Meaning and Melancholy: Four Music Videos [justin]

When visuals and melody are integrated into each other, something powerful can happen. The story behind a song can be redefined, reaffirmed, or simply deepened by a good video. While there are some great, quirky, upbeat videos with interesting special effects, it’s the more downhearted ones that I remember and stir my soul. In some ironic way I find hope in the melancholy; maybe it’s because when we are in the pit, the only thing have left is hope.

Everybody Hurts – REM
when your day is night alone - hold on, hold on

The lost 90’s, traffic jam, internal thoughts captured, Michael Stipe. Enough said.

Rabbit in Your Headlights – UNKLE featuring Thom York
fat bloody fingers are sucking your soul away

This is a wildcard that was discovered while trying to jog my memory of videos by searching the Internet. Cryptic to say the least, but able to make a connection to anyone feeling like they are getting run over or are simply in the wrong place in life.



Hurt – Johnny Cash
everyone I know goes away in the end / you could have it all, my empire of dirt

Whereas REM’s video displays the shared communal aspect of pain and strife, Cash seemingly makes this his personal end of life confession. Originally by Trent Reznor of Nine Inch Nails, the images and tone of this cover reaffirms why Johnny is the Man in Black.



Down the Line – Jose Gonzalez
don’t let the darkness eat you up

The consistent acoustic drive mixed with not too many lyrics and coupled with visuals that glimpse at a story, which you want to know more of, makes this video a recent favorite. The dark, realistic symbolism haunts you with thoughts of human nature.