The State News discusses issues and the cultural impact of entertainment news including TV & film, fashion, music and more.
Welcome back to House Lights, your one stop shop for everything you need to hear about this week in the world of entertainment. As always, I'm your host, Liz Noss, joined by my beautiful, wonderful cohost Claire Donahoe. And this week, we're gonna talk about music videos. Woo. Woo.
Liz:Which I feel like I'm, like, surprised I didn't have a whole episode about this before because I feel very, like I don't know. Historically and, like, sociologically, like, music videos have, like I don't know. Just, like, stored in my brain, like, the idea of music videos is, like, very important to Moments of culture. Moments of culture, truly. It mixes in different avenues
Claire:of art. Mediums, if you will.
Liz:Mediums, if you would, which is the correct word for what I just said. That's why I'm here. Many less words. Thank you, copy editor. And, you know, I think that it's really the best way to, I don't know, present music.
Liz:Isn't
Claire:that a claim? Alright. Well, tell us why, Liz.
Liz:I don't know. Okay. So I don't know if anybody knows this, but I was, like, super pretentious in high school, and I wanted to go to or still. And I wanted wanted to go to film school. So I've I'm just switching.
Liz:And then I grew up. You can't. And so I don't know. I've just always been more drawn to, like, visual elements or I've or I don't know. I've always, like, pictured songs in, like, movie scenes and, you know, even, like, things that are way less, you know, I don't know, intellectual or way less, like, creative, like, seen it as a TikTok edit or something.
Claire:Yeah. So Thanks for, like, just ripping that Band Aid off in the beginning because that was something I was thinking about on the way over here. Oh, that actually starts in the Will this conversation we're about to have cover social media edits or people deciding to make their own music videos?
Liz:But that's not like a music video, though.
Claire:I view it as a collage, a moving collage you take.
Liz:Okay. Well, before before we get into that
Claire:Take videos of people, songs of other things, you you splice all together.
Liz:I guess technically, but like, I don't
Claire:But that's not what we're here to
Liz:talk That's not what we're to talk Well, we are. I'm gonna get to that because now I'm, like, really confused with that. But I wanna talk about your relationship to music videos before. And, like, what you know, I already said it's one of the best ways to present So what is your relationship?
Claire:So my relationship to music videos comes from watching a lot of TV as a child. And music videos used to be commercials sometimes, which I think is just fabulous. And we should bring that back. But it's it's not that way anymore for a variety of reasons we won't get into nor do I even know. But I just thought it was so wonderful.
Claire:No research. With that said, the earliest ones that I can remember watching as commercials were a variety of Katy Perry music videos, which the production on those, I mean, fabulous need I say more. And humbly, what does the Fox say? That music video of that man commercial, though, they played it. These weren't commercials, but they were played in lieu of commercials, like, because, you know, a commercial that could be about a minute or two or whatever, that could also be a song.
Claire:And what does the Fox say is like, burned seared into my brain as one of the first music videos that I remember seeing. And it was also one of the first music videos that helped me, which now I wish it hadn't learned the song. Because sometimes I'll find the music video just after when I maybe already know all the words or I've already imagined it, however I need to see it in my mind. But sometimes I'll see a music video that kind of hits me like out of left field, and it will provide an entirely new meaning to the song. Or then I will only ever then I'll only ever associate the song with that music video, which this might sound crazy.
Claire:Sometimes I avoid watching music videos for songs I really, really like because I'm afraid. It's like when you read a book and then the movie comes out and you don't know if you should see the movie Right. Because you already have the image of it in your mind.
Liz:Yes.
Claire:I'm also just a little bit
Liz:Okay.
Claire:Strange in that way. But I also just get over it if it's like a song I really like or an artist I really like and I want to watch their music videos, which we'll talk about. But, yeah, not every song that I love do I immediately look for the music video because I sometimes have an association to it that I'm worried it will kind of be like the book movie effect. But also, not everything is about me. So then I have to just kind of critically think when I watch the music video that the artist took the
Liz:song. Is everything
Claire:not about So, yeah, that in a nutshell, a long nutshell is my relationship to music videos over the years. And I used to kind of just watch them more as a kid, simply because they were a little bit more in my face about it. Like I was already watching TV and they were on. And now I kind of find myself only seeking them out. If I really love that artist or if I really it's more of a place of, like, curiosity.
Claire:If I'm curious, like, how they interpret the song. For example, Matt Maltese, favorite artist of all time. He has been slowly releasing singles off of an upcoming album. He's been also slowly releasing music videos. I had never seen any Matt Maltese music videos for a while.
