to OutKast. The group's original musical style was a mixture of Dirty South and G-Funk. Since then, however, funk, soul, pop, electronic music, rock, spoken word poetry, jazz, and blues elements have been added to the group's musical palette. The duo consists of Atlanta native André "André 3000" Benjamin (formerly known as Dré) and Savannah, Georgia-born Antwan "Big Boi" Patton. The duo is one of the most successful hip-hop groups of all time, having received six Grammy Awards. Over 25 million copies have been sold of OutKast's eight releases: six studio albums, a greatest hits release, and the Grammy award winning (for best album) Speakerboxxx/The Love Below, a double album containing a solo album from each member. Along with their commercial success, OutKast has maintained an experimental approach in their music and are widely praised for their originality and artistic content.

[Adam]

Gah! All three of these belong in like the final thirty of this tournament

I'll go with Carol Brown, even if I kind of want Outkast to win

[Adam]

Hell Bent

[Adam]

Pyramid Song

[Spinal]

Agreed that this is brutal. The Outkast video is really freaking sweet. I can't go against Nirvana though. As many times as I've seen it, that video is still both exhilarating and moving. It is utterly iconic. 3:02 - 3:06 is one of my favorite music video moments ever. It pretty much says it all. For some reason, I don't find the Conchords as amusing as others seem to.

[ledfloyd]

nirvana.

[Russ]

The Conchords is a clip from their tv show isn't it? It's a tossup between Nirvana and OutKast, so I'll say OutKast.

[Acapelli]

outkast

[Acapelli]

california love

[Acapelli]

it's really really lame that the kenna video just appropriated the more short film. and the new order song is better

bjork

[Spinal]

I was not aware of the short film origins of the Kenna video. I am going to switch my vote to Bjork on principle. But I do like the Kenna music better than the New Order stuff.

[Ivan Drago]

Without looking, I'm guessing Watashi nominated Daft Punk?

Nope, it was me. It goes into competition while I'm out of town and away from a computer and I miss it???! :frustrated:

[dreamdead]

2pac!

[dreamdead]

Sleepytime Gorilla Museum. The oceanside sequence is one of my favorite metal shifts in music videos. So unexpected.

[dreamdead]

Bjork.

[dreamdead]

Crap. What a painful pairing of Outkast and Nirvana. I'll go with Nirvana, since I think the Miss Jackson video is a stronger Outkast video.

[Stay Puft]

Radiohead.

[Spinal]

Grizzly Bear 4
Paul and Michael 3
2Pac 3

Grizzly Bear - "Knife"

[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.

Hope There's Someone (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8b5HHRT8xvw)

Artist: Antony and the Johnsons

Antony and the Johnsons is a music group presenting the work of Antony Hegarty and his collaborators. British experimental musician David Tibet of Current 93 heard a demo and offered to release Antony's music through his Durtro label. The debut album, Antony and the Johnsons, was released in 2000. In 2001, Antony released a short follow-up EP, I Fell in Love with a Dead Boy, which, in addition to the title track, included a cover of "Mysteries of Love", a David Lynch/Angelo Badalamenti song. Producer Hal Willner heard the EP and played it to Lou Reed, who immediately recruited him for his project The Raven. Now gaining more attention, Antony signed to US-based record label Secretly Canadian, and released another EP, The Lake, with Lou Reed guest-performing on one of the tracks. Antony and the Johnsons' third album, The Crying Light, was released on January 19, 2009.

VS.

The Super Bowl Shuffle (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fJNC3dgreaU)

Artist: Chicago Bears Shufflin' Crew

"The Super Bowl Shuffle" is a rap song recorded by members of the Chicago Bears football team prior to their appearance in Super Bowl XX. The idea for "The Super Bowl Shuffle" came from record producer Randy Weigand, who was a friend of Willie Gault's. They had met through Randy's girlfriend, Courtney Larson, who was a cheerleader for the team. Weigand had noticed a dance routine on the Amos & Andy television show called "The Kingfish Shuffle" and thought that a similar performance by the Bears players would make for a great marketing tool. Walter Payton and Jim McMahon were unable to attend the original filming of the song's music video, so they were spliced in later with help of a chroma key, presumably due to their celebrity status. The song rose to number #41 on the Billboard charts, and earned a Grammy nomination for best Best Rhythm & Blues Vocal Performance—Duo or Group.

VS.

Bohemian Rhapsody (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=irp8CNj9qBI)

Artist: Queen

Queen are a British rock band. Formed in London in 1970 following the demise of the band Smile, Queen originally consisted of vocalist Freddie Mercury, guitarist Brian May, bassist John Deacon and drummer Roger Taylor. The band became popular with audiences via their hit singles, live performances, originality and showmanship, being voted the greatest British band of all time in a national BBC poll. Their 1985 Live Aid performance was voted the best live rock performance of all time in an industry poll. Queen enjoyed success in the UK in the early to mid-1970s with the albums Queen and Queen II, but it was with the release of Sheer Heart Attack in 1974 and A Night at the Opera the following year that the band gained international success.

[Spinal]

Interesting that Walter Payton was not only the best player, but also the best rapper. Mike Singletary cracked me up.

Even though the video does not really live up to the song, I'll take Queen.

[Spinal]

Next vote takes it. Must be for either Radiohead or Sleepytime Gorilla Museum.

[Spinal]

Bjork 5
Kenna 1
The Residents 1

Bjork - "Hyperballad"

[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 Stop (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BfOdWSiyWoc)

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.

VS.

Galvanize (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zmyvpJUljy4)

Artist: The Chemical Brothers

The Chemical Brothers are the English electronic music duo Tom Rowlands and Ed Simons (occasionally referred to as Chemical Tom and Chemical Ed). Known for their live sets, they are pioneers of the big beat electronic dance genre which achieved mainstream popularity in the 1990s. Chemical Brothers are credited as being one of the few truly arena-sized electronic acts. Their live acts comprise large screens displaying psychedelic images, strobe lights and lasers that project over the crowd. The Brothers have also played at many major festivals, from Glastonbury to the Reading, the HFStival, and Leeds festival.

VS.

The Denial Twist (http://new.music.yahoo.com/The-White-Stripes/videos/view/The-Denial-Twist--25452518)

Artist: The White Stripes

The White Stripes are an American rock duo, formed in 1997 in Detroit, Michigan. The group consists of songwriter Jack White (vocals, guitar and piano) and Meg White (drums and occasional vocals). After releasing several singles and three albums within the Detroit independent music underground, The White Stripes rose to prominence in 2002, as part of the garage rock revival scene. The White Stripes use a low-fidelity, do-it-yourself approach to writing and recording. Their music features a melding of punk and blues influences and a raw simplicity of composition, arrangement, and performance. The duo is also noted for their fashion and design aesthetic which features a simple color scheme of red, white, and black.

[Mysterious Dude]

I nominated Galvanize, but I gotta go with The White Stripes. Dammit, Gondry, you are one insane son of a bitch.

Incidentally, if any one of these videos had been in competition 68, I would vote for it.

Would it be rude for me to ask how many more of these there are going to be before round 2?

[Spinal]

Would it be rude for me to ask how many more of these there are going to be before round 2?

32 passed through automatically. 96 needed to get to final 128.

Stick with me until 96. I will make a bracket for the final 128. We will take a week long break. From there, it will just be two videos per thread, most of which you have probably seen, so you won't have to watch three videos per vote.

[Spinal]

Glad they explained the inspiration for the Chili Peppers video at the end, because it seemed utterly random to me.

Galvanize worked best for me. Those clown punks got spunk.

[Adam]

The lack of love for Gondry-fied Conchords frightens and confuses me

[Mysterious Dude]

Flight of the Conchords

(Gondry again? Dammit.)

I like the Nirvana video, but I've long thought the Heart-Shaped Box video had a style that was better-suited to the style of the band (too bad it didn't advance).

[ledfloyd]

i like the galvanize video. but gotta go with the white stripes. i love that video so much.

