Two awesome music videos

In an earlier post I shared some straightforward thoughts on why music videos are dead. While the golden age of music videos is undoubtedly behind us, there is nothing to stop us from enjoying some of the excellent work it produced. Here are two of my favorite music videos.

Martini Ranch – “Reach” (1987) — Directed by James Cameron (DP unknown; leave a comment if you can help with this.)

I came across this music video some time ago, and it is especially significant because it was made by none other than James Cameron. The band’s leader is Bill Paxton, an old friend of James Cameron’s who was given a part in almost every one of his movies. This awesome music video displays all the hallmarks of James Cameron’s distinctive and immensely effective directorial style. The motorbike shots are an early glimpse of future glory (“Terminator 2.”)

Lenny Kravitz “If you can’t say no” (1998) — directed by Mark Romanek; DP Harris Savides

Simply one of the most beautiful and cinematic music videos ever made. Awesome song, great concept, even better execution and a cameo by Milla Jovovich — what a feast! Two of Mark Romanek’s music videos are on permanent display at the Museum of Modern Art in New York, but this isn’t one of them, and it really ought to be.

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