Topic: Video Killed the Radio Star : 30 years later

[AV]

30 years ago the song ' video killed the radio star '

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XWtHEmVjVw8

Has it really ?

I have 496 songs and of those songs I have maybe seen a handful of the music video versions. I can see the video versions but I don't really want to. most music videos are just crazy random **** tossed on the screen that may or may not have any relation with the lyrics or the song. Many of the songs I do have are from video games so technically they don't have a music video. Regardless I was the generation that grew up with music videos and music TV ( MTV) and I hate both.

I'm just curious what everyone else thought on this subject matter

[ShyGuy]

MP3 killed the video star. Music videos are a lost art form.

[nickmitch]

MTV killed the music video.  In fact, I'm sure the reason why videos suck some much these days (and they do) is because they rarely get any play, so the artists don't bother.  Hell, the only cable channel that actually shows full music videos is VH1.  BET is doing it less and less during their "uncut" program, but MTV doesn't at all.

[bustin98]

This is yet another reason I love 80s music.

[ThePerm]

i want to do a music video for "i melt with you", there already is one, but i want to do a great one. If i can get a hold of my render farm in the next couple of weeks i will and will post it.

[Dasmos]

This thread is stupid.

I have around 15000 and only 5 or 6 of those are music video. Do you know why? Because I can't buy music videos. Also not every song gets turned into a video. Most of the bands I listen to maybe one or two make it to single with a video, and many of them never spawn a single.

Video Killed the Radio Star was about how the dominant household entertainment shifted from radio to television, not about music videos being the dominant way to listen to music. And I'd say it still rings true, I'd rather watch a music TV channel than turn on the radio. Who wouldn't?

[TJ Spyke]

That is why YouTube exists. Just about every music video is up there. I don't have cable or satellite, so the Internet is pretty much the only way I can watch music videos. I guess my generation is pretty much the last one where MTV actually aired music videos (watching TRL in the late 90s exposed me to groups like Limp Bizkit and blink-182, as well as singles artists like Eminem and Kid Rock).  They then started showing less and less videos in general and most videos they did show were shortened (especially TRL, none of the 10 videos would get shown in their entirety and at least 1 video would only get about 10 seconds of play and be talked over during that 10 seconds. VH1 still airs them, as does CMT for county songs. I do miss them. I remember when it used to be a big deal to have the premiere of a music video. Hell, the world premiere of Michael Jackson's "Black or White" video aired simultaneously on 4 different channels (Fox, MTV, VH1, BET) and watched by millions of people that night.

I'm not sure how many videos I have seen of the songs I own. I own a lot of songs I don't even care about (as I would only want some of the songs on the album and couldn't care less about the rest).

[ThePerm]

Speaking og Michael Jackson....really..anyone making a music video...do you think you could top the awesomeness of THRILLER? I'm a big zombie and horror movie fan so when I saw a VHS of the MAKING of THRILLER about a year ago in a thrift store for 99 cents or so I had to snap it up. That has some of the best zombie makeup I've ever seen in a music video or even any movies. I think the modern hip hop scene has destroyed the music video..they broke it. There were some much more creative stuff way back when.

http://www.nbc.com/Saturday_Night_Live/video/clips/digital-short-motherlover-uncensored/1103443/
here is a great music video though

[RABicle]

I think the modern hip hop scene has destroyed the music video..they broke it. There were some much more creative stuff way back when.

Sure man, if there's one thing I can't enough of, it's muscly guys with their shirts off and fat guys with their shirts on, surrounded by many beautiful ladies in their car with spinners cruising through the hood splashing money about. Cut to beanie wearing guy holding his arms and nodding rhythmically.

[nickmitch]

To be fair, only 30 seconds of their video gets played.  So, working with the typical formula (big house, cars, bitches, champagne, green screens, bling, etc) just saves time/effort.  Like, why work at it when no one cares? No one paints murals at schools for the blind where the teachers and staff are also blind I guess.

[RABicle]

I'm curious though. I mean I've never bee able to tune into Mtv, being Australian and all, what do they show now if they don't play music videos?

[nickmitch]

Reality shows.

[ThePerm]

  Like, why work at it when no one cares?

people do care thats why this thread exists!

Rab
MTV plays reality shows. They used to have a pretty good line of shows, but not any more. Even reality shows that I used to like suck. Like Real World...It used to be pretty good, but its been stratified to jocks and cheerleaders only. The last season that was worth a damn was probably Real World New Orleans

[RABicle]

Oh that sucks. Saturday morning music video shows are what your teenage years are about here. Rage, jTV, Video Hits. How will American youth grow up well adjusted?

Anyway, a cool, extended music video that is fairly newish you should all check out
Bluejuice - Broken Leg. They've created this ridiculous story about a newly united skip rope team competing in the 1985 championships.

[EasyCure]

I have a love/hate relationship with music videos..

On one hand, they're a great compliment to the music they're playing to and its been shown that the video can sometimes outshine the actual song (see; Thriller)

On the other hand.. with MTV and a "sex sells" attitude, how often do you see people that look like John Oates or The Weather Girls on MTV (and the like)?

