Tag Archives: Ashlee Simpson

Music Video Of The Day: L.O.V.E. by Ashlee Simpson (2005, dir by Diane Martel)

Posted on by Lisa Marie Bowman

In this music video, Ashlee Simpson decides that she’s tired of her clingy boyfriend so she ruins her phone and goes out with her friends.  This video is very, very, very 2005.

Among other things, this video also highlights the early attempts to market Ashlee as being an edgier version of her sister.  In her videos, Jessica would have fun with her friends but, at that point in her career, she was still always destined to leave them for her man.  Ashlee, on the other hand, was all about girl power.  That said, though she throws away her phone, Ashlee doesn’t necessarily throw away her boyfriend.  She knows that she can call him back whenever she feels like doing so.

As I said, it’s all very 2005.

Enjoy!

Music Video of the Day: Shadow by Ashlee Simpson (2004, dir by Liz Friedlander)

Posted on by Lisa Marie Bowman

Poor Ashlee Simpson.  I mean, she danced one stupid jig on Saturday Night Live and the world has never let her forget it.  Of course, I would probably be more on Ashlee’s side if she hadn’t initially blamed her band for the screw-up.  That wasn’t nice but, at the time, Ashlee was only 19 and the amount of ridicule that was directed her way was more than a little over-the-top.  She probably handled it better than I would have at that age.

Today’s music video of the day comes to us from Ashlee Simpson.

In Shadow, Ashlee sings about existing in someone else’s shadow and the struggle to find your real identity.  Needless to say, it’s usually assumed that this song is about being the younger sister of Jessica Simpson but Ashlee has insisted that it’s just about finding yourself.  Personally, I think it can be both.  The video features a happy blonde Ashlee co-existing with an angrier brunette Ashlee.  It’s easy to see the blonde Ashlee as being a stand-in for Jessica, though I think blonde Ashlee is more meant to represent the pressure on Ashlee to be as popular as her sister.

If it sounds like I’ve given this video too much, all I can say is that I’ve got sisters and I can relate.

Enjoy!

Music Video Of The Day: Invisible by Ashlee Simpson (2006, dir by Marc Webb)

Posted on by Lisa Marie Bowman

This song, to be honest, is a bit of an inside joke between me and my BFF, the wonderful Evelyn.  Way back in 2007, whenever we wanted to be annoying or cute or whatever, we would start singing this song.

Of course, our version was a bit more aggressive than the Ashlee Simpson version.  Whereas Ashlee sang the song as an anthem of survival (this was after the whole Saturday Night Live lip syncing thing), Evelyn and I turned it into a declaration of war.  Now you’re saying you knew me when I was invisible?  That was your first and final mistake, pendeja…

Of course, just as Evelyn and I were doing out own cover of Ashlee Simpson, Ashlee Simpson was doing a cover herself.  Invisible was originally written and performed by Kira Leyden and Jeff Andrea of the Ohio-based band, Jaded Era.

As for the video of Ashlee’s version, it is mostly notable for having been directed by Marc Webb.  Webb, of course, would go on to direct (500) Days of Summer*, the Andrew Garfield Spider-Man movies, and Gifted.  (I don’t care what anyone says.  I like (500) Days of Summer.)  The video was inspired by Million Dollar Baby and was shot on the same set as that film.

Enjoy!