A Knack for Old Videos

Scott Hardie | March 7, 2008
Compare:

The Knack, My Sharona

The Strokes, Reptilia

Could the same band and their director have traveled through time 25 years to make both videos? The bobbing Jewfros, the thrown-together dressy attire, the singer's sudden wild facial expressions, the camera's obsession with guitar fingering, the singer striking out towards the viewer at the end. Tell me these don't seem like twin videos from two different eras.

Running RB makes you notice weird things.

Melissa Anderson | March 7, 2008
I play Reptilia in Rock Band (for the 360) so that's about all I can think of when I hear it. I'll agree that they're similar videos :)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ggOv8cVeMnM&feature=related

Amy Austin | March 8, 2008
Speaking of Rock Band, this discussion reminds me of the pretty hilarious TV commercials for it... specifically, Scissor Kick, where the players have the kinds of "artistic" discussions that unquestionably must be behind things like "The" naming of bands and video choreography.

Aside from the fact that there are way more close-up shots in Reptilia, they are strikingly similar. But I think this is just the nature of rock performance -- like scissor kicks, there's just only so many moves and facial expressions that can be used to give some visual interest* (not to mention without tiring the hell out of the performers, who have to sing and play at the same time)! Not the case with music videos, I realize, but... given (what I consider to be) the rather retro sound of The Strokes, the video may also be intended to have that quality.

*Two of my "visual interest" favorites that immediately spring to mind -- for their live performance "dance" antics, not just videos -- are David Byrne (Talking Heads) and Cy Curnin (The Fixx)... as well as the music, I really just love their off-beat moves.