Claire:Don't really know why I just maybe think it was because I wanted to keep the image of whatever I had in my own mind. But I love him. And I love his artistic, just like I for lack of a better phrase. And so I then I went on like a binge of Matt Maltese music videos, and I love them. I thought they were super cool.
Claire:Not at all how how I would imagine the song because he's very quirky. Like, was like sword fighting, and like a bunch of visual stuff that one would just probably never imagine about like a love ballad. But anyway, it's if I'm curious. And if I really, really like the artist now versus when I was a kid, it was just happening. Hence, what does the fuck say?
Claire:I mean, now I would not search that out. Right. But yeah.
Liz:And, well, I think as a kid, like I don't know. The this idea of, like, music videos as commercials was, like, such a bigger thing. So, yeah, we were seeking out music videos because, like, that was I don't know. The cultural movement at the time. Like, everybody was making music videos and things and, like, I feel like music videos were better advertised along with the song.
Liz:Yeah, like back when we were like kids.
Claire:Wonder if that has to do with like, a lack of booming social media when we were really young. And a music video was kind of a way for the artists to do what now social media and tour marketing and those other things can do. And it was like, if a song had a music video, and people watched the music video to me that felt like, Oh, this is like a big song. I mean, I'm thinking about like Katy Perry's last Friday night music video like that crazy. Yes, like crazy night, whatever music video.
Claire:And I don't know, I just think maybe, maybe now people are less inclined to care about the music video. Because they have other ways of looking into that artist aesthetic. Yeah, they don't the artist doesn't even have to like think that hard about the music video. I'm doing a lot of speculation.
Liz:I'm sure no, but like, I agree with you.
Claire:But it's just interesting to see that shift. Like, now we just have other ways of viewing an artist's aesthetic. And we kind of know their aesthetic with a song or their kind of vibe with like what their albums might look like. I mean, thinking like Tate McCray. Will I watch her music videos?
Claire:Yeah. Because I think she's a fabulous performer. And I am just curious to see how she puts the song to a completely other form of visual art. Right. But also, I don't need necessarily to see the music video to know Tate McCray's vibe because I've gathered that in a variety of other visual ways, primarily via social media.
Claire:So I just wonder if that has
Liz:anything to do with it. I will say, like, the whole thing about, like, accessing that artist, I think that you're completely right about that. But also, like, thinking about Tate McCray and, like, other people who are more, like, perform me, I think that's in it. Like, music videos are an accessible way to reach their performance.
Claire:Yeah.
Liz:Because, like, on social media, you're still not getting them, like, as a performer. Mhmm. But, like, I'm thinking about, like, Troye Sivan's, like, Rush Rush music video is, like, very much like the Sweat tour. It was, like, all sort of, like, partying, like, choreography and stuff like that. So I think it's, like, without having to spend, like, hundreds of dollars on a concert ticket, you can sort of I I obviously, it's not the same thing, but, like, you can see how they might perform the song.
Claire:Yeah.
Liz:So I think that's, like, why it still exists, though. Because yes, you can access the artist, but can you access their artistry?
Claire:Oh, yeah.
Liz:Just through their social media. Yeah.
Claire:The answer I think is no. Right. Not just through. I mean, I think the music videos are great.
Liz:Yeah. You can see what they post on their Instagram story, you're not seeing exactly like how they perform.
Claire:That also begs the question of like, we talk a lot about here on like separating the art from the artist. Yeah. I feel like it's really cool to kind of take it to like, let's say a next level when you see the artist performing their song, not only performing it, but also adding other elements that they maybe thought of while they were writing the song in the music video, or like how they wanted to choreograph dancing that went with it. Like, it then becomes really hard to separate the art from the artist. But if you're willing to take that leap and connect the two, it's very evocative,
Liz:very powerful.
Claire:I
Liz:will say, like, with it because my whole thing of, like, the artist's artistry will be in this music video. That's not true for every single artist. Some music videos are bad. Some music not even I'm not even saying that. I'm saying, like, some music videos I feel like are very simple, almost, like, just lyric video y enough.
Liz:Yeah. Because I there was a whole I wrote this out. I think there was just, a whole genre of YouTubers who became big artists like Conan Gray, like Troy Sivan, like I'm trying, like, Shawn Mendes and stuff Yeah. That literally would just sit in front of a camera, strum a guitar, and that was, like, their music video in a way. Right.
