Erstellt am: 28. 1. 2009 - 14:26 Uhr
Pop & Circumstance
I've been feeling really girly lately. You know, painting my nails, curling my hair and wearing dresses even more so than usual. Maybe this was brought on by some of the wonder posted, as we launched the new website, at the fact that I was actually a lady. Just kidding. I think it's more of a nod to the late '20s, early '30s - the economy is "over", so the parties and the outfits get grander. And that's why I spent the week watching very "sweet", "sugary" videos, videos you would definitely place in the "pop" category. Pop has a lot to do with circumstance though, which is why I comfortably place the new Animal Collective in this category. Has their music ever been played on mainstream radio? No. Are they pop? Yes! Just the title alone makes you think of the Temptations song from 1964, a high-time for all things pop.
My Girls
The actual song and the video have a Jean-Michel Jarre quality - and for anyone who's seen them live this past tour, you know that the lights on stage are so blinding that this is pretty much all you get to see of the band. Flashes of light, shilhouettes and your retina melting onto the floor. So consider this documentary footage. Although, I didn't see any pink lipstick at the Arena!
But of course, it gets more girly. Much more girly than that. At first I thought the new Lily Allen song terrible - do we really need cynical lyrics that aren't as witty as anything on her first record, kind of self-referential and kind of critiquing Hollywood? But then I saw the making of the video, and considering it just for its aesthetic value, I am drawn to it like a kid is to candy. It stirs an inner childlike urge within me and I think, "Man, I really want to run around my own castle and dance with pink and blue gift boxes and then drive off in my pastel coloured camper-van." But maybe that's just me. They shot it all in one day, something like 14 hours straight - love the video, still iffy about the song though.
The Fear
It's been said on some blogs now as well, but "The Fear" instantly made me think of one of my favourite videos from back in the day. I think the association comes on because of the length of the dress that Lily wears - in "It's Oh So Quiet" by Björk, I used to always wonder how the orange number stayed just where it needed to stay. But there's more similarities, mainly the skipping around part, the playful scenery and the impromptu dancing. But judge for yourself.
And of course there can be no discussion of pop and sugary sounds without talking about Cibo Matto. They've been somewhat forgotten after splitting in the late 90s. Both Yuka and Miho are quietly doing the solo thing now, but when they were together they were unstoppable - in 1996, they released Viva la Woman, an album entirely about and inspired by food. That's where this gem, directed by Michel Gondry, is taken from.
Me & Mary
As I was looking at the new videos out, I stumbled upon the above. Aesobi Seksu have been around for a while, one of those names I used to see on flyers in New York and ignore. Shame on me! This is like a more rocky Deerhoof and I think the very simple yet very delicately illustrated video is quite charming. It's simple, soft, fluffy and with just a tad of design, you know, like IKEA bedding.
And now,
since I'll be taking a short break from writing these weekly compilations, I want to leave you with two things that are certainly pop, certainly circumstantial, but not very girly at all. The first being
MGMT - Kids, live
in order to illustrate the point that no one is born a popstar, you make yourself into one. (They get akwardly shirtless towards the end, so stay tuned.)
And the other one being
just because it's brand new and my favourite song of the album.