Music Video Of the Day: Memo From Turner (1970, dir by Donald Cammell and Nicolas Roeg)


In the 1970 film Performance, a sadistic gangster named Chas (James Fox) goes on the run and ends up hiding out in a mansion that’s currently occupied by a burned-out rock star named Turner (Mick Jagger).  Turner, we’re told, used to be great but then he “lost his demon.”  Could Chas be his new demon?

Well, before the answer to that question can be revealed, Chas ends up under the influence of hallucinogenic mushrooms and that’s when he sees Turner transformed into a London mob boss and performing Memo From Turner, a song about his exploits.

Though this is a scene from a movie, it’s still most definitely a music video.  In fact, it’s frequently cited as the first “true” music video.  (I imagine that John’s Children, Procol Harum, and Nancy Sinatra would disagree.)  Still, even if it’s not the first, it’s influence on subsequent videos is undeniable.

Enjoy!

Music Video of the Day: Superlove by Avicii featuring Lenny Kravitz (2012, dir by Rich Ragsdale)


I like this video because it’s an unapologetic celebration of how music and dance can transform even the most mundane setting into something special.

Dance!  Enjoy!

Music Video of the Day: Believe by Franka Potente (1998, dir by Tom Tywker)


As I mentioned yesterday, I was visiting with some old friends on Saturday morning when we decided to watch the 1998 German film, Run, Lola, Run.  Ever since then, along with trying to run everywhere, I’ve had the soundtrack playing on repeat in my head.

This is the video of Believe, which one of the most important songs in the film.  Along with featuring scenes from the film, it also features the film’s star, Franka Potente, and Herbert Knaup, who played Lola’s disapproving father and who continues to be somewhat truculent in this video.

Enjoy!

Music Video of the Day: Rock Me by Pills (1997, dir by Mathilde Jouannet)


While visiting with some old friends early on Saturday morning, we decided to watch the 1998 film Run, Lola, Run.

There’s a lot of great things that can be said about Run, Lola, Run but, for now, I just want to say that this song has one of the greatest soundtracks of all time.  This song is one of those that is featured in the film and it’s been stuck in my head ever since.

Maybe it’ll get stuck in your head now, too.

Enjoy!

Music Video of the Day: HeartBreaker by Steve Aoki featuring Lovefoxxx (2012, dir by BREWER)


How have I not shared more from Steve Aoki on this site?  I have to say that I’m really disappointed with myself.  Oh well, hopefully I can start to rectify that mistake today!

Enjoy!

Music Video of the Day: Bette Davis Eyes by Kim Carnes (1981, dir by Russell Mulcahy)


110 years ago today, Bette Davis was born in Lowell, Massachusetts.  That makes the choice for today’s music video of the day an easy one.

Bette Davis Eyes was originally written in 1974 by Donna Weiss and Jackie DeShannon and was recorded by DeShannon.  However, it wasn’t until 1981, when the song was covered by Kim Carnes, that Bette Davis Eyes became a hit.  It spent nine weeks at the top of the Billboard 100 and was named Song of the Year and Record of the Year at the Grammy Awards.

One fan of the song was Bette Davis herself, who sent a note to Weiss, DeShannon, and Carnes in which she thanked them for making her “a part of modern times.”  Davis also said that her grandson never looked up to her until he heard this song.

The video was directed by Russell Mulcahy, who directed several music videos in the early 80s.  The famous silhouette of Davis smoking can be spotted throughout.

Enjoy!

Music Video of the Day: Breakin’ A Sweet by Skrillex (feat. The Doors) (2013, dir by Radical Friend)


For today’s music video of the day, we have the wonderfully strange video for Skrillex’s Breakin’ A Sweat.  The song incorporates a sample from an interview that Jim Morrison gave in the 60s, while the remaining vocals are provided by the surviving members of The Doors.

As for the video itself, it’s tempting (for me, at least!) to compare the opening to any of the numerous shark films that have been broadcast on SyFy over the past few years.  (Planet of the Sharks comes immediately to mind.)  However, this video actually released a year before Sharknado breathed new life into the killer shark genre.  So, really, this video was a bit ahead of its time as far as killer sharks were concerned.

Of course, no sooner have the aliens escaped the sharks and had delightful alien sex than they somehow find themselves in our world, having to deal with helicopters and cars.  Why do the two aliens get zapped into our world at the end of the video?  Who knows?  Who cares?  Perhaps we should worry less about the exact reason and instead just observe the fact that it happened.

Hopefully, the baby will be okay.

Enjoy!