Liz:And I think that we see a little bit more of that now also because it feels a little bit more authentic. So there's, like, two different types types of music videos where it's, like, this huge huge production, huge, like, project, and then there's, like, other artists that don't really put a lot of effort into it and sort of just sit down in front of a camera and do music. Mhmm. I don't think one is wrong and one is right. Personally, I'm a dramatic person.
Liz:I love to see a big production.
Claire:Like a like a concept.
Liz:Like a concept. Almost like a like a film sort of thing. Like, Gaga well, let's get into Lady Gaga because I was wondering. Queen of music videos. Like, she basically did a full film for, like, the art pop songs.
Liz:Mhmm. I there's the when I when I write I wrote down, like, the prime of music videos. Like, I think of, like, Lady Gaga music videos. I think of, like, Katy Perry Mhmm. Music videos of, like, her teenage dream era and Lady Gaga's, like, born this way
Claire:Yeah.
Liz:In, like, sort of the fame the fame monster era. And I think that, like, in this time of when we were kids, I don't know if it was exactly the prime. I think it feels like the prime to us Yeah. Because, like, now music videos have fallen off. I do think while there wasn't exactly, like, this is the prime, I think that we have seen a a fall of music videos in our time.
Liz:Because I would say that the prime is probably, like, when our parents were teenagers and they had, like, MTV. Yeah. And, like, it it would they were there was a whole channel just for music videos. Talking about the whole thing of, like, when you were a kid and you would see music videos as commercials, I remember that so vividly, especially on Disney Channel. Radio Disney would air Yes.
Liz:The music videos, and that was that was really big for me. One that I remember very specifically when I was a kid on TV was The Way with Ariana Grande and Mac Miller. Yes. They're, like, in this, like, bluish kind of room, and there's, like, pinky, like, balloons flying around.
Claire:I feel like I know what you're
Liz:talking about. But, yeah, that was, like, everything to me. And then, like, Radio Disney, like because it was Disney Channel, they would also, like, air, like, Disney music videos. And, like, I remember Naturally by Selena Gomez was one that comes to mind with all the different, like she was, like, in a freaking kaleidoscope. It comes naturally in it, and there was just, like, a bunch of shapes over it.
Claire:Like a a crazy vault No. Literally. Media.
Liz:And then do you remember when they would, like in Disney Channel, they would all get together and sing, like, we are the world, basically, but it would be, like, different version. It's not we are the world. It would be, like, a version of we are the world of, like, we're just kids and we're making a difference. All the special. Yes.
Liz:Exactly. All the crossover
Claire:episodes and stuff.
Liz:Yeah. Maybe like fourth of July, like patriotism or whatever. But like, it was that was also everything to
Claire:me. Yeah.
Liz:Yeah. That I don't really remember, like like, I don't remember what does the fuck say being on TV. Like, I truly don't.
Claire:So that was on teen Nick. Might have
Liz:said teen Nick. You know what? Ariana Grande might have been on teen Nick because that seems a little
Claire:Racy for.
Liz:Well, seems a little racy for Disney But
Claire:Yeah. I wanna echo your point about film. I love a music video, which now I think we should kinda just talk about our faves.
Liz:Yes. Of course.
Claire:I love a music video that feels like it could also double as, like, I love a concept video, don't get me wrong. Something you really have to kind of stare hard into the eyes of. But I also just love a video that kind of feels like anyone could make it. And what I mean by that is like, the way you might make a montage video of a trip you went on with your friends and you put a song in the back of it. One that just kind of feels like a home video type of thing.
Claire:Maybe both in style, it like looks like it was shot on film or just the vibe. With that said, my favorite music video right now is The Ballad of You and I by Hotel Luxe. And it features Thomas Bertie Sangster, who's newt in the Maze Runner if anyone like needs that connection. And his maybe current girlfriend or certainly then, at least then girlfriend. And it's just the two of them like frolicking on these hills in some, you know, European land.
Claire:So maybe they're probably, like, actually totally in the hills of, like okay. Whatever. I don't know where the location is. It's beautiful. And it's a little bit of a concept.
Claire:I mean, it seems that the the not so happy couple gets in a fight in the beginning. And ironically, they're filming a film in the video. Everyone should just watch it. It just I don't know.
Liz:So brings me joy. Is that like a modern one?
Claire:Okay. Yeah, like a couple years ago.
Liz:Okay.
Claire:So yeah, definitely not loud, not a change of scene. The band shows up later and you see them. I was just biased because at the time I was in a really huge Thomas Brady Sankster phase. But looking back, I just I still work? Yeah.
