The band OK Go released a new music video called "Upside Down Inside Out," shot entirely in weightlessness (link to video). They also made a behind-the-scenes video showing how it was done.
In a Reddit Ask Me Anything session, they were asked: "How do you respond to critics that call you a video band, implying that the theatrics and videos are more substantive than the actual music?"
"We just don't subscribe to last century's categorical definitions as much as most folks do... When I was in high school in the 90's, music came in one container (a CD), films came in another (theaters), tv came in another (that box in your living room), journalism another (newsprint), and on and on ad infinitum. Now every one of those supposedly distinct cultural forms is distributed the exact same way -- all of them are ones and zeros that you get through your phone or laptop -- and the boundaries between them are more and more arbitrary every day. So we chase our creative ideas wherever they lead, and it doesn't particularly bother us if an idea winds up being visual as opposed to auditory. For us, the joy is in making stuff, and we feel super lucky that we have such a broad and inspiring canvas to work with. Plus, we love our songs. Every band has critics... fuck'em. -- damian"
Thanks for the links to these, James! As for the "Rube Goldberg" video, I couldn't help but think of Fischli and Weiss's mind-blowing and gritty 30-minute physics and chemistry lesson, "The Way Things Go." And then there's Honda's sleek 2010 "Cog," described in loving detail at https://thisisnotadvertising.wordpress.com/tag/peter-fischli/.
"and the boundaries between them are more and more arbitrary every day. " True about music, tv, cinema but disturbing when they put journalism in the same bag...
I can testify that OK Go are a good live act as well (though you shouldn't expect a replication of one of their videos on stage). The critique reminds me of the pre-video days, when some bands were criticized for being a "studio band" that couldn't replicate its sound live, and others were criticized for their flashy live theatrics that overshadowed the music. You just can't please everyone.
It is interesting how we seem to be seeing a breaking-down of boundaries these days, after so many years of increasing specialization and compartmentalization.
Thanks for the links to these, James! As for the "Rube Goldberg" video, I couldn't help but think of Fischli and Weiss's mind-blowing and gritty 30-minute physics and chemistry lesson, "The Way Things Go." And then there's Honda's sleek 2010 "Cog," described in loving detail at https://thisisnotadvertising.wordpress.com/tag/peter-fischli/.
ReplyDeleteBest, Evelyn
There's but one (60s vintage) thing to say, "Heavy, man. Heavy."
ReplyDeleteThe things peeps will do for 52 million hits....inventive as a really really inventive thing.
ReplyDeleteJames, how about shooting your next painting video in zero gravity?
ReplyDelete"and the boundaries between them are more and more arbitrary every day. " True about music, tv, cinema but disturbing when they put journalism in the same bag...
ReplyDeleteI can testify that OK Go are a good live act as well (though you shouldn't expect a replication of one of their videos on stage). The critique reminds me of the pre-video days, when some bands were criticized for being a "studio band" that couldn't replicate its sound live, and others were criticized for their flashy live theatrics that overshadowed the music. You just can't please everyone.
ReplyDeleteIt is interesting how we seem to be seeing a breaking-down of boundaries these days, after so many years of increasing specialization and compartmentalization.