This week’s Music Video Monday has a theme. As an ode to good old fashioned film, I decided to put together a list of my favourite ever black and white music videos (or at least the ones I can remember). The black and white visual format is still one of the simplest but most effective ways of stylizing an image, whether it’s a still image or moving video.
Without further ado, here’s my list.
5. Amy Winehouse – Back to Black
Before she became better known for her antics than her art, Amy Winehouse made great music. Because of that, this video feels bittersweet. It’s sad that this kind of talent has gone to waste over the last few years. I’m still holding out hope that we’ll be able to hear more great music from Amy in the future, but for now, check out this black and white video for the title track off of her 2006 album, Back to Black.
4. Coldplay – Talk
Directed by Anton Corbijn, the video for the single “Talk,” off Coldplay’s album X&Y, sees the band embark on a space journey in their flying saucer to a planet with a very strange inhabitant. The vid is classic with its corny science fiction film style.
3. Jay-Z – 99 Problems
The Marcy Projects area of New York — where Jay grew up — is notorious for crime and violence. The video for the song “99 Problems,” off of his 2004 album The Black Album, is set against the rough backdrop of his home neighbourhood. The decision to shoot the video for 99 Problems in black and white does well to convey the mood of such a depressing situation. It makes #3 on the list.
(*Just a bit of a warning though, the video has some graphic content)
2. Nirvana – In Bloom
This one is brilliant. Kurt Cobain and the boys perfectly contrast the clean cut feel of 50′s and 60′s variety show bands with the chaos and anarchy associated with grunge music at the time. And if that isn’t enough reason to watch it, you get to see the entire band wearing dresses.
1. Beyonce – Single Ladies (Put A Ring On It)
The official YouTube video for Beyonce’s “Single Ladies” has over 87 million views and has been parodied and reworked more times than I can count. It’s simple black and white visual and unbelievable dance choreography make it an easy choice for #1 on this list. Kanye West got a lot of flack for his unforgettable Taylor Swift MTV Awards show interruption when he yelled the now infamous quote, “Beyonce had one of the best videos of all time!” A lot of the criticism he received was obviously very much deserved. But amidst all the fuss, people seemed to forget one important fact: he was right.
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