Claire:Okay. I still revisit it just because of, like, of how, like, calming it feels. Like, I don't know. It's very kind of plain in the way that it's shot, but I just quite like it. And then on the flip side, I love Matt Maltese's videos because they're the opposite of that, in which they're calming because his songs are calming to me.
Claire:But the concepts are quite quite strange. Interesting. And he's kind of just like a
Liz:Like a strange guy.
Claire:Kind of like a strange guy. So it just kind of all works out. But I personally have gravitated away from the more flashy Katy Perry, Lady Gaga esque type of music videos. Billie Eilish's lunch was good. That was kind of concepty.
Claire:It was like the fisheye thing.
Liz:Don't know if you saw it. So
Claire:something like that also works for me. But really, in your face music videos, I don't really go for unless I'm recommended to by a friend
Liz:or Yeah. Something. See, I'm very into, like, the flashy, like Yeah. Big production, like, music videos. Because I'm just like I don't know.
Liz:I feel like that's what we, like, grew up with and, like, those were, like, my favorite to watch. Like, still, one of my favorite music videos is and, like, all my favorite like, probably, like, all my favorite music videos are, like, ones that were, like, from, probably, like, elementary school to, like, middle school vibes because, like, those are the ones that, like, shaped me. I'm not again, like, I'll, like, watch a music video now, but I I I think I agree with you. Like, I'm not seeking out music videos. If they come to me and I see them specifically, I think TikTok's been really good at, like, clipping and eve like, taking a very short video of a a music video and clipping it even shorter to make you want to watch it.
Liz:Done a really good job with that. Mhmm. So, like, I'll get into those that have sort of, like, brought me in. But, like, my favorite is, like, Blank Space by Taylor Swift. And that's, like, a huge, like, production.
Liz:They're in this big house. One of my favorites that I remember watching, like, so many times as a kid was Roar by Katy Perry where she's, like, in the jungle.
Claire:Oh my god.
Liz:And she has that
Claire:Katy Perry takes the cake for me. Yes. No. Katy Perry, like, comes production. Katy Perry and
Liz:Lady Gaga are very, very, very similar in the production. I've seen
Claire:the most Katy Perry music videos out like any artist. Yes. Not even that she's my favorite artist or anything. Just feel like I
Liz:see No, but she is music videos.
Claire:Yeah. Like, I've consumed so much of her stuff.
Liz:I'm talking about someone who's, like, weird and, like, has a vision for the, like Yeah. For the music videos. Like, I would say that, like, now Katy Perry is more, like, milquetoast and, like, not as interesting as she was. But, like, back, like, when she was in her, like, teenage dream era, like, like, even the one of the boys, like, when she did, like, I kissed a girl, like, all of those and even, like, her album that had, like, Swish Swish on it and, like, Bon Appetit, like, she was still, like, very much, like, making weird stuff. I like that.
Liz:But, anyways, the Roar music video when she's wearing that leopard print Anyways, I just like that's just like in my head. Yeah. But anyways but probably my most watched Vivo video.
Claire:Yeah.
Liz:As a Vivo. Let's talk about it. It doesn't exist anymore. I don't think like as a
Claire:Now it's like
Liz:vyme? Like, Vivo is is it's, like, still, like, a thing, I think. Vivo? Like, it's still, a company. But, like, I don't think they, like they do the the originals where they, like, do the covers and, like, someone's performing it.
Liz:But, like, Vivo isn't, like, it's not all the music videos anymore. People are just doing music videos. But, anyways oh, I just had a really good idea for another one. I thought of it. I literally just thought about Share it.
Liz:That I know that people are gonna talk about. But first, I wanna say my most watched music video as a kid was Mine by Taylor Swift. Okay. Child divorce moment. But, anyways, she's like it's literally it's super simple.
Liz:Like, she hasn't I mean, yes, this was Speak Now era, so she had just come off, like, the fearless, like I don't know, because she had a lot of really, like, love story, and You Belong With Me were, like, huge music videos. Mhmm. But then, like, mine, for some reason, why did it have less of a budget? But, anyways, it just, like, looks like a home movie. They're literally she's just doing the things that she's saying in the song.
Liz:Right. But, like, for some reason, that just really hit with me. And I don't I don't know if you actually have the same sort of, like, hold on this music. It's like I do. Like, don't know.
Liz:Like, it just means a lot to me. But, like, the pictures hanging down, do you remember that? She's, like, in the forest, and there's, like, pictures hanging down, like, on string. Anyways I'm
Claire:not a huge tater, so
Liz:I'm just thinking about that. Anyways.
