As recently as a few years ago, musicians relied on corporate TV networks to play their music videos. Now, thanks to explosion of sites like YouTube and Vimeo, it's easier than ever for bands to release and promote videos independently. Many of the most flashy, memorable music videos from the past year didn't come from major label bands with money to blow; rather, they came from indie bands, some of them little-known, who managed to win over audiences with eye-grabbing clips.
Here are our ten favourite music videos from Canadian artists in 2010. These may be more humble than the big-budget clips of the '90s, but they're no less effective.
Head to the next page to begin Exclaim!'s Top 10 Canadian Indie Music Videos from 2010. 10. No Joy
"Hawaii"
This video from the punked-up Montreal shoegaze troupe begins in the city, but quickly moves to the countryside, as a group of 20somethings drive their pickup out into the forest. It culminates in a romp that's part lust, part innocence, as they smear dirt on their naked bodies. It's not graphic, but there is plenty of nudity, so it's pretty NSFW. You know, depending on where you work.
"Shaved"
The Vancouver, BC electro artist's music is downright terrifying, so this whirring dub track is complemented perfectly by its eerie clip. Two friends take a walk through a Pacific rainforest on a wet day as darkness descends and the trees begin to bleed. Nothing much happens for the first few minutes, but the chilling music means that the suspense is breathtaking. The creepy ending doesn't disappoint.
8. Rah Rah
"Henry"
Violinist Kristina Hedlund wails away at a piñata in a pub while the band perform on stage and a female patron makes eyes at a werewolf. As the baroque-rocking song barrels forward, the werewolf draws a portrait on a napkin and drinks beer. He eventually flips out on the dance floor, clearing the bar while his new lady friend looks on affectionately. Be sure to stay tuned for the hilarious ending.
7. Hannah Georgas
"Thick Skin"
This clip takes the idea of "skin" at its most literal. The Vancouver, BC songstress strips down completely, crawling out of her bed and into a snowy forest. As the folksy track reaches a string-laden spaghetti western climax, Hannah gets covered in dirt, emerging from a muddy hole on the forest floor. This was a gutsy choice for the first video from her debut album.
6. Broken Social Scene
"Meet Me in the Basement"
This collage of images and video was fan-made, but it became official when Broken Social Scene adopted it as their own and uploaded it to the Arts & Crafts YouTube channel. The anonymous director paired the instrumental anthem with footage from the G-20 riots in Toronto, ON this June, making a provocative political statement. With images of Justin Bieber, videogames and Nike ads, pop culture has never been quite so alarming.
5. Diamond Rings
"Show Me Your Stuff"
This glitter-loving pop star went for a sports theme with this video, but it's hardly a celebration of stereotypical jock culture. Over booty-shaking beats and a plunky piano pattern, singer John O'Regan dons a shiny silver jersey, facing off on the basketball court against Fucked Up's Damian Abraham (and others). Meanwhile, O'Regan gets decked out in football pads and makeup and lip syncs in the locker room. During the breakdown, O'Regan raps while break-dancers bust a move on the gym floor.
4. You Say Party
"Lonely's Lunch"
The song is about loneliness, but the video is a dystopian thriller, depicting a heart racing chase through a dusty city that appears to be somewhere in South Asia. It's not clear who the masked storm troopers that stalk the streets are, but the spaceships suspended above the city suggest the video takes place in a future in which hostile aliens have taken over. There's even a hint of romance to this clip, which recalls last year's District 9.
3. Arcade Fire
The Wilderness Downtown
Arcade Fire previously experimented in the interactive video medium with 2007's "Neon Bible," but they hit gold with this clip for "We Used to Wait." Viewers are asked to type in the address of their childhood home, then the website uses images from Google Earth and Google Maps to make each viewing a personal experience. Multiple browser windows pop up, as a hooded child runs through the streets near your home while birds circle overhead. This celebration of nostalgia even allows viewers to make a postcard for their childhood selves.
See the video here. 2. Shad
"Rose Garden"
A simple idea executed perfectly. The second video from TSOL begins in reverse, as Shad heads backwards down an alley; his mouth moves without any correlation to the song, although the images frequently tie in with the lyrics. Then, halfway through, the video suddenly begins playing forwards; Shad's lip-syncing now matches up with the song, and he heads back up the alley towards the camera. It's like that moment in Pulp Fiction when the plot ends up back at the diner and the whole thing suddenly makes sense.
1. Hollerado
"Americanarama"
Using a single camera shot, a whole lot of pasteboard cutouts and god only knows how much choreography, the ambitious power pop band scored their greatest success with this dizzying clip. The concept is called "human 8-bit" and it spoofs vintage Atari imagery, using 24 extras inside of a massive scaffold structure. OK Go have long been known as the masters of this kind of low-budget choreography, but you're not likely to find a cleverer video than this from anybody. It's been viewed just shy of 700,000 times on YouTube -- impressive, but it deserves to be in the millions.
