Category Archives: Music Review

Music Video of the Day: Star Guitar by The Chemical Brothers (2001, dir by Michel Gondry and Olivier Gondry)

Posted on by Lisa Marie Bowman

I love trains.

Well, to be honest, I love trains in Europe.  One of my fondest memories of Italy was riding the train to Venice.  And, when Jeff and I were in the UK last year, I discovered that I absolutely loved the London underground.  Everyone told me that I wouldn’t but I did.  Of course, I also usually took a Dramamine or two before boarding so I was often kind of out of it.

Outside of the DART train in Dallas, I’ve never really spent any time on any trains in the United States.  To be honest, I’m always a little bit shocked to discover that Amtrak is actually a thing.  A few years ago, I read an article where someone was complaining that people in the South and the Midwest don’t ever use Amtrak and, as a result, we don’t ever elect politicians who understand the importance of funding the trains.  To be honest, down here, we really don’t care about Amtrak.  We all own cars and we know where the highways are so we don’t need the trains.

As for this video, Michel Gondry put it together from footage that he shot while riding ten different trains across France.  Gondry carefully edited the footage so that, while appearing like a seamless journey, the landscape changes in time to the music.  It creates a wonderfully dream-lie and surreal atmosphere, one that reminds me of Gondry’s later work on Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind.

Enjoy!

Music Video of the Day: Higher by David Douglas featuring Lenka (2015, dir by David Douglas and Gijs Wilbers)

Posted on by Lisa Marie Bowman

This is another music video that suggests to me that the world is about to end so we should enjoy it while we can.  Swim.  Look at the trees.  Run down the road.  Do it all, while you can.  I know that may sound like a somewhat morbid interpretation of this video but, in my defense, I’m currently running a fever and I’m also currently doing some research on films about the end of the world for a future review series.

(Interestingly enough, people have always been obsessed with the idea of the world ending.  Since the start of time, people have been saying, “The world will end in 10 or 12 years.”  For whatever reason, everyone always seems to assume that we’ve only got a decade left.  I think that’s because 10 years sounds close enough to cause a panic but, at the same time, it’s also distant enough that people will have forgotten about the prediction by the time that it doesn’t come true.)

Anyway, this video really isn’t about the end of the world, despite what my overactive imagination might claim.  Instead, the video is more about joy and living life to its fullest.  This is good music to drive to, as long as you can afford to pay for any speeding tickets that you may get.  You honestly can’t drive slowly while listening to good music.  Good music encourages you to make use of the accelerator.

The sight of the passing trees reminds me of when I was growing up and we’d drive through Oklahoma and Arkansas and North Texas to visit family or, as was often the case, to move to a new town.  Because I tend to get car sick, I would always end up resting my head against the window and watching the trees past by.

Enjoy!

Music Video of the Day: Hurt Feelings by Flight of the Conchords (2009, dir by James Bobin)

Posted on by Lisa Marie Bowman

Way back in 2009, this music video premiered during my favorite episode of Flight of the Conchords, The Tough Brets.  That’s the episode where Bret performs a controversial rap, in which he attacks several other rappers.  (“Snoop Dogg is not very good.  Ice Cube in not very good….”)  When Murray suggests that Bret may have hurt the feelings of the rappers that he called out, Bret forms a gang for protection.

Or, at very least, Bret tries to form a gang.  It doesn’t go particularly well, though character actor Seymour Cassel does join up at the one point.)

However, before forming the gang, Bret and Jermaine perform an entire song about hurt feelings.  This song is also known as Tears of a Rapper and there’s actually several different versions of it floating around.  For instance, in a more recent version, the Maid in Manhattan reference is replaced with a joke about how much Bret loves Zac Efron.  One thing that always remains the same is that Jermaine’s family forgot to wish him a happy birthday.  Poor Jermaine!

Anyway, I like this music video.  I like the fact that when Bret sees that his friends have gone to see Maid in Manhattan without him, Jermaine just happens to be there, trying to hide his face.  For the record, Maid in Manhattan is actually a perfect reference because it’s the type of bland film that you would be embarrassed to discover someone had specifically gone out of their way not to see with you.  It’s the one where Jennifer Lopez plays a maid and Ralph Fiennes plays a politician.  At one point, Jennifer Lopez nearly sits down on a magazine that’s got a picture of Ralph Fiennes on the cover and she tells him, “Whoops, I nearly sat on your face.”

Add to that, everyone’s had hurt feelings at some point in their life and therefore, everyone can relate to this song.  For instance, I’ve recently been making an effort to obey all posted traffic laws.  Would it kill someone to say, “Wow, Lisa, you actually stopped for that red light!  We’re proud of you!?”

I’ve got hurt feelings …. I’ve got hurt feelings….

For the record, I also love Murray’s comment at the end of this clip.  “All good examples.”

Enjoy!

Music Video of the Day: I Need Your Love by Calvin Harris, featuring Ellie Goulding (2013, dir by Emil Nava)

Posted on by Lisa Marie Bowman

There’s a lot of good things to say about this video.  Beyond the fact that I like the song, I also enjoy seeing all of the different people who run off with the camera.  This video has a lot of energy and it’s just a lot of fun to watch.  Visually, it’s a perfect fit for the music.

But, honestly, the main reason that I love this video is that Calvin and Ellie are just amazingly, incredibly adorable together!  Usually, whenever I see a video about a couple in love, I always assume that one of them has died and the survivor is now remembering all of the good times.  But, in this case, I chose to believe that Calvin and Ellie’s characters not only survived the video but that they stayed together.

(Of course, in real life, Calvin Harris was dating Rita Ora when this video came out.)

Enjoy!

Music Video of the Day: Peace In Our Life by Frank Stallone (1985, dir by ????)

Posted on by Lisa Marie Bowman

On a whim, after I finished my review of First Blood, I decided to check to see if there were any music videos featuring Sylvester Stallone’s brother, Frank Stallone.

Lo and behold, from 1985’s Rambo: First Blood Part II.…

Enjoy!