The list-happy pop culturalists at Entertainment Weekly take a day off from making their own head-scratchers, and hand the keys to Michel Gondry for a whirl about his 25 favorite music vids. Michel got his Masters in Great Things awhile ago — packing a solid IMDb page alongside memorable work with Björk, Radiohead, the White Stripes, Beck and so many et ceteras — so any opportunity to peek inside his spotless mind is good times for inspiration and envy. And as it turns out, he’s got nice taste in musical videos not directed by him:
Here’s the rundown. If you click the link you can watch like magic:
- Michael Jackson – ”Billie Jean” (1983)
- Peter Gabriel – ‘Sledgehammer” (1986)
- Red Hot Chili Peppers – “Give It Away” (1991)
- Beastie Boys – ”Sabotage” (1994)
- Björk – “It’s Oh So Quiet” (1995)
- Herbie Hancock – “Rockit” (1983)
- Jean-Luc Ponty – “Individual Choice” (1983)
- Talking Heads – “Burning Down the House” (1983)
- Téléphone – “Un Autre Monde” (1984)
- The Cure – “Close to Me” (1985)
- New Order – “Perfect Kiss” (1985)
- Beastie Boys – “Fight for Your Right to Party” (1986)
- Run DMC (Feat. Aerosmith) – “‘Walk this Way” (1986)
- Paul Simon – “You Can Call Me Al” (1986)
- Michael Jackson – “Leave Me Alone” (1987)
- Madonna – “Like a Prayer” (1989)
- Tone Loc – “Wild Thing” (1989)
- Young MC – “Bust a Move” (1989)
- Massive Attack – “Unfinished Sympathy” (1991)
- Lenny Kravitz – “Are You Gonna Go My Way?” (1993)
- Jamiroquai – “Virtual Insanity” (1996)
- The Pharcyde – “Drop” (1996)
- Aphex Twin – “Come to Daddy” (1997)
- Devendra Banhart, ”A Ribbon” (2004)
- R. Kelly, ”Trapped in the Closet” (2005)
A couple of MJs, a couple of Beastie Boys, a couple of Spike Jonze joints. We should really invent an Opposite Of Shit List, and then we could put this in that Category. Speaking of Not Shit Lists, we made one once, and that very same Pharcyde video made it, for our Greatest Backwards Videos of All Time. So Michel Gondry, consider your taste VALIDATED. If you feel like getting some Gondry insight on each vid (you should feel like getting his insight on everything), and also if you feel like clicking 26 times, consider this click number one.
UPDATE: Here’s the list (sans “Bille Jean”) in a single YouTube playlist, lovingly compiled by commenter rainer. Enjoy.
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michel gondry is an absolute genius
Be Kind Rewind was unexpectedly awesome. I didn’t even know he directed it until the credits came on
really? the DIY special effects in Be Kind Rewind is totally his trademark.
NO… I meant that I didn’t know while they were showing the previews. They advertised it as a typical Jack Black comedy. I didn’t know it was Michael Gondry until the title sequence. Just wanted to clear that up. I could completely tell it was Gondry effects during the movie.
Really? Because I think that was the weakest movie he’s done…
I hear Trapped in the Closet is the new Billie Jean. Way to trick me into clicking that link.
copy/paste meltdown. better now, sorry PC.
Good call on the New Order video… nothing flashy, just the band members practicing in the studio. but somehow it captures all the passion and energy of the song
a refreshingly unpretentious list when it is obvious monsieur michel could pick 25 dope vids aint noone ever heard
Um, yeah, “Be Kind Rewind” was unexpectedly shit, total shit. Thanks.
I liked that little bit of trivia that Jonathan Demme directed Silence Of The Lambs a few years after doing that New Order video.
Be Kind Rewind was awesome but you have to watch it with the cynical button turned off, and appreciate that Jack Black and Mos Def are basically playing two grownup kids, unguarded, un-hip, film geeks.
Back on topic, I’m surprised to find so many well known and even high tech videos in there considering Gondry’s low-fi approach. Come To Daddy still gives me the creep, and now that I see he likes it, all the little Conan O’briens in his The Denial Twist video make more sense.
Be Kind Rewind was terrible. I loved the premise and everyone involved, but it failed.
smashing pumpkins tonight tonight nuff said
i thought that devendra banhart video was by gondry
Hmm…surprisingly predictable and mainstream list. I was expecting things like Ciccone Youth – Addicted To Love, Daft Punk – Around The World, Orbital – The Box, hell even the drunken uber-cheapo Stones clip for Waitin On A Friend deserves a recommendation mention more than some of the list. (You Can Call Me Al?)
It would be kind of lame if he picked one his own videos (Around the World) for the list. Or you’re just not aware that he did it.
ha – my bad. those vids just came off the top of me ‘ed. nice catch…
I say we mock this list and pretend we are more talented and have better taste!
i’ve created a video playlist of gondry’s list..
http://www.youtube.com/view_play_list?p=F68135BF30DF1CCC
this is a great list.
yea, I love Gondry, but Be Kind Rewind was one of the worst movies I had ever seen. it was painful to watch at time. Goundry needs to get Kaufman to write some more stuff for him next time. Not to mention that Mos Def and Jack Black are two of the most unlikeable actors around today.
omg, he likes michael jackson . that makes me love michel even more