Lopez Blogs

I was going to do this post yesterday, but I got distracted by silly little things like work (which pays the bills, it pays my telephone bills, pays my automo-bills, etc) and True Blood and trying to read a book that I am 2/3rds of the way into and still don't really care about :/ Then I realised it was pay day, and doesn't that make work seem more worthwhile on that one day of the month?! So yes, was all sorts of distracted and of course in the interim this post has grown from one about Hurts to one about lots of things. Oh blimey. But isn't that quintessentially me?! So do read on and share your thoughts, as you so often and very kindly do...

Hurts ~ Wonderful Life (2010):

This song has been around in one form or another now for a while, as the blogging world holds it's breath awaiting the moment when Hurts become as deservedly huge as they should be. In recent days there has been a flurry of internet activity surrounding the boys - a Kylie duet on their debut album, a rather brilliant freemasons remix of this tune and of course the accompanying video. Let's see what the latter is all about...

• Initially there are lots of people standing still and staring at a swimming pool. It would have been ever so slightly better if the water in the pool had been perfectly still too, but pesky winds make it a little bit choppy. Curses.
• Then the singing starts and we get to reflect on a man in a suit with quite a lustrious head of hair sitting on some steps (loving the black and white colour theme) while a photo of his presumed lady friend floats in the water.
• At about 38 seconds there are some Lady Gaga-esque ladies standing around, framed by some nice architecture. There is also quite a nice shot of the Hurts boys, one of whom is quite attractive indeed. I'll let you guess which one :P
• Yay! The chorus then starts and there is a bit of dance activity from the ladies by the pool. This is essentially the moment when you can see why a Freemasons remix of this is a very good idea indeed.
• "never give up it's such a wonderful life" - i love how these uplifting lyrics can be so dour in delivery and visual. That's not sarcasm, i like the juxtaposition of it. I also like writing the word juxtaposition. It seems to be a theme throughout the video, most obviously with the black and white clothes people are wearing, against the white buildings and backdrops.
• (I also like that the Hurts boys are essentially ignoring all the dancing going on around them - it reminds me of the latest Big Brother 11 task...)
• As the second verse starts, there is a bit more dancing and Theo is sitting down putting a bit more facial expression into his singing. The Gaga girls and lustrious hair man are also back - the latter is sinking deeper into a pit of despair. I know what that is like :P
• Cleverly the dance moves mirror the man's despair. I tried to have a go at them in the office this morning, but some bloke arrived delivering a parcel in tight shorts and I got distracted again. Plus, obviously, I looked a right numpty.
• Essentially then there is a slightly extended middle 8 where the four dancing girls jump into the swimming pool, hold their dance poses and do some underwater synchronised moves (occassionally mirrored by the girl between the Hurts lads). It's beautifully shot and rather lovely to look at.
• Theo floats in the water in a christ like pose (very essential in boy band videos - and Hurts are the most classy of the class boybands) with some bright sun shining behind him - the despair and redemption theme again. God, I am deeper than that swimming pool!
• More swimming pool dancing ensues and if you pause at 3m31s there is an absolutely great pause of Attractive Hurts (not that Theo isn't attractive of course, oh you know what I mean)...
• All in all it's a very wonderful video for an increasingly engaging song that I hope brings them much success :) Brava!

Performance - Unconsoled:

In case you have not cottoned on yet, Performance are indeed very good. I wrote about them a bit earlier this year when they had a rather magnificent single out called The Living. Nick Alien Hits has also recently written about their ever so magnifico other project Kiss In Cities. AND! one of the band, Joe Cross, has worked on the new Hurts album! See, these blog posts are intrinsically linked together :) Amazing. here's the need to know about the video...

• If you are not paying attention, you could be in a disco at the start - flashing lights, loud music... but no. There is a car. it's gone right into a tree. This is going to seriously affect someone's no claims bonus...
• The band are all scattered around and in the car, performing their song. This is interspersed with clips of people drinking shots and driving along. This is what probably got them into this mess.
• Actually, let's reflect on this - i'm loving the hurt band on a crashed car theme. There are bloody noses, cuts, broken glass, vacant expressions, the lot.
• And although this doesn't really have much to do with the music, and more to do with my constant cosmic horn, the two Joes are rather pleasing to look at aren't they?
• Apparently Performance are a band who have only been made stronger by their trials - trials which would have split lesser bands. This is true of the video too - Joe C and laura blindfold Joe S while he is driving and then play with the wheel. don't try this at home kids. it doesn't end well. Joe S at least has the decency to look a bit scared by the whole experience!
• Laura hauls herself out the window and lets the wind blow through her hair. I once did this on the drive to Toronto from Rochester NY. Only, the traffic was moving so slowly it was hardly daredevil at all.
• After fairly static "crash scene" shots, Joe S sits up at the start of the second chorus. This sounds fairly minor but it has quite a good effect on the song, matching to the lyrics.
• He does some quite good twitching and then lies back down again. I am seriously loving this video quite a lot. so simple yet amazing.
• Laura (i sense she should get the lion's share of the blame for the crash) sets off some party poppers in the car. Good grief. She is young and crazy and reckless. She would be brilliant at my X Factor finale party in December!
• The speed goes up to 70, Laura is loving hanging out the window, and then the crash happens. it's brilliantly done, they each end up hitting the glass in the car with their heads and the video fades out. It's as shocking and abrupt as the song is brilliant and intense. Brillo work Performance, brillo work
• (PS, please buy Joe Stretch's book Friction. It's bloody amaze).

Coming soon - fizzypop chronicles and perhaps that Olly Murs video breakdown. Plus pop bought to you by the letter E...