Seemingly Intractable Questions In Pop, No.1 in a Series

[freakytigger.livejournal.com]

How do you make pop work on TV?

Comments

[katstevens.livejournal.com]

I'm not sure I agree with the whole song being played - I have a short attention span, and if they play the best bit then I will be motivated to seek out the full version. Playing the entirety of a song is great for Hits!TV and TMF though, I've started mentally noting down all the videos that say 'The End' at the end (ie all the Spice Girls ones)!

[piratemoggy.livejournal.com]

It always used to send me into spasms of apoplexy when they cut off a really good video in the middle, though. This was before I had freeview or broadband, mind you, so I didn't see it any other way.

[freakytigger.livejournal.com]

I am pro it if it stops more people putting "plots" in their videos (or enrages those who do!)

[piratemoggy.livejournal.com]

This is a VERY good point. Who on earth thinks 'oh yeah, people are totally going to want to see these irrelevant talky bits that interrupt the song NINE MILLION TIMES in the next three weeks and this will definitely help to promote my otherwise very good song' ffs?

[freakytigger.livejournal.com]

It's not even the "video mixes with bonus talking" that annoy me, it's structuring videos as a narrative, especially when (as seems to be the case in 95% of them) that narrative is about 'wild-hearted outsiders seek refuge from THE MAN'.

I blame Unkle.

[carsmilesteve.livejournal.com]

NO!!!

what ov TAKE ON ME???? still one of the top 5 vids EVAH and entirely due to PLOT.

[freakytigger.livejournal.com]

OBVIOUSLY the rule that says "Any video with a cartoon character in it is good" is more primary than this other rule, that's all!

[braisedbywolves.livejournal.com]

haha snap!

[braisedbywolves.livejournal.com]

I blame NERD.

No wait hang on, you're describing 'Take On Me', pinnacle of human civilisation!

[alexmacpherson.livejournal.com]

Timberlake this means you.

[katstevens.livejournal.com]

God I can't stand that awful vid with Scarlet whatsherface. It spoiled a perfectly good song.

Have you seen the vid for Avril's 'When You're Gone'? It's absolutely ridiculous and has enhanced the song for me greatly. Apparently Avril came up with the idea herself...

[alexmacpherson.livejournal.com]

I haven't! I hated the song so much I never bothered to watch it. Must remember to.

Favourite video of this year for me is Dizzee Rascal's 'Sirens', which somewhat redeems a song i don't particularly like...

I like literalism in pop videos a lot. Like Beyoncé having an Actual Box To The Left, To The Left in 'Irreplaceable'.

[katstevens.livejournal.com]

If you get bored then fast forward to the last 30 seconds for the full gobsmacking OTT splendour.

[katstevens.livejournal.com]

I like the plots! But agree that vague ones are better e.g. Fergie's 'London Bridge':

SCENE 1. EXT. Driveway. Ridiculous car pulls up in 'London'. Fergie steps out. She is annoyed at something.

SCENE 2. INT. Gentlemen's club. Fergie decides to dance on the table.

SCENE 3. EXT. Buckingham Palace. Fergie seduces guard with fluffy hat. Two girls dressed as guards with fluffy hats breakdance.

SCENE 4. INT. Snooker table room. Fergie writhes around on snooker table.

SCENE 5. EXT. River Thames. Boat sails under 'unspecified bridge'.

SOMEHOW all this nonsense managed to be one of the best videos of 2006!

[freakytigger.livejournal.com]

Yes I think only in the world of diggerdydum would this qualify as a 'plot'!

[katstevens.livejournal.com]

That was so much fun to write out. I might do more.