Hey Guys,
About a month and a half ago, Didier Dupre kindly sent me off to see a video on Youtube. You’ll have to click on the period from that last sentence to see it; I’m a dink like that.
It’s a music video from Darren Hayes (the guy from Savage Garden who actually did anything) in which a gorgeous melding of music and magic is performed in front of a black background. In fact, the discussion of music and magic crept up in the iTricks podcast I was on a few weeks back, and this Darren Hayes video was the example I mentioned of the artistic combination working extremely well for each other. Over the past week or two, the video has been at the centre of some controversy within the online community. Quite frankly, the comments disappoint me. It seems as though we all have our proverbial heads so far up our proverbial proverbs, that no one has noted the pertinent fact:
IT’S A MUSIC VIDEO!
There. I said it.
Please stop judging the video like every other piece of PooTube out there. It is not a magic video, and therefore it is not subject to the style of review we typically direct toward them. Due to repeatedly getting burned by shady demo videos for products, as a group we’ve gotten used to analyzing every minute detail from magic videos. This is now biting us in the ass because we’re not able to just sit back and enjoy a beautiful music video when it comes along; we’re too busy formulating methods and questioning practicality of the visuals.
Since it’s a music video, it is meant for the general public. I, for one, am thrilled to see this type of magic aimed toward them as it is a wholly different dynamic than anything David Blaine, Criss Angel, or Keith Barry would do, and it’s this diversity that excites me.
So allow me to respond to actual comments being made on various forums:
“I can’t stand these videos with music only. I was currious [sic] but as soon as I hear the music- it goes off. Waste of my time!”
IT’S A MUSIC VIDEO!
Unless you’re watching Twisted Sister’s We’re Not Gonna Take It, then don’t expect to hear anything other than music.
“First the video was very cool to watch although he could have shortened it a little, to me it seemed to drag on a little too long.”
IT’S A MUSIC VIDEO!
Music videos can’t exactly be cut short unless they cut the song itself short. And for the sake of a card trick? On the other hand, Twisted Sister’s We’re Not Gonna Take It video could have cut out all that talking to shave a few minutes off.
“Nice effect but you’ll never see it performed live.”
IT’S A MUSIC VIDEO!
Music videos have never been, and never will be about the ability to recreate themselves live. Isn’t that their point? Will you ever see Twisted Sister invade the bedroom of a twelve year old who has the voice of a forty year old?
“Quite apart from the magic, I found the choice of forgettable cookie-cutter undistinguished MOR music and the wholly mawkish sentimentality completely unappealing.”
IT’S A MUSIC VIDEO!
There’s no more “choice” for the music in a music video than there is “choice” for a monarchial animal in “The Lion King.” It is the visuals which are decided upon. Luckily for us, the director chose a wonderful sequence that is utterly magical (regardless of method). Almost as magical as the make-up artist in Twisted Sister’s We’re Not Gonna Take It video.
“You Tube [sic] can be sooooo bad for magic, it is so refreshing to see something like this
You Tube [sic] can also be soooo wonderful for magic and this is a perfect example”
IT’S A DAMN FINE POINT!
Tyler Wilson
January 15th, 2008 at 1:36 am Quote
its a music video!! (followed by twisted sister example) thats some funny stuff, And luckily while I was sitting in the hardrock cafe in universal studios waiting for you to come get me I managed to spot the twisted sisters music video playing on the tv screen. If I had not, I would have no clue what you are talking about in this post lol. The first time I saw this video it sent chills down my spine because its just beautiful. I think I have watched it about 5 times, it just makes you feel relaxed, and just looks great.
January 15th, 2008 at 9:00 pm Quote
Hey Tyler,
I had never seen the video until I clicked the link you left. (p.s, if you want to be really annoying make the full stop (ye i’m British
) a lot smaller font, that makes it really hard to click. 
Anyway back to the video. I Loved it, I thought it was inspirational and as soon as i’ve finished this comment I’m watching it again.
Can’t see why people are dissing it. Have these guys never enjoyed a silent act?
Either way, thanks for posting about it because I don’t know when I would have found out about it otherwise.
Steven
(p.s, when you typed “IT’S A MUSIC VIDEO” did you copy and paste it lots or just type it again each time?)
January 17th, 2008 at 11:45 pm Quote
Hey Tyler,
Great post! I’m glad to hear a voice of reason. (And it is always scary if YOU are the voice of reason.) Along the same line of creating a MUSIC VIDEO, I think this video also deserves watching:
http://media.theory11.com/964-Torn-%26-Restored-Card
A song by Michael Jackson, and a beautiful interpretation if I say so myself. Surprisingly - this video got great reviews, while “Words” was getting the comments you posted above. I feel that they are in the same vein, of MUSIC VIDEO.
-Donovan
PS: I now officially know I am a geek: because when you mentioned the Twisted Sisters all I could picture was John Bannon.
January 18th, 2008 at 1:14 am Quote
Hey Donovandyke,
Thanks for the link.
But to keep things clear, the video you linked to is a magic video done to music. On the other hand, Words is a music video that has magic in it. It’s an honest-to-Spaghetti-Monster music video by Darren Hayes; potentially getting airplay on MTV, VH1, and MTVH1. It is not a video made by a magician who put Darren’s song in the background; IT’S A MUSIC VIDEO!
But other than that, yes Donovan, they are identical.
And while I have him here, I would like to thank Donovan for taking all the photos you guys saw in the January one-man Talk About Tricks issue of MAGIC Magazine. Thanks man!
Steven, as sad as it is, I typed each one out individually. I’m just not that savvy to use scissors and glue like that.
Tyler Wilson
January 18th, 2008 at 2:34 pm Quote
Um … amen.
January 20th, 2008 at 12:05 am Quote
Hi Tyler -
You make some good points. However, I think you’re being a little hard on everyone. Most (if not all) of the comments came from people that thought it was a magic video, not a music video. I think the comments would have been much different if they had understood this fact.
January 20th, 2008 at 4:10 am Quote
Hey Tyler, Thanks for sharing this video. I hadn’t seen it before.
Also, I loved your contribution in MAGIC magazine this month! I mentioned you on my blog at www.onlinemagicclub.com
Anybody know who the magician is in the video?
Cheers.
January 22nd, 2008 at 10:09 pm Quote
Not sure who it is in the video but those cards are all blank and there is no sleight of hand involved
January 23rd, 2008 at 12:23 pm Quote
its a music video!!!!
February 4th, 2008 at 10:04 pm Quote
I know it’s a music video, that has nothing to do with my point. Sure it is a music video but how did they make it? that was my point.
March 5th, 2008 at 1:01 am Quote
Tyler, how did you make your hands look so smooth and stumpy?
May 8th, 2008 at 3:17 pm Quote
This is a tad late - and I am sure nobody will read it, but Shawn Farquar shared some info with me on this.
Apparently, Richard Cullen, Darren Hayes spouse under UK law, created the effect using his new company Pixelfing. I think it’s a great use of magic - and Shawn made a great point - this is how people view what we do…when we do our jobs properly.
I really enjoyed the “music video”, as when I viewed it the first 50 times…remembed what it was like to “see” and “feel” magic again. Wicked post Tyler - smack those dudes that over analyse EVERYTHING BUT their OWN magic!
Peace!