Where Are All the Storytelling Music Videos? Right Here

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Whatever happened to the creative, story-driven music video? I’m tired, just so very tired, of another pop chick video that runs on the fuel of sexual dancing or pseudo-action with ten costume changes.

The latest Christina Aguilara video (”Keeps Gettin’ Better”) is the latter; the latest Britney video (”Womanizer”) is the former. I’d put the Britney video up here, but frankly, it offends me, and I’d rather not. Sure, she’s never been known for the clothing she wears as much as the clothing she doesn’t… but hangin’ in a steamroom fully naked in a music video, just for kicks, is plainly crossing a line.

But lamenting the moral decline of Britney Spears would be like announcing the arrival of this new thing called the Internet-very relevant, a decade or two ago.

I understand that videos are not movies, and have never been known for excellence or high art. Throughout most of their history, they’ve simply been a few images of an artist, singing their single to the camera—a way to get a little close-up face-time out to the fans.

But they’ve also been more, at times. They’ve been full of personality and humor; they’ve been mini-movies; they’ve told stories that worked with the material in the song but not been limited to merely repeating it in a visual form.

You can watch the Christina video, if you’d like (http://www.ilike.com/artist/Christina+Aguilera) but you’ll find some below that are much more interesting, if a little less ADD.

Great examples of the story music video

Michael Jackson’s “Thriller.” It’s practically a short film-corny and made-for-teens-y notwithstanding-and so full of innovative dancing and fun that you forget how ridiculous it is for 12-plus minutes. Plus there’s a surprising dose of thrill to the now-it’s-real and now-it-isn’t plotline.

Jason Mraz’s “You and I Both” -it’s a humorous story song at its best. Jason, pursuing a bank teller, gets arrested…but wins the girl. Also there are dancing bankers and police officers.

Radiohead’s “Karma Police” is one of those awesome, simple stories that is told slowly, deliberately and with no previous explanation. It’s very nice. Britney should make a video like this one. (heh)

The A-Ha’s “Take On Me” is a great example of a gimmick video that somehow… worked. Sucked into an animated world, a couple of young folk’ find each other. And are saved from a nasty run-in with some wrenches.