# Music videos with a high 'How did they do that' factor? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [November 15, 2007, 3:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/music-videos-with-a-high-how-did-they-do-that-factor/426480 "2007-11-15T03:09:38Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Cubsfan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f4b2a3/32.png) [@Cubsfan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cubsfan)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2007, 10:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/music-videos-with-a-high-how-did-they-do-that-factor/426480/21 "2007-11-15T22:30:35Z")
Weezer Buddy Holly was pretty mind blowing at the time. They take the band and have them playing at Arnolds in Happy Days, when they obviously couldn’t be, but it looks like they really are in an old episode of Happy Days. Very convincing. Also Coldplays video for Yellow is nutty too. It is essentially one long uncut shot of the singer walking down a beach singing the song and from the time he starts the song to the end the sun rises and sets while he and everything around him is moving in regular time. It was very convincing. ---
**Author:** ![Bearflag70](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/8e7dd6/32.png) [@Bearflag70](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bearflag70)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2007, 10:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/music-videos-with-a-high-how-did-they-do-that-factor/426480/22 "2007-11-15T22:36:49Z")
Dire Straits - Money for Nothing This was cutting edge for 1984 ---
**Author:** ![GrandWino](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/grandwino/32/67_2.png) [@GrandWino](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GrandWino)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2007, 10:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/music-videos-with-a-high-how-did-they-do-that-factor/426480/23 "2007-11-15T22:37:29Z")
**Feist’s** video for 1-2-3-4 ([YouTube link](http://youtube.com/watch?v=p8Z-DIAthbM)) is a continuous shot with all kinds of stuff happening that doesn’t seem like you’d be able to pull it off in one take. I’m sure they used computers to do some tricks w/ it, but it’s really impressive nonetheless. \*\*U2’s \*\* “Window in the Skies” video ([YouTube link](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lS7IVThG1o8)) is pretty amazing. They use clips of a ton of old performers (Marvin Gaye, Sinatra, etc…) and it looks like they’re all singing and playing U2’s song. It’s really really cool. ---
**Author:** ![ianzin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/ed655f/32.png) [@ianzin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ianzin)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2007, 10:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/music-videos-with-a-high-how-did-they-do-that-factor/426480/24 "2007-11-15T22:38:42Z")
[QUOTE=Hazle Weatherfield] “Cry” by Gottley and Cream, with all of those different faces morphing into each other was quite ground-breaking at the time (Mid-eighties?) [/QUOTE] It _is_ a great video, and thanks for the suggestion. However, it isn’t an example of morphing. I know this sounds like I’m being stupidly pendantic, and maybe I am. But just for the record, and in case anyone’s interested, I believe this video was made many years before morphing was even dreamed of. All the transitions from one face to another were achieved with standard techniques such as wipes and dissolves, although these were used with an unusual degree of precision and elegance. ---
**Author:** ![brossa](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/brossa/32/3040_2.png) [@brossa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/brossa)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2007, 10:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/music-videos-with-a-high-how-did-they-do-that-factor/426480/25 "2007-11-15T22:49:31Z")
Check out the works of [Keith Schofield](http://www.keithschofield.com/) - I think that they are all pretty good, but “British Mode” and “Loud and Clear” have neat visual effects. “Knights” looks like simple mirror work at first, but messes with the format after the first few shots. ---
**Author:** ![bubastis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/d07c76/32.png) [@bubastis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bubastis)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2007, 10:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/music-videos-with-a-high-how-did-they-do-that-factor/426480/26 "2007-11-15T22:56:25Z")
The Frames video for Revalate is pretty much the exact opposite of these videos; basically, the band would run, instruments in hand, onto the forecourts of gas stations, parking lots, out side pubs and ATM’s… and be videoed playing the song by the CCTV. Next day, they simply went into the offices of said establishments, and asked if they could have the CCTV tape. There’s your Promo. Now, why I’m mentioning it in this thread, I couldnt say. ---
**Author:** ![Nzinga\_Seated](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/b5ac83/32.png) [@Nzinga\_Seated](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nzinga_Seated)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2007, 10:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/music-videos-with-a-high-how-did-they-do-that-factor/426480/27 "2007-11-15T22:56:49Z")
[QUOTE=Quint] One more from Micheal Gondry (total freak visual genius)- Cibo Matto’s [SugarWater](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jNA6zzoObxg). [/QUOTE] I came in here to post SugarWater. I love most of Cibo Matto’s work. (Birthday Cake is such a fun song.) That video is the coolest thing that band has done, though. ---
