Carla Gypsygirl's Blurty

When having a No. 1 single isn't enough
Happy Easter! What did you get up to this Easter? My fiance, Geoff, has an annual Easter lunch with his extended family, which I have always thought to be strange. I usually just hang out with my little, immediate family over Easter. But I hear that lots of people have big family gatherings this time of year. I like Easter. As I headed off to church on Friday morning, I looked at the green trees and felt the crisp air, and I really felt like it was Easter. And, of course, I do love hot cross buns and chocolate.

I have been in a poo-poo mood this Easter long weekend, though. I will be working throughout the whole long weekend, except for Friday. I didn't think that this would bother me too much- I mean, I get extra money from Ye Olde Department Store because it's a public holiday. As a Christian, Easter is a great time for me to see Jesus' death and resurrection honoured and remembered. But, again, as a committed Christian, I try to live my life in a way that honours and remembers Jesus every single day. So I figured that I wouldn't mind working during Easter.

But this weekend, I have been so sulky. It just feels wrong to be selling handbags to rich people instead of being at church. I've just wanted to be quiet and spend time with my family and friends. Before working at YODS, I hadn't worked an Easter public holiday for a few years. It has been bumming me out to see relaxed, holidaying people swan around YODS all day. There's the usual things that bug me, like hoity-toity customers. But mostly, I have felt uncomfortable with watching so much mass consumerism when I just want to be reflecting on Jesus and hanging out with my church family. It's a tricky conundrum- if I wasn't working, I might have been shopping anyway to relax. Then I would just be perpetuating the angst of the other people working during Easter. And what about the poor bus driver who drove me to YODS? The head spins. Let's all go off to Hawaii instead...I wish! If only!

On another note, I would like to present to you my latest opinions on music videos. If you are a long-term reader of my blog, you will know that I have been long-devoted to music videos. I love how they are these mini movies that can just be anything you want- fantastical, subtle, shocking. And yet, all of these videos are all linked together by music. I often relate events in my daily life to film clips- like, when I'm on a treadmill at the gym, how could I not think of that OK-Go DIY clip? But lately, I have been reading some pretty amazing and addictive books,* so I haven't had as much time for music vids as usual. And now that I have started to watch music videos again, I have noticed a few things in particular. Hence:

Carla's latest opinion of current music videos!
Okay, so what is it with singers and bands thinking that they are movie stars? I am all for music clips having plots- I mean, duh, they would be boring without plots. And I like little interludes where there is just acting. But for me, what makes a good music clip is if there is good acting in it to go with the good plot. I think it is good when creative people want to explore other creative areas- I mean, I am always swapping between designing, acting, drawing, writing, etc. But can too much of a good thing be bad, especially when it involves Scarlett Johansson?

Case study 1: Justin

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Yes, you read correctly: I don't like Justin Timberlake's new music clip for What Goes Around . "How is this possible?" I hear you gasp. "But Carla, you love pop music, and you love Justin's new album, and you loved Scarlett Johansson in Lost in Translation!" Yes, all of those are true. But, but, but. Okay, first of all, I think that the song What Goes Around is just a rehashed version of Justin's Cry Me a River. There's the layered, soft vocals; the synth in the background; the strings; the syncopated rhythm; the "girl, you're a bitchin' heartbreaker" theme. And the clip just tries a bit too hard for my liking. There's the unoriginal plot- a boy falling for a high-class ho (that's what Scarlett is in the clip, right?). Does this remind anyone of Moulin Rouge? And then, there are the ridiculous, melodramatic interludes. Kids, just because you are swearing and running and crashing cars, that doesn't make you a good or interesting actor. There's this bit where Scarlett screams, "YOU DON'T F***ING KNOW ME!" and then Justin yells in reply, "I F***ING KNOW YOU. I F***ING KNOW YOU!" Yeesh. This middle dramatic bit made me roll my eyes. Like, who cares? Oooh, Justin and Scarlett know the F word. Big deal.

And next, for the music video that everyone loves to hate...

