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Billy Idol and BR

PostPosted: Fri May 22, 2009 2:07 am
by Phantom
Please look at these videos:

DANCING WITH MYSELF:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FG1NrQYXjLU

1) a clowdy city full of skyscrapers, a tower, neons, a girl who looks as pris, then dirty road and steam
2) 0:53 some of jf sebastian toys i guess :lol:
3) 1:08 this completely reminds me: http://image.guardian.co.uk/sys-images/ ... ner460.jpg
4) 03:10 the roof ending with some kind of light projector and a billboard

same elements of BR in the video DON'T NEED A GUN:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nd_GRy8SKII

PostPosted: Sat May 23, 2009 3:36 pm
by I. J. Thompson
Dancing With Myself was actually released in 1981, though the video may have come later... not sure about that.

I'd noticed (and enjoyed) the similarities as well, though I always chalked it up to both that video and BR being children of the Heavy Metal comics.

Either way, I love that video! :)

PostPosted: Sat May 23, 2009 8:42 pm
by msgeek
"Dancing With Myself" version viewable from US domains:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i8DT0aw9-Ks

"Don't Need A Gun" version viewable from US domains:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A_0VNnIl3bA&NR=1

(Links given in parent don't work from the US...thanks a bunch EMI!)

"Dancing With Myself": the whole Blade Runner-esque aspect has a lot to do with the fact that Billy Idol and Rutger Hauer have a similar look, particularly during that period of time. It owes a lot more to zombie horror movies (Tobe Hooper directed!) and some classic German expressionist and surrealist movies from the '20s. And yeah, definite Metal Hurlant influence too. According to Wikipedia the video was produced in 1983, when the song was re-released in the US after being picked up by a few influential radio stations, including LA's own KROQ. So the video is post-Blade Runner. And an influencial movie director/cineaste like Tobe Hooper probably saw BR before it was officially released.

"Don't Need A Gun" seems more self-consciously influenced by BR. The LA environs, the police responding to crimes, the private detective in his anachronistic car...actually it's as influenced by Miami Vice and other stylish, formalist cop procedural TV shows and movies of the time as it is from Our Favorite Movie. However, there's some very blatant BR takeoffs, especially towards the end as Idol slinks around a rooftop of a Sunset Strip hotel with the spotlight of a helicopter shining in back of him.

PostPosted: Sat Jun 27, 2009 3:52 am
by Phantom
asdf

PostPosted: Sun Jul 12, 2009 1:49 am
by Phantom
i got this from the music video "Shock to the system" from the album "Cyberpunk"

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