[rec.music.gaffa] Re The Whole Story Video

gb10@gte.COM (Gregory Bossert) (04/18/91)

judi says:
> Thanks for being so patient, understand, and helpful with this "greenie"
> love-hound.....

thank *you* for your great posts!  some thoughts on the videos:

WH: i'll grant that the effects look kinda tacky to our MTV-jaded eyes,
but there is a sorta teenage Romantic vision that i find charming.
(no condescension intended;  if KaTe was self-conscious about her
dancing -- or singing -- the video and the song would be awkward
instead of wonderful...)

TMwtCihE:  this video (and the Saturday Night Live performance) disturb
me.  By itself, the song is as innocent as _WH_, but the skin tight
(and skin color) suit, along with KaTe's sensual movements (and possible
drug reference on SNL) present a very different mood.

BREATHING:  i have no literal reading for the "emerging from the water"
bit, but it does echo the birth imagery (cf baptism), and the odd colors
underscore the general theme of pollution...  "Truly BRAVE woman," indeed.

WOW:  am i alone in liking the Singles File video?  i recall someone
complaining about the dress -- but given that this song is slightly
self-mocking, the return to flowing Romanticism is appropriate.
on the flip side, the live performance is great.  if i wasn't used
to being patient with KaTe, i'd be awfully anxious about this up-
coming tour.  she *is* going to go through with it, right?  right?!?!

RUTH:  devastating.  my favorite video, from anyone. it incorporates
dance, music, and striking visual imagery, in a fashion unique to
the video/film medium.  a perfect foil to the "realistic" but equally
wonderful CLOUDBUSTING...

ARMY DREAMERS:  judi finds this a bit "campy".  i see her point, but i
love the irony between the gentle waltz, slow-mo explosion (wee, there
goes KaTe!), and biting lyrics.  dream-like, and certainly original.

THE DREAMING:  "Also- where can I get an outfit like KaTe's..."
apparently, these Dune/'stillsuit' outfits came off a rack at some
store or wardrobe.  i've seen the identical outfit in british science-
fiction shows, though i can't remember exactly where...

BABOOSHKA:  "Again- Man, that chainmail outfit!"  so, anyone have an
explaination for this outfit.  i recall KaTe mentioning that she sometimes
has to have a drink or three before singing something out-there (like
_Waking the Witch_) -- i have this image of a tipsy KaTe being convinced
to wear the chainmail bikini instead of the demure robes she had picked
out...

THE BIG SKY:  as a big production number, i prefer this by far to 
_Love and Anger_.  fits the song perfectly, IMHO;  an explosion of 
giddyness.

judi, just wait 'til you see the Live at Hammersmith video!  *sigh*

footah!
-greg