So it’s been a week since the MK MVP winners’ videos were screened at Canal Walk and by now, you should’ve familiarised yourself with each one.
Unlike last year where I thought Tristan Holmes came out the clear winner with his music video for The Frown’s ‘The National’, this year each production company stepped up to the plate and raised the overall standard considerably.
It was an interesting night, made all the more better by an open Eristoff bar and barrage of familiar faces. I had a good little laugh at the bromance-esque backslapping and ear-to-ear grinning that went on post-screenings – next time I’m videoing that shit.
And so, like I normally do after these events, I thought I’d gooi my two cents on this year’s winners.
aKING, ‘Jezebel’ produced by Supra Familias. I know this is about the video, but let me say first off that this song is shit hot. I particularly like the punctured black backdrop with the light streaming through and the mirrors glued to the front of their guitars – it creates an epic effect that’s amplified by the video being in black and white. But pray tell, what the hell is going on with Laudo’s hair??
Bicycle Thief, ‘Goodbye Ian Curtis’ produced by Motion City Films. YOH. This video. The Motion City crew had particularly wide grins on their faces in the smoking room after all was said and done, as they should have. This is top class stuff. It features androgynous ex-Calvin Klein model Josie Borain (who gave them hours of personal footage of her back in the day) and some seriously hot dude frolicking around Europe. The juxtaposition between themes is striking: then and now, black & white and vivid colour. One of my favourites.
Die Skynmaagde, ‘Die Kommunis Sokkie’ by Sound Surgeons CC. Two dudes get lost on a road trip. Dudes stop at a church and are greeted by Papa D. Papa D hands them a red concentrated drink. Dudes proceed to trip out. Dudes end up singing in a urinal and then jamming whilst surrounded by saloon-esque girls who were wearing moustaches at one point. Pure comic relief but also trippy as hell.
Die Tuindwergies, ‘Blou Gras’ produced by VPH Films. More chicks in fishnets and corsets in this one. And hands that double as guns. The Western-themed narrative – complete with a standoff, shoot-out en alles – suits the vibe of song and the band, who look great as outlaws/cowboys.
Gazelle, ‘Val Van Die Ryk’ produced by 187 Pictures. I get what they were trying to do here, but I think a lot more could have been done with painting DJ Invizible as the evil dictator who is eventually overthrown/defeated. Plus, the house at the end doesn’t do Gazelle and Frannie’s “success” justice.
Jack Parow, ‘Afrikaans is Dood’ produced by Little Big Productions. It’s not hard to see why this video’s had 32 000 hits in a week – it’s kak lekker. The three zef-styled robbers who’re trying to steal Parow’s “Rhyme Book” are the stars of this video thanks to their incredibly well defined characters and pretty great acting. Enjoy while Parow picks them off one by one.
Jakkals,’ Rum Trifle’ produced by Crave Pictures. Not my favourite but after a couple of views it grew on me, mainly because of the song. Well-styled and well-shot with a stereotypical girl-wants-boy, girl-changes-appearance, boy-rejects-girl, girl-gets-jakkals-makeover, boy-wants-girl-now narrative.
P.H. Fat, ‘City Of Thieves’ produced by CAB. I dig this video. Anyone can see that a shit load of work went into this. Shot in a number of pretty picturesque locations around Cape Town, even though the intended visual crux wasn’t as sharp as they’d originally intended, it’s a winner. Plus, how can you not love Mike and Disco??
Shortstraw, Waterworks to be produced by Mustard Post Production. This emo-to-the-max video about an overbearing father and his relationship with his asthmatic synchronised swimming daughter, directed by Shortstraw’s frontman, is a real gem. I love how they can do light-hearted, tongue-in-cheek folk tunes and then turn the tables on us by coming up with such an unsettling piece like this.
Spoegwolf, Somersetwes to be produced by The Suits. I’ve seen this video in a hundred other videos before – man goes off to fight in some war and leaves his love behind. Interposed with shots of the band performing, after he seemingly dies and his said “love” collapses, it ends quite abruptly…
The Plastics, ‘Best Pretenders’ produced by Andover. Who the hell is Andover because I swear, if I was in a band, I’d get them to produce my music video. The cute kid factor is utilised to the hilt here as a little blond-haired boy searches for his lost imaginary friend. Keep your eyes peeled for the animated versions of the band members.
Van Coke Kartel, ‘Buitenkant’ produced by Groundglass. My first thought was, WTF?? And people were laughing during the screening so that didn’t make it any better. However, after a couple of views, I probably like this video the most. It’s styled as a trailer and is a blatant rip-off of ‘Drive’, complete with Frannie in THAT scorpion jacket. I do think that no other band besides VCK could’ve pulled this off though.
Dear MK MVP 2013 winners, I feel for all of you.
