Rob Masters

There's been a bit of a hiatus, but I'm back! This time I go all the way back to 1933, and the legendary Fleischer Studios. Fleischer were the creators of the infamous Betty Boop and many others, and were the original animators of both Popeye and Superman. Here we have them taking on Snow White in their distinctive style, accompanied by jazz legend Cal Calloway.  Enjoy "St James Infirmary Blues" by Cal Calloway from 1933.

This week I have possibly the newest video I will ever post. Released yesterday, and from their new musical Teaching a Robot to Love , I present "A Normal Human Party" by The Doubleclicks.  Many thanks to E. for bringing this to my attention!

Counting down to the 100th edition of this silliness!  Returning to that rich feeding ground for me, the 1980s, and the inimitable Thomas Dolby. This time with the making of a music video. At first. And then things get just a little odd . We've got animated static pictures, a magic camera, a sleezeball, and a heroic rescue.  This has it all! Here is 1988's "Airhead" from "Aliens Ate My Buick", by Thomas Dolby.

Right then, so we meet some old friends again this week, this time with a wonderfully bizarre and surreal animation that still manages to be at least somewhat in-genre. We have spies galore (and a cat as well, but only the one - yes, I'll get my coat), televising pigeons, and people's heads being turned into TVs. Not to mention HUAC, and many many others. All of this and it still manages to form a narrative - albeit a downright strange one.  Be ready to bop along to "The Communists Have the Music" from the 2018 album "My Murdered Remains", by the incomparable They Might Be Giants. 

So this week we are back with another Lindsey Stirling effort, with vocals by Dia Frampton (no relation to Peter).  This time we go full animation and down the daikaiju alleyway in a delightful little romp that is a healthy antidote to the current times. There are tropes a-plenty, and many of them averted, inverted, or otherwise played with, and, when it comes down to it, it is just plain fun. Enjoy "We Are Giants" by Lindsey Stirling (featuring Dia Frampton) from 2015.

Late again, I know. It has been a hectic time post-New Year. Today we have a wonderful group of neophyte telekenetics and their friend. The four of them naturally represent the band and the guest singer. Animated by noted cartoonist and animator Jamie McKelvie, the sheer joy of this video is infectious - from playing with a hat, to the popped out toast, everything is an expression of joy.  Some discussions on the song meaning sites interpret this as an end-of-relationship song, but I disagree - especially in the light of video. It is all about embracing abilities and emotions that had been hidden. It is a song of self-empowerment and joy. So take in the 2016 sounds of Chvches, featuring Haley Williams, bringing you "Bury It".

Quintessentially British humour here...    Discovered thanks to BoingBoing.

 Let's look in again at those masters of Electroswing, Caravan Palace, and see what they can do with a flying saucer invasion... 

Another amazing Australian artist this week - and we get a cool daikaiju teddybear as a bonus. This is an amazing video, and a stunning song, apparently prompted by those niggling little fights where someone says that 'it's fine', when it manifestly is not. In one of those things where the audience projects more into a work than the artist intended, I have another interpretation. I think it also serves as powerful warning of the power of depression, and the importance of friends in helping fight it - even when it becomes the great monster that takes over someone's life. With that, take a look a G Flip's 2020 song "Hyperfine".

Ok, let's turn to Iceland again. Of Monsters and Men have created something very fun here, with the band demonstrating very little skill as adventurers, but a talent for making a very good friend. I hope you enjoy "Little Talks" from 2011.

I fully expect that many some a couple at least one of my readers have been waiting for this iconic 80s video to make an appearance. Featuring a blend of hand-drawn pencil animation and live-action footage, this video was an instant classic, and made the song a 1985 number one hit in the USA, and one of the best selling singles of all time. But this is not the original - the original version (by the same band, from 1984) had a far less popular response, and a far more boring video. It was a flop outside of Norway.  Remixed and re-released a year later, it soared to remarkable heights, and has stayed there year after year, and is one of only five songs on YouTube to exceed one beeelion views. So here you have it, Aha's 1985 release of "Take On Me", as remastered from the original 35mm film in 2019.

Gorillaz need little introduction, and "Feel Good Inc" is a classic of their work, both musically, and cinematically. That said, I am not a big fan of their music, or the rather dark and sad worlds they typically portray. Despite this, there is no denying the genius present.