Happy Feet
I must admit, one of the things in this world that makes me happiest is watching a good dance routine. Dance has a huge place in film history. Think back to the early days of film; many of the most celebrated talking pictures featured amazing dance scenes, ranging from the intimate couple’s dance scene, a la Ginger Rogers and Fred Astaire, to huge Fosse productions. The prominence and popularity of these scenes cemented their place in film iconography. It’s hard now to recall a black-and-white film of those eras without bringing to mind some soft-shoeing, tap-dancing, chorus-lining spectacle.
It’s not surprising that many music videos now prominently feature intricate dance routines. The popularity of many songs hinges on their danceability (think any major hip-hop or pop single), so it only makes sense that the videos for these songs would feature some kind of dance routine. What I want to present here today are some of the more notable or surprising uses of dance in music video. Some of these songs, you can’t help but dance to them. Others, using a dance routine seems like a bold decision. Enjoy:
Alanis Morisette – So Pure
To be honest, I have no clue what the larger meaning behind this video could be? I think it’s just Alanis taking her lyrics “I love you when you dance/When you freestyle in trance/So pure, such an expression” seriously and having a fucking blast. I love that she took the time to learn all these different routines so well. I bet it was fun, especially with such a hunk for a partner. I don’t really get the Stevie Nicks segment, what with the smoke and the woodsy goddess, carry-me-around-the-set-ness, but whatevs. Personally, mostly jealous of the tap-dancing and sock-hopping segments. Rock on.
Finger Eleven – Paralyzer
Here is a video that I was genuinely surprised by. The song itself, not ground-breaking. It was a huge hit for Finger Eleven, a rock band that’s been around for years but never got really serious radio airplay until this song. That said, I think it was a bit daring for director Barnaby Roper to decide to give this video the modern-dance treatment. The result is an aesthetically engaging clip; the color palette screams rock (cool greys punctuated by the deep blacks and bright whites of the dancers), the dancers themselves are super into it, with facial expressions that seem to say “I know I’m doing modern dance…I’m still soooo much cooler than you.” Personally, I’m a sucker for the effect of dancers growing out of each others’ shadows. It looks sharp and well-coordinated.
Ok Go! – A Million Ways
Ok Go! – Here We Go Again
I wanted to present both these videos because I think they’re both landmark in their own way. Both music videos were made by the band themselves, on their own free time and in their own homes. The band got lucky that lead singer Damian Kulash’s sister is such a talented, resourceful choreographer. For the first video, Ok Go spent weeks practicing in their back yard, and then shot the routine on a camera borrowed from a friend. Within weeks the video shot up the YouTube charts, eventually topping it as the most downloaded video to date. I even remember my father calling me around that time, telling me about this thing he’d heard on NPR about this outrageously popular ” Ok Now Go video on the interweb,” as he put it. This video revolutionized low-budget advertising for struggling bands everywhere. It woke people up to what an amazing tool YouTube, and user-generated media in general, can be as a means of spreading information.
Their second self-choreographed YouTube video, “Here We Go Again”, was a fantastic evolution from the first, and so popular that the band was asked to perform it live for the 2006 MTV Video Music Awards. Naturally, their record label threw a fit when they saw what kind of liberties the band was taking with their safety (treadmills can be really dangerous, OK?), but it was such a huge (financial) success that I guess that label got over it.
For your viewing pleasure, both hilarious videos:
Beyonce – Single Ladies
Now this video is a gimme. This song is just SO danceable, I would have been shocked at anything less than an intense, Beyonce-helmed dance routine. Talk about fierce facial expressions! These ladies are serious. I adore this video for a million reasons, first and foremost being my undying love for anything Fosse. A lot of people commented (and none too nicely) that this routine is very similar to a Fosse routine recorded in the 1960′s. Rather than assume Beyonce is ripping off the famed choreographer, however, I think she is doing an amazing homage. This routine is outstanding, and she and her fellow dancers pull it off with the kind of aplomb I know Fosse would have applauded. And the dance costumes! Perfect for showing off those moves, each and every hip roll those ladies lay on us. Sublime.
Hope you enjoyed this extra-long post. If you’ll excuse me now, I have to go queue up every movie Fosse was ever involved in on Netflix, and then see if I can convince my tall, skinny boyfriend to dress like those nice boys in Ok Now Go.
Hearts,
Sprinks
What no Christopher Walken dancing?