“Redemption Song” - Bob Marley and The Wailers

For the most part I’m not too big a fan of live versions. It’s sort of like the Star Wars special editions. I like the original, so don’t change it. All the clapping here, the bongos… I’m not too into it. But despite these things I still like this performance of the song so I’m sticking with it. They used this song in I Am Legend. Still not sure why.

“Redemption Song” - Bob Marley and The Wailers

For the most part I’m not too big a fan of live versions. It’s sort of like the Star Wars special editions. I like the original, so don’t change it. All the clapping here, the bongos… I’m not too into it. But despite these things I still like this performance of the song so I’m sticking with it. They used this song in I Am Legend. Still not sure why.

“Duke of Earl” - Gene Chandler

Take a look at this crazy video. Why is this what they decided to do for Gene Chandler? I guess it’s supposed to look like a castle? Because he’s a duke? This comes off more like some kind of bizarre Lovercraftian ritual. He looks alright, I guess. Sort of like Slick Rick almost. Do dukes live in castles? I don’t know. 

“Don’t Get Me Wrong” - The Pretenders

Today is the day I realized that I have nothing against The Pretenders. They’re alright by me. Not that I’ve ever spent much time thinking negatively about them, but I guess what I’m trying to say is that the needle has moved off of “Indifferent” and into the “Positive” zone. What am I talking about? I like this video. Seems like the band had a good time making it. It’s sort of like a mix between Suspiria and Day of the Jackal. 

“Magic Dance” - David Bowie

If you’ve never seen Labyrinth, you should probably check it out. It’s sort of like The Wizard of Oz meets Return to Oz, with far more sexual undertones. David Bowie plays The Goblin King himself, and Jennifer Connoly plays a girl trying to save her brother from ugly puppets with the help of other ugly puppets. It’s weird, wild stuff. Just check out this song. If you’re not intrigued by this video, then I don’t know what to tell you. Smoke more weed, maybe?

“La Vie En Rose” - Louis Armstrong

This song makes me think of a lot of things, including Spring, Summer, clouds, turtles, Central Park, my girlfriend, and When Harry Met Sally. Pretty soon it’s going to be time to get stoned and make all those things happen, probably except for the When Harry Met Sally part. 

“Big City” - Merle Haggard 

One time I drove from Idaho into Montana and upon crossing the border played this song. It was, as you’ve already gathered, and extremely corny event but was also, I assure you, totally worth doing. I like this video because it features a guitar player sitting down, which I always think is funny to see. Good job putting this one together, Merle.

“The Best Deceptions” - Dashboard Confessional

Kids deal with emotions differently. Some get angry and listen to hard music. Some get wild and listen to dance music. Others don’t have any emotions at all and prefer the sound of their parents sleeping. But in 2001 there were a lot of kids choosing to deal with their emotions by getting really upset and listening to the softest music ever. Some of those kids can be seen in this video, venting their sadness in communion with others on national television. Good for them. Life is hard for sissies. 

“Somewhere Beyond The Sea” - Bobby Darin

This is a really great song, and it makes me wish people were still anywhere near as interested in real musical instruments now as they were when this came out. Watching this video makes me wish Bobby Darin had been anywhere near as interested in learning to dance as some other crooners I’ve seen. Check out his “moves” starting at 1:25 that last an excruciating ten seconds. Moves? More like twitches. Anyways, the song is great.

“Heat Of The Moment” - Asia

Compliments of Robin P. Seecharan, here is a great example of cutting edge video graphics technology circa 1982. Pretty cool stuff, huh? I love watching old videos like this because everybody was still figuring out what a music video should be, so they’re all weird and different and experimental and, often as not, just as stupid as this one. The songs all still sound great, fortunately.