[Adam]

The Denial Twist

[Adam]

Hope There's Someone

[Ivan Drago]

If the Super Bowl Shuffle advances over Bohemian Rhapsody, I will break every last one of you.

[Ivan Drago]

Radiohead

[ledfloyd]

like the antony song but the video takes too long getting where it's going. queen. though it'd be more clear cut if it was the muppet version.

[B-side]

That dude from Antony and the Johnsons has an amazing voice. Good song, that one.

Don't care about the Bears video. I suppose the song has novelty value.

Queen is awesome. That video isn't.

Going with Antony.

[B-side]

i like the galvanize video. but gotta go with the white stripes. i love that video so much.

My sentiments AKA my vote.

[B-side]

Nirvana. Am I the only one that thinks the songs are the worst part of Flight of the Conchords? I know that's kind of their thing, but I'm not a big fan.

[Ezee E]

Queen

[Thirdmango]

So Tough...
Outkast.

[Thirdmango]

Queen though my love for them has died considerably.

[Thirdmango]

I love Gondry but this one didn't do it for me.

I love Chemical Brothers but I have to give the win to RHCP for one of my favorite videos.

[Stay Puft]

OutKast.

Yeah, damn tough choice between this and Nirvana. Both great videos.

[thefourthwall]

Sarah says Nirvana.

[Ivan Drago]

The White Stripes

[Spinal]

Radiohead 5
Sleepytime Gorilla Museum 4
Linkin Park 1

Radiohead - "Pyramid 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.

Shut Up and Let Me Go (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tolm-07if3c)

Artist: The Ting Tings

The Ting Tings are a Grammy-nominated British Indie-pop duo of Jules De Martino (drums, lead guitar, vocals, piano) and Katie White (vocals, guitar, bass drums and bass guitar). Originally from Hackney, London, they formed in December 2007 while based at Islington Mill, Artist Studios in Salford. They have released four singles on their current label Columbia Records UK, including the single "That's Not My Name" which charted straight at Number 1 in the UK Singles Chart on 18 May 2008. The album We Started Nothing was released on 19 May 2008 and charted at Number 1 in the UK. In January 2008 they were voted third in the annual BBC 6 Music poll of industry experts Sound of 2008, for acts to emerge in the coming year. They are currently touring the US, supporting Pink on her Funhouse Tour. On 2 December 2009, they were nominated for Best New Artist at the 52nd Grammy Awards.

VS.

Sabotage (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z5rRZdiu1UE)

Artist: Beastie Boys

Beastie Boys is an American hip hop group from New York City. The group comprises Michael "Mike D" Diamond, Adam "MCA" Yauch, and Adam "Ad-Rock" Horovitz. Since around the time of the Hello Nasty album, the DJ for the group has been Michael "Mix Master Mike" Schwartz, who was first featured in the song "Three MCs and One DJ". Beastie Boys began as a hardcore punk group in 1979, and appeared on the compilation cassette New York Thrash with Riot Fight and Beastie. They switched to hip-hop with the release of their 12" single "Cooky Puss", which was followed by their debut album Licensed to Ill (1986), which enjoyed international critical acclaim and commercial success. The group is well-known for its eclecticism, obscure cultural references and kitschy lyrics. They are one of the longest lived hip-hop acts worldwide and continue to enjoy commercial and critical success in 2009, more than 25 years after the release of their debut album. In 2007, they were nominated for induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

VS.

The Fear (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q-wGMlSuX_c&feature=channel)

Artist: Lily Allen

Lily Rose Beatrice Allen is an English recording artist, talk show host, and actress. Her teenage years comprised her evolution in musical tastes, from glam rock to alternative. She ran away from home to attend the Glastonbury Festival at the age of fourteen. A year later, Allen abandoned school and concentrated on improving her performing and compositional skills. Afterwards, she created several demo songs, and near the end of 2005, she created a profile on MySpace, where she made some of her recordings public. A contract was signed with Regal Recordings, as the views on MySpace rose to tens of thousands. In 2006, she began to work on completing what would be her first studio album and its first mainstream single "Smile" reached the top position on the UK Singles Chart in July 2006. Her debut record, Alright, Still brought Allen a nomination at the Grammy Awards, BRIT Awards and MTV Video Music Awards.

