All right, kids. This will be the official spot for what started last week as my favorite music videos post. There are always too many to just group into a small list, so this will now give you a weekly dose of videos I like for whatever reason. They might be great clips of art, or they might just be so bad they’re good. Either way, we’re gonna groove as the mighty Led Zeppelin once sang. So let’s get to it, won’t you?
Kid Creole and The Coconuts – “Endicott” To start things off this week we have this classic wacky clip from August Darnell and crew. “Endicott” is the tale about a goody two shoes that the ladies all love. Why can’t we all be a little more like Endicott? ‘Cause we’re free…thank God we’re free.
The White Stripes – “Fell In Love With A Girl” LEGOs make the whole world a happier place. I don’t know what else there is to say besides that, really. I’m waiting for the official White Stripes LEGOland models to be released. Tapping into a whole new generation of fandom.
Faith No More – “Easy” Suffice it to say that Faith No More’s cover version of this song blows the original away. Suffice it to say that watching the band cavort around with a bunch of transvestites in a hotel room is even better. Mike Patton’s total look of boredom throughout is classic. Take that, Lionel Richie!
Utopia – “Feet Don’t Fail Me Now” This was the song that got me into Todd Rundgren’s vast catalog of music way back in my high school days. It’s got a nice cheapo quality to it, and I always really liked those shifting scenes. Hey, I’m a sucker for simple but effective transition effects, what can I say? Unfortunately, Utopia never really got their due. Perhaps they were too alternative for even the ’70s and ’80s. Go figure.
Adrian Belew – “Oh Daddy” Featuring Belew’s daughter Audie on background vocals, this was one of those things that was just destined to be a fluke novelty hit. And it basically was, though the rest of the album it was taken from (Mr. Music Head) was one of Belew’s finest. Like Todd Rundgren often does on his albums, Adrian played the whole kit and caboodle of instruments on the disc. Sweet nostalgia.
Talking Heads – “Road To Nowhere” Talking Heads put out a slew of great, bizarre videos, but this one probably perfectly encapsulates their surreal weirdness the best. None of it has to make sense, so therefore it doesn’t. Just don’t let your shopping cart get away from you.
David Bowie – “Let Me Sleep Beside You” A super early clip of Bowie for a killer track a lot of fans may not even know about. As you can see, even in his pre-Ziggy Stardust fame the man just exuded cool attitude and is simply a joy to watch even in a basic no-frills clip like this. Man, I wish I could have been him…well, without all the coke, getting rail thin, and plucking out my eyebrows, anyway.
Lou Reed – “Rock and Roll (live)” Definitely file this one under “so bad it’s good.” This rare clip from a 1974 show in Sydney finds Lou at his jacked-up amphetamine best, with his hair dyed blonde and his body convulsing in embarrassingly hilarious “dance moves.” I promise you won’t get the image out of your mind ever. Just let it wash over you and drown in the insanity.
The Art of Noise – “Close (To The Edit)” If I have to explain why this video is cool, then there’s no hope for humanity. Seriously, how can a punk rock kid and three dudes destroying beautiful instruments not rule? Whoops, I just explained it. Oh well, I suppose there’s no hope for me.
Whale – “Kickin'” You may recall this group from their hit “Hobo Humpin’ Slobo Babe.” Well, if you’ve never tried it, score a copy of the band’s album We Care. It’s one of a kind and spreads itself across a whole rainbow of groovy genres. This is the opening track on the album, and there’s nothing else like it on the rest of the disc. Come back, Whale. Your silliness is missed muchly.
