videos stink: songs whose videos were almost ruined by them

But for me, the song "Rockit" existed as a nocturnal, kinda sinister soundscape. And I thought of city kids spinning on their heads in the twilight. I was a small towner during that time, so hey...the song got spoiled by the otherness of the vid. Killed the fantasy and the danger.

"Change" by Tears for Fears - Only recently saw this (courtesy of VH1 Classic) and was quite visually violated. Having always loved this track, it was disapointing to see the thoroughly silly clip that went with it.

I wonder if people wouldn't have thought of 80's music quite differently had it not been for the incredible onslaught of videos. Once videos became de rigeur for all wide-release songs, they seemd to match their songs better and better.

Aaaaa, this is one of the most incredible videos I've seen. It has that awesome dance with just the arms, and the Japanese influenced costumes. And the setting. Well, it may be a thoroughly silly clip, but It goes so well with the silly sound.

Aother Mish one too - "Stay with Me", with that bogawful gothic set and Wayne Hussey dancing with that...whatever it was...dried up apple faced lady mannequin. Dreadful.

Maybe not entirely, but I bet any money a lot less people would like "Windowlicker" and "Come to Daddy" if it werent for the clips that go with 'em...

"Breakin' The Law" - Judas Priest

"I Won't Let You Down" - PhD

That's true, except HCYM was from the '80s. Anyhoo...
"Pyramid Song" - Radiohead. Also "Fake Plastic Trees" and "No Surprises."
"Stupid Girl" - Garbage. A rare case where a video entirely *did* ruin a song.
"Me, Myself and I" - De La Soul
"Firestarter" - Prodigy
"Keep Feeling Fascination" - Human League. Of course, in that case the song wasn't all that good.

yeah, that's awful, but I believe it was supposed to be 'funny' in a sort've "Carry On, Goth" sorta way. Regardless, it's tragic.

"Breakin' The Law" - Judas Priest

Oh you're crazy, I think this video is fuckin' hilarious.

"Firestarter" - Prodigy

I think that vid's completely brilliant, actually. Abandoned subway tunnels, silly piercings, stupid hair and silly sweaters....what's not to like?

That video was awesome. The house is like, red.

This is hard for me to judge. I try really hard to experience videos and songs with videos as separate experiences so they rarely get ruined...Judas Priest videos, which are more homoerotic than Queen's usually, make the songs more tolerable usually (sometimes Halford looks like he's just salivating for cock, like that one about how awesome car races are). I can definitely think of more mediocre songs made somewhat memorable by videos than songs that were ruined(gee, I wonder why some Fatboy Slim songs are more popular than others). Hell, I even like "Rock Me Tonight" more when I realize Squier's so desparate to be rocked that he's dancing like a ninny. Nothing mentioned here qualifies as ruined by its video, personally.

oh and not that I care for the song much anyway but JAYSUS if the video clip for "Ca Plane Pour Moi" annoys me, it gives me a headache.

'Me Myself I' is also great! De La Soul as high school dorks - what's not to love?

Goddamn you people are completely missing the whole point of Anton Corbijn's existence.

I soooooo disagree. I love that Black and Kim just hold their mouths wide open when they're supposed to be mouthing lyrics.

"Pale Shelter" is indeed sublime, but calling it "emo" is like puncturing a colostomy bag and spilling its tepid, runny contents all over it. Fuckin' SHAME ON YOU AGAIN, Anthony!

*confused*

Hang on, didnt Gahan do that film himself? Was it Corbijn, or was he doing a homage? I guess I've missed this point if so. Doesn't make me like it any better though - hell, I love Depeche Mode, I just cant stand that song anymore. Hang out in goth clubs with 18 year olds for a few years and it'll do it to you too ;)

I love Depeche Mode, I just haven't been able to stand Dave Gahan for years now.

*confused*"

The *original* idea for the thread was not that the video was necessarily bad, but that it ruined the song for you.

I think that's why people jumped the Pixies...they are just trying a liiiiitle bit too hard to be cute/smart/funny. Or maybe I'm over-anal-yzing.

Dave's, actually, because it surprised me more in the end, in a very good way.

All Depeche videos since "A Question of Time" on, with only a couple of exceptions, are Corbijn's. As far as I can recall Gahan has never directed a video.

"I Won't Let You Down" - PhD

there were two music videos for this song though!

The original video of the song was set in and around the Queensway area of West London. As with the band's previous single "Little Suzi's On The Up", the video is shot in a slapstick comedy style and features Jim Diamond as a well-dressed man trying to win back the affections of his lover (thus mirroring the theme of the song) using presents and taking her to upmarket bars and restaurants. Tony Hymas appears as the video’s antagonist; in various scenes dressed in various disguises he makes unsuccessful attempts to assassinate, or maim Jim Diamond’s character in order to win the affections of the woman. He is finally successful when, posing as a car dealer, he lures Diamond into a second hand car (a white Fiat 128), which is revealed to be on the end of a crane in a scrapyard being lifted up, whilst Hymas walks away with the girl as the camera zooms out and fades to black.

The second version was set in a dressing room at a club with Diamond performing the song as he professes his love to a woman sitting next to him. He also looks at the mirror and after he turns around his image also sings. In the end, Diamond does win over the woman, but after he leaves the room as his mirror image walks up to her (who was actuality looking in the mirror at Diamond).

the first version isn't that great, but the second one is excellent. this song is awesome btw, was Jim Diamond involved in anything else as good as this? I'm not wild about 'I Should Have Known Better'

also, young Jim Diamond looked kind of like Tim Farron:

http://www.martinunderwood.f9.co.uk/Boon/pictures/Jim%20Diamond.jpg

tempted to poll these:

Television appearances[edit]
Year Television programme
1977 Supersonic (performing "Ohio" with Bandit)
1982–86 Top of the Pops (performing "I Won't Let You Down" with PhD (1982), "I Should Have Known Better" (1984), "Hi Ho Silver" (1986)
1985 The Keith Harris Show
1994 Pebble Mill (performing "I Should Have Known Better", "Skye Boat Song")
2001 Stars in Their Eyes (guest appearance to congratulate contestant)
2010 I Migliori Anni (performing "I Should Have Known Better" and "I Won't Let You Down")
2010 Concerto Dell'Epifania (performing "I Should Have Known Better")

Berlin "No More Words" with the meaningless Bonnie & Clyde video.

As for fun yet preposterous videos, see Quarterflash "Harden My Heart" (the one with the flamethrowers).

"Here Comes Your Man" never should have been the single, period. "Oh yeah, I've heard the Pixies. Kind of like R.E.M.?" Not really, but we wouldn't know it from this cowardly choice of single.

Imagine h

Woops!

anyway Monkey gone to heaven was the first single, and I'm pretty sure the word got out about what the pixies sounded like despite this deplorable obfuscation.

Lets not forget the pixies also tried to deceive people into thinking they were a uk surf band, the fiends

Billy Squier

The MTV oral history went in-depth with a couple of good examples beyond the Squier video. I think Journey were similarly nonplussed about 'Separate Ways'.

Well, maybe not 'similarly' since 'Separate Ways' didn't effectively bring their careers to a grinding halt.

The Rockit video ruled imo.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sPLEbAVjiLA

This video kinda sucked.