Claire:But now I
Liz:The mean music video with Joey King was also the same era. She's, like, in, like, a weird country bar, like, strumming a banjo. It's awesome. But Taylor Swift also has a lot of really, really great music videos. And, like, for the newer stuff, even, like, Look What You Made Me Do is was really great.
Liz:I didn't really feel much about, like, her midnight stuff. Folklore didn't really have any crazy ones. Evermore didn't have what was the most retortured post for? I didn't watch any of those, actually.
Claire:Mhmm. Yeah. I need to Fresh enough on that.
Liz:I would say reputation to, like, when she was a kid. Like, those were, like, really, really great music videos.
Claire:Love. What did you just write down?
Liz:I was thinking about, like, how Vivo is, like, a music video company. Mhmm. And there's another music video company that I feel like a lot I don't know if you'll resonate with this because I don't think you were emo in middle school. I mean But Fueled by Ramen was, like, a big company. Taylor just nodded their head because, of course but, like, it was all the music videos from, like, Panic at the Disco, Fall Out Boy, twenty one Pilots.
Liz:Like, they were pumping out content, like, insane. Like, it was just, like, all the weird kid like, every single, like, weird kid band in middle school, like, you were watching their music videos, and it was it was great. Like, I'm, like, I'm picturing, like, the obviously, not a great music not a not a great representation of, like, Fueled by like, picturing the stressed out music video right now in my head and, like, the Fueled by Ramen, like, logo. Great. Amazing.
Liz:But, yeah, do you have any other sort of, like, modern ish music videos that you've seen? Like like, within the past, like, two years or so You, like, really loved?
Claire:I can't quite think of any besides I mean, the only ones I really watched, I'd say were, like, Billie Eilish Yeah. And Matt Maltese videos as they release. And recently, like I said, Tate McCray because one, I like her a lot. And two, calling back to what you said about Tiktok making it like putting it on my radar more. I think also when the artist uses a snippet of the music video to tease that the song is coming out, that just happened with Matt Maltese's song and then Jensen McCray, one of my faves.
Claire:She posted
Liz:I'm on the Jensen McCray.
Claire:She posted a clip of her song Savannah that just came out. Everyone go listen. She posted a clip of the music video. So she was releasing both at once. And that not only reminded me that the song was coming out, but also I've got a bit of an idea.
Claire:So I guess that type of method has been stronger for me in the past two years. I can't think of any that have like knocked my socks off, you know, the way that Roar by Katy Perry has. But of course, we wrap filming, I'm going to think of like 25.
Liz:Well, also, kid, anything's knocking your socks off that has like color?
Claire:Especially when there's a dance that you can follow along with. I was thinking about that. Like, a lot
Liz:of It's giving TikTok dance.
Claire:You you kind of learned how to interact with the song based on the energy that the music video gave you. So Katy Perry was doing a lot of crazy stuff, you were supposed to freak out when you listened to do you know
Liz:what I mean? Yeah. I totally agree.
Claire:That was your permission to also be weird when you heard that song. Love. And then TikTok, of course, probably kind of took that over and ruined it. I do you have anything else to say about music videos before I ask you
Liz:a question? Throw a couple, like, modern ones that I Yeah. The like, within the past couple years because, like like I said, I'm I'm, like, very much, like, a music video, like, I don't know, a music video lover of, like, old, like, way like, nostalgic wise.
Claire:Yeah.
Liz:But there are a couple that have, like, been awesome the past couple of been awesome. That have been awesome. Okay. Tell them. Please, please, please, from Sabrina Carpenter, like, with Oh.
Liz:With Barry Keegan, like, in it, like, when like, when they were dating. There was there was a quick relationship, by the way.
Claire:It's because she put him in the please, please, please music video.
Liz:I know. Anyways I know.
Claire:All the bad lyrics are probably about him. Whatever.
Liz:No. Literally. Makes you think. But, yeah, it was I really liked that concept of, like, him being in it. And, like, I feel like already that brought more views because, like, oh my god.
Liz:They're dating and he's in the music video. Like but I liked that music video a lot. I really liked the guests, Charlie x c x, and Billie Eilish music video. That was really good. Talking about using a clip of, like literally using the music video at the exact same time as the song to market it abracadabra by Lady Gaga.
Liz:That was a really, really great music video because it was just very dance y. It reminded me of, like, Judas k. Lady Gaga, which is another one that, like, is seared into my brain. Like, I could literally, like, do the, like, Judas, like And that's
Claire:that's what they wanted.
Liz:This is what it music video. Yeah. So ever cadaver, it's like, I can, like, memorize the the choreography right now because of it. I thought Harry Styles had some good ones in the past. Like, watermelon sugar was a really good one.
