Rabz’ Radio Show July 2023: Music Videos


This is a difficult one, given that these monthly threads were always meant to be about the music.

As far as I’m concerned there’s a golden rule regarding music videos – ideally, they should never be more memorable than the song.

Having said that, if a great song has a great video, that’s a bonus.

Film clips for songs began to take on an outsized relevance from about the late seventies. A phenomenon observed in the very timely “Video killed the radio star” by the Buggles. This insatiable demand for ever more “cutting edge” music videos was able to sustain the televisual juggernaut that was MTV, launched as it was, in mid-1981. A memorable film clip for a song came to be regarded by most artists as an essential element of a “greater whole”.

Music videos portray performers in many and varied situations. These include:

· The performer(s) performing the song, live or in a studio

· The performer(s) portrayed in situations that may or may not have any relevance to the song

· Entirely unrelated images or video grabs that don’t even feature the performers

· Just about anything else you could imagine

I can’t think of any of my favourite songs where the film clip is the first thing that springs to mind. However, here are this month’s two intro tunes, both of which are just great songs, with the videos being a bonus.

Peter Gabriel – Sledgehammer (the song was described by Gabriel as an homage to sixties soul)

The Chemical Brothers – Let Forever Be (directed by Michel Gondry)

Again, barely scratching the surface here. No doubt there’s a whole library of memorable videos that you’re just waiting to post in the comments thread.

So go for it Cats, you know you want to!


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miltonf
miltonf
July 1, 2023 7:15 pm
Pogria
Pogria
July 1, 2023 7:16 pm

Rabz,
if I remember correctly, Gabriel’s music video was the first to use stop-go animation.

when it comes to music NOT needing videos, Tubular Bells, hands down.

Bazinga
Bazinga
July 1, 2023 7:20 pm

Obviously Dire Straits
and Alex Gaudino

Roger
Roger
July 1, 2023 7:21 pm

If I were Peter Gabriel I would have spent the money at the dentists.

That is all.

Bazinga
Bazinga
July 1, 2023 7:21 pm

Bazinga
Bazinga
July 1, 2023 7:30 pm

Bah, screwed up before:
Dire Straits

Alex Gaudino

P
P
July 1, 2023 7:37 pm
miltonf
miltonf
July 1, 2023 7:42 pm
miltonf
miltonf
July 1, 2023 7:46 pm

wind up

P
P
July 1, 2023 8:07 pm
eric hinton
eric hinton
July 1, 2023 8:09 pm
eric hinton
eric hinton
July 1, 2023 8:12 pm
johanna
johanna
July 1, 2023 8:15 pm

Can’t go past Jacko’s dance/music fusion, as in Billie Jean.

Not an official video, but with 78 million views I reckon it deserves a guernsey!

MatrixTransform
July 1, 2023 8:20 pm

I loved this video back then.

Take on me : a-ha

MatrixTransform
July 1, 2023 8:40 pm

getting it in before Rabz does

Yard Act

MatrixTransform
July 1, 2023 8:40 pm
eric hinton
eric hinton
July 1, 2023 8:43 pm

Mme Physionomie, Francoise Hardy

Black Ball
Black Ball
July 1, 2023 8:51 pm

Rage had a Kate Bush marathon and Cloudbusting stood out for me. Melancholy, memorable.

MatrixTransform
July 1, 2023 8:52 pm

Loved that clip Rabz
forgot all about it until you started posting it in the forums a while back
thanks for that

Black Ball
Black Ball
July 1, 2023 8:54 pm

Fine choice with Sabotage sir

Black Ball
Black Ball
July 1, 2023 8:55 pm
MatrixTransform
July 1, 2023 8:57 pm
Black Ball
Black Ball
July 1, 2023 9:11 pm

A sumptuous visual feast and simply one of the great songs.

MatrixTransform
July 1, 2023 9:16 pm

but how awesome is the Kimbra

too bloody right
amen

Bruce of Newcastle
Bruce of Newcastle
July 1, 2023 9:23 pm

Seriously hard to get a music vid that really captures the MTV phenomenon. I never watched MTV, but here we had Rage. Years and years of staying up late or taping it and watching all Saturday morning. Good times.

Smells Like Teen Spirit is an anthem of such things, but I’ll go with Foo Fighters:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SBjQ9tuuTJQ

Black Ball
Black Ball
July 1, 2023 9:25 pm

Spike Jonze was in charge of Sabotage was he not Rabz?
I liked this of theirs also, simple, effective.

Black Ball
Black Ball
July 1, 2023 9:27 pm

Excellent Bruce

Bruce of Newcastle
Bruce of Newcastle
July 1, 2023 9:31 pm

Since BB has mentioned Kate Bush we can’t go past the extraordinary video which started it all for her. Mesmerising.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fk-4lXLM34g

Alamak!
Alamak!
July 1, 2023 9:39 pm
Bruce of Newcastle
Bruce of Newcastle
July 1, 2023 9:40 pm

Looks like Dover has turned off insertable videos, so I’ll go back to normal linking! Ah well, I did say they’d slow the blog down.

But if I do a brunette I should always balance with a blondie.

Ridiculously good song and awesome video too:

Rapture – Blondie (1981)

miltonf
miltonf
July 1, 2023 9:44 pm
eric hinton
eric hinton
July 1, 2023 9:49 pm

Modern Lovers Pablo Picasso

Alamak!
Alamak!
July 1, 2023 9:49 pm

and one of the better mixups with BB & a whole lot more in it

Bruce of Newcastle
Bruce of Newcastle
July 1, 2023 9:55 pm

daft travels around the world

Absolutely classic track, such a simple idea for dance video. Of course even better would be to have a party with Daft Punk playing live in your basement.