[Spinal]

I'm going to let this one go a little longer.

[ledfloyd]

sabotage.

[Adam]

I'll go with Sabotage, even if I think The Beastie Boys are guilty of the same things Spinal knocked the Foo Fighters videos for

And I want to have sex on Lily Allen

[Ezee E]

Sabotage.

Surprised this one was in the play-in battles.

[Russ]

Queen

[Russ]

The White Stripes

[Russ]

Lily Allen

[dreamdead]

Ting-Tings, I believe. All three are worthy of advancing, though.

[Sven]

I think I'm going with the Shufflin' Crew on this'n.

[Ivan Drago]

Ting Tings.

[Melville]

Sabotage

[thefourthwall]

Lily Allen, primarily because I like the critique that it makes in a whimsical style.

[Spaceman Spiff]

I really quite liked the Ting Tings video, but it cannot beat anything starring Sir Stuart Wallace as himself and Alasondro Alegre!

SABOTAGE.

[Thirdmango]

The Ting Tings

[Spinal]

Stiff competition, but it's gotta be the Beastie Boys. Wall-to-wall fun. I'm a sucker for those dramatic zooms.

[Spinal]

Nirvana 5
Outkast 4
Flight of the Conchords 2

Nirvana - "Smells Like Teen Spirit"

[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.

Learn to Fly (http://www.metacafe.com/watch/sy-1130125511/foo_fighters_learn_to_fly_offi cial_music_video/)

Artist: Foo Fighters

Foo Fighters is an American rock band formed in 1995. Singer and guitarist Dave Grohl formed the group as a one-man project after the dissolution of his previous band, Nirvana, in 1994. Prior to the release of Foo Fighters in 1995, Grohl drafted Nate Mendel as bassist, William Goldsmith as drummer, and Pat Smear as guitarist to complete the group. The band was small, young, and they first began with performances in Portland, Oregon before expanding. The current line-up includes Taylor Hawkins and Chris Shiflett. Over the course of the band's career, three of its albums have won Grammy Awards for Best Rock Album, and all six have been nominated for Grammys.

VS.

Express Yourself (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GsVcUzP_O_8)

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.

I'll Believe in Anything (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7G1eLTV89dM&feature=related)

Artist: Wolf Parade

Wolf Parade is an indie rock band from Montreal, Quebec. Wolf Parade began in April 2003, when former Frog Eyes member Spencer Krug was offered a gig by Grenadine Records' Alex Megelas. With only a 3-week deadline to form a band, Krug contacted a fellow Canadian guitarist Dan Boeckner (formerly of British Columbia band Atlas Strategic) and began writing songs in Krug's apartment. Initially using a drum machine for their rhythm section played through computer speakers, Krug later invited Arlen Thompson to the lineup as the drummer; however, the newly formed trio rehearsed as a full band only the day before their first show. During the tour, Wolf Parade recorded and released their self-titled debut EP. In September 2003, Hadji Bakara joined Wolf Parade, contributing his synthesizer and sound manipulation skills to the lineup. In September 2005, the band's debut album Apologies to the Queen Mary was released on Sub Pop Records to critical acclaim, earning a 2006 Polaris Music Prize nomination.

[Spinal]

Queen 6
Antony and the Johnsons 2
Da Bears 1

Queen - "Bohemian Rhapsody"

[B-side]

Who nominated Antony and the Johnsons?

[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.

Helena (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UCCyoocDxBA)

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.

Keep It Going Louder (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gBcd5aj_YhI)

Artist: Major Lazer

Major Lazer is a fictional animated character, who (according to press releases) fought as a Jamaican commando and lost his arm in a secret zombie war in 1984. He fights vampires and various monsters, parties hard, and has a rocket-powered hoverboard. Made up of DJs Diplo and Switch, the two were introduced after working with M.I.A.. The duo's first album, Guns Don't Kill People... Lazers Do was released on June 16, 2009 on Downtown Records. It was recorded in Jamaica at Tuff Gong Studios. Vocalists such as Santigold, Vybz Kartel, Ward 21, Busy Signal, Nina Sky, Amanda Blank, Mr. Vegas, Turbulence, Mapei, T.O.K, Prince Zimboo, Leftside and others contribute guest vocals to the album, as well as additional production from Afrojack and Crookers.

