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Music Videos of Neko-con R
by: Justin Musterman
The Neko-con R music videos were an interesting
mix. I wasn't at last year's Neko, so I can't tell you if it is a
theme there, but I can compare them to other
videos. As compared to cons of the past that I have attended
(Otakon '98 & 99', and Katsucon 5), this set of videos compares to
the great set Otakon '98 had.
The only difference was that each video was
either great or awful, bending to either polar opposite, but never
staying in the middle. However, even some of the really terrible
one's had to be given the benefit of
the doubt, because the screen and projection system weren't exactly
a professional set up. Now on to the meat of the review.
There was good, bad, and ugly, to be very cliché
of me. First, let me get the ugly over with. Heckles of, "daddy
make it stop," and, "Why? why? why???" broke
out for the following videos: Part of your world (from Little Mermaid)
to scenes of lunar; it was a pretty song from a bad movie set to poorly
chosen scenes from a
cool game; Sometimes by Brittany Spears to Flame of Recca; mind numbing
is the only word to describe this; Don't want to miss a thing by Aerosmith
to Please save
my earth; it was horrifically cheesy (overplayed song to a seemingly
forgoten classic); Show me the meaning of being lonely by Backstreet Boys
to Vampire Princess
Miyu; so horrible I tried to fall asleep but couldn't because of the
fear that I might dream about the Backstreet Boys; Looks that Kill by Motley
Crue to Ayane's High
Kick; great song set to unedited straight footage from a bad animé;
Livin' La Vida Loca by Ricki Martin to Neon Genesis Evangelion; sticking
to the religious theme
of Eva, the only thing I could think of when seeing this video is "What
hath God wrought upon us?"; and finally Good Lovin' by the Grateful Dead
to Pokémon; this
illicit many, "Whys?". Next, the bad, though there were very few that
were just bad, most were either ugly or good: Ventolain by Aphex Twin to
Lain; many would
throw this in with the ugly, but I thought it had some redeeming qualities,
though it's high pitch sound was annoying; Touch Me by the Doors to FFVIII
(Final Fantasy
VIII); a good song (though the president does not agree on it being
a good song) to a good game, but over done; Breakdown's not Enough by Keith
LeBlanc to Key
the Metal Idol; looked all right, but was lacking something to make
it more than average; Down in the park by Gary Numan to Gunnm; seen
it before and it was
decent but kind of depressing and not special; Mirai by Thompson Twins
to various; this video was just mediocre, like the last three; Gasaraki
by Delerium to
Gasaraki; I assume it was average because I honestly can't remember
anything about it, just that it happened; Banditos by the Refreshments
to Lupin III; it just didn't
have a chance after the first Lupin video, which is in with the good;
Feel Good Hit of the Year by the Emotions to Marmalade, All-star by Smashmouth
to Ranma 1/2
and based on Akane Tendo, Cowgirl by Underworld to Eva, and More Human
than Human by White Zombie to Tekkaman Blade II; these were all just mediocre.
Finally, the much anticipated good. These videos were some of the great
videos I've seen. One Week by Bare Naked Ladies was the weakest of
these videos, but it
was hilarious because of the chosen footage from Kodomo no Omocha.
Father of Mine by Everclear set to footage of Shinji and Gendo (or the
lack of one or both)
was a great video. This video won third place, however, it was
brilliant and could have taken first at most other conventions because
of it's beautiful symbolism and
how well it matched the lyrics to individual screen shots. Real
Wild Child from Iggy Pop was set to scenes of Asuka from Eva. It
was pretty funny and highlighted
the fiery side of her. Dust in the Wind by Kansas to Grave of
the Fireflies was one I had already seen, but it was a great song which
fit perfectly to the mood of the
movie and the chosen footage. Spider by They might be Giants
to Lupin III was hilarious. This video picked up second place because
it match weird lyrics to weird
scenes so well, it looked and sounded like original dialogue.
Glory of Love by Peter Cetera to Kenshin matched a good song to Kenshin's
theme, however, it would
have been better with scenes from the OAV's. Bad to the Bone
by George Thorogood to FFVIII was the big winner. This video started
of like any of the other
videos set to video games, boring and lacking originality, but it proved
to be the most entertaining of all the videos. The producer took
dialogue from the game and
twisted it around into a hilarious, sexual (both homo and heterosexually)
charged sequence that had everyone laughing themselves to tears.
Next was the Groove is in
the Heart (remix) by Deee-lite to Gokinjo Monogatari video. This
was just twisted enough to be enjoyable. If you have never seen Gokinjo
Monogatari, it's like
some sort of evil combination of Daria and Undressed from MTV.
I Used to Love Her,but I Had to Kill Her by Guns N’Roses set to Eva was
a great video. It just
fits so well, and if you are unfamiliar with either, get hold of them,
great song, great series. Dammit by Blink 182 to Slayers the Movie
was creative and fast paced,
however, it left you thinking, "wait, how are they related, it was
funny, but made no sense," but very enjoyable. Professional Badass
by Two-Mix to Gundam W was
good, but the opening just before the music made it great. It
fit very well to the song. Finally, Just the Two of Us, Dr. Evil
version set to scenes of Shinji and Gendo.
While it wasn't as effective as the serious Father of Mine video, it
was pretty funny, though it would have been better if the recording was
improved. Thus concludes
the good, the bad and the ugly.
There were many videos, and many of the best
I've seen yet. In all, the videos were a highlight of this convention.
I encourage all those who attend conventions to
check out the music videos because you can always stumble into a diamond
in the rough like this showing. I'd also like to encourage all those
who make videos to
continue, because even if you receive criticism, like some received
from me today, remember practice makes perfect and, therefore, keep at
it and you will master the
art so that all can get enjoyment from your hard work. All in
all, these videos fit very well in with the rest of Neko-con R unspoken
theme, which is that, though small,
the quality was incomparable.
