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Fox Group: Members Posts: 156 Joined: Feb. 2000 Posted: Jan. 19 2005, 22:17 Whew, been a while since I posted.  I bought the DVD (all the way from GB via amazon.co.uk) and it's quite a trip.  Nothing like dated music videos to help you appreciate Mike's music again :-).  The Wind Chimes videos alone made it worth the money. But one video that stands out--to me at least--is Crime of Passion.  When I first saw it I remember glaring at it thinking, something is not right here!  It seems like the actors are moving not on their own free will; especailly Barry Palmer when his body jerks around.  It looks like he's being moved instead of moving by himself.  The "toys" come to life for only one line.  Mike himself moves like the same reel of him is played forwards and backwards over and over again.  It's very subtle, but subconsciously it all creates the feeling that something is not right with any of them. It's really cool and slightly disturbing at the same time.  I watched it over and over trying to figure it out. Does anyone have any thoughts about this?  Did it have the same effect on anyone else?  Or does anyone know why it's like this? Back to top

Holger Group: Members Posts: 1506 Joined: Feb. 2003 Posted: Jan. 20 2005, 08:54 The answer is here: Quote Q: There was this strange movment of everyone, non-syncronous vocals. Why and how was this done? A: This was a special effect that the director invented at that time. The way to get this 'strange' effect is that you would sing the song speeded up [sings 'Crime of Passion' and double speed and double pitch] and thay videotaped this fast performance and then the recorded a very slow performance [demonstates this too]. And then he mixed up both sessions to normal speed, so there is this movment. The speed is going faster and slower so quickly that it looks that way. I think it didn't work, personally. It was one of those ideas which they though was quite interesting about a video looking a bit strange ... bit I have to say that I didn't like that video and I don't want to see it again, really - not in front of any other people. I think it is a bit embarassing. I'm shure that Mike would agree. It had some nice ideas, but ideas have to work and if they don't work you... you're in trouble. Q: There was a new video equipement used for it, so maybe they wanted to play a little bit with it. A: That's right, I think they wannted to show what tricks they had. You can see it when the guitar solo was done, taking freeze frames with that technology very quickly, but now it looks old fashionned, ok, it was a long time ago... I thought the video is too much on the singer, too much on Mike and too less on the story. Anyway, it was my first video and I did everthing they told me. I wore the clothes I was told to wear, I sat where I was told to sit and I moved the way they told me to move. Now I wish I haven't. I once asked to stand up as I prefer to stand up when I sing - "no, sit down, you must sit down". But Mike was nervous, too. So I think he would agree with me that it wasn't a very exciting video. Back to top

willy Group: Members Posts: 14 Joined: Oct. 2004 Posted: Jan. 20 2005, 10:59 Yeah I thought things looked a bit 'awkward' like Baz was nervous or something. But that interview snippet explains all. I really love this vid though it seems to have diddly-squat to do with what is a wonderful song. Back to top

Fox Group: Members Posts: 156 Joined: Feb. 2000 Posted: Jan. 20 2005, 13:47 Well when you think about it, the visuals in music videos never have anything to do with the lyrics or even the tune.  Look at Innocent (the version on the DVD).  What does any of that have to do with the music?  The animated version at least makes more sense.  Look at North Point; I'm still trying to figure out what it all means.  Hell, look at the TB2003 "Introduction" video and Heaven's Open!  Don't know what they were trying to show in either of those videos! If I could make a music video I'd want it to match the song in every possible way.  But, sadly, no one else seems to think that way.  Music videos are mostly excuses to show off the latest video technology.  (Although Don Alfonso is the exception.  The humor was prefect for the song.  haha) Anyway, thanks for that interview.  But notice it also says that Mike talked to the director about what the song was inspired by, and how maybe he was trying to symbolize how she had no control over her life with a little girl played by a grown woman. You never know; the jerky movement could be another obtuse symbol about how we have no control of our lives. Haha--but that's reaching isn't it?  Depth to a music video...what am I thinking?  lol.  Still, it's an interesting thought. Personally, I think the effect is subliminally weird; not a blatent special effect like in all the other videos.  It blends in to the background and forces you to look twice to find it again.  If only filmmakers would learn from the example of subtlety instead of shoving everything in our faces... wow...I can find the meaning of life in a music video.  I think that's a symptom of a MO fanatic? gd Back to top

Gandalph Group: Members Posts: 81 Joined: Aug. 2002 Posted: Jan. 22 2005, 09:50 I think it is fairly obvious that the video is supposed to represent inanimate toys coming to life. I've always thought that the movement is supposed to represent a mechanical clockwork movement (almost robotic like). Sort of like you would imagine a toy to move in if it came alive. Though what this has to do with the meaning of the lyrics is anyone's guess. Gandalph. -------------- Yet Another Mike Oldfield Web Site - http://www.dbennett.karoo.net Back to top

