The Art of the Music Video - WTF?

So today's dose of great music videos comes from my favorite catagory; those videos that just make you scratch your head and walk away more conflicted than before. Those that don't necessarily have anything to do with the song concept, or really to do with anything that makes sense. Yeah, so WTF is going on here?


Röyksopp - This Must Be It
dir. Filip and Andreas Nilsson

So the Discovery Channel people came to your county to do some filming of some indigenous tribes, eh? This video is a hilarious look at the journey of what seems to be a traveling shaman, or medicine man, bringing the healing power of pure rhythm to an unsuspecting group of backwoods natives. On another note, WTF is that woman wiping on those windows?

UNKLE - Rabbit In Your Headlights
dir. Johnathan Glazer

Another one of my favorite videos ever, and usually a candidate for best videos ever. This clip has been discussed to death; people arguing on why the man is walking in the traffic, what it is he's saying, why Thom Yorke is so awesome, etc. None of that matters though, really, in the end. It doesn't matter after you've seen the man's fate. But seriously, what really matters is "HOW THE HELL DID THEY DO THAT?

Fever Ray - When I Grow Up
dir. Martin de Thurrah

This excellent video from an even better artist is full of WTFs. As in all of Fever Ray's videos, there's a sense of foreboding and atmosphere, and dare I say, nostalgia. The place seems so familiar, yet so dark and creepy. You felt the tension when the girl is walking to the edge of the diving board, didn't you. Why is she dancing there? Why does she have eyes drawn on both of her hands? What is that in the water when she looks down? Is there something in the clouds? Is that her dad standing in the window? Why do I always assume he's a security guard? (Don't ask yourself that one, it's kind of dumb.)

The Avalanches - Frontier Psychiatrist
dir. Tom Kuntz and Mike Maguire

Without a doubt one of the greatest music videos ever, and wackiest too (note: stop using the word "wacky" in all it's forms). There's a literal and physical manifestation of every sample used, and there are tons of those. The whole damn song is made up of samples. So yeah, the dancing gospel choir ghosts are my fave.

Aphex Twin - Windowlicker
dir. Chris Cunningham

I have nothing to say but that you MUST watch this. This is the "Thriller" of WTF videos. I opted for the shorter cut because you really don't need that intro.