"Fashion, their vampire/drapes itself across your back/as you fall from style/it waits rebirth on its rack."
Boo! Did I scare you? It's Halloween month on the ol' TikiKiti blog site, but in reality, Christmas is fast approaching. The only solution to this nonlinear dilemma is to drop what you're doing and watch Tim Burton's The Nightmare Before Christmas as soon as possible.
Since it's theoretically October, it only makes sense that this month's slate of Unofficial Music Videos are bookended by horror-themed projects.
As always, hopeful contestants from every nation are recognized for outstanding achievement in video artistry with the presentation of the Barclay Trophy to our top vote-getter each month.
1. Producer: Bhai Log/Team Transformerz
Artist: Billie Eilish
Song: "Bury A Friend"
Category: Performance
Ubiquitous Yankee pop star Billie Eilish provides the accompaniment to this delirious dancing zombie vignette from India. A simple story about three pals exploring a haunted house can be interpreted any number of ways, mostly as variations on "Curiosity Killed the Cat" or the danger of wandering too far from "the path." Supernatural naturalism?
2. Producer: Pezhmann Mokary
Artist: Federico Truzzi
Song: "Morae"
Category: Abstract
A nameless female protagonist shuffles through another dehumanizing, black-and-white commute only to end up at the sea, screaming her lungs out. Then the scene shifts to a more positive outlook, shot in color, that has a surreal, dreamlike quality. Never abandon those dreams; they might be the only thing keeping you sane.
3. Producer: Andrii Gusarov
Artist: Woodkid
Song: "L'aérogramme de Los Angeles"
Category: Abstract
The dazzling choreography, thoughtful art direction, and dexterous camera work combine to paint a picture of how daily distractions and commitments can not only keep us apart geographically from those we love, but also preoccupied when we're supposed to be present.
4. Producer: Morgan Oliver-Allen
Artist: Dabin
Song: "Bloom"
Category: Vérité
This assemblage of footage is fairly inspired, tracking the conception and evolution of the Burning Man festival, interspersed with loving, longing looks from its participants. Lightning bolts of creativity are palpable and bright.
5. Producer: Jack Harriss/Michael Cox
Artist: Vasili
Song: "Dance With Me"
Category: Narrative
Another retelling of Frankenstein, this one set to an EDM soundtrack. Once again, a Narcissistic doctor is done in by his own creation. Full of hubris and the desire to play God, Dr. F doesn't realize he's created a being that has no desire to serve—only dance.This month's videos definitely have a cinematic quality to them, with the focus on a "bigger" story than time or budget allows. We encourage everyone to reach for the stars, but at the same time, be careful not to create a monster you can't control.
