Even the most vital works can deteriorate over time. Some might say that only works which lack any great inherent value become less vital or relevant over time, but others might just as well argue that any given work's continued importance is just as easily attributed to an arbitrarily established canon of works and society's own unpredictable vacillations.
At any rate, to me it is quite obvious that one great work which has not exactly remained vital and fresh over the last 15 years is the song "Cannonball" by The Breeders. There are more than a few things about the song itself and especially the video which would be simply inconceivable for a popular rock song in the year 2008.
1) While both Kim and Kelley Deal are kind of cute in their own way, neither they nor any other Breeder are attractive enough to be a star in 2008. This is particularly true of the only male Breeder in the video for Cannonball. The drummer proudly sports a royal blue tee tucked in with sleeves just barely but extremely awkwardly too long for comfort, not even to bring up his decidedly un-2008 indie rocker hair cut. The standard for alternative drummers in 2008 was much lower.
2) The stoic/ironic delivery of the stringed-instrument playing section of the Breeders might work if you're on 4AD and your video is being directed by Kim Gordon, but that doesn't play in 08. Yeah, even though at its core, the early 90s was way much more about authenticity and truth than now, ironically it's all about the faux-earnest delivery today; but you gotta look good at the same time, of course.
3) Low-tech effects like the bowling ball tracking shot and KiD's underwater screams/whistle blows are simply not up to standards. I guess they were programming on Windows 3.1 back then, but it really shows how much technology has progressed in the meantime. I mean, double exposures, analog tv effects, and hand drawn-stutter-borders strike me right in the center of the heart where it feels so good, but if anyone else were doing that shit today it would look way too amateur for its own good.
4) Let's not discuss the implications of cross dressing and gender roles in early 90s alt rock because that is really a post unto itself. Which reminds me - happy birthday Kurt.
5) Time to drink coffee, turn up Elastica, and watch a Christian Slater movie.
So the bottom line is that context is of supreme importance. I love this video with all of my heart but even just 15 years removed, it is nearly incomprehensible to anyone who watches it. It takes me, an early 90s scholar, to interpret exactly what the hell is going on and I admit it is most likely a very imperfect interpretation at that. How much less can any of us interpret a novel, a symphony, a historical event from the 18th century or a thousand years ago? Context is really important and any attempt to analyze anything out of it is doomed to failure.
2 comments:
I think I'm far too shallow to fully appreciate your analysis. But I'm just the right age to absolutely adore this video. I don't remember having seen it before—though I've always loved the song—but it reminds me of everything that was great about 1994.
brilliant post ... i feel the same way about most late 80s hip hop. i mean, look at the cover of ultramagnetic mc's critical beatdown
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