Like every year, I take a look back at the music world and how things have been since last year. As you might remember, last Year I reviewed Kathy Perry and her song "I Kissed a Girl" as Artist and Song of the Year, for obvious reasons; for not so obvious reasons Adele's "Chasing Pavements" was honored Video of the Year. This year the choice wasn't as easy, but here goes...
As usual, we'll tear the review in three parts: Reviews for Artist, Audio Recordings and Videos. Starting with the technical side of the Video category.
OUTSTANDING SPECIAL FX
IN A MUSIC VIDEO
"HAPPY UP HERE" - ROYKSOPP
DIRECTED BY REUBEN SUTHERLAND (Norway, 2009)
Runnerups: "New Divide" by Linking Park; "La Fila del Cine" by Auro y CLEMT.
Definetly the easiest pic out the the whole pac. The video for the norwegan duo was directed by Reuben Sutherland and it is inspired in a real life "Space Invaders" game. I haven't seen a better video this year and this is definetly one of the Best Videos of all time, hands down. Im amazed at how MTV completely overlooked it... amazing.
OUTSTANDING CINEMATOGRAPHY
IN A MUSIC VIDEO
"WRONG" BY DEPECHE MODE
DIRECTED BY PATRICK DAUGHTERS (UK, 2009)
Runnerups: "El Hombre Delgado..." by Enrique Bunbury; "La Fila del Cine"
by Auro y CLEMT; "For What It's Worth" by Placebo
The other masterpiece of this years video development was definetly Depeche Mode's first single for their album "Sounds of the Universe", a powerfull song full of thing you've probably heard of in your lifetime. The video itself is a very bizarre story of a very cruel way to day... and yet it has been masterfully depicted by director Patrick Daughters (Who directed last year's Best Female Video "1234" performed by Feist) and definetly delivered a powerfull story with powerfull, raw images. Other efforts by Edouard Sallier and Howard Greenhalg, with amazing shots as well, but in my opinion Mr. Daughters effort was above par.
BEST ALTERNATIVE MUSIC VIDEO
"EL HOMBRE DELGADO QUE NO FLAQUEARA JAMAS" BY ENRIQUE BUNBURY
DIRECTED BY EDUARD SALLIER (SPAIN, 2008)
Runnerup: "Electromovimiento" by Calle 13
The video for Hellville Deluxe's first single is kind of a tricky thing to judge as the song itself came out a month before the record, and two before the video was actually recorded in a Las Vegas desert, the concept is in itself very experimental, as is Enrique's new twist on his sound, more oriented by 50's rock n roll than ever, more straightforward sound than before. The effort in itself for alternative music is very ambitious, very well finished and the art direction is as well very well handled. The inspiration for the video, if you didn't notice, was the Tarantino-esque gore films of the '70s.
BEST URBAN MUSIC VIDEO
"I KNOW YOU WANT ME (CALLE 8)" BY PITBULL
(USA, 2009)
Runnerup: "Electromovimiento" by Calle 13; "Abusadora" by Wisin y Yandel.
So you know when you have this tune that you just can't get out of your head, for like forever and then someone comes and does a remix or whatever and then you get it back into your system? Well, thats the same thing that happens with Pitbull's "I Know You Want Me". Definetly the club hit of 2009 and the video, without beign pretentious, get the job done.
BEST POP MUSIC VIDEO
"WOMANIZER" BY BRITNEY SPEARS
DIRECTED BY JOSEPH KAHN (USA, 2008)
Runnerups: "Dime si lo ves" by Pavel Núñez; "Single Ladies" by Beyonce; and "Poker Face" by Lady Gaga.
I mean, give a chance to Britbrit, she did her best the first time arround, MTV made tons of money off her, the gave her all those VMAs for that sucky photoshopped video, but this? This is definetly Britney Spears comeback album and the song, her first No. 1 single since "Baby One More Time" and it should. The video, a Nokia advert, is definetly one of the greatest in her storied carreer and lets hope she keeps them coming. Joseph Kahn, who has directed several Spears video nailed on this one yet again and with flying colors.
BEST ROCK VIDEO
"FOR WHAT ITS WORTH" BY PLACEBO
DIRECTED BY HOWARD GREENHALG (UK, 2009)
Runnerups: "New Divide" by Linking Park; "Wrong" by Depeche Mode; "La Fila del Cine" by Auro y CLEMT.
The first single off Placebo's sixth studio album is definetly one of the best rock songs this far into 2009, a great comeback and the video shows the new energy behind the effort of the great britsh rock band. Truth be told, Placebo has been a victim of the pop frenzy that this year has brought upon us... with classic masterpieces such as "Watagatapitusberry", yes indeed. The video itself is inspired by the tabs we tend to put on ourselves as well as the ones everybody else imposes in us throughout a lifetime of trying to live life. Amazing images and amazing song-to-video translation, while preserving the spirit of Placebo somewhere in between.
Tomorrow we'll be publishing the review's choices for Video of the Year, Best Male, Female and Group Video.
Ehl.
