Michel Gondry might be my favourite film/ video director ever. Along with crafting cinematic masterpieces like Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind and The Science of Sleep, the prolific and highly creative French auteur is responsible for classic music videos like the White Stripes' "Fell in Love With a Girl", Daft Punk's "Around the World", the Foo Fighters “Everlong” and Björk's "Bachelorette". All of these were included on 2003's fine Director's Label release The Work of Michel Gondry. To this day it remains one of my favourite (music related) DVD’s.
(* The website alone is worthy of your investigation with a number of interactive features and sale items. The most intriguing of which is a personalized Gondry portrait with the subject of your choice for $19.95. How cool is that? )
Full tracklist:
Michel Gondry 2: More Videos Before & After DVD 1:
Music Videos:
01 Michael Andrews [ft. Gary Jules]: "Mad World"
02 Paul McCartney: "Dance Tonight" *
03 Thomas Dolby: "Close But No Cigar"
04 Björk: "Declare Independence" *
05 Steriogram: "Walkie Talkie Man" *
06 The Willowz: "I Wonder"
07 Beck: "Cellphone's Dead" *
08 The White Stripes: "The Denial Twist" *
09 Donald Fagen: "Snowbound"
10 Cody ChesnuTT: "King of the Game"
11 Sinead O'Connor: "Fire On Babylon"
12 Queen [ft. Wyclef Jean, Pras and Free]: "Another One Bites the Dust"
13 Radiohead: "Knives Out" *
14 Dick Annegarn: "Soleil du Soir"
15 Sananda Maitreya: "She Kissed Me"
16 Sheryl Crow: "A Change Would Do You Good"
17 The Black Crowes: "High Head Blues"
18 Leafbirds: "It Can All Be Taken Away"
19 The Rolling Stones: "Gimme Shelter"
20 Energy Orchard: "How the West Was Won”
* Features behind-the-scenes footage.
Other Work:
01 "The Simpsons" White Stripes Parody
02 Booker T and The Michel Gondry’s
03 Michel Gondry Solves a Rubik's Cube With His Feet
04 Michel Gondry Solves a Rubik's Cube With His Nose
05 Jack Black Beats Michel Gondry With His Rubik's Cubes
06 Herve Di Rosa: "Viva Di Rosa"
07 Conan & The Big Head
08 Paul Gondry's The Willowz: "Take A Look Around"
09 How To Blow Up A Helicopter (Ayako’s Story)
10 Forum Des Images: "L' Histoire De L'Univers"
Although Gondry hasn't completed too many music videos since then, he has completed a few for artists like Beck ("Cellphone's Dead"), Paul McCartney ("Dance Tonight"), and the aforementioned White Stripes ("The Denial Twist", which bizarrely features a giant headed and platform shoed Conan O’Brien. Those clips and others make up Michel Gondry 2: More Videos Before & After DVD 1, which came out April 14th via Gondry's delightfully wonky website *.
The new DVD will also also feature The Simpsons' "The Hardest Button to Button" parody, Gondry playing drums with funk legend Booker T, the director's famed Rubik's Cube tricks, and a new piece called How to Blow Up a Helicopter (Ayako’s Story) and described as a "heartbreaking documentary-style portrait of a girl trying to connect with her father (who happens to be Steven Seagal)" in a press release.
(* The website alone is worthy of your investigation with a number of interactive features and sale items. The most intriguing of which is a personalized Gondry portrait with the subject of your choice for $19.95. How cool is that? )
Full tracklist:
Michel Gondry 2: More Videos Before & After DVD 1:
Music Videos:
01 Michael Andrews [ft. Gary Jules]: "Mad World"
02 Paul McCartney: "Dance Tonight" *
03 Thomas Dolby: "Close But No Cigar"
04 Björk: "Declare Independence" *
05 Steriogram: "Walkie Talkie Man" *
06 The Willowz: "I Wonder"
07 Beck: "Cellphone's Dead" *
08 The White Stripes: "The Denial Twist" *
09 Donald Fagen: "Snowbound"
10 Cody ChesnuTT: "King of the Game"
11 Sinead O'Connor: "Fire On Babylon"
12 Queen [ft. Wyclef Jean, Pras and Free]: "Another One Bites the Dust"
13 Radiohead: "Knives Out" *
14 Dick Annegarn: "Soleil du Soir"
15 Sananda Maitreya: "She Kissed Me"
16 Sheryl Crow: "A Change Would Do You Good"
17 The Black Crowes: "High Head Blues"
18 Leafbirds: "It Can All Be Taken Away"
19 The Rolling Stones: "Gimme Shelter"
20 Energy Orchard: "How the West Was Won”
* Features behind-the-scenes footage.
Other Work:
01 "The Simpsons" White Stripes Parody
02 Booker T and The Michel Gondry’s
03 Michel Gondry Solves a Rubik's Cube With His Feet
04 Michel Gondry Solves a Rubik's Cube With His Nose
05 Jack Black Beats Michel Gondry With His Rubik's Cubes
06 Herve Di Rosa: "Viva Di Rosa"
07 Conan & The Big Head
08 Paul Gondry's The Willowz: "Take A Look Around"
09 How To Blow Up A Helicopter (Ayako’s Story)
10 Forum Des Images: "L' Histoire De L'Univers"
3 comments:
Awesome post, Sean! I'm also a big fan of MG - love that video for Knives Out. I haven't seen lots of this stuff though - you are a well of pop interestingness.
I knew he was behind the Knives Out video, but I didn't even realise that Gondry had made all those other videos. Obviously my Gondry education is sadly lacking.
I now feel like I will be missing on perhaps one of the finer experiences in life if I don't go find out how he solves Rubik's cubes with his nose.
Kat - Thank you very much for the kind words. Much appreciated.
You have to seek out the Director's label compilation DVD. It is really, really great. It's very well authored too with a host of great extras. The music and visuals varied and stunningly original. Gondry is an amazing man with a mind unlike any other. Pursue his work at all costs.
Barbara- He's actually much more prolific than most give him credit for. His work is always being played in my home. My Son absolutely adores his work.
Like I said to Kat... Do seek it out. If only to improve your probusci-problem puzzle solving skills.
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