Battle of the Music Videos: (Nominations closed)

[Kurosawa Fan]

I never thought I would put my opinion of that video into words, but here goes: that video is no good. Too long. And the song sucks.

Boo. That song/video is hilarious. Though, since it's "so-bad-it's-good" territory, it doesn't deserve a nom.

[dreamdead]

I had wanted to post the Claire Denis' "Disintegrate" video by Sonic Youth as my 30th slot, but instead I'll go toward that oh so catchy and kitschy Freaxxx video by Brokencyde.

I apologize, world.

[Spinal]

Bjork has way too many entries in this thing.

No.

[dreamdead]

No.

Agreed. Though it seems a little myopic that her videos are getting such attention, I think that her work cumulatively has best expressed the potential for music videos as a form. Only Sigur Ros videos interest me in the same way, and they haven't had the longevity of Bjork yet.

[Spinal]

There are many worthy Bjork videos that we haven't even mentioned yet.

[Spinal]

OK, you have until 2pm PST/5pm EST.

[Spinal]

And just to clarify, you do not need to repost your ballot. You only need to make a new post for any edits.

[Spinal]

Prince - The Halftime Show (Again, not sure if this counts, but I think emphasis on performance is just as legit a mode as any kind of cine-stuffs or whatever found in a more "traditional" video. Check out what he does at 2:52. This is the stuff of dreams.)

Naturally, I love this clip. However, I am not going to include it, mainly because it is a medley of songs. It's more like a mini-concert than a music video. I don't want to be too strict about what a music video is or is not, but loosely, I would say that we're looking at visual images that have been crafted in order to enhance the effect of a particular song. You can probably argue that this isn't too different than the Jackson 5 clip I allowed, but that one (due to its length, singular focus, etc.) seems to me a better fit for what we're trying to do here.

I am also going to have to disallow one other clip that I enjoy very much. While I think "Every Sperm is Sacred" is a cherished moment in cinema history, it is not really a music video. Rather it is a musical number from a film. I don't want to open up the floodgates for "Singin' in the Rain" and "Over the Rainbow". So, I'm bumping that one as well.

[Russ]

Naturally, I love this clip. However, I am not going to include it, mainly because it is a medley of songs. It's more like a mini-concert than a music video. I don't want to be too strict about what a music video is or is not, but loosely, I would say that we're looking at visual images that have been crafted in order to enhance the effect of a particular song. You can probably argue that this isn't too different than the Jackson 5 clip I allowed, but that one (due to its length, singular focus, etc.) seems to me a better fit for what we're trying to do here.

I am also going to have to disallow one other clip that I enjoy very much. While I think "Every Sperm is Sacred" is a cherished moment in cinema history, it is not really a music video. Rather it is a musical number from a film. I don't want to open up the floodgates for "Singin' in the Rain" and "Over the Rainbow". So, I'm bumping that one as well.

Well, if you won't give me Sperm, then how about this:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iCQ4QLFl01g

Obscenely low-cut leather pants!
Microphone fellation!

RIP, Lux

[Sven]

Prince out, Dethklok in. We'll see if I can come up with five more in the next few hours.

[Spinal]

... if you won't give me Sperm ...

Change the 'you' to a 'U' and this could be a mid-80s Prince b-side.

[Sven]

For my last five I will reiterate the nominations of:

Antony and the Johnsons - Hope There's Someone
Feist - My Moon My Man
Talking Heads - And She Was
and
umm...

[Spinal]

Nominations closed. New info coming soon.

[Watashi]

You better not have snubbed The Super Bowl Shuffle.

[Spinal]

Happily, there was a pretty clear break at a nice even number. 32 videos received 3 or more nominations. They will be the top-ranked videos in a field of 128. In other words, they not need to win a play-in match-up to be included in the field. They will be seeded as follows:

Martha Quinn Bracket:
#1 Daft Punk – Around the World
#4 Regina Spektor - Us
#3 Radiohead - Just
#2 Jamiriquai – Virtual Insanity

Kurt Loder Bracket:
#1 Bjork – It’s Oh So Quiet
#4 The Prodigy – Smack My Bitch Up
#3 Outkast – Hey Ya
#2 Feist – My Moon My Man

Nina Blackwood Bracket:
#1 Johnny Cash – Hurt
#4 The White Stripes – Seven Nation Army
#3 Blur – Coffee and TV
#2 Fiona Apple – Criminal

Kennedy Bracket:
#1 Michael Jackson – Thriller
#4 The Red Hot Chili Peppers - Otherside
#3 Sigur Ros - Glosoli
#2 The Smashing Pumpkins – Tonight, Tonight

Mark Goodman Bracket:
#1 Fatboy Slim – Weapon of Choice
#4 Kate Bush – Babooshka
#3 Talking Heads – And She Was
#2 The White Stripes – Fell in Love with a Girl

Alan Hunter Bracket:
#1 A-ha – Take on Me
#4 Jay Z – 99 Problems
#3 The Chemical Brothers – Star Guitar
#2 Feist – 1234

J.J. Jackson Bracket:
#1 Bjork – All is Full of Love
#4 Depeche Mode – Wrong
#3 UNKLE/Thom Yorke – Rabbit in Your Headlights
#2 Kylie Minogue – Come Into My World

Ed Lover Bracket:
#1 Nine Inch Nails – Closer
#4 Weezer – Buddy Holly
#3 Michael Jackson/Janet Jackson - Scream
#2 Radiohead – Karma Police


Please remember that this process involves a lot of arbitrary decisions. Mostly, I have tried to arrange for compelling potential match-ups and make sure two videos by the same artist don't meet up too early. Ultimately, your votes will be the factor that matters most.

This leaves a large group of videos fighting to get the final 96 slots. I'll tell you how we're going to do that shortly.

[Spinal]

You better not have snubbed The Super Bowl Shuffle.

The Fridge will have his day.

[Spinal]

OK, after thinking it over a bit, here's how I think I'm going to do this ...

There are 229 remaining videos that were nominated. There are 96 slots remaining.

In order to land one of those 96 slots, a video will have to win a three-way play-in battle. In order to make the numbers work out right, I will add various wild card options along the way. These will be drawn from awards lists, best videos lists, my whims and your suggestions. PM me if you think something important has been overlooked. I will add them at my discretion.

I will wait to do the lower seeds until the play-in rounds are complete. This will allow me to become familiar with all the videos and get a sense for your enthusiasm for them. Therefore, if you like something a lot and want to see it seeded favorably, make a comment about it when its match-up comes up.

Four battles will be posted per day. I will get these started later tonight.

[Thirdmango]

I'm very excited about how you're doing this. Kudos to you on this one.

[Watashi]

Not many people actually visit the music forums on here, so maybe the tournament could be held in the Kitchen Sink?

[Sven]

Four battles will be posted per day. I will get these started later tonight.

Curse you, Spinal, for re-instating my daily visit to this site. I was starting to feel like a happier person for a while there.

I'm excited about this. I loves me some music video discussion.

[Spinal]

Not many people actually visit the music forums on here, so maybe the tournament could be held in the Kitchen Sink?

Hmmm ... good idea. I think that would be ok.

[Thirdmango]

Just announce it there, I don't go in kitchen sink often enough.