The bizarre kabuki of "rock" videos for "bands" that aren't actually audible in the song

Deriving from this:

I AM STILL SO FUCKING APPALLED: Rolling Worst Songs of 2010

it apparently took 7 people to create the sounds in this song

― call all destroyer, Monday, March 1, 2010 2:37 PM (54 minutes ago)

Whats with shitty acts pretending they are playing a bunch of instruments when clearly half of them aren't in the song?

― Evan, Monday, 1 March 2010 20:37 (1 week ago)

Which was in re this
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BCzFYU17Soo

And also from just noticing the same phenomenon lately in a lot of videos myself.

What IS the deal?

I've also notice that a lot of these videos involve the "band" at issue being "on tour" in a "beat up tour van" - when in fact it's hard to imagine any of these songs being played live without two trucks worth of sound equipment.

As I had asked:

Is the director or the label's marketing guys really that dedicated to the visual concept of them all "rocking"?

The only reason I presented that as a question was to address the idea that they must really think they are fooling people. I guess they are, since plenty are buying the image or aren't detail oriented enough to care. But even the uncaring ones that are responding positively may be associating this band with "rock," and thats what the marketing teams that I'm sure are behind it are pushing. Its all image, even if the fake-ness seems so blatant. The demographic this stuff is meant for is a casual audience who only reacts to the vague association. Hopefully they will buy the album for the few singles that they will know are on it because that "featuring" sticker will be clear and easy to read. In their shallow world, if they get the trendy music to = the trendy image they win.

I imagine that all 7 members of that band actually do play instruments in the band and you can hear them onstage, but when you get them in a studio for a major label record, inevitably the producer is gonna make decisions about how to make their sound streamlined and radio-friendly, and those decisions might involve mixing half the members' contributions way down. Don't know why that means all the members of the band shouldn't be in the video tbh.

I thought this thread was gonna be more about stuff like this:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kY1DgtW5kIQ

The beat was produced by Cool & Dre, but for the video they had some band called Mayday (whose e-mail list I ended up on for some horrible reason) come in and mime the instruments.

But for the Paper Tongues most, not some, of the instruments shown are much more than just mixed down.

How would you know? Do you have proof that those people weren't in the studio playing their instruments at some point in the recording of the song?

to play devil's advocate when i went to see MBV perform on the Loveless tour I was *certain* that they'd be doing rock "approximations" of the record and the next thing you know...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LkiU4ruREgI

Well there are a few points where I see guitars and a drum-set but clearly there is not a sound in the song associated with the playing seen.
I'm open to your theory, but I meant "much more than just mixed down" as in down to zero if those parts actually did originally exist.

ok 7 members

1. vox (yep)
1. drums (yep)
2. bass (yep)
3. synth (yep)
4. guitar 1 (yep)
5. guitar 2 (yep)
6. guitar 3 (too much crap going on to tell)

so one guy isn't accounted for. ehh i dunno

No wayyyyy.

we're giving way too much analysis to a group that makes Nonpoint sound like Living Colour....

I really saw other videos in this same MTV2 block that fit the thread much better than this one, I just can't remember their names.

how about the opposite? I always loved how the drummer in Live's "I Alone" was the only musician that didn't have his instrument in the video...as immortalized by Beavis and Butthead...

Two synth players - kinda facing each other in this weird semi-homoerotic battlestance. Only two guitarists.

I understand this phenomenon in the UK, where it's kind of Happy Mondays syndrome, where you pack as many of your mates in the band to get the off the dole. But I don't really understand what that band needs all those synth players for.

Except maybe they have one with short hair and one with floppy indie hair (same set up with the guitarists) to appeal to twice the girls, just in case?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-scs9OHPLLI

I play the Farfisa player in this video. There is no Farfisa in the song. I do not play keyboards.

How about every Wham video ever? if they were to be realistic, they'd show George Michael performing while Andrew Ridgely was off playing Missile Command in the corner...

... so to speak

The Farfisa player in that video is possibly the least disturbing thing in it. I like the bit at the end where Daft Punk turn up for no apparent reason and chase them through a magical time portal that mysteriously CHANGES THEIR CLOTHES as they pass through it.

I misread this thread title and thought it was going to be about stuff like:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ipbobacFiUY

(That is actually me playing Farfisa in that video)

why did you agree to play a farfisa in a song video for a song without a farfisa when you can't even play keyboards

he was hoping there'd be a thread about it at some point

i mean what kind of person would do that

Are you saying you would be able to say no to those two singers if they asked you to mime bagpipes in their next video?

I had no idea what it was going to be. Someone asked me in a bar to be in this video and I got paid what seemed like a lot of money at the time. I actually know the guy whose organ it was and he got paid the same just for loaning them the instrument. So what does that tell you

heh heh, you said you know the guy with the "organ"

have you watched him play his organ before?

He has a detachable organ? (xpost x 2 dammit)

If I were you, I'd complain about not getting to use the clothes-changing portals to the future more than posing with a farfisa.

I think he should play bagpipes in the next video! Keep the "fake session band" consistent. If the chicks get to make another video, that is.

Are you saying you would be able to say no to those two singers if they asked you to mime bagpipes in their next video?

― StanM, Tuesday, March 9, 2010 10:02 AM (9 minutes ago) Bookmark

yes stanm i have personal integrity

i never would have done it if i thought it would compromise my credibility on an internet messageboard ten years in the future. nothing's worth that

yeah if there's one thing i think of when i think of music videos, it's the word integrity

exactly mr. que

i'm glad someone understands me here

I have quit my job and am now

http://i45.tinypic.com/11qgtc2.png

http://celticmythpodshow.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2008/04/bagpipe_drums01.jpg

L-R, cad, me

haha that's great--but why is there a triangle on your card as a bagpipe/didgeridoo mime?

oh xp--it was great hanging out with you that one time mr. que

woah, I think I bought yr guys' CD

you are awesome

Because the triangle mime is a hidden talent of mine. Well noticed.

things we like

tats
beards
celtic music

thanx hi dere

Wow, those hairy, bearded ginger celts are kinda... strangely hott, actually. o_0

I wonder how much it would cost to get them in my next video.

we're cheap

"next video" is a euphemism I take it

so is this the complete opposite then?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4A_tSyJBsRQ

Hey... that pen isn't even plugged in!