Liz:I remember that. I like I like lights lights up. Right? It's the song. And then this one's a little bit older, but, like, I still consider it, like, modern and, like, newer than, like, the prime of, like, Vivo and stuff.
Liz:Okay. Thank you, Next, Ariana Grande. That was a moment. That was a moment. There were so many people in it.
Claire:I see.
Liz:And yeah. I have a thing to say really quick, by the way, about, like, the Thank You, Next music video. I was supposed to be in the video.
Claire:What?
Liz:But, anyways no. I actually do have something to say. I just the way that I said it and I got excited about it, I thought about that Madison Beer clip where she was like, I was supposed to be in the video.
Claire:I did not. Get that. You were doing that
Liz:at first. But I actually do have something to
Claire:say. I'm
Liz:lucky. I'm seeing the I party one zero one this weekend in Detroit. Do you know who I'm gonna see?
Claire:Tell me.
Liz:My number one celebrity crush, Matt Bennett, who played Robbie Shapiro Oh. In Victoria's. I'm going to see him. He's going to be in DJ ing in front of me. He DJ ing.
Liz:And I'm gonna yeah. He does those, like, stupid. It sounds stupid.
Claire:Like She loves you.
Liz:It's very much, like you you know the iPretty one earlier. It's, like, they they DJ like, he DJs, like, the old songs from, like, Disney Channel and, like Yeah. Nickelodeon and stuff. And I do think that it's, like, a cheap way to, like, keep making money as, like, a child star.
Claire:Yeah. I mean, rent was due.
Liz:Like, rent like, rent continues to be due. Like like, Matt Bennett needs to I I feel like Matt Bennett was probably paid enough to, like I don't know. But he was a kid, though. So I don't I just feel like, does he still need rent? Probably.
Liz:Or else he wouldn't be doing this. But, yeah, I'm so excited to see him. I'm gonna blow him a kiss, my forever childhood crush. Love. Robbie Shapiro.
Claire:Love it.
Liz:So I'm very excited
Claire:about that.
Liz:What was your
Claire:question? My question was, were you ever making your own music videos? And were you on the app Videostar?
Liz:That is a really, really good question. I was not on the app video star.
Claire:Do you know what I'm
Liz:talking about? I literally don't.
Claire:Okay. It's like, like,
Liz:I've been on everywhere in the internet.
Claire:If iMovie, it's not like that you don't like post them anywhere. I don't believe. It's like if iMovie had a younger rebellious artsy sister that was just for filming music videos and you could you could like film clips and stop it similar to Tiktok or or like Snapchat even like how you can film multiple clips. Put it that way. You could put filters on it, you could do like, you know, on a on a Mac, specifically, if you go into the camera icon, you can do like the the fisheye lens or the see yourself 20 times on the screen lens or do rainbow effect.
Claire:So me and my childhood best friend Ella would stand in my backyard and you could pick a song, it would sync to your iTunes. So whatever we had on our little like iPhone four, whatever. So what song? So obviously, I did probably well, I'm not gonna say obviously. I'm trusting that I did one too.
Claire:Oh, my god. I can't remember what it's called. That song that Jade does in Victorious to get back back. Yes.
Liz:Oh, I can't remember when it's called.
Claire:This is gonna make me so angry. But I know I This was the first song I ever downloaded on my my little iPod. Song. You think you know me. Yeah.
Claire:Or you don't know me.
Liz:Think you know me, but you So
Claire:that was my, like, favorite song when I had But I distinctly remember Ella and I did quite a few of these, but one that really stands out because we maxed out every filter. Oh, I did one to trouble by Taylor Swift because I remember seeing my face, like, eight times across the screen, like, trouble, trouble.
Liz:So that's not the name of the song but continue. What is it? I knew you were
Claire:to Same thing. Like You sound like my mom. Sorry. Like Oh, Bubba. Sorry.
Claire:Sorry. Know. It sounds
Liz:Keep you up then.
Claire:Okay. The one that takes the cake. Apple bottom jeans. Me and Ella probably like 12 and 11 standing in my backyard after school. We would we would like direct each shot, we would film like a verse in whatever filter or thing we wanted.
Claire:And these videos, you wouldn't post them anywhere. Like, Videostar was not a social media platform. It was like iMovie. You would just save them to your camera roll for your own viewing pleasure. Now, I'm sure if we were feeling adventurous, we could have figured out a way to, like, put them on YouTube or something.
Claire:And then came Musically, and then came TikTok, and the whole thing just fell right Did
Liz:you have a Musically?