VS.

Frontier Psychiatrist (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U8BWBn26bX0)

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]

Who nominated Antony and the Johnsons?

Watashi.

[B-side]

Watashi.

Cool. I really like that guy's voice.

[Spinal]

The White Stripes 6
The Chemical Brothers 1
Red Hot Chili Peppers 1

The White Stripes - "The Denial Twist"

[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.

Hot for Teacher (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g0XLKcMoXRE)

Artist: Van Halen

Van Halen is an American hard rock band formed in Pasadena, California in 1972. They have enjoyed large scale success since the release of their self titled debut album in 1978. During the 1980s they also had more Billboard Hot 100 hits than any other hard rock or heavy metal band. According to the Recording Industry Association of America, Van Halen is the 20th best selling band/artist of all time. In addition to being recognized for success, the band is known for the drama surrounding the exits of former members. The (multiple) exits of singers David Lee Roth and Sammy Hagar were surrounded in controversy and mass press coverage with various contrasting press statements between them and the band. More recently, Michael Anthony left the band for controversial reasons. Following their 2004 concert tour the band was on a hiatus from the public until September 2006, when new bassist Wolfgang Van Halen's place was confirmed and Roth-reunion rumors began to re-surface coinciding with the band's Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction on March 12, 2007. After years of speculation, Van Halen began a tour with Roth in late 2007 across North America. The tour continued into 2008.

VS.

Space Station No. 9 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mUG_ifQtXzM&feature=related)

Artist: capsule

Capsule is a Japanese electronic music duo consisting of vocalist Toshiko Koshijima and producer Yasutaka Nakata. Capsule formed in November 1997, after Nakata Yasutaka and Koshijima Toshiko met at the TEENS'MUSIC FESTIVAL in the Hokuriku area convention when they were 17 years old. Capsule are frequently referred to as "neo-Shibuya-kei" due to their stylistic similarities, both aesthetically and musically, to acts from the Shibuya-kei movement of the '90's, most notably Pizzicato Five. Their music contains elements of bossa nova, lounge, breakbeat, and most recently electro.

VS.

Brothers in Arms (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k5JkHBC5lDs)

Artist: Dire Straits

Dire Straits were a British rock band, formed by Mark Knopfler (vocals and lead guitar), his younger brother David Knopfler (rhythm guitar and vocals), John Illsley (bass guitar and vocals), and Pick Withers (drums and percussion), active between 1977 and 1995. Although the band was formed in an era when punk rock was at the forefront, Dire Straits played a more conventional style, albeit with a stripped-down sound that appealed to audiences weary of the overproduced stadium rock of the 1970s. In their early days, Mark and David requested that pub owners turn down their sound so that patrons could converse while the band played, an indication of their unassuming demeanor. Despite this oddly self-effacing approach, Dire Straits soon became hugely successful, with their first album going multi-platinum globally.

[Spinal]

A reminder that you can check the 2nd post on page one of this thread for a list of all the videos that have progressed thus far.

[Ezee E]

Madonna.

[Russ]

Foo Fighters

[ledfloyd]

i don't really care for any of these. foo fighters i guess? it has the d anyway.

[ledfloyd]

wtf was that major lazer video... i'm going with the avalanches again, but i don't dig it quite as much as their other one.

[Russ]

Van Halen

[ledfloyd]

van halen i suppose.

[Russ]

Have always loved that Avalanches video, but I gotta go with Major Lazer here.

[Sven]

The Ting Tings was fun, though the forever zoom thing has been done and was kind of annoying here. I love the pulsing geometry and the big "HEY!"

Sabotage is classic.

