Words cannot explain how entranced I have been the past few days with Iron and Wine’s music video for Boy With a Coin.
The first time I looked up the song on YouTube, I didn’t even bother watching the video and just listened to the song as I worked on a separate tab on my browser. A few plays later, after falling in love with the music, I finally decided to watch the video, made curious by the sound of people ascending stairs at the beginning of the song.
As a dancer, I gravitate towards music videos heavy with dance. This video captivated me so. It even got me dancing around my dining room late into the night.
Boy With a Coin. By Iron and Wine.
Elegance and intensity. But elegance made richer by authenticity. And intensity made powerful by subtlety. I may have watched this video ten million times in the past two days.
While I’m at it, off the top of my head, here are a few of my all time favorite dance-inspired videos/short films. In order of appearance in my life.
I hope one day to direct one of my own.
Slow Dancing in a Burning Room. John Mayer. Choreographed by Wade Robson.
So raw. So beautiful. Thank you Wade Robson for choreographing this. I love the simplicity and honesty of the filming and dancing.
Ariel. By Stateless.
This video will always remind me of the summer I spent in DC, when I first found the video. I played it loudly in my room when my roommate were gone. Over and over again. It may be the least dance-intense videos on my list, but sometimes when I dance, the imagery and electricity captured in this video is what inspires me when I move. I want people to see that when I dance, but without the need for special effects.
Thought of You. By the Weepies. Animation by Ryan Woodward.
Right here, ladies and gentlemen, is the marriage of two things I love – dance and animation. The animation has so effortlessly and precisely communicated emotion through movement. Even more than that, it’s just such great storytelling.
Valtari. By Sigur Ros. From the Valtari Mystery Film Experiment.
Not only was this my favorite song from their recent album, but when I first saw this film I was left speechless. Time to watch it, people!
speak soon 