Video Rewind 01.23.2015

Kishi Bashi “In Fantasia”

Kishi Bashi’s video for “In Fantasia” deals with the loss of a loved one. For the man in the video, the world becomes large and empty once the woman he loves passes away. We see this in the juxtaposition of shots taken in the same scene. Where on the one hand we have the man just standing in these areas, noticing how empty they are among their borders without her, we also see the memories he has of when she was still with him. Those scenes are intimately close moments where he has gone to lengths to make the mood romantic. But these scenes always close in on the couple and the way they escape the surroundings. Now gone, he visits these places but they seem serene and lifeless. He metaphorically lets her go, and the pain of her loss, when he revisits a dock where the two let go a floating lantern one night. Now, in the daylight, he releases one on his own. He lived with her as though he were in Fantasia, a magical place. Without her, it’s like when the Pevensie children realize that the wardrobe is no more a portal to Narnia, but only a wardrobe.

Years & Years “King”

Year & Year’s video for “King” deals with the opposite of being a king. Frontman Olly Alexander croons in the song “I was a King under your control”, and the second half of that line is how the video fits in. Olly stars in the video as a man who is bumped and tossed around by backup dancers. At times, we see the dancers and how they connect with Olly. At other times, we just see Olly stumble with no cause for it. We alternate this way seeing the dancers in white move him, then cut to see him moving that way on his own. He goes on to sing that he just wants to get out from under “your” control. The video ends with him surrounded by the dancers when he stands up and flings them back resulting in Olly finally being free.

Carpenter Brut featuring Jim (Trumps/Filago) “Anarchy Road”

The video for “Anarchy Road” by Carpenter Brut featuring Jim (Trumps/Filago) deals with a post-apocalyptic world. A white woman and a young black boy are trying to make it out of city that is left to ruin. People are scarce, but they’re violently scavenging for anything that they can use. As the woman and boy get into a car, we see that there are two men lying on the ground. There’s be a violent confrontation. The woman’s main goal is the protection of the boy, but that’s easier said than done. This is especially true since all she has for a weapon is a revolver without bullets. At every stop someone comes out of the shadows to try and attack them. When the vehicle finally runs out of gas they get out and walk. This is when they’re attacked and the woman tries to sacrifice herself so the boy can escape. The question is, where is he to go?

Modest Mouse “Coyotes”

Modest Mouse’s video for “Coyotes” stars a coyote. This coyote is in the city and boards a subway train. The train is empty, so the coyote goes about sniffing without being a threat to anyone. It stares out the window. It takes a nap. It wanders around the train some more. At no time does it seem frighten, or unaware of what is happening. It stays on the train as it crosses a bridge and goes from stop to stop. At one stop, it notices a bird flying through the window, and it seems to want to catch it. The coyote stays on the train until it reaches its destination, where it gets out and goes to prowl the city for food. In a way, this coyote is much like a human. It just gets on a train, sits without excitement and waits to get to its destination where it gets on with life.

The Staves “Black & White”

The Staves video for “Black & White” takes place on air during an Australian television news show. Channel 9 is about to get very high ratings. The video begins with the makeup lady finishing up on the female news anchor when she lets her know that her co-anchor and husband is having an affair with the weather girl. She then lets the male anchor know that his wife knows. The news starts off as usually, but when they cut to the sports reports she goes off. The tantrum can’t be seen on television, but it’s sure to be hear. They cut back where the man does his work by reading the news as his wife removes her ring and sets on the desk. When they cut to the weather girl he goes off yelling. When they cut back, the woman splashes her water on her husband, then gets up and leaves. It’s not the place or time to unload your personal problems, but it is kind of fitting. Stories break on the news, why can’t relationships?

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