Fox Group: Members Posts: 156 Joined: Feb. 2000 Posted: Jan. 22 2005, 21:18 I thought the same thing, Gandalph.  Note that Mike looks just as animated as the toys and Barry.  If it means anything, I think the jerky movement symbolizes our lack of control of our lives.  Someone very close to Mike died at 19.  Sometimes it feels like we're being moved instead of moving on our own, and no matter how much potential you have something beyond your control can end your life. Is it possible the animated movement symbolizes that?  Maybe...  But it could also be the director trying out a newfilm editing technique.  Music videos typically are just excuses to try new special effects and rarely mean anything at all.  Maybe it's like trying to find religous significance in The Matrix movies--looking for deeper meaning when none exists. But if it is inspired and actually means something, what do the toys have to do with it? Just makes you wonder if it does mean something. Back to top

raven4x4x Group: Members Posts: 1535 Joined: Jan. 2002 Posted: Jan. 24 2005, 08:23 It makes me wonder what any of it has to do with the song. Crime of Passion is one of the videos I enjoyed least, purely because of that funny motion. It looks more than a little silly to me. I never realised it was a video effect though: it just looked like they were acting like robots. -------------- Thank-you for helping us help you help us all. Back to top

imhotep Group: Members Posts: 92 Joined: Jan. 2007 Posted: Nov. 03 2007, 23:11 I like this video. Mike looks kinda angry though. Back to top

Ugo Group: Members Posts: 5495 Joined: April 2000 Posted: Nov. 04 2007, 18:02 He doesn't look angry to me... he looks very focused, maybe a little bit nervous. He always looks like that when he plays guitar in a video, even when he's only miming. -------------- Ugo C. - a devoted Amarokian Back to top

Silver Negus Group: Members Posts: 357 Joined: Sep. 2007 Posted: July 30 2008, 15:42 Quote (Fox @ Jan. 19 2005, 22:17) Whew, been a while since I posted.  I bought the DVD (all the way from GB via amazon.co.uk) and it's quite a trip.  Nothing like dated music videos to help you appreciate Mike's music again :-).  The Wind Chimes videos alone made it worth the money. But one video that stands out--to me at least--is Crime of Passion.  When I first saw it I remember glaring at it thinking, something is not right here!  It seems like the actors are moving not on their own free will; especailly Barry Palmer when his body jerks around.  It looks like he's being moved instead of moving by himself.  The "toys" come to life for only one line.  Mike himself moves like the same reel of him is played forwards and backwards over and over again.  It's very subtle, but subconsciously it all creates the feeling that something is not right with any of them. It's really cool and slightly disturbing at the same time.  I watched it over and over trying to figure it out. Does anyone have any thoughts about this?  Did it have the same effect on anyone else?  Or does anyone know why it's like this? I bought this DVD a few years ago, and my first impressions was something quite childlike, and children's toys etc, pretty much similar to your impression. I think MO and the singer move in time similar to the toy soldier in the video? To me the classic example of a well put together video is, "Magic Touch" It's very fluid and perhaps autobiographical? Back to top

The Caveman Group: Members Posts: 2178 Joined: Jan. 2008 Posted: July 31 2008, 07:58 I think the look Ugo's referring to is the trademark Oldfield scowl/pout thing he does so often on photos from this period.For example the inner sleeve of the original issue of Islands has the perfect example.Another would be the bit in the video of The Wind Chimes part 2 when he turns around at the waterfall....there's that look again.I even saw a picture of Molly when she was very young with the exact same look.  Don't think too much of the decorators dungarees Mike's wearing but they are not as bad as Barry Palmer's.He looks like a presenter on Playaway (70's kids TV programme).Brian Cant anyone? -------------- THE COMING OF THE GREAT WHITE HANDKERCHEIF IS NIGH. Back to top

Dirk Star Group: Members Posts: 1331 Joined: Sep. 2007 Posted: July 31 2008, 08:37 Yeah Mike`s definetly going for the Brian Cant look there.Like those two characters Hale & Pace used to do Billy & Johnny.. So when did dungarees ever look good that`s what I wanna` know?You know even when they turn up in porn movies I`m kind of sitting there thinking..."Yeah this ain`t happening"..That Madonna bird`s got a lot to bloody answer for imo...She kind of looked ok in them though I guess.Maybe it`s just fella`s in dungarees I`m not too wild about?All fine and dandy if you`re mucking in down the farm.But as a fashion statement they can`t be too far away from tank tops and bell bottoms.Or even socks and sandals.. I do think Mike goes a bit too posh spice in this video I have to say.But in his defence God only knows what the director was saying to him while they were filming it?In fact God only knows what the director was thinking imo?.. Back to top

