Objects Of Affection: Idolator’s Tribute-Video Treasury
Ed. note: Once again, Idolator intern Kate Richardson scours the video sites, looking for the best fan-made music-video tributes. In this entry, she looks at two very different takes on the recent film adaptation ofPride & Prejudice:
The vibrant, smartly cast and reasonably short 2005 movie version of Pride & Prejudice is an ideal candidate for a tribute video. Unlike the clunky (though superior) 1995 miniseries, the movie lays the romance on thick, dangling it over salivating preteen girls who have rabid, hormonal desires for cinematic love stories. As it turns out, this is the very same demographic most prone to Top 40 fandom, and the following clips prove that a teenage girl in possession of Windows Movie Maker is in the position to make incredibly bizarre decisions.
Song: “If She Only Knew” by 98 Degrees Concept: Mr. Darcy as mopey backup singer for second-tier boy band. This song is actually somewhat relevant; Mr. Darcy does, after all, harbor secrets and hide his true self. That said, it’s debatable whether this much-adored character–or Jane Austen in general–should ever be affiliated with 98 Degrees, and it’s hard to Imagine Mr. D. on stage with the Lachey gang, harmonizing his love for Elizabeth Bennet (especially since it’s established early on in the book that Fitzwilliam “Sour Grapes” Darcy doesn’t even like to dance). Still, though, there are enough pouty expressions and wistful looks to keep up with the tone of the song. And the editing, while too reliant on gimmicks (enough with the sepia filter already!), moves at an even boy-band tempo. Best music-to-image sync-up moment: At the 2:50 mark, 98 Degrees sings “How, how did I let her get away?” as Elizabeth walks towards the camera and swiftly away from Mr. Darcy. Silliest music-to-image sync-up moment: There are a few attempts to match a strobe effect to the music, the feeblest of which is at 3:06, as the line “But the hardest thing to say, say, say…” is accompanied by the picture flashing out of time.
Song: “Where’d You Go?” by Fort Minor Concept: Elizabeth Bennet as neglected celebrity girlfriend. Yes, that is the theme song to The Office at the top of this video. Unfortunately, it all goes downhill from there: As soon as Mike Shinoda starts half-rapping, it sinks in that you’re watching a union of Fort Minor and P&P, and all of a sudden your mind expands so extensively that things like quantum physics start to make perfect sense–and you still can’t quite grasp this video! Aside from a few ill-conceived strobe effects towards the end, it’s technically not bad–decent editing, appropriate clips, etc. But no amount of competence can spare the discomforting feeling of watching Elizabeth Bennet and hearing the lyrics “So I want you to know it’s a little fucked up that I’m stuck here waitin’, at times debatin’.” Best music-to-image sync-up moment: The shot of Mr. Darcy riding through the woods as the beat drops in for the first time is surprisingly effective. Silliest music-to-image sync-up moment: The elaborate dance scene midway through, set to the lyrics, “You know, the place where you used to live, used to barbecue up burgers and ribs.” Quite possibly the first and last time Jane Austen and barbecue will ever cross paths.
Verdict: It’s a tough call, since both videos are so out-and-out weird, but the Fort Minor version, while slightly more disturbing, is bold and superiorly presented. And so, after a convoluted series of exchanges and encounters at various English country manors, we must admit our love for it above all others.
