Where Have All The Good Videos Gone?
Friday, May 2nd, 2008
I remember growing up, sitting in front of the tube, and watching all sorts of great video shows as a kid. Toronto Rocks, Video Hits, Good Rockin’ Tonight…man, the 80’s were a good time for videos. No, I’m not kidding. Videos were becoming a brand new medium and in many cases were as much about telling mini-stories as they were about promoting a new song.
Some of my favourites from back in the day were not rock ones at all. Sure there was Van Halen’s “Jump”…Yes’ “Owner of a Lonely Heart” (nightmares for weeks)…but there were the pop ones that helped turn me into a music fan…Michael Jackson’s Thriller…anything from Duran Duran…”No More Lonely Nights” but Paul McCartney. The 90’s had some pretty decent ones as well, thanks to the grunge movement and Axl Rose’s twisted psyche.
Over the years, I’ve seen fewer and fewer great videos. Specialty channels have stopped playing them for the most part, which has a lot to do with it. That’s one of the things I like about working on the Jack Nation Countdown, our video show that airs Saturday afternoons at 4 (yes, I’m promoting it). I’m getting the chance to see a lot of new videos that I’d never even know were out there otherwise.
The video for Fall Out Boy’s “Thnks Fr Th Mmrs” was pretty funny. “Thrash Unreal” from Against Me! was cool as well; the drummer cracks me up. Airbourne’s “Too Much Too Young Too Fast” was a total throwback to ACDC’s late 80’s-early 90’s vidz. I can’t wait to see what the video to their next single “Running Wild” looks like.
It’s nice to know that compelling videos haven’t become a lost art. Do you have any favourites, either from today or from your past that brings back some good memories. Check out one of my faves below, and then use its title as this weekend’s bonus code.