Here are our ten favourite music videos from Canadian artists in 2010. These may be more humble than the big-budget clips of the '90s, but they're no less effective.
Head to the next page to begin Exclaim!'s Top 10 Canadian Indie Music Videos from 2010. 10. No Joy
"Hawaii"
This video from the punked-up Montreal shoegaze troupe begins in the city, but quickly moves to the countryside, as a group of 20somethings drive their pickup out into the forest. It culminates in a romp that's part lust, part innocence, as they smear dirt on their naked bodies. It's not graphic, but there is plenty of nudity, so it's pretty NSFW. You know, depending on where you work.
No Joy - Hawaii from Salazar on Vimeo.
9. Babe Rainbow"Shaved"
The Vancouver, BC electro artist's music is downright terrifying, so this whirring dub track is complemented perfectly by its eerie clip. Two friends take a walk through a Pacific rainforest on a wet day as darkness descends and the trees begin to bleed. Nothing much happens for the first few minutes, but the chilling music means that the suspense is breathtaking. The creepy ending doesn't disappoint.
8. Rah Rah
"Henry"
Violinist Kristina Hedlund wails away at a piñata in a pub while the band perform on stage and a female patron makes eyes at a werewolf. As the baroque-rocking song barrels forward, the werewolf draws a portrait on a napkin and drinks beer. He eventually flips out on the dance floor, clearing the bar while his new lady friend looks on affectionately. Be sure to stay tuned for the hilarious ending.
7. Hannah Georgas
"Thick Skin"
This clip takes the idea of "skin" at its most literal. The Vancouver, BC songstress strips down completely, crawling out of her bed and into a snowy forest. As the folksy track reaches a string-laden spaghetti western climax, Hannah gets covered in dirt, emerging from a muddy hole on the forest floor. This was a gutsy choice for the first video from her debut album.
6. Broken Social Scene
"Meet Me in the Basement"
This collage of images and video was fan-made, but it became official when Broken Social Scene adopted it as their own and uploaded it to the Arts & Crafts YouTube channel. The anonymous director paired the instrumental anthem with footage from the G-20 riots in Toronto, ON this June, making a provocative political statement. With images of Justin Bieber, videogames and Nike ads, pop culture has never been quite so alarming.
5. Diamond Rings
"Show Me Your Stuff"
This glitter-loving pop star went for a sports theme with this video, but it's hardly a celebration of stereotypical jock culture. Over booty-shaking beats and a plunky piano pattern, singer John O'Regan dons a shiny silver jersey, facing off on the basketball court against Fucked Up's Damian Abraham (and others). Meanwhile, O'Regan gets decked out in football pads and makeup and lip syncs in the locker room. During the breakdown, O'Regan raps while break-dancers bust a move on the gym floor.
4. You Say Party
"Lonely's Lunch"
The song is about loneliness, but the video is a dystopian thriller, depicting a heart racing chase through a dusty city that appears to be somewhere in South Asia. It's not clear who the masked storm troopers that stalk the streets are, but the spaceships suspended above the city suggest the video takes place in a future in which hostile aliens have taken over. There's even a hint of romance to this clip, which recalls last year's District 9.
3. Arcade Fire
The Wilderness Downtown
Arcade Fire previously experimented in the interactive video medium with 2007's "Neon Bible," but they hit gold with this clip for "We Used to Wait." Viewers are asked to type in the address of their childhood home, then the website uses images from Google Earth and Google Maps to make each viewing a personal experience. Multiple browser windows pop up, as a hooded child runs through the streets near your home while birds circle overhead. This celebration of nostalgia even allows viewers to make a postcard for their childhood selves.
See the video here. 2. Shad
"Rose Garden"
A simple idea executed perfectly. The second video from TSOL begins in reverse, as Shad heads backwards down an alley; his mouth moves without any correlation to the song, although the images frequently tie in with the lyrics. Then, halfway through, the video suddenly begins playing forwards; Shad's lip-syncing now matches up with the song, and he heads back up the alley towards the camera. It's like that moment in Pulp Fiction when the plot ends up back at the diner and the whole thing suddenly makes sense.
1. Hollerado
"Americanarama"
Using a single camera shot, a whole lot of pasteboard cutouts and god only knows how much choreography, the ambitious power pop band scored their greatest success with this dizzying clip. The concept is called "human 8-bit" and it spoofs vintage Atari imagery, using 24 extras inside of a massive scaffold structure. OK Go have long been known as the masters of this kind of low-budget choreography, but you're not likely to find a cleverer video than this from anybody. It's been viewed just shy of 700,000 times on YouTube -- impressive, but it deserves to be in the millions.