It used to be if you had talent, you'd get signed, but now you also have to have the right look and thats b/s in my book man. One of the (many) reasons I respect Robert Smith[/ur] is that he's gone on record to say, about his stage appearance, that if you couldn't get passed the oddball look he basically didn't want you listening to his music. A whole generation of kids are growing up thinking "if i don't have rock hard abs/fit into a size 0 skinny jeans/have huge titts, i'll never make it in music" and thats just sad..

[bustin98]

MTV actually killed the careers of a number of 70s performers because they didn't look good or couldn't dance. But Hall and Oates was a staple of my video music diet. I love their stuff. Nowadays though, I don't think I could stand either one of them for too long...
Not to say every not good looking person couldn't succeed. Tom Petty, Phil Collins, the lead of The Cars,... hmm, can't think of any ugly chicks that did well...

And Robert Smith's look started a thing he should have quit as soon as he thought of it if that's how he really feels. His hair and makeup is just as much a marketing gimmick as tits and ass. Don't read that the wrong way. I'm not saying he should have quit music, just stop how he was dressing.

[vudu]

I guess my generation is pretty much the last one where MTV actually aired music videos (watching TRL in the late 90s exposed me to groups like Limp Bizkit and blink-182, as well as singles artists like Eminem and Kid Rock).

Sounds like someone owes you an apology.

[Ian Sane]

It used to be if you had talent, you'd get signed, but now you also have to have the right look and thats b/s in my book man.

I agree.  In fact with pop music things have shifted so much to the artist's image that I'm not even sure if kids that listen to today's current pop music even understand the concept of it.  When I was a kid the important elements of pop music was that it was inoffensive and really catchy.  A pop song traditionally is the sort of tune that just sticks in your head.  Because these songs are so catchy I still enjoy them even if they are cheesy or blatantly commercial.  This is why Michael Jackson's music still holds up.  The songs have such enjoyable melodies that you can't help but like them.

But these days I find it to be very rare that I encounter a mainstream pop hit that passes off as a melodic song.  It's just some backbeat and some slutty looking girl is singing in a very unremarkable voice.  Maybe there's some rapper in the middle of the song, too.  It gives me this vibe like the reason I'm supposed to like it is because the people in the video are so attractive and they're famous.  It's like the music is merely a venue for the celebrity.  In the past becoming a celebrity was a byproduct of a successful music career.  The music was the product.  Now it's like the celebrity is the product and the album and the movie and the TV show are just promotion for the celebrity.

So I wonder if the people who listen to this even understand what music is or if it is merely just something famous people do.  Instead of listening to a song because it has an enjoyable melody you listen to it because of the association with a famous person.  Since everyone these days seems to want to be famous the sheer presence of a celebrity provides enjoyment.

As a teenager I found music videos quite enjoyable and a good music video can really help set the mood for the song (check out the video to "Mercy Street" by Peter Gabriel on Youtube).  As an adult they usually don't have the same impact.  As a teen I figured if my band made it I would be very particular about music videos but now I don't care as much.  I regard it more as just part of the promotion of the album and would have more of a "veto obviously stupid ideas" level of interest.

[EasyCure]

MTV actually killed the careers of a number of 70s performers because they didn't look good or couldn't dance. But Hall and Oates was a staple of my video music diet. I love their stuff. Nowadays though, I don't think I could stand either one of them for too long...
Not to say every not good looking person couldn't succeed. Tom Petty, Phil Collins, the lead of The Cars,... hmm, can't think of any ugly chicks that did well...

And Robert Smith's look started a thing he should have quit as soon as he thought of it if that's how he really feels. His hair and makeup is just as much a marketing gimmick as tits and ass. Don't read that the wrong way. I'm not saying he should have quit music, just stop how he was dressing.

I remember hearing about a lawsuit or something with.. i think it was C+C Music Factory's singer in that song "I got the power" was replaced in the music video, without her knowledge (possibly even uncredited?), with someone much slimmer. I'm not positive on the details, my memory is very fuzzy about it, but anyway, its just sad that music (because of videos) became more about looks than actual music.

As for Robert Smith.. from what i've gathered that look started at the very beginning of his career, and he DID change his look when people accused the big crazy hair of being a gimmick. He cut his hair off, toned down the make-up and continued his (then) drug-induced music. Really though, the people that call his look a gimmick are the ones that don't see past the look and realize The Cure don't create "goth" music.. so in essence, his plan worked! haha Hell they created some of the best pop music of the decade.

-----------------------

It's scary how much me and Ian tend to agree on things when it comes to music..

[vudu]

Really though, the people that call his look a gimmick are the ones that don't see past the look and realize The Cure don't create "goth" music.. so in essence, his plan worked!

I actually saw the man who invented goth music this weekend.  He looked like John Waters.

