Blog Post // 2021-01-14

Videos That Stand Out!

Growing up on the outskirts of a Canadian town I didn't have access to music videos the way kids in town did. If I wanted to watch music-related stuff, I needed to watch at my friend's or grandma's houses. Even now, internet connections are shaky, and services are interrupted in many places in rural Ontario. But this put me behind on the many music videos produced for/by bands. I suppose I really need to catch up on some of the videos I have missed! I think I have seen more as an adult.

What I am noticing is that there are some predictable and repeating themes. Try watching a handful of videos without seeing scenes of forcefully eating gross food (in my opinion. I can't help it, I am a vegetarian, and most the time it is particularly bloody pieces of meat, lol), blood baths pouring down on people, women laying across the screen (also reminiscent of a piece of meat), lip-syncing, and pretending to play instruments. While there is nothing completely wrong with these videos, I enjoy seeing something that sets itself apart.

Here are some videos that are creative or have captured my attention for one reason or another:

Soundgarden - Black Hole Sun

This video is kinda creepy, but it has stood out as memorable to me. Maybe it was because I was young the first time I saw it, partly. It just isn't predictable. It definitely gave the right vibe. It had the right balance of showing the band and continuing the storyline.

Rivers of Nihil - Where Owls Know My Name

I really like that this was the first song I heard by this band because it illustrated to me that they all have a great sense of humour. I appreciate a good sense of humour. I love the effort of making this look psychedelic, the dancing, and outfits. So good!

Spiritbox - Blessed Be

I am not big into twisted horror content overall, but I thought this was quite clever. The video starts out showing a mother in her house, she doesn’t seem happy but she looks like she is doing her best. The lyrics reveal that she is in an abusive relationship and she put everything into blessing and doing for her partner at her own expense. I like how at first it seems like she has decided to kill herself because she can't bear the painful place she is in, but then the twist is, that as the music changes to darker sounding you realize she is killing her abuser, as knives reveal. Goes perfectly with the lyrics. Makes a big statement!

Makes me think of the book I read as a kid, The Burning Bed. It was about a woman who was abused and then she decided to burn the bed her husband was sleeping in and end her abuse. 

Jinjer - Judgment (& Punishment)

Though the song itself isn't my favourite by this band this video stands out! Tatiana is the crazy lady making potions featured in this video. She is turning the rest of the band members into tiny figurines that get displayed on the counter. At the end she also shrinks down and succumbs to her own punishment. Maybe she is actually punishing this group of people, such as how the lyrics talk about.

Tool - Prison Sex

This video is really heavy! The way it illustrates the innocence and terror of being a child that is preyed upon by a much bigger and more powerful person. The detached kicking legs, the way it is as if the bigger being is helping but is actually injuring. This video is hard but speaks truth, as does the song!

Borknagar - Winter Thrice

This video has an epic impact, especially considering it was the second song I heard from this band. It was a little confusing to see so many vocalists, but became more exciting once I knew who they all were. The cabin with a fire felt so comfortable and known to me. The beautiful landscape felt familiar.

Whitechapel - Hickory Creek

Obviously a video that is depicting portions of a band member's life is brave and meaningful! The subject of a child that has to feel like they are taking on too much responsibility because their parent is struggling with addiction and/or mental health issues. The love that the child feels for their parent and the desire for their well being but also the need to be secure and taken care of themselves. Almost like I have had this experience or something... I did. My dad was an alcoholic. I am thankful that he didn't sexually or physically abuse me, that we had some good moments together. I don't like to even say it out loud that he was an alcoholic. Somehow it feels like I am throwing him under the bus but he was struggling with the disease of addiction and I felt the effects.

Revocation - The Grip Tightens

The first song I heard from this band. I need to check out more from them. I like that they decided to do something different and not serious. Shows me that they have a fun side!

Hole - Violet

I really hesitated to put this on my list of videos that stand out. There are many reasons. This video is not that interesting these days - nothing we don't see regularly. Courtney is not the idol she once was for me, and I actually don't like the video anymore. I was so into Courtney as a young impressionable kid, I decided I would look her up online. All I could find was naked pictures of her and it was frustrating! And also a weird message was being sent to me. But in reality this video was one that my young soul watched over and over at my grandma's every opportunity I could get. It was one of the first songs I heard a woman screaming in and I was hooked!