Best music videos of the decade (15 - 11)

#15

"Lose Control" (2005)

Missy Elliott with Ciara and Fatman Scoop
Director: Dave Meyers
We start off with Missy's 2005 contribution to the video pantheon. If anything defines a good R&B video, it's dance moves, weird cameos and other sillyness. "Lose Control" is just perfect for a high school pep squad... kinda like Gwen Stefani tracks but with a little less cheerleading and a fat guy... and Tommy Lee.

#14

"Cinnamon Girl" (2004)

Prince
Director: Phil Harder
Mix up some September 11th airport paranoia with crayon-y special effects, and you've got Prince's most political track ever. Yes, that is the Whale Rider girl; and no, I don't know what the "5:5" means on Prince's forehead. Undoubtedly the best Prince video in the last 10 years. But, it barely beat out "Black Sweat"...

#13

"Across the Night" (2003)

Silverchair
Directors: Sean Gilligan and Sarah-Jane Woulahan
Silverchair quietly made some spectacular vids in the last decade. At least 3 are in the Top 50 for me, and "Across the Night" is their best. In a time where the band was on an indefinite touring hiatus and the future was dim, this managed to keep the band alive through airwaves. I didn't even realize it was in grayscale until a second viewing. It took me about 20 views to realize that was Guy Pearce, too.

Best music videos of the decade (2000-2009)

A decade ends. Ten years of joy (blogging), grief (politics), and mostly apathy (YouTube). To commemorate the death of the 2Ks, I am covering the best fifteen music videos to grace the planet since December 31, 1999. Narrowing it down to 15 was hard--a test of will. There are no Kanye or Weezer videos; no "Trapped in the Closet". This is serious time. This is a top 15 list... Get inspired, learn and enjoy!


INDEX:

• Videos 15 - 11
  
• Videos 10 - 6
  
• Videos 5 - 1
• Honorable Mentions
  

Related:

• Pitchfork's Top 50 Music Videos of the 2000s
  

Great bands should stay dead

It always bothers me when a band reunion is announced, because it is almost always for money. Yes, some people need that income again after a long dry spell, but the price of integrity is too steep. I understand some of these bands rekindle friendships and hug; but why in front of the limelight again? Have they grown up at all? Don't they have mansions where they can do this privately? They're like drug addicts falling into old patterns.

I wracked my brain to think of legendary groups that never took payola for a massive tour and a crummy comeback album. It is a dramatically short list, albeit incomplete. I also started making lists of big groups that were way better off (historically) by ending. Just some food for thought...

Groups that have remained broken up:

1. The Beatles
2. Nirvana
3. The Doors
4. Creedence Clearwater Revival
5. Soundgarden*

*As of Jan 1, 2010, Soundgarden is fricking reuniting!

Bands that promised they would never reunite, but did:

1. Led Zeppelin
2. The Who
3. The Grateful Dead
4. Van Halen (Roth)
   
5. Eagles
6. The Smashing Pumpkins

Other bands that should have stayed dead:

1. Blind Melon
2. Alice in Chains
3. Stone Temple Pilots
4. Queen
5. INXS
   
6. Any band like Styx, Foreigner or Journey

Now, to see if there is any correlation on length of time broken up with length of time reunited.

"Estranged" -- a music video retrospective

This post has moved to:

http://lifeasamusicvideo.blogspot.com/2009/11/music-video-retrospective.html

"What's My Name?" -- a music video retrospective

This post has moved to:

http://lifeasamusicvideo.blogspot.com/2009/11/my-name-music-video-retrospective.html

Random observations (November)

• The Simpsons Halloween #20 was just as satisfying as the first Treehouse of Horror back in 1990.
  
• So they're coming out with a Guitar Hero predecessor, Band Hero... The next incarnation will be called Band Band (my catchy idea). 
  
• Just finished Fargo Rock City, and really enjoyed lots of it, especially the Guns N' Roses lore.
  
• It's official: everyone I have ever met likes Arrested Development. I hope the movie sees the light of day.
  
• They made a remake of the "V" show. I guarantee reports of reptilian race aliens will skyrocket on the Jeff Rense Program. The show will probably tank.
  
• Thumbs down for MTV playing movies that have nothing to do with music (or the Real World).
• Olivia Wilde is Maxim's #1 Hottie of 2009. It's some kind of adult magazine or something... don't know for sure.
• Whoopi Goldberg is so cool. I don't need a link to prove it.
  
• Project 1999 rocks!