[ThePerm]

Then there are songs that are covers, for the most part i am all for covers and remixes, but sometimes its just a way to be unoriginal. A good example of a remix is Sean Kingston "Beautiful Girl", his melody is a stronger force in the song than the "stand by me rythm", its different and its catchy in its own right. I've heard some just unoriginal stuff though like "Right Round", which really just relies on the original melody from "you spin me round". Its not catchy on its own merit, They just changed the lyrics and tried to pass it off as best they could as their own. Recently i heard a song on the radio that sound just like Justin Timberlakes "Sexy Back", but with different instruments and different lyrics, but damn did it sound the same. I wish i remembered what that soung was called. In my search i found this video which remidns me of Babel
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=atNMZS7Rfuw

[EasyCure]

Then there are songs that are covers, for the most part i am all for covers and remixes, but sometimes its just a way to be unoriginal. A good example of a remix is Sean Kingston "Beautiful Girl", his melody is a stronger force in the song than the "stand by me rythm", its different and its catchy in its own right. I've heard some just unoriginal stuff though like "Right Round", which really just relies on the original melody from "you spin me round". Its not catchy on its own merit, They just changed the lyrics and tried to pass it off as best they could as their own. Recently i heard a song on the radio that sound just like Justin Timberlakes "Sexy Back", but with different instruments and different lyrics, but damn did it sound the same. I wish i remembered what that soung was called. In my search i found this video which remidns me of Babel
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=atNMZS7Rfuw

I know what you mean, covers and sampling can be good but the majority of the time its like an easy way to cash in on someone elses sucess. There was that song "S.O.S." by (insert pop artist) that, like "Right Round" was clearly just ripping off the 80's mega-hit "Tainted Love" (which ironicaly, is a cover from the 60s! lol). It was such a shitty sample too because the song was so horrible, ugh.

Meanwhile you have someone like M.I.A. that uses a very small sample of New Order's "Blue Monday" in one of her songs (can't remember which at the moment), and its used in such a way that most people don't even freakin hear it. Hell i didn't hear it the first few times I listened, but once i found out it was there i picked up on it and thought "wow, a song that uses another songs sample that DOESN'T rely heavily on it."

As far as straight up covers/tributes/interpretations go, I love em. Good mash-ups too, though there are some pretty crappy ones floating around.. yeesh. I love covers when they're done by an unexpected band, like how Deftones are known to cover Weezer songs. Now i've never been a fan of the Deftones, but i've heard plenty of their music (an ex of mine was obsessed) and never in a million years would I have imagined them covering Weezer's catchy tunes.. but they do! Surprises like that are fun because either they go for the straight up cover and they try to sound like the original, which is a fun surprise when the original song/artists sounds nothing like the cover artists... Or they go for the interpretational cover in their own style and makes the original song sound so different and new. A good example hear is Marilyn Mansons cover of "The KKK Took My Baby Away" on the Ramones tribute album "We're a Happy Family". Personally I don't like it much, because it takes away the catchiness and energy from the original, but it was a pretty ballsy thing to do when everyone else contributing to record did more of a straight cover.. Save for the Chili Peppers who had a nice rendition of "Havannah Affair". Check it out!

Now, mash-ups are very hit-or-miss.. most of the times you'll hear a crappy mash-up thats basically one songs lyrics over another songs melody, and maybe the chorus or a few lines of the original song mixed in. Thats LAME for the most part (one example is a 50cent vs NIN one floating around, "in da club" vs "closer". its not bad, pretty fun to listen to actually just sorta lazy). I don't mind this type of mash-up when done live, though, because its obviously simpler. There's an mp3 floating around of A Perfect Circle playing The Cure's "Love Song" but singing Ozzy's "Diary of a Madman" over the verses, but using Love Song's chorus (though slightly altered) and its really good.. i wish there was a studio version somewhere because the live versions quality isn't all that great.

A really good mash-up will fuse the two (or more!) songs together musically as well as lyrically. Two good examples of this, off the top of my head, a New Order & Depeche mode mash-up that mixes in "Bizarre love triangle" and "Strange Love" really REALLY well. I also have a sweet mash-up of the Bee Gee's "You should be dancing" and the Police's "Roxanne" which was cutely titled "Roxanne should be dancing" and that ones pretty fuckin epic.

[ThePerm]

crap i didn't even know the soft cell version was a cover, got to listen to the original

I've been listening to Squirrel Nut Zippers lately, they have some good stuff. I heard "the suits are picking up the bill" in a heinz ketchup commercial

[EasyCure]

Its ok, not many people do. Here's the original:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NSehtaY6k1U

The MIA song I mentioned before, that samples new order, is called 20 dollars by the way and I almost forgot she uses the chorus lyrics to the Pixies "where is my mind" in it too.

Another song with a sample that stands on its own is the beastie boys "an open letter to NYC" which samples the intro to "sonic reducer" by the Dead Boys. Awesome.

[ThePerm]

i always thought it was one of the most soulful new wave hits, and that must be why. Great version, I was going to check it out on grooveshark, but hadn't gotten around to it. Luckily thats the great thing about forums. Speaking of Souful versions of the song, recently I heard the original version of "I put a spell on you" by Screamin' Jay Hawkins, and I have to say I still like the CCR version the most.