Bassman Group: Members Posts: 548 Joined: Feb. 2008 Posted: July 31 2008, 20:36 I love this video.  A box of toys right out of the Twilight Zone!  I think MO's moves were meant to emulate a sort of wind-up monkey with a guitar... very stiff back-and-forth motions.  I'm a huge fan of the old "undercranked camera" trick.  The overcranked camera move is what made the old Godzilla movies of my childhood look so cool... the big gray beastie (big gray face) seemed so huge and lumbering. -------------- Turn up the music... Hi as Fi can go. Back to top

Silver Negus Group: Members Posts: 357 Joined: Sep. 2007 Posted: Aug. 03 2008, 12:59 Quote (Silver Negus @ July 30 2008, 15:42) Quote (Fox @ Jan. 19 2005, 22:17) Whew, been a while since I posted.  I bought the DVD (all the way from GB via amazon.co.uk) and it's quite a trip.  Nothing like dated music videos to help you appreciate Mike's music again :-).  The Wind Chimes videos alone made it worth the money. But one video that stands out--to me at least--is Crime of Passion.  When I first saw it I remember glaring at it thinking, something is not right here!  It seems like the actors are moving not on their own free will; especailly Barry Palmer when his body jerks around.  It looks like he's being moved instead of moving by himself.  The "toys" come to life for only one line.  Mike himself moves like the same reel of him is played forwards and backwards over and over again.  It's very subtle, but subconsciously it all creates the feeling that something is not right with any of them. It's really cool and slightly disturbing at the same time.  I watched it over and over trying to figure it out. Does anyone have any thoughts about this?  Did it have the same effect on anyone else?  Or does anyone know why it's like this? I bought this DVD a few years ago, and my first impressions was something quite childlike, and children's toys etc, pretty much similar to your impression. I think MO and the singer move in time similar to the toy soldier in the video? To me the classic example of a well put together video is, "Magic Touch" It's very fluid and perhaps autobiographical? Actually on looking at the  video recently, I was wrong about the 'soldier' in the video, he barely moves.   BUT, on reflexion what came to mind this time, was the theme of 'TIME'. The movements of the singer and MO sort of remind me of a ticking clock, almost, or a pendulum kind of image. Time, can you turn it back? Back to top

smillsoid Group: Members Posts: 548 Joined: Dec. 2008 Posted: April 20 2009, 15:15 I LOVE this video.  It's got a threatening, psychopathic quality to it.  I like Mike's facial expression throughout - it reminds me of Malcolm McDowell in the opening shot of "A Clockwork Orange" (one of Mike's fave films). http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=peikCaus_EY -------------- http://www.reverbnation.com/simonjmills Back to top

RoguePlanetoid Group: Members Posts: 16 Joined: Dec. 2003 Posted: April 20 2009, 15:31 I thought that this video was done my miming the song backwards from the end to the start, possibly with them listening to a backwards playback, then the whole video is then reversed to achieve the effect - if possible play the video as it is in reverse and see if this "looks" more normal rather than "sounds" normal. I have always assumed the whole video is backwards because of the way the actions look. Back to top

smillsoid Group: Members Posts: 548 Joined: Dec. 2008 Posted: April 21 2009, 00:14 If that's the way they did it, then Barry Palmer is a genius - you try lip-synching exactly to the sound of your own voice played backwards.  I'd say it's nigh on impossible!  This leads me to doubt that it was recorded backwards, sorry. -------------- http://www.reverbnation.com/simonjmills Back to top

RoguePlanetoid Group: Members Posts: 16 Joined: Dec. 2003 Posted: April 21 2009, 05:36 Quote (smillsoid @ April 21 2009, 00:14) If that's the way they did it, then Barry Palmer is a genius - you try lip-synching exactly to the sound of your own voice played backwards.  I'd say it's nigh on impossible!  This leads me to doubt that it was recorded backwards, sorry. You are probably right it would be complicated to do this - but I always wondered what was up with this video, was just a crazy theory I had about this for a while! Back to top

smillsoid Group: Members Posts: 548 Joined: Dec. 2008 Posted: April 21 2009, 09:08 You COULD be right!  Barry Palmer may be one of those rare people who can speak 'fluent backwards' - they exist. -------------- http://www.reverbnation.com/simonjmills Back to top

Ugo Group: Members Posts: 5495 Joined: April 2000 Posted: April 21 2009, 17:28 @ smillsoid: such people do exist. One of them is Michael J. Anderson, the dwarf from Twin Peaks who actually spoke backwards and whose speech was electronically reversed to make it understandable. -------------- Ugo C. - a devoted Amarokian Back to top

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