Aesthetic Snatching: Fiona Apple’s “Criminal” and Lady Gaga’s “Just Dance”

Gaga: bringing the aesthetic of Apple’s Criminal video to a new generation or cheapening it?

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“Criminal” (1997)

&

“Just Dance” (2008)

Mo-Dettes – White Mice (1979)

Gotta love rockin’ pink skirts and VHS quality music videos.

“His Name is Jesus” from 1993 Underground Film Psychedelic Glue-Sniffing Hillbillies

There’s something oddly funny about the zooming in and out of the holographic Jesus. Who knows what the rest of this movie is like.

If you’re at work, know that there’s a few seconds of non-sensical profanity.

Buck Owens (with Don Rich) – “Act Naturally” and “Down to the River”

“Act Naturally,” in a way, predicted what I call reality drama shows. You know, the shows that parade as reality but are scripted. The people (actors?) are given situations/conflict and react as they would in real life. All they gotta do is act naturally.

This clip from 1965 is the kind of country music I listened to while growing up. I miss it.

Kate Bush’s “Wuthering Heights” : Video, Song, Memory, Nostalgia.

When I realized that the video of a little girl reproducing (on a smoke-filled stage) the “red dress” dance for Kate Bush’s “Wuthering Heights” had been removed from YouTube (and thus, from my blog), I decided to make up for its absence through excess.

In these videos, I see something deeply moving, unsettling, joyous, and human. Whether through parody or sincerity, this song has reached people… and become people, to a certain extent.

Click on the first image to see the first video::

And the original (1978):

Leslie and the Lys – Blame the Booty

After writing a somewhat harsh post on what I perceived to be the expanding ego of internet diva Leslie Hall, I must say this video returns to what I love best about her… obviously produced on some level, but ridiculously handmade, just like any Alpha gem sweater should be.

Patrick Swayze’s Skate Routine from the Rollerdisco Movie Skatetown USA (1979)

He should have won.

80s Shampoo and Hairstyling Pitches

All it takes is a shampoo commercial from the 80s to remind you that fashion is not forever. Remember your mom’s bad perm? Remember the styling products that are no longer relevant? Va-va-va-voom…

My grandfather still owns this hairdryer (from 1979), and I use it every time I go home for Christmas:

Need multiple bottles of shampoo to get just the right combination for the evening? Try Salon Selectives:

Don’t want to commit to being a permy poodle girl? Try a hot stick:

Even Spacegirl needs a little hair love:

And for fun, a more contemporary Salon Selectives commercial (2000). Cutomizing your family is parallel to customizing your hair, didn’t you know?:

1960s County Fair Bakery Commercial

This commercial begs me to ask… is dress-up a hybrid of representation and simulation? Or maybe this is about multiple personalities. No matter who you are or how you see it, apparently you’re going to love you some County Fair fare.

Half-Breed – Cher

I think I’m not really going to make a comment about this one. Political? or Offensive? Or both?

My name Cher. Time for Indian pow-wow! ::::::