The choreography in the Allen video is embarrassing. The whole thing is like amateur hour. Props for making Lady Gaga look refined. i do like the pastel palette, though.

[Sven]

The My Chemical Romance video, if you purposefully ignore its My Chemical Romance-ness, is actually not poorly made (as the last one was). Too bad I want to punch the singer every time I see his stupid face.

Major Lazer: did I vote for them last time? I think I did. I think I'm voting for them again.

I like the Frontier Psychiatrist video, but not as much as I'd like to. I think the song irritates me a little.

[Sven]

Is that blonde guy dancing around in the Major Lazer videos anybody? I like that guy.

[Melville]

I came in here expecting to vote for The Avalanches, but their bizarro parade of literalizations is no match for the freewheeling, otherworldly grotesquerie of Major Lazer.

[Spaceman Spiff]

I came in here expecting to vote for Major Lazer, but it's freewheeling, otherworldly grotesquerie is no match for the bizarro parade of literalizations of The Avalanches.

[Melville]

I came in here expecting to vote for Major Lazer, but it's freewheeling, otherworldly grotesquerie is no match for the bizarro parade of literalizations of The Avalanches.
Touché.

[Sven]

Hot for Teacher is the clear winner, though there was a certain badassitude in the capsule thing, and the style of the Dire Straits one is impressive, though they use it a bit dully after a while.

[Spinal]

Beastie Boys 7
Ting Tings 3
Lily Allen 2

Beastie Boys - "Sabotage"

[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.

Sledgehammer (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N1tTN-b5KHg&feature=related)

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.

Angle Dance (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tqIki33mTgs)

Artist: Plane Geometry

In mathematics, a plane is any flat, two-dimensional surface. A plane is the two dimensional analogue of a point (zero-dimensions), a line (one-dimension) and a cube (three-dimensions). Planes can arise as subspaces of some higher dimensional space, as with the walls of a room, or they may enjoy an independent existence in their own right, as in the setting of Euclidean geometry. When working in two-dimensional Euclidean space, the definite article is used, the plane, to refer to the whole space. Many fundamental tasks in geometry, trigonometry, and graphing are performed in two-dimensional space, or in other words, in the plane. A lot of mathematics can be and has been performed in the plane, notably in the areas of geometry, trigonometry, graph theory and graphing.

VS.

1979 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wrivjzw0RlI)

Artist: The Smashing Pumpkins

The Smashing Pumpkins are an American alternative rock band that formed in Chicago, Illinois in 1988. Formed by Billy Corgan (vocals/guitar) and James Iha (guitar / backing vocals), the band has included D'arcy Wretzky (bass guitar / backing vocals), Jimmy Chamberlin (drums/percussion), and Melissa Auf der Maur (bass guitar) among its membership. Disavowing the punk rock roots shared by many of their alt-rock contemporaries, the Pumpkins have a diverse, densely layered, and guitar-heavy sound, containing elements of gothic rock, heavy metal, dream pop, psychedelic rock, arena rock, shoegazer-style production and, in later recordings, electronica. Frontman Billy Corgan is the group's primary songwriter—his grand musical ambitions and cathartic lyrics have shaped the band's albums and songs, which have been described as "anguished, bruised reports from Billy Corgan's nightmare-land". The Smashing Pumpkins were one of the most commercially successful and critically acclaimed bands of the 1990s.

[Spinal]

The most notable thing about the Foo Fighters video is that Taylor Hawkins makes a surprisingly hot stewardess.

I'll take Madonna even though I think the video is not as strong as its reputation. I've never thought that it was a very good match for the song. But it does have a few strong, resonant images.

[Spinal]

Major Lazer - At least the other video had dry humping. This was pretty terrible.

My Chemical Romance - Agree wholeheartedly with Sven's take. Liked a lot about the video. That singer is just so off-putting.

I'll take The Avalanches and their little loony bin stage show.

[Acapelli]

major lazer

although helena is pretty close

[Acapelli]

smashing pumpkins

[ledfloyd]

sledgehammer.

[Russ]

Peter Gabriel

[Thirdmango]

Angle Dance!