**Author:** ![NailBunny](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/ecae2f/32.png) [@NailBunny](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NailBunny)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2007, 11:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/music-videos-with-a-high-how-did-they-do-that-factor/426480/28 "2007-11-15T23:00:12Z")
[QUOTE=Critical1] [![](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/gJmX1z1NY2c/hqdefault.jpg "Jamiroquai - Virtual Insanity MV") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gJmX1z1NY2c) Jamiroquai - Virtual Insanity this one messed with a lot of heads when it was released. I know it took me some time to figure it out. [/QUOTE] So funny - I saw this video hundreds of times back in the day, and it just now occured to me how they did it. :smack: Great song and video, thanks for posting! My contribution? Eh…I got nothin’. All my favourite videos are very old, and very cheesey. Although I will say, it’s pretty impressive how the Cure crammed themselves into the wee room in [this video for “Never Enough”](http://youtube.com/watch?v=ri8fQ-7eVAY), considering when Robert Smith is all alone he barely fits in there. ---
**Author:** ![Tool\_of\_the\_Conspiracy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/bc79bd/32.png) [@Tool\_of\_the\_Conspiracy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tool_of_the_Conspiracy)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2007, 11:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/music-videos-with-a-high-how-did-they-do-that-factor/426480/29 "2007-11-15T23:27:38Z")
Michel Gondry is the master of “how’d they do that?” videos. “Let Forever Be” is probably my favorite, but a couple that haven’t been mentioned yet are **Chemical Brothers** : “Star Guitar” and **Massive Attack** : “Protection”. Massive Attack’s “Teardrop” and “False Flags” are also very impressive. ---
**Author:** ![Bearflag70](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/8e7dd6/32.png) [@Bearflag70](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bearflag70)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2007, 11:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/music-videos-with-a-high-how-did-they-do-that-factor/426480/30 "2007-11-15T23:39:23Z")
One of my favorites is [Oingo Boingo - _Little Girls_](http://youtube.com/watch?v=jItz-uNjoZA) - not so much for the “How’d they do that” visual effects but for the “How’d they do that … and get away with it … without a ton of backlash?” Great song and vid. They don’t make good pedophilia innuendo and midget videos anymore. ---
**Author:** ![Hippy\_Hollow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hippy_hollow/32/4841_2.png) [@Hippy\_Hollow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hippy_Hollow)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2007, 11:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/music-videos-with-a-high-how-did-they-do-that-factor/426480/31 "2007-11-15T23:46:26Z")
I’m also a big fan of Steve Barron’s video for a-ha’s Take On Me. I’ll contribute [R.E.M.'s Imitation of Life](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CEhT2QlRBMo) to the discussion. Apparently it’s only 20 seconds of live action, looped. Very cool video, and the last time I remember R.E.M. looking and sounding like R.E.M. ---
**Author:** ![Zabali\_Clawbane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/ecd19e/32.png) [@Zabali\_Clawbane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zabali_Clawbane)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2007, 11:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/music-videos-with-a-high-how-did-they-do-that-factor/426480/32 "2007-11-15T23:53:40Z")
[QUOTE=Quint] One more from Micheal Gondry (total freak visual genius)- Cibo Matto’s [SugarWater](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jNA6zzoObxg). Nothing special, until you realize that it is one single take shown simultaneously forwards and backwards (side by side) and oddly reflecting itself until meeting at one point and proceeding/receeding simultaneously from there. My brain can’t do it justice. Check [here](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gCYPGmKfhqE) for the making of, which will give you an idea of just how much of a visual savant Gondry is. This guy’s C.V. is a “how the fuck did they do that?!?” greatest hits package. [/QUOTE] Miss Kittin and The Hacker doing [Rippin Kittin](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bIucZB4IlDc) is on a similar note to Sugar Water. Enjoy! ---
**Author:** ![bubastis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/d07c76/32.png) [@bubastis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bubastis)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2007, 1:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/music-videos-with-a-high-how-did-they-do-that-factor/426480/33 "2007-11-16T01:40:17Z")
[QUOTE=NailBunny] So funny - I saw this video hundreds of times back in the day, and it just now occured to me how they did it. :smack: . [/QUOTE] I can’t watch vids right now… whats the secret? I always just thought he was dancing on a big tarp. ---
**Author:** ![Darth\_Nader](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ad7895/32.png) [@Darth\_Nader](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darth_Nader)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2007, 1:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/music-videos-with-a-high-how-did-they-do-that-factor/426480/34 "2007-11-16T01:49:00Z")
[VCS](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yFTkPzoYkwk) (short for Video Computer System-- the Atari 2600) by “Golden Shower”. From Brazil, I believe. I saw this many years ago, and then had a hard time finding it again, as one poster on YouTube says:“Googling “golden shower” is… well, not a good thing to do.” Mostly for the music. Pure 2600 sampled goodness. ---