LCD Soundsystem – Daft Punk Is Playing At My House (2005)

eric hinton
eric hinton
July 1, 2023 9:58 pm

Black Rebel Motorcycle Club What Ever Happened To My Rock And Roll

Bruce of Newcastle
Bruce of Newcastle
July 1, 2023 10:23 pm

The hats, the hats!

DEVO – Whip It (1980)

Alamak!
Alamak!
July 1, 2023 10:37 pm

can’t mention music vids without adding a few (no) surprises and a house of cards

eric hinton
eric hinton
July 1, 2023 10:47 pm

Feel Good Inc. Gorillaz

742m views, blimey.

MatrixTransform
July 1, 2023 10:56 pm

Unrepentant

hmm, what’s to repent?

I answer to God … she answers to me

the way it was written

Black Ball
Black Ball
July 1, 2023 11:04 pm

As one of the comments sez, Jeff, everybody here wants you…

MatrixTransform
July 1, 2023 11:07 pm
Black Ball
Black Ball
July 1, 2023 11:09 pm
eric hinton
eric hinton
July 1, 2023 11:20 pm

Sweet Surrender Tim Buckley

MatrixTransform
July 1, 2023 11:38 pm
eric hinton
eric hinton
July 1, 2023 11:45 pm

Elvis Costello Watching The Detectives

‘she’s filing her nails while their dragging the lake’

eric hinton
eric hinton
July 1, 2023 11:45 pm

they’re

Alamak!
Alamak!
July 1, 2023 11:50 pm
eric hinton
eric hinton
July 1, 2023 11:52 pm

AC/DC It’s A Long Way To The Top

Thanks, DJ Rabz. Bedtime.

Elizabeth (Lizzie) Beare
Elizabeth (Lizzie) Beare
July 2, 2023 12:00 am

Can think of lots of song and dance action in musicals (Chicago, West Side Story) but most music videos pass me by; I do remember the first Kate Bush one as being rather mystical and interesting.

Will check out some of the ones above because they will probably ring some memory bells. G’nite now. Thanks Rabz.

Alamak!
Alamak!
July 2, 2023 12:02 am

Great aussie music, Eric H.

a couple more

go-betweens – cattle & cane
spacey jane – booster seat

Black Ball
Black Ball
July 2, 2023 12:09 am

Not musical as such but the rivalry is the greatest of course. No doubt the bovver boys were at it afterwards.

thefrollickingmole
thefrollickingmole
July 2, 2023 12:12 am

Danger, high voltage
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=2a4gyJsY0mc

Some frog tart
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=rs9KKg-dHr0

And some polish dudes
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=qPELcGcVHfU&pp=ygUNUGFyaHMgb2YgaGF0ZQ%3D%3D
You can skip the dogfight start, but it all builds up to a kickass end

Nelson_Kidd-Players
July 2, 2023 12:12 am

Sledgehammer was done by Aardman, also known for Morph and Wallace & Gromit.

Not that I’m a fan of the group, this is fantastic in terms of production:

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=gJLIiF15wjQ&pp=ygUTd2FubmFiZSBzcGljZSBnaXJscw%3D%3D

Crossie
Crossie
July 2, 2023 12:12 am

Two words:

Simply Irresistible

Nelson_Kidd-Players
July 2, 2023 12:20 am

“We need a film to go with our song so Countdown can play it. Any ideas?”

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=eQluGs2SFRs

Crossie
Crossie
July 2, 2023 12:20 am
Nelson_Kidd-Players
July 2, 2023 12:25 am

From Graceland. I can’t remember how long it took me to discover which was Paul Simon.

https://youtube.com/watch?v=uq-gYOrU8bA

Crossie
Crossie
July 2, 2023 12:28 am
Crossie
Crossie
July 2, 2023 12:30 am

This time just one word:

Agadoo

Crossie
Crossie
July 2, 2023 12:40 am

I think this video was added quite some time after the song was recorded.

Pink Floyd -Wish You Were Here

Crossie
Crossie
July 2, 2023 12:45 am
Steve trickler
Steve trickler
July 2, 2023 6:56 am
Steve trickler
Steve trickler
July 2, 2023 1:45 pm

Bob Seger – Main Street

Bob Seger – Main Street

Louis Litt
Louis Litt
July 2, 2023 8:00 pm
Steve trickler
Steve trickler
July 2, 2023 9:27 pm
duncanm
duncanm
July 2, 2023 9:38 pm
duncanm
duncanm
July 2, 2023 9:38 pm
duncanm
duncanm
July 2, 2023 9:41 pm

Chet Faker Gold

For some reason, I think of death by Snoo Snoo

duncanm
duncanm
July 2, 2023 10:08 pm

If you’re into dancing, Jungle make a whole heap of very click videos.
Heavy

Time

duncanm
duncanm
July 2, 2023 10:45 pm

Deserves to be a music video.

The Blues Brothers, Arethra, Think

Bruce in WA
July 2, 2023 10:50 pm

And I would do anything for love
But I won’t chew that …

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9X_ViIPA-Gc

Bruce in WA
July 2, 2023 10:59 pm

My old friend (and his daughter, too!)

Definitely NSFW!!!

KBW

Steve trickler
Steve trickler
July 3, 2023 1:09 am
Steve trickler
Steve trickler
July 3, 2023 1:29 am
Alamak!
Alamak!
July 5, 2023 12:49 am
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