Classic Music Video of the Week

Today I would like to celebrate George Harrison (1943-2001). I have a great respect for him, as he composed two of my favorite Beatles' songs - "Here Comes the Sun" and "While My Guitar Gently Weeps." (Of course there are many other great songs by Lennon and/or McCartney, but they have certainly been praised for their great work. And Ringo...was a a Beatle too.)

One thing I would especially like to acknowledge Harrison for is his clever video releases for the song "Got My Mind Set on You." That's right, "video releases" is plural. This song was a staple of my childhood. I can't help but listen to it and think of happy times, dancing around my room and singing along. Granted, this isn't a Harrison original (original is by James Ray, in the 1960s), but I think this song solidified my love for George Harrison and music videos in general. To this day, I think George Harrison set a precedent that other artists should follow: release two videos for one song.

Why would I think this is a good idea? Aren't there enough horrible videos out there that increasing them would only contribute to the pool of crap? Yes and no. Yes, a lot of artists lack the imagination to make one good video, let alone two. However, I think many current artists also try WAY too hard to make one video (because they have so much riding on it) that they end up making expensive, over-the-top mini-movies that glorify the singer, instead of tributes to their work or even their personalities. Perhaps I'm the only person who feels this way. In any case, I think George Harrison got it right. He had two videos for the song - one to illustrate the lyrics, and one to remember for its quirkiness and originality. (Please note: I have done no background research on this, so if one was done by a record company without his permission or there is some other backstory, please accept my apology. That, however, does not take away from my feelings on the subject.)

So this week's Classic Music Video of the Week comes in two parts. It's up to you to decide which version you like best.

Enjoy!





For the record, I like the animal version, fake dancer and all!