Category Archives: Music

Music Video of the Day: Can’t Help Falling In Love by UB40 (1993, directed by Neil Abramson)

Posted on by Jedadiah Leland

For much of 1993, this song and music video was inescapable on MTV.  Director Neil Abramson also directed videos for Belinda Carlisle, Enigma, Siouxsie and the Banshees, and Dwight Yoakam.  Soiuxsie and the Banshees and Dwight Yoakam?  The music business makes for some interesting connections.

Enjoy!

Music Video of the Day: Patience by Guns N’ Roses (1989, directed by Nigel Dick)

Posted on by Jedadiah Leland

Maybe it’s the whistling at the start but I’ve always thought of this as being a Guns N’ Roses country song.

The video was directed by Nigel Dick, who has directed music videos for anybody who is anyone in music.  The scenes of the band performing were filmed at The Record Plant, a legendary Los Angeles recording studio,  The scenes in the hotel were filmed at the Ambassador, which is the same hotel where Robert F. Kennedy was assassinated in 1968 shortly after winning California’s Democratic presidential primary.  At the time the video was shot, the Ambassador had been closed down and was scheduled to be demolished.  (It would be another 17 years before the hotel actually was torn down.)

This was the final Guns N’ Roses video to feature drummer Steve Adler, who was fired from the band after the video was shot.  Most people who have seen this video will probably agree that the snake is the true star of the production.

Enjoy!

Music Video of the Day: Bad Day by Carmel (1983, directed by Dee Trattmann)

Posted on by Jedadiah Leland

Today will not be that bad if I can introduce just one person to Carmel, one of the best bands that has never really gotten its due.  Carmel was formed in 1981 and they’re still performing, touring, and recording new music.  Their latest album came out in February of this year.

This video was directed by Dee Trattmann, who also directed several videos for Cliff Richard.  I think every British music video director of a certain age did a video or two for Cliff.

Enjoy!

Music Video of the Day: Spirit of 76 by The Alarm (1985, directed by Nick Morris)

Posted on by Jedadiah Leland

Today, we give a shoutout to Wales with the music video for Spirit of 76, which was written and performed by the Welsh band, The Alarm.  In the 80s, The Alarm earned an international fanbase by opening for U2 and, later, Bob Dylan.  Just as U2 will always be associated with Ireland, The Alarm will always be associated with Wales.  The band is still together and still proudly Wlesh.

This video was directed by Nick Morris, who was one of the busiest music directors of the 80s and the 90s.  He also did music videos for Cinderalla, Toto, The Rainmakers, Jennifer Rush, Europe, Eddie Money, Cliff Richard, Warren, and Radiohead among others.

Enjoy!

Music Video of the Day: Perry Mason by Ozzy Osbourne (1995, directed by Ralph Ziman)

Posted on by Jedadiah Leland

How did Ozzy Osbourne come to sing a song about television’s most famous lawyer?

Apparently, it came from a session of guitarist Zakk Wylde and keyboardist John Sinclair just improvising.  Wylde liked what they came up with and when he shared the music with Osbourne, Osbourne made up the lyrics on the spot.  No one seems to know why Ozzy Osbourne had Perry Mason on his mind that particular day.  Maybe he had been watching TV.

The music video features a young girl walking through what appears to be death row and spotting Osbourne performing the song in a cell.  It was directed by Ralph Ziman, a South African director who, along with doing anti-Apartheid feature films, had also directed the video for the Ozzy Osbourne’s previous hit, No More Tears.  It only made sense to bring him back for Perry Mason.

Enjoy!

Music Video of the Day: Sweet Child O’ Mine by Guns N’ Roses (1988, directed by Nigel Dick)

Posted on by Jedadiah Leland

You can thank Thor for today’s music video of the day.

This video was shot in the Mendiola’s Ballroom at Huntington Park, California.  All of the band’s then-girlfriends are featured in the clip.  Erin Everly was dating Axl Rose at the time and he wrote the lyrics with her specifically in mind.  Sally McLaughlin was dating Slash.  Steven Adler was dating Cheryl Swiderski while Duff McKagan was going out with Mandy Brx and Izzy Stradlin was seeing Angela Nicoletti.  Unfortunately, I don’t think any of those people are still together but the song still rocks.

The video was directed by Nigel Dick, which is not surprising.  From the 80s to the present day, being a star means that Nigel Dick will eventually end up directing a music video for you.  Along with doing several other videos for Guns N’ Roses, he’s also done videos for Nickelback, Il Divo, R.E.M., Barry Manilow, Britney Spears, Madness, Iron Maiden, and pretty much every other band that’s ever had a major recording contract.  Did his work with Iron Maiden and Guns N’ Roses prepare him to work with Barry Manilow?  We may never know.

Enjoy!