Claire:I did have a Musically, I'll say that my And I did do it. Like, I had not only had a Musically, but I posted on Musically. She was like, the like Yeah. Yeah, I was. And you know what?
Claire:There are worse things a person could have done in middle school and early high school. So That's fine.
Liz:That's awesome.
Claire:But, yeah, it was on Videostard. I just wanted to know if you were ever
Liz:I definitely did music videos.
Claire:Making your own music videos.
Liz:I definitely did music videos. Okay. I can't, like, remember specifically, like, what songs because, honestly, I was even weirder as a kid. Can I tell you what I did instead of music videos? Made, like, weird little short films with my American Girl dolls.
Claire:No. Did on iMovie. I used to watch those, the stop motion American Girl doll My friend Megan and I used to watch those all the time she lived on the street, and I would go down the street, and we would watch them. And what if we were watching yours?
Liz:And I think maybe you were.
Claire:Sorry. Were they stop motion?
Liz:They were.
Claire:Oh, Liz. This is we've unlocked so much today.
Liz:Thank you.
Claire:Sorry to cut you off.
Liz:I just really No, This is real.
Claire:I needed you to know that you're not alone.
Liz:And Thank you. No. Yeah. I was other than that. Cool.
Liz:Which is, like, kind of, like, concerning for me. But, like, I was also doing, like, the weird challenges. Yeah. Also, like, I don't know. Was it like, what Chubby Bunny challenge be when we were, like, kids?
Liz:I feel like that might be a little too old for us.
Claire:Yeah. No. I feel like it was.
Liz:Okay. Then I was doing, like, weird, like, Chubby Bunny challenges and stuff like that.
Claire:And at
Liz:the end
Claire:of the day, like, all that stuff in middle school and early high school is all the same. Right. Because we had access to phones and the internet, but at the time, at least for many of us not enough where it was like damaging yet. It was fun for sure. Like now it's like kids have access to, like, following influencers
Liz:on
Claire:Snapchat, which is really, really bizarre or Tik Tok general, the horrible place that that is. But we were just like filming little weird videos that thank God we never posted.
Liz:It was too fast for the for us to have a digital footprint. Yeah. You know? Like that part of the Internet is like gone.
Claire:Like, I'm Well, it's on my family desktop at home. It's not quite gone. But
Liz:Oh, my god.
Claire:The good news is, though It's on my iPad. I was never able to post those. This is so random. But did we ever talk about how Lauren Gray, former Musically star turned TikTok star turned pop artist who probably has some music videos of her own, went on Trisha Paytas's podcast and said that she became famous fully on accident. And people say that in an almost way to be humble sometimes.
Claire:No. She was like 12 or 13. She was 12 or 13 and she was on Musically. And she was posting the videos, except she didn't know she was posting them. She thought she was saving them to her camera roll because when you post a video, it also used to, I believe, auto save to your camera
Liz:roll. Of course.
Claire:And she just kept posting video after video, not knowing. And then by the time she figured out, you know, navigating the rest of her, like, profile and seeing followers and stuff, she was climbing to fame. That is insane, actually. And it was
Liz:just an accident And literally, it's like one of the biggest
Claire:Yes. And it was just an accident of, like, she was just trying to make funny little videos. She's about our age. So then I just think about like, what if me and Ella had accidentally posted our apple bottom jeans video star? It wouldn't have done anything.
Liz:You were famous.
Claire:Well, one can dream. But I'm just so glad that we were on platforms that even if you did want that video, it wasn't also a recipe posted. I feel like now kids have a lot more to deal with. I sound 50 kids have more to deal with now versus But No. Yeah.
Claire:I should start watching music videos again instead of scrolling on my phone because I could probably gain a lot more from a music video than I could 17 TikToks in a row that I wouldn't even remember.
Liz:One of my comfort things. Like, when I like, this is, like, a real sad, like, when I'm really sad, this is the coping mechanism of watching old music videos. And so it's, yes. It's, like, a nice comfort thing. Like, One Direction music videos was, like, big for me.
Liz:Like oh my god. I forgot saying live while we're young music video. Yeah. It was really big. Yeah.
Liz:Anyways
Claire:And it helps you imagine. It helps Yeah. Watching music videos and making that a practice in your life, I firmly believe, will help you when you're on public transportation somewhere, looking out a window, listening to a song, imagining Oh, how you would be in a music video. We're so creative now. How yeah.