**Author:** ![lawoot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/35a633/32.png) [@lawoot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lawoot)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2007, 1:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/music-videos-with-a-high-how-did-they-do-that-factor/426480/35 "2007-11-16T01:54:04Z")
[QUOTE=bubastis] I can’t watch vids right now… whats the secret? I always just thought he was dancing on a big tarp. [/QUOTE] they filmed it on a large sound stage - the set walls were on wheels, and the camera was attached to the set frame. The furniture was also on wheels, and could be detached from the walls so they would appear to move on cue. Stage hands just pushed the ‘room’ around the sound stage. ---
**Author:** ![ianzin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/ed655f/32.png) [@ianzin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ianzin)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2007, 7:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/music-videos-with-a-high-how-did-they-do-that-factor/426480/36 "2007-11-16T19:10:11Z")
Just a quick point for anyone interested in this subject. A great many animators and music video makers were inspired by an amazing item called ‘Tango’ by Polish animator Zbigniew Rybczynski. It is quite hard to track this down on the internet, but I did find this link: [Tango animation](http://de.sevenload.com/videos/ikcbH67/TANGO-von-ZBIGNIEW-RYBCZYNSKI) This was made in 1982. At that time, digital TV was in its infancy, and digital animation was only just beginning to emerge. This was made without ANY digital animation whatsoever. Rybczynski had to cut out each figure by hand (like cutting out a paper doll), and position all the characters correctly, for every single frame of the completed animation. The Ariston advert people borrowed or ripped off the idea (depending on your interpretation) to come up with the ad linked to below. This is the long version, but after its first run it was usually truncated to a 30 second version that sort of lost the point: [Ariston advert](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YUVs7vXNZiw&feature=related) This was made in 1987, and was achieved using highly accurate _digital_ rotoscoping. Still a lot of work, but a much easier and quicker process than the one Rybczynski used. The nice feature of this long version is that the camera pulls back to present a wider angle, which adds slightly to the complexity of the shot. ---
**Author:** ![NDP](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ndp/32/55_2.png) [@NDP](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NDP)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2007, 5:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/music-videos-with-a-high-how-did-they-do-that-factor/426480/37 "2007-11-17T05:11:20Z")
A few more: [ul] [li]The Pharcyde’s video for [“Drop”](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=co3qMdkucM0) directed by Spike Jonze.[/li] [li]Nine Inch Nails’ video for [“Only”](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V0u0AG_floQ) directed by David Fincher.[/li] [li]Portishead’s video for [“Only You”](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=92eZ6mwxfgs) directed by Chris Cunningham. (Something is very off here. Try to guess why.)[/li][/ul] ---
**Author:** ![pinkfreud](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pinkfreud/32/17603_2.png) [@pinkfreud](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pinkfreud)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2007, 5:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/music-videos-with-a-high-how-did-they-do-that-factor/426480/38 "2007-11-17T05:28:15Z")
The video of Jack Johnson’s [Sitting, Waiting, Wishing](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m0u-0X8sPe0) is a jaw-dropper. I understand how this was done, but how the heck did he lip-sync it? ---
**Author:** ![pinkfreud](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pinkfreud/32/17603_2.png) [@pinkfreud](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pinkfreud)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2007, 6:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/music-videos-with-a-high-how-did-they-do-that-factor/426480/39 "2007-11-17T18:51:54Z")
[QUOTE=pinkfreud] The video of Jack Johnson’s [Sitting, Waiting, Wishing](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m0u-0X8sPe0) is a jaw-dropper. I understand how this was done, but how the heck did he lip-sync it? [/QUOTE] I found an interesting documentary about the making of this music video. All is revealed [here](http://www.jackjohnsonmusic.com/uploads/videos/makingsww.swf). ---
**Author:** ![ianzin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/ed655f/32.png) [@ianzin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ianzin)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2007, 6:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/music-videos-with-a-high-how-did-they-do-that-factor/426480/40 "2007-11-19T18:00:00Z")
A friend pointed me towards the [video](http://youtube.com/watch?v=pv5zWaTEVkI) for ‘Here It Goes Again’ by a group called OK Go. This offers a different kind of ‘how did they do that’ experience. No video trickery or special effects, but just an incredibly ingenious idea for a ‘dance’ routine, being the world’s first example of ‘treadmill choreography’! It’s a single, continuous, locked-off camera shot, and I can’t help wondering how many takes were involved! Thanks to all who have participated, and especially those who pointed me towards the amazing work of director Michel Gondry. I went and bought the DVD. The guy is a visual genius, to be sure. If anyone has more suggestions, please keep them coming! [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/music-videos-with-a-high-how-did-they-do-that-factor/426480.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/music-videos-with-a-high-how-did-they-do-that-factor/426480.md?page=3)