06/22: Song of the Day. Vampire Weekend–Oxford Comma
Today’s Song of the Day highlights a couple aspects of the music video. First off, this brand new music video from current indie-rock darlings Vampire Weekend just debuted on MTV. I find this interesting because I didn’t know that MTV still showed music videos?!?
Now that I’ve gotten over the initial MTV shock, I can concentrate on what I really like about this new video; which is that it’s shot in one long tracking shot. From start to finish, there is no cut, no editing, and no change of camera. Just one long, continuous camera shot with all the action put to film in a single take. (Although I read that it took 17 attempts before getting the whole thing choreographed just so). Technically these aren’t the easiest shots in the world to pull off, although modern advances such as Steadicam have definitely aided directors in making it look easy.
All in all, a well done video and I’m not even going to deduct points for the director’s decision to show the dolly tracks used during the video’s last sequence. And oh yeah, the song ain’t bad either. The video for Vampire Weekend’s “Oxford Comma” is after the jump. Thoughts anyone?
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Oxford Comma by Vampire Weekend
[By the way, if you want to see a real master director at work, check out Robert Altman’s tracking shot in the film The Player. Considered by many film critics and movie buffs to be one of the best tracking shots ever done, Altman’s camera captures the opening sequence of the movie in a single shot that lasts an unbelievable 8 minutes plus. Filmcritic.com lists Altman’s tracking shot at #2 all-time, edged out only by Orson Welles and his tracking shot from the film Touch of Evil. You can find Filmcritic.com’s Ten Best Tracking Shots Ever here.]
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Tagged as: 06/22, movie, Oxford Comma, Robert Altman, Song of the Day, tracking shots, Vampire Weekend
am I in moderation or lost in the tubes? commented on this several hours ago…
This is pretty cool. It reminded me of a Wes Anderson movie more than anything?
Maybe it’s the yuppie/weird or the font on the chapters or just the camera shots..
@1 I think you must have gotten lost in the tubes. damn interweb anyway.
@2 Wes Anderson definitely comes to mind. I almost added that myself.
pretty much I said the same thing: it rips off Wes Anderson’s font catalog and costume shop. I like this band, but the video is an “eh.”
if you like one shot videos, you’ve probably already seen Feist’s 1234, which is just really great, but she also has a one shot for “I Feel it All” which has FIREWORKS! I love fireworks and this video makes me happy.
http://youtube.com/watch?v=IcgfdtkcIW0
@4 you gotta love fireworks. that video makes me happy too.
This video is kinda lame–it was better in my imagination. I like the video for A-punk more but thanks for putting something up about Vampire Weekend. They’re one of my favorite bands at the moment.
I predict that no one will care about this over-rated band this time next year! Although I am glad that they FINALLY put out a new single; If I hear A-punk one more time, I might blow my brains out.
I hate to admit it, but I don’t listen to a lot of radio, so to this point, I’ve only heard A-Punk twice and both times were here after Pinkie posted the video in one of our mix tapes. I really don’t have an opinion overall about the band other than they just seemed to have blown up in a hurry. I like the new song but that’s about the end of the story for me. At the end of the day, I’m inclined to agree with dijonbray. They’re just another band along the way making music for the now to buy. Definitely not holding my breath for their definitive greatest hits collection.
As for the video I was much more impressed with how it was shot, not so much with the cast of characters between action and cut.
I don’t care if they’re nobody next year, their CD has a nice summery sound to it and sounds great on in the car or playing at home at night when I have all the windows open.
Vampire Weekend…a band i can be down with.