Claire:How would we create those images if not from watching Roar by Katy Perry? No. How would I ever dream up being in a forest That's what I'm saying. Running from a terrible man and finding my strength on a big rock in front of a tiger. Isn't that what's happening?
Claire:Taylor's really cracking up over it.
Liz:No, that is that's
Claire:I'm just saying these videos have benefited us No,
Liz:I do think I think when you're visually watching things as a kid that, like, I don't know, is, like, fun and you're excited by it, and it's not a freaking fifteen second You're inspired. Video.
Claire:Bring back inspiration. You
Liz:get creative as a kid and you're like, I could make my own music video. And it's the worst thing you've ever seen, right? Because obviously we have music videos Yeah. That we made as a kid that were just terrible, but at least to the kid you think that you can.
Claire:And it's healthy creative expression that you won't accidentally post and have millions of people see. And you can just show your family and your mom will be like, yeah, sweetie, that was really, really great. And it'll be funny between you and your friends when your adults and your frontal lobes are developing. Yes. And I'm gonna make my kids get a video star if I let them get phones ever.
Liz:That's actually a really good question. Like, do you think, like, you would ever let your kid get a phone? Or do you think you'll ever let your kid get a phone is what I do.
Claire:I think that okay. Really quickly, because I will tie back to music videos and then we'll.
Liz:No, I was like, not even making the effort.
Claire:We'll bow out. No, but I'm a big believer in anti iPad baby. Okay? Oh, for sure. Now, here's the thing, though.
Claire:I'm not a parent. And I have three younger brothers. And I have I'm I was old enough when my youngest brother was born to have memories of him, like, screaming in Kroger. And my poor mother just trying to keep all of us not only in the same aisle, but also, like, get the food and also make sure my brother doesn't, like, explode, like, pop a vein from screaming. So what would she do?
Claire:She would give him her phone sometimes. Also, side note, when he wasn't holding her phone in public, or like a little toy, he was holding a baked potato. Or a sorry, a raw potato. Oh, raw. That he would just carry around as a fidget.
Claire:Sorry, Charlie, if you
Liz:see this. So and now we have fidgets
Claire:for like, there's a picture that exists of my brother, like holding a potato that he just like, to bring with him and mom being like, okay. And then like, I think maybe in another hand, he's holding her phone watching like a count to 100 with these cartoon shapes, you know, video. So I would give my kid a phone in public to like, please be quiet, but I wouldn't let them scroll on Tiktok. And you know what, if they were old enough, I would say fine, please stop crying. You can have my phone as a distraction.
Claire:But but you have to make a music video. Get on video star.
Liz:We have to be creative with it. Yeah. And I'm giving you an assignment. I'm giving
Claire:you an assignment and it's I'm not giving you internet access. I'm giving you either a video learning how to count by twos. Or you have to like do something creative.
Liz:Like my first like iPad was like leapfrog readers, where you would like click the thing.
Claire:Like I remember like DS? Hello?
Liz:Like You know what we should do next next week? Mhmm. We should do, like, vintage video games.
Claire:Boom. Done. Boom. Done. Because there's so much to explore that I feel like people aren't exploring anymore.
Claire:And take it from take it from us, take it from my brother and his potato. Like, if you there's other ways to be entertained. You don't need to plop your kid on Instagram reels, even if you think the child even if you think the child block is on. Sometimes it's not. Or YouTube shorts.
Claire:Sometimes the child thing is is off. I don't know. I have very strong opinions on this, but we don't need to get into
Liz:it now. Okay. So to wrap up what the actual episode is about.
Claire:Yeah. So back to music videos. What do you think,
Liz:You know, what like, what do you think music videos really do for a song? And like summarize
Claire:it, I think it helps connect the artists vision with the audience even further. I think it allows the audience a glimpse into a different way of reimagining the song, which why is that important? May ask. Well, it's important for personal creativity and also just entertaining. It's just entertainment, and it's fun.
Claire:And it helps you engage with the song and kind of learn almost like the social cues of how to do it or what, like, vibe you're kind of supposed to be taking away from it if you have not already figured that out yourself. And it's just cool. Whether or not you're, like, a visual artist or someone interested in film, someone interested really in music videos, it's just simply cool entertaining. And I think I'm gonna leave it at that.
Liz:And one more yes or no answer is an edit a music video.
Claire:That's what
Liz:I like to hear. It's not. Thanks, guys, for listening to this week. I think, yeah, next week we should do like Yeah. DS We get I have so much to say about that.
Claire:We just over here.
Liz:We love to reminisce. We love nostalgia. Thought daughters, if you would. Alright. Thanks, guys.
Liz:See you.