Mark Romanek

Great Music Videos: Linkin Park- Faint

I love when you see a video that really connects with the energy of the song. I still remember when this video came out and it was one of those “damn, that video is really really good and now I am quite enjoying the song.” I have something lined up in the next couple weeks to further delve into Linkin Park but, first I really want to highlight this gem of a video. Riding high off their debut album, Hybrid Theory and then their follow up Meteora, Linkin Park was the biggest band in the world. During the summer of 2003, Linkin Park released “Faint” as a single and the accompanying video was something else. Legendary director Mark Romanek (Nine Inch Nails, Fiona Apple, Jay-Z, etc) was behind the camera for this one and it definitely left a mark (no pun intended). The video has the band performing with an audience with giant floodlights. Almost the entire video is shot from behind the band, allowing the strong lighting to portray them in silhouettes. A fun thing about this video is that the faces of the band are not shown throughout most of the video, except at the final chorus where the band is then shown from the front. So instead of getting an “audience view” you get the perspective of what the band sees from the state. The way the video is shot and edited is so fun and interesting. Mark Romanek does a phenomenal job of capturing not just the performance aspect of the band but, the energy from the audience that roars back to the band “on stage.” This is video is one of those that I like to put in the category of “this video will get you into the song.” As of now too, the video for “Faint” has almost 400 million plays on YouTube.

Linkin Park- Faint:

Those 90’s Songs: Lenny Kravitz- Are You Gonna Go My Way

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This is a strange week for songs popping in my head. For some reason this morning when I awoke, I had the riff for “Are You Gonna Go My Way” by Lenny Kravitz playing in my head. So, naturally, I put the song on and I was immediately taken back to 1993. I still think the video for this song is pretty cool with all the lights and camera angles. The great Mark Romanek did a killer job on the video, that’s for sure. The song though, it’s one hell of a good jam. The moment the song starts, it’s no wonder “Are You Gonna Go My Way” is one of those 90’s songs that will always take you back to that time.

 

Lenny Kravitz- Are You Gonna Go My Way:

 

Great Music Videos: Audioslave- Cochise

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I’ll never forget the first time I saw the video for Audioslave’s “Cochise.” I thought to myself, what a way to make an impact and come out of the gates running. Everything about the video is stunning. The little narrative of Chris Cornell alone atop the structure waiting and Tom Morello, Brad Wilk and Tim Commerford arriving together, then them coming together and then BANG! The song itself and this Mark Romanek directed video are just perfect. There’s an interesting story about the making of the video as well. Due to the large number of pyrotechnics used in the video, local residents believed that the explosions were caused by terrorists; speaking about the filming process, Morello revealed that “The local police and news stations literally received thousands of calls from people who thought the city was under siege … All the freeways were blocked because they thought there was an attack occurring.” This song, still to this day when it comes on, gets me going. It’s the perfect song to kick off the album and it’s the perfect song to start your day.

Audioslave- Cochise:

 

Great Music Videos: Fiona Apple- Criminal

 

 

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Last night I was watching an old episode of Family Guy and in the one I was watching they did a parody of the Fiona Apple video for “Criminal.” So of course, that would lead me to this. Back in September of 1997, the video for the single “Criminal” by Fiona Apple was released. Her debut album Tidal, had already been out for a bit and singles like “Shadowboxer” and “Sleep To Dream” had been out as well. The album itself was met with critical and audience acclaim but it wasn’t really until the release of the video for “Criminal” that solidified the impact Fiona Apple would have. The video was directed by the extrodinary Mark Romanek (Nine Inch Nails, Johnny Cash, Jay Z, etc). Romanek and cinematographer Harris Savides created a video that was sensual and dangerous yet uncomfortable at the same time. Either way, the song by Fiona Apple and the video by Mark Romanek are truly gems and deserve to be recognized as that.

 
Fiona Apple- Criminal:

 

 
Family Guy Parody:

 

 

Two For Tuesday: Nine Inch Nails

The first video/song is The Perfect Drug. Never released on a studio album it was however released on the soundtrack for the film Lost Highway and as a single. The video is one of the best Nine Inch Nails videos ever and the song is wonderful. Trent has never played the song live. There is something haunting and beautiful about the words and how Mark Romanek used them to create such a vivid intricate story in the video.

Into The Void is the second pick in the 2 for Tuesday. Directed by Walter Stern and Jeff Richter, the clip gets literally beneath the surface of Trent Reznor and shows how imperfect he is. The song itself tells the listener that no matter what he does to bring himself back up it all slips away. Into The Void was featured on the masterpiece The Fragile (I will write about this wonderful album soon).

Enjoy 2 For Tuesday!

By: Brian Lacy