Case study 2: 30 Seconds to Mars

Now, Jared Leto (lead singer of 30 Seconds to Mars) really is an actor, and I loved him in My So-Called Life. I think he acts well in this music video, From Yesterday. But, as you may have heard, this music video goes on FOREVER. You could prepare and cook a 3-course meal in the time this clip takes. Well, not really, but you get what I mean. Like Justin's latest clip, there are long, cheesy interludes where there is no music, and just lots of dramatic gazes and slow-motion, bad-ass strutting. This music clip is set in China, and from what I gather, the guys in the band are on a mystical journey of some sort. Along the way, they meet lots of Chinese stereotypes- members of an ancient dynasty, pretty girls in cheongsams, spooky people in opera makeup, martial arts wizards. To be completely honest, I think that this clip is very beautiful and dramatic, and I wish that my agent had told me about the auditions. But while I'm watching the music video, this little voice (probably Elijah Wood, who hates Jared's band) inside my head says, "This is a MUSIC CLIP. What's with all the talking? When will this clip end? I just wanna see Fergie's latest! Hurry up!" And a voice beside me (Geoff's) shouts at the TV, "YOU'RE IN A BAND! YOU'RE A MUSICIAN! STOP BEING SO SELF-INDULGENT! JUST PLAY MUSIC AND STOP THESE STUPID ACTING BITS!" When Jared Leto gets an ancient scroll (Chinese cliche #1352) and reads in a hushed, grizzled voice, "This is the gift?" and then the chorus plays another 3 times, I just think, "Okay, enough's enough. I get that you guys totally dig being in a music clip- I totally feel it. But play nicely and give the other bands some airtime, 'kay?"

Case study 3: Avril

Now, lil' Avril always gets lots of criticism, and it's usually because people think she is trying to be something she's not. People complain that she is trying to be punk, that she's trying to be glamorous, that she's trying to be pop. And Avril retaliates with spit, punches and carefully worded statements in interviews. The poor girl can never win. I was instantly enthralled by Avril when I heard Complicated back in 2002. She just seemed so new and different. I knew that her whole skater-girl, tomboy thing was probably a big marketing scam, but I didn't care anyway. Here was a girl who was acting like a girl, and not some oversexed, choreographed pop kitten. I thought that Avril was a great example for young girls, and I listened to her debut album a couple of hundred times. But eventually, I got embarrassed about liking Avril so much- I mean, I was 21, and most of her fans hadn't even gone through puberty yet. Anyway, even though I don't have Avril's sophomore album, I've still watched her career with interest. That girl always manages to surprise- who would have thought that she would have gone blonde and then gotten married in a big, white meringue dress? Now, being well-versed in the world of pop music, I know that pop stars change their style and image a lot. It is a vital, accepted part of their career. And yet, I was still surprised and a bit uncomfortable after seeing Avril's music clip for her new single, Girlfriend. In this video, Avril does lots of very un-Avril things: she wears short shorts, she does this goofy skit where she wears different wigs, and (most shockingly of all) SHE DOES CHOREOGRAPHED, BOUNCY DANCING WITH BACKUP DANCERS! And the song itself doesn't have that trademark Avril Angst- instead, the song is like a cross between a Ramone's track and that 80's song Hey Mickey. I don't really know what to think. I mean, I dig the new Avril, with her cute songs, nice hair and cool dance moves. But there is a part of me that also misses that bratty rebel I loved. Because sometimes, I really do just want to wear heaps of black eyeliner and ignore people I don't like, just like Avril used to do. Oh, and also write mean songs about boys I used to like, and then make millions of dollars from it.

Case study 4: Alanis

Now here, dear friends, is a music video that I love! Alanis Morissette has recently done a cover of The Black Eyed Peas' My Humps. I love how Alanis has covered a song that people wouldn't expect- who would have thought that ol' naval-gazing, sulky Alanis would cover some poppy froth? And Alanis does a great, satirical job of it, too. Her lilting voice make the lyrics sound so funny while also highlighting the trademark BEP catchy melody. And the music clip is hilarious! It's pretty lo-fi- no flashy graphics or lighting here, folks- but Alanis gives it her all, doing Fergie's bootyshakin' and posing. While I watched the video and saw Alanis dance around while wearing huge hoop earrings, I thought, "Ouch, that's gotta hurt her earlobes. But boy, is she cool." And I didn't think that I would consider Alanis to be "cool", especially as I recently heard a muzak version of one of her songs at YODS. I read that Fergie loved Alanis' cover of My Humps so much that she sent Alanis some flowers! I would send Alanis some flowers too, but, you know, I don't have her address and stuff.

And here ends another post...tell me which music clips you love and hate!

Love lots,
Carla x

*In case you are wondering, these are the books I have been reading:
Girl, Interrupted, by Susanna Kaysen
The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle, by Haruki Murakami
Norwegian Wood, by Haruki Murakami
Marie Antoinette: The Journey, by Antonia Fraser
All of these books are wonderful, and I heartily encourage you to read them.