21st Century Love Songs: The Videos

When 2010 started I set a goal for myself that for once in my life I would do one of my musical projects justice and make sure five music videos were made.  “21st Century Love Songs” was an album that found me deep inside my head and in an analytical cynical weary mind state.  Different projects lend themselves to different kinds of photos, videos, packaging, performance, and presentation.  This time around these songs came from a space of contemplation.  The imagery used in the cover art and music videos are reflective of the emphasis on thinking over looking.  As 2010 comes to a close, and as life moves forward I want to take a moment to collect together all the wonderful videos made for “21st Century Love Songs” in one place.  I think years from now I’ll be able to look back on this album and be proud of its honest perceptiveness.

VIDEO ONE: “Oh Sweet Boy”
Directed by Aubrey Bramble featuring Michael Spadoni

The first single from “21st Century” was “Oh Sweet Boy” and the video was shot in Seattle.  The song itself finds the narrator on the side of a dance floor wondering how the object of his affection can be so carefree aware of all the tragedies happening elsewhere that very second.  Aubrey and Michael did a fabulous job capturing the contemplative darkness of the track.

VIDEO TWO: “Square One”
Directed by Myk Frietag for Mykmedia Productions

“Square One” is a lovely and sad song about emotional desolation counterbalanced with severe longing.  Certainly one of my more emotive songs.  Myk Frietag’s moody video perfectly captured the longing that so haunts us sometimes….

VIDEO THREE: “21st Century Love”
Directed by Jeremy Gloff for Riotboy Productions

The title track of “21st Century Love Songs” to me is an audio time capsule of the messy emotional clusterfuck  we are currently trying to wade through.  With the increased ability to communicate (via technology) comes a disconnection and mental distance.  This computerized touch it doesn’t do much.

I really wanted to make a video that visually brought to life some of my thoughts on modern culture and modern love.  This project was tedious and heavy.  I found myself crying at some of the imagery I created — this was heavy serious stuff that can really break your back (and your heart) if you think about it too much.  I felt this song deserved a visual companion piece so I forced myself to do it.

VIDEO FOUR: “From Afar”
Directed by Jeremy Gloff for Riotboy Productions

“From Afar” is a song that entertains the idea that the current dangerous and shaky emotional state is too risky to negotiate.  Perhaps the best way to love someone is in the imagination…because fantasies are unable to discourage or disappoint.  For this simple video I wanted to bring the distance and yearning of the song to life.  The video has a happy ending but that’s not the way it always ends.  I ask at the end of the video….is it best to love someone from afar or up close.

VIDEO FIVE: “One Phone Call”
Directed by Jeremy Gloff for Riotboy Productions

Certainly the most important video from this project (and maybe my entire career) is “One Phone Call”.  The song itself is a eulogy of five friends of mine who all killed themselves (whether through drugs, jumping off a bridge, a gun, etc).  As expected this song was a struggle to record in the studio.  Take after take I found myself overwhelmed by the grief and breaking down in sobs.  Some very emotive and raw vocal takes of this song were recorded that never saw the light of day.

Then I took a deep breath and realized I had to step outside of myself and of my own life and approach this song looking in from the outside.  My friends deserved a good solid performance.  The vocal track you hear was the first and only time I made it through without crying in the studio.

I know that before I could let “21st Century Love Songs” start collecting dust this video had to be made.  After entertaining a series of ideas and concepts I finally settled on the idea of putting out a call for submissions.  If a person was once suicidal I asked them to submit a photo of themselves and to tell a little bit of their story.  If a person lost someone to suicide I asked them to submit a photo of their loved one with a message to them.  Each email I opened was heartbreaking and heavy.  To collect these submissions and arrange them as a cohesive whole was a tender and serious project.  Seeing  the completed work I think I did the subject justice.  One cannot stress enough just how widespread and brutal the effects of suicide are.  Of all my videos I love this one the most, and I hope the most people see it.

My last few albums spawned a series of visual ideas that never came to light (the aborted “Beautiful Boy” and “1987″ videos would have been great!) I am pleased to have seen through my visual concepts for “21st Century Love Songs” — I hope some of these videos made you think and feel.

-JG December 26 2010