52/100 Video - "Imitation of Life" - REM (2001)

The making of this video is truly imaginative, taking only 20 seconds to shoot.

What you're watching is a loop that goes forwards for 20 seconds, backwards for 20 seconds, forwards for 20 seconds, backwards for 20 seconds, with one static camera.

The technique is called 'pan and scan', often used when they go from a widescreen format and reformat to fit your television or DVD, moving in on certain parts of the entire picture.

53/100 Video - "Shock the Monkey" – Peter Gabriel (1982)

 

Peter Gabriel has always been a chameleon.

And he seemed to be almost too creative for his former Genesis band mates.

Unpopular opinion: this is PG's best video.

Released in 1982 during the early days of MTV, the video for "Shock the Monkey" was far ahead of its contemporaries.

The lyrics explore the theme of jealousy in humans, explaining the primal symbolism throughout the clip.

And those moving robotic lamps looked pretty cool back in the day.

54/100 Video - "Papercut"- Linkin Park (2000)

The rap rock song "Papercut" by Linkin Park starts off innocently enough. The boys from Linkin Park enter a lobby before starting to play their instruments.

However...soon after the music begins and the two vocalists start dancing, the mood changes to ominous. 

An adjacent room shows dark imagery; a metaphor for the lyrics about paranoia.

As the video progresses, the sinister room reveals a sack crawling with ants. Moments later, a chrysalis generates hundreds of dragonflies.

Then evil faces start coming through the lobby walls and the room starts shape-shifting around the band. 

In the latter half of the clip, the lights dim down while dozens of dragonflies enter the lobby and menacingly hover around the band members.

Some may not enjoy this sort of video but I adore it for its unique brand of creepy cool.

55/100 Video - "Missing" - Everything But The Girl (1995)

A haunting and timeless track, "Missing" by Everything But The Girl is house music exploring a sad theme.

Tracey Thorn's emotive vocal  combined with a pensive video perfectly captures the essence of loneliness and bittersweet memories. Sadness and acceptance.

And the bridge hits you like a train. 

In the video, Tracey Thorn and Ben Watt sit in separate London apartments as Tracey sings about missing her boyfriend while walking through London neighborhoods.

56/100 Video - "Celebrate" - Empire of the Sun (2014)

Countdown interlude of sorts. 

Besides receiving my Nova Scotia Power bill, it's been a wonderful birthday!

Appreciate all the well wishes from those close, near and far. 

Shout-out to Joelle for a scrumptious pub-style dinner, along with the traditional wine from-around-the-world gift. This one's a white blend from Bulgaria, with notes of orange blossoms and pineapple, and hints of nutmeg, grey poupon, and blah-blah-blah on the finish.  

As for the song, it's an upbeat track from one of my fave groups of the current millennium that helps immortalize the glorious sights and sounds of the 80s.

There's no doubt that 80s influenced the cosmic vibes emanating from the uplifting "Celebrate" by Australia's Empire of the Sun. New wave with a new age panache.

Filmed in South Korea in 2014, lead singer Luke Steele sports a spiffy gold suit and parades around the streets of Seoul taking in the nightlife while the locals are largely oblivious.

I love the inclusion of the Korean subtitles and the karaoke scenes.