Everybody likes a good list article, so I figure I’ll appease the masses (and myself) with a small tribute to really, really weird music videos. If you’ve got some time to kill, waste it here.
Top Ten Uncomfortably Weird Music Videos
10. Andrew W.K.- “Silent Night”
The AV Club has spent a good deal of the last two years building their Undercover series, in which various bands come to their office in the basement of The Onion in Chicago to cover famous songs, both past and present. This particular gem is from the Holiday Undercover series, and it’s pretty insane, even for Andrew W.K. That being said, his piano chops are off the heezy.
BONUS: At one point during the Undercover filming, Rodney (the neighborhood mailman) even stopped by to record a brief “Silent Night” reprise with Andrew W.K.
9. Mathieu Chedid- “Les Triplettes de Belleville”
Mathieu Chedid (better known by his recording name, M) has been popping out nutty music videos since the mid-nineties, and it would be a huge disservice to said nutty music videos not to mention him. This particular video corresponds to the theme song he recorded for the 2003 animated French film Les Triplettes de Belleville. Somewhere between his trademark vampire hair and the exponential number of dancing ghostly Mathieu Chedid doppelgangers, you can’t help but fall in love with the tune, even if you can’t speak French.
8. Portugal. The Man- “The Sun”
This video shows a degenerate man in a sheep costume drinking forties. That probably sounds great (and in a way it is), but the whole thing essentially comes across as dreadfully depressing look at how the other half lives- the other half, of course, being homeless sheep-people. Think Dr. Moreau meets Charles Bukowski. This makes me glad that most drunk and disorderly drifters don’t wear costumes.
7. Blitzen Trapper- “Black River Killer”
It wouldn’t be entirely accurate to say that Blitzen Trapper’s video for “Black River Killer” is less abstract than some of these others, but it certainly emulates the lyrics more-so than the others thus far. For a dark dose of Americana such as this, you need things to look bleak, dark and creepy.
And trust me, it gets pretty creepy.
6. Devo- “Whip It”
This is a party I sincerely hope I’m never invited to. Basically what happens is that a bunch of geeky dudes dressed in matching German bondage Kraftwerk ripoffs are hanging out at a cowboy ranch, and one of them starts using a whip to remove a woman’s clothes in order to entertain the drunken young teenagers. It’s obviously not a particularly good video, but it’s not a particularly good song either.
5. Mathieu Chedid- “Qui de Nous Deux”
Remember when I said it would be a disservice to nutty music videos to not mention Mathieu Chedid? Yeah, well that’s why he’s on here twice. “Qui de Nous Deux” is one of the coolest concept videos of all time. It doesn’t seem like it would be all that difficult to do, but that doesn’t lessen the degree of how trippy and awesome this video is. I feel compelled to put all of Chedid’s music videos on this list, but that would be boring. If you liked this though, be sure to watch some of his other videos- he also did a really cool black-and-white video with Sean Lennon.
4. Architecture in Helsinki- “Heart It Races”
It’s become clear that Australia is a bit too isolated for it’s own good. At least, that’s what can be surmised from Architecture In Helsinki’s demented psychedelic puppet show “Heart It Races”. Thank you, Aussie hipster puppeteers, for bringing us one of the cutest forms of human sacrifice and bloodlust ever seen.
3. The Brian Jonestown Massacre- “La Mort à Ceux Qui Ne Donnent Rien”
Brian Jonestown Massacre frontman Anton Newcombe is a bit batty, but this tops the crazy cake. I think it’s some kind of nightmare apocalypse, but the video is essentially a schizophrenic look into the history of evil on earth. Or something.
2. Crispin Glover- “Clowny Clown Clown”
There’s a reason you’ve never heard anyone talk about Crispin Glover’s music career. The highlight of his musical career is a nonsensical love song written about clowns. You remember spooky ol’ Crispin Glover, right? From Williard?
Yeah, you remember. Well in what can only be described as the most horrifying music video I have ever seen, Crispin Glover delivers his unique brand of bonkers via David Lynchian eeriness.
1. David Hasselhoff- “Hooked on a Feeling”
I can’t believe this exists. It definitely shouldn’t. David Hasselhoff just dances in front of various stock footage clips the entire time. Who needs some talking car to travel the world when you have a green screen? The Hoff sure doesn’t. It’s really quite perplexing to watch because you can’t really tell if he’s making fun of himself or if he’s simply that lame. Don’t worry though, folks- David Hasselhoff’s extensive music career include’s other great videos, like “Jump In My Car“.
BONUS: Where did the Hoff’s music ultimately take him? Did it vault him to wild international fame? Sort of…
