OK Go

No discussion of music videos could be complete without honoring OK Go - a band that consistently turns out top notch music videos. They clearly appreciate the medium, and their videos are entertaining and intricate. From their first dancing video "A Million Ways" to the two amazing videos for the recent "This Too Shall Pass" - they have perfected the music video - solidly catchy good music, paired with humor and attention getting visual appeal - you can't take your eyes off of them. As much as I can enjoy fun videos with bad songs or those with good music but mediocre visuals, it is much more satisfying to watch when both parts are really good. It doesn't hurt that they have/make great faces (and that I unabashedly love goofy dancing).


And I love their open approach to getting their music heard - there is speculation that they cut ties with their former labels to start their own because the labels were trying to block the "viral" distribution of their videos. Which just earns them more respect, in my book. From their website you can even download the "End Love" video for free (OK Go.net) - and they boldly allow sharing:  "In the continuing spirit of the brave, new OK Go world, you can watch it above, or on our YouTube page, or embed it to your hearts desire…" The internet may have a lot of crap, but we know (I use the royal internet "we") a good video when we see it; and of course we want to share it. And then buy their albums, of course! I have, and they are great.

I know they get a lot of internet love, which is well deserved - and I am happy to add to their love fest. They are music video superheroes, and internet video pioneers, blazing the way forward to creative distribution of independent entertainment.
 

Here is "A Million Ways" - which is just them, dancing in a backyard.

OK Go - A Million Ways from OK Go on Vimeo.



Next comes another complex choreographed dance routine, possibly their most famous video "Here it Goes Again" - again, delightful and brilliant.

OK Go - Here It Goes Again from OK Go on Vimeo.


Then there's "Do What You Want" (Wallpaper version) -
OK Go - Do What You Want (Wallpaper Version) from OK Go on Vimeo.


And "WTF" -



This one has a goose. "End Love" -


And lastly, the two versions for "This Too Shall Pass" - the marching band one was done live, the Rube Goldberg machine one is one beautiful take -  adding a little bit of magic to a song about the passage of time.

Marching:






And my favorite, the Rube Goldberg machine:




I don't think there are many other bands with this great of a video track record. And they're still young, they could be be making great music and great videos for years to come. Let's hope so. May their font of creativity be inexhaustible.