Rock Of The Recent Decades

Rock from the 1980s

Context: The video was directed by Jon Jopson and aired February 1986. The Label that backed them was Columbia Records an America Record Label. 

Content: The video starts with the band walking in to do a performance of the song in studio. While they are playing a finger painter works on the album cover of which the song was released. The lead singer and the painter flirt throughout the video with the artist leaving at dawn walking down the sidewalk. 

Form: The video makes use of screen effects by making it appear as if the painter is using the screen at times as her canvas. 

Observations and Aesthetics: The overall feel from this video is classic 80s. It is interesting to depict the designing of the Album as it was released some time before the music video was recorded. I think big picture is could be trying to tell the story of how artists often appreciate, are drawn to each other, and their work even if they are not in the same field. They still enjoy and admire the creative process no matter what form it takes. 

Rock from the 1990s

Context: The directer for this video was Samuel Bayer. He was in part chosen by the band in part for not having directed any music videos before. The band wanted something authentic to them and not some run of mill music video that was being cranked out in droves by the 90s. The video was released in September 1991 and was backed by DGC Records.

Content: The band performs in a gym in front of students singing about the mundane feeling of being in school. The video featured various shots of students in bleachers, to cheerleaders, and a janitor all dancing and moshing to the band preforming.

Form:  The cuts of each shot are all very short in length. The video does a good job showing the progression of the students as they become more enveloped into the song. What starts off as a normal school function ends in a chaotic rock mosh party that any band today would feel proud of.

Observations and Aesthetics: To me this story is pretty straight forward. It speaks to a feeling that most of us has had while in school. A different sort of Team Spirit. One where you and most of your other students are so bored, so fed up with school and class you just want to cut lose. To have no restrictions placed on you and go wild after being told to stay controlled for so long. The video lends itself to a kind of "rage rock" that was popular at its time and still is today. The effects used amp up the performance are everything to the warm colors and filter used to the janitor not being able to resist dancing with his cleaning supplies during brief scenes. 

Rock from the 2000s

Context: This video was directed by Sam Brown and was released August 2007. The label was RCA Records.

Content: The video starts as if the band is preparing for a fight. The setting is an aircraft hanger and the band goes to work playing. As the song progresses riot officers show up and begin lining up as if prepared to keep the band back and at bay. Just as the officers begin to charge red liquid bursts forth and overwhelms the riot controllers but seemly not affecting the band in any way aside from protecting them. The video ends with the lead singer slamming his guitar down and looking exhausted from the recent "fight."

Form: The various cuts really set up the intensity of the video and add to the overall feeling the song is trying to convey. It is dramatic and makes a point to show the clear line of division between the two sides and their struggle.

Observations and Aesthetics: The video being show in a letterbox adds to the dramatic shots of the scene as a whole. It adds to the overall fighting nature that is trying to be conveyed by the video and helps amp things up letting you know what you are about to watch. The panning of the camera really plays into this as well showing what the band is up against as the riot officers grow in number. The lighting of the set is great and so is the use of the red liquid towards the end of the video. Overall this video is a great watch and even better fight song no matter how you look at it or choose to interpret it. This song was not originally planned for the album that it was released with according to the lead singer Dave Grohl but the second it was conceived the band knew it would be the opening.