Back in October, YouTube kicked off a contest to motivate some of the country’s unsigned bands to create their own music videos. While we’re used to seeing indie band guys looking all pensive with their androgynous haircuts or rappers pointing up to god and their bling, YouTube’s winners, announced today, were a tad more creative with their projects. They might even give those treadmill guys a run for their money. PopWatch weighs in on the four winners (who beat out more than 2200 other bands):
Best Song
Greenland
“The Way It Is”
Best song? Isn’t this, eh, a music video contest? The song is catchy good fun. But the video has Peter Gabriel written all over it. The band members, whose bodies have been done up as quirky photo-montages, jam along — while a slew of beloved cartoon characters make onstage cameo appearances. Is that Barbie being eaten by a dragon as she drives in her Geo Metro? It’s hard to tell with the so-so resolution, but there’s no doubt about the love we get from Superman, Darth Vader, Legos and My Little Ponies. A
Best Video
Maldroid
“He Said, She Said”
Somebody’s been hanging out with The O.C.’s Seth Cohen a lot lately — and we’re ok with that. This mixed media video (pictured), flawlessly done, involves a skateboarder dude who hops on the BART (Bay Area Rapid Transit) and begins reading what looks like a graphic novel called He Said, She Said that comes to life on your screen. A+
Most Creative
Ostrich Head
“Freak Show Carnival”
Speaking of the worst band names ever, we have another nominee. This video instantly reminded me of that Len video.Remember? 1999. "Steal my Sunshine." While Len’s crew looks like they’rehaving fun at what would be my worst nightmare, a Frat Party Carnival,at least Ostrich Head takes us to the Freak Show Carnival. Much moreinteresting, yes? Plus, the music’s better. Grade: B
Best Live
Pawnshop Roses
“Gets So Hard”
Thinking up ingenious categories for this competition must’ve gotten, um, so hard.I mean, how about Best use of Nazi References a la Marilyn Manson’s“Antichrist Superstar”? Or Best video that doesn’t feature the artist ala David Bowie’s “Under Pressure”? Or Best Depiction of Sadomasochism ala Madonna’s “Justify My Love”? Cingular probably wouldn’t want tosponsor a contest with that kind of content, but Best Livevideo? Snooze. For what it is, Pawnshop Roses’ live version of “Gets SoHard” sounds good, is cut well and is entertaining enough. Grade: B
I wish all these indie bands would spend more time on their songwriting skills and less time on videos… spend the money on better recording equipment (and spend more time practicing) rather than on oh-so-clever (or not) videos. Whatever happened to the “it’s all about the music” attitute?
I’m more interested in the sudden emergence of new names on the Popwatch writing staff. Heli Jung, and now the staff’s even hired an Hermana? I must have choked on my salami sandwich lunch and gone to heaven.
And the vid’s cool, but doesn’t dude kinda look like Doctor octopus in the picture above?
where can i download the “he said, she said” song?? anybody know? it’s a good song
I’m with you Bbpage, but the Pawnshop song at the end is pretty damn good.
Ypulse Essentials
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hey there! Ryan Divine here from the band maldroid! Nice write up thank you very much! In responce to the last comment… NO MONEY was spent on the video and i don’t own ANY camera equipment. I had to beg, steal and cheat to get this done all on my lonesome. Can’t please everyone with the song, but we certainly try. Perhaps our next single will be more to your liking! Though for the record, it’s NOT all about the music. We’re artists first. It’s all about art, and performance and music is only a taste of that. We’re very visual as well and the way our videos look (bearing in mind we do it ourselves on a ZERO dollar budget) is just as important to us as every other aspect of this project!
Thanks for the feedback!
all the best,
Ryan Divine
maldroid.
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When i can download thwe latest album of Linking Park.
Hey,
Check out doublethink’s new video for “California Doll!”
http://www.youtube.com/doublethink
http://www.myspace.com/doublethink
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