Some alternative classics (Top 10 Videos)

Member Name: hugon

Product:	Top 10 Videos
Date:	05/01/01 (174 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: I like them

Disadvantages: You probably don't

Being one of those dying breeds without satellite TV, I rarely get to see music videos on TV these days. Very few programmes seem to show them these days, especially the type of music that I like (not Steps and Westlife). Thankfully I see the odd few on Irish RTE television and at friend’s houses. Since have got onto the internet I have been able to catch up with a few more, and I am definitely for the bands that put their videos on their singles as bonus extras.

1) JJ72 – OXYGEN
---------------------
This video had me mesmerised the first time I saw it. The song is really powerful, and is backed up well by the video. JJ72 are in a big room in an old house somewhere, with just a few tables amongst all the equipment. It starts off as more or less just the band playing through the some, Mark starts with his back to the camera, and when he turns round he doesn’t look into the camera. As the tension in the music builds up to the point where the some is about to explode, Mark lifts his guitar and smashes it into the drum kit. He picks it up and smashes it into the tables, speaker stacks and he can be seen running around outside hitting it against trees. At the end when the song slows down, it’s morning and Mark looks confused, as if it’s all been a dream. This video goes along really well with the song; it backs up the emotion running through the song with such an outburst of energy. The first time you see it, when you don’t expect the smashing guitars, it’s quite exciting. He must have smashed up at least five songs in the video.

2) MANSUN – LEGACY
---------------------------
This video is really cool – the video follows the exploits of a group of Action Men who are in a band from conception, to when they get famous, and the downfall of the band. It’s quite funny, but also quite serious as it parallels the story of many real bands. They start off playing small venues, then the
talent scout spots them (complete with large medallions) and they have their first hit single. They play larger venues, drive round in big cars, and throw TVs out windows. It’s a brilliant video, though I haven’t seen it for ages.

3) GREEN DAY – WARNING
----------------------------------
Another video with a funny slant. The main star of this video runs around doing all the things you’re not supposed to do, while Green Day play in his kitchen (he doesn’t even notice!). He gets up, has a bath while rubbing shampoo in his eyes, runs with scissors, goes to the pool and eats fish and chips and the side, runs round the outside before dive-bombing into the pool. He takes medicine and operates heavy machinery. Bad lad! The humour isn’t obvious, it’s quite subtle and pay attention, because there are plenty of times he disobeys warnings.

4)STEROPHONICS – 1,000 TREES
-----------------------------------------
This one is quite powerful. The song is about how rumours can get out of hand, and the consequences they can have. The song backs the song up really well. It revolves around a couple, and the man has obviously heard a few stories about what his girlfriend has supposedly been doing, and he storms home to wait for her. He’s very angry and when she comes in he storms out, runs across the road and is hit by an oncoming car. The girlfriends runs out after him and sees him being hit. The video ends there, it hits quite hard.

5) MANIC STREET PREACHERS – FASTER
--------------------------------------
This is one of my favourite Manics songs and my favourite video. It’s very sparse, just the band in military gear against a white background performing the song. What makes it so special is the words that are spelt out on the song as they play, it brings out the message the song is trying to bring out.

6) SUEDE – SATURDAY NIGHT
----------------------
---------------
This is a lovely little video, to accompany a great song. Brett walks about the underground singing the song, and as he sees people on the tube he has flashes in his mind of the kind of lives they live on Saturday night, when the normal clothes and boring routines are removed. The other band members only make cameo appearance, but it makes you think the next time you’re on a bus or a train.

7) RADIOHEAD – JUST
---------------------------
It was a really hard choice between this and Street Spirit, but Just edges it. Radiohead are just a minor part of this video, they’re performing in a room, giving it their all, but it’s outside on the street that the action is taking place. A man is lying down in the street, and another man comes along and trips over him. After picking himself up he tries to reason with the guy on the ground to get him up, but can’t. The man on the ground can’t say why he is there, and as the crowd gathers, they eventually coax what it is that makes him lie there. However, as he tells them, the next shot is of everyone lying down in the street too. The video really needs to be seen to provide the full effect.

8) BLINK 182 – ALL THE SMALL THINGS
---------------------------------------
Blink 182 take a satirical look at boy bands in this video. They pull out all the clichés, the winning smiles and all, but the joke is that they aren’t desirable. They have bad teeth; dogs want to make love to their legs, and on and on. Yet the fans cheer them on. Possibly a swipe at how bands with no talent can get everywhere based on image and marketing?

9) JJ72 – OCTOBER SWIMMER
---------------------------------------
I know I’m obsessed with JJ72 OK! This time the performance takes another unexpected twist when flames erupt round them, but being true professionals, they play on regardless. That is until Mark proves how good a fireman he&
#8217;d make, managing to put the flames out by shooting water out of his mouth again. It’s great because the outcome is really unexpected again. I love this band. Have I ever said that?

10) ASH – OH YEAH
--------------------------
Another powerful video to go along with quite an emotional song. It’s set in a fairground as Tim walks around singing the song, thinking about the girl he’s lost. It’s a cold, wet night, and as he walks away from the roundabout it goes on fire. This complements the instrumental verse really well. The darkness and moodiness really suits the song well.

They’re my favourite videos anyway. I don’t know what you think about them, but I hope you see why I like them, and if you haven’t heard of the bands before, why not give Napster a spin and check them out?

Summary: