Actors In Music Videos

The concept of having celebrities partake in music videos is not as uncommon as one may think. Many celebrities have used music videos to promote themselves and their character, including likes of Jennifer Aniston, Pamela Anderson, Ben Affleck and also Halle Berry. Many of these celebrities and actors have made good music videos, but not great ones such as Mumford and Sons.

One band that didn't neccesarily start the trend of having celebrities in music videos but they surely contributed to it is the Beastie Boys. It was one of the funnier music videos that have been released. The likes of Seth Rogan and Danny McBride are just a few of the names that appear in this hilarious music video that has little no to meaning behind it.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WdgLMslbDuY

In comparison to Mumford and Sons, this video still does not compare in my books. Even though the Beastie Boys has a completely different style of music, the music video itself still lacks the character of 'Hopeless Wanderer'. In addition, the cinematography involved throughout the filming of Hopeless Wanderer compared to the Beastie Boys is vastly different and I think that contributes to Hopeless Wanderers greatness as a video clip. Finally, although hilarious, the Beastie Boys video clip not only sheds light onto the growing number of bands using celebrities in music videos, but it will take an exceptional music video to top that of Mumford and Sons

Austin Cox Comparison

There have been lots of music videos involving celebrities, but very few sing like these four great gentlemen in the video, most of them just dance like Christopher Walken in Fatboy Slim's "Weapon of Choice" video (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XQ7z57qrZU8) or Robin Williams in Bobby Mcferrin's "Don't Worry Be Happy" (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d-diB65scQU) and yet they were still funny. I did some research and found a comedian who starred in a music video that was in is upcoming movie The Hangover, Zach Galifinakis raps/sings in Kanye West's "Can't Tell me Nothing" (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N2bCc0EGP6U) I recommend you watch it, especially if you enjoyed Mumford and Sons "Hopeless Wanderer" because a dancing celebrity is funny, but celebrities who dance and "sing" make it ten times funnier.

In addition, you never know Ed Helms, Jason Batemen, Will Forte and Jason Sudeikis could be starring in the same movie together and "Hopeless Wanderer" would be one of the songs featured in it which would be ironic in a good way. 

           Picture this, walking into your living room on Christmas morning and seeing the living room piled high with presents and you start shivering from pure excitement. That’s the same excitement that I had when I went to the Mumford & Sons Gentlemen of the Road Tour in Troy, OH on August 30^th and 31^st.

           

           It was a two day festival where the whole town took part. Store fronts opened their doors, putting up shops outside and selling hand crafted pieces and then some. There were all sorts of activities and the food was to die for; all the fried food and beer you could want. Camping was a huge part of this music fest, but I didn't  take part. Something about being within arm’s length of people you don’t know while its 90 degrees outside just wasn't appealing. So our group drove up to Troy both days and the town was so welcoming to all with bus shuttling and parking available.

          

          The first night was great; we got a taste of the indie folk culture. Hippies and flower child’s running around with their hula hoops and tie dye t-shirts. Edward Sharpe and The Magnetic Zeros were the show stoppers that night. They got involved with the crowd, pulling people on stage and telling stories. By the end of the night if you hadn't danced around in a circle stomping your feet and pretending you had a tambourine then you were in the wrong place! Edward closed with their most famous song, “Home” and I kid you not everyone knew the words and sang it loud and proud.

           

          Day two was the kicker; the gates opened at noon and by god everyone and their brother was there and ready to have a blast. First thing you had to do was getting yourself and beer and find yourself a spot with a great view. The lineup started with a couple of local bands and finished the night off with the bands Old Crow Medicine Show and Mumford & Sons. Occasionally Mumford and Edward would sneak out and play a number or two with Old Crow. Once they finished there was an intermission; and then the sun set. The lights lit up the sky and then there they were, Mumford & Sons. It was like Christmas morning, seeing them was pure joy. It was like a high, their energy and the way the music just sort of over took your body. The entire audience was singing and dancing; then there were moments of silence were you’d hear just Mumford & Sons in their prime.

            

         I've been to several concerts and this by far was my absolute favorite; the money spent on this show was well worth it. The music was better live than buying the actual CD. They couldn't have done anything differently. Everything about this festival was amazing; the people and the food and especially the music. This was an experience of a life time and I’m so happy I got to experience it. 

Mumford & Sons Gentlemen of the Road Tour. Troy, OH 2013

   

Austin Cox Mumford & Sons Critique

This is my first time hearing Mumford and Sons, and also the first video I have seen by them. Personally I think that having these actors made the song more popular because they made the song a lot more fun. I was thinking of "The Hangover" when Stew was on the piano lol and Jason Bateman shredding the guitar while Will Forte and Jason Sudeikis are crying/kissing made me enjoy the video greatly. Knowing that Mumford and Sons has humor makes me like them a lot more than I did before. Furthermore, the video most likely got more than half its views from people who thought it was funny and then told their friends about it. 
However, with the song title I expected this video to be more serious than it was and also the lyrics suggest the seriousness too. The meaning of the song I think has to do with a man who is afraid of being in love with someone and afraid of being tied down as he has roamed all of his life. I concluded this from the chorus "Hold me fast because I'm a hopeless wanderer"-he wants to change for this person but he can't change quickly enough. In addition the line "wrestled long with my youth" sounds like he doesn't want to grow old which is why he cant settle down with this person. Adding on, he feels if he runs away from responsibility he'll stay young. 
Lastly Mumford and Sons opened up their fanbase with this video whether they found it humorous or deep rooted. Nonetheless I will be listening as well as watching more Mumford and Sons.

Austin Cox

Comparison to Mumford & Sons

             A band that is similar to Mumford & Sons is Edward Sharpe & the Magnetic Zeros. They’re both bands that are in the same genre of indie, folk, and blue grass. I picked my favorite song by Edward Sharpe, “Home.” This song has been watched by seventeen million people and liked by over one hundred and twenty two thousand people. Edward Sharpe has so many great songs; the vibe that you get from listening to each one is so positive and happy. The video is set to look like a home video, and they’re very personable in each scene.

                I love the fact that it’s a personable video that they’re interacting with each other as if the cameras weren't there. I can’t get enough of this song and the group; their music is so addicting and also upbeat.

                

            There isn't really any comparison in the videos. Edward Sharpe’s video is a more intra-personal and interpersonal video but the Mumford & Sons is a comedic music video. Mumford’s is more on how they portray themselves. The interpersonal and intra-personal part of Edward’s video tells the story about how he falls with his fellow band member and now wife; the best part of the video is when he tells her for the first time and her reaction.  The only part that is similar is their styles of music; they’re both in the same genre. But as far as music videos and the production and lighting behind them both are their styles of music, there obviously isn't similarity in their styles of ‘music videos.’

Kathryn Davis

Lindsay Crook's Critique of 'Hopeless Wanderer' Music Video

Mumford and Sons, an english folk band coming out of Western England, which originated in 2007, based their name on the lead vocalist/guitarists name, Marcus Mumford. In their career, they have released a total of four albums and their most recent album 'Babel' has risen around the world whilst knocking over records and milestones along the way. I'm not the biggest advocate for 'Mumford and Sons' nor am I the folk music type, but the music video, "Hopeless Wanderer" may of changed my opinion entirely. What they did by bringing in Jason Sudeikis, Jason Bateman, Will Forte and Ed Helms was beyond genius. They created a bit of pop culture by stunt casting which turned what would of been a great song into a a brilliant hit that crunched records world wide. What also turned this video into something special was the way the actors portrayed their characters. their characters were based on the members of 'Mumford and Sons'. What better way to act out the bands goofy and unorthodox nature than to hire some of the best actors and comedians the world has top offer. In regards to their unique style of music they produce, their has been few bands that could compete and emulate not only their success, but the type of music they produce. One band that is quite similar in style is that of 'The Lumineers'. The Lumineers are quite possibly the American alternative to Mumford and Sons, while adding a little bit a rock and a heavier beat into their folk songs.

"Hopeless Wanderer" Comparison with "Make Some Noise" - Evan Dulaney

            While the Mumford & Sons video “Hopeless Wanderer” seems to be both hilarious and innovative, it’s not the first time a music group has used actors to portray them on their music video. Most notably, the Beastie Boys used Elijah Wood (Lord of the Rings), Danny McBride (Eastbound & Down), and Seth Rogen (Pineapple Express) for their song “Make Some Noise.” The video lost to Katy Perry's "Firework" for the Video of the Year at the 2011 MTV VMA's. 

            There are quite a few similarities between the two videos. For one, both videos adhere to the groups’ style of video. “Hopeless Wanderer” features lighting, spacing, and camera angels frequently seen in their other videos. “Make Some Noise” sticks to the Beastie Boys’ history of silly videos. Both videos use actors from the comedy genre. The videos are close in number of views too (“Make Some Noise” with 7,192,567, and “Hopeless Wanderer” with 6,712,517). The lip-synching is on point from all the actors. Perhaps most importantly, however, is that both videos are sure to generate laughter.

            The videos, like the artists themselves, differ, too. The Beastie Boys make an appearance in theirs, while there is no presence from the real Mumford & Sons members. The setting varies more in “Make Some Noise” as the pack travels through the city, enters cars, and visits various buildings. It also has a retro feel through most of the song. Cameos from other celebrities like Will Ferrell are featured as well. “Hopeless Wanderer” has limited setting variation, looks more contemporary, and features only the four actors. 

            Despite being a Beastie Boys fan, I enjoyed Mumford & Sons’ video more. It caught me by surprise. I expected a video like that from the Beastie Boys. Both are wonderful, but Mumford’s ability to poke fun at itself really had me laughing. Readers, feel free to give your opinion of which video you favor.

          For more on the Beastie Boys' video, "Make Some Noise," visit: http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1669459/beastie-boys-make-some-noise-vma-nomination.jhtml

"Hopeless Wanderer" similar to "Make Some Noise."

Evan Dulaney's Content Critique: Mumford & Son's "Hopeless Wanderer" Video

            Genius. The music video for Mumford & Sons’ “Hopeless Wanderer” is pure brilliance. The band parodied their own brand by casting comedy actors Will Forte (Saturday Night Live), Jason Bateman (Arrested Development), Ed Helms (The Hangover), and Jason Sudeikis (Saturday Night Live), to portray the band. For the first minute, the video featured unidentifiable people playing the instruments, a common ploy seen in other Mumford & Sons videos. At exactly the one minute mark, the four actors are revealed, lip-synching the band’s song.

            With settings on a dirt road and in a barn, the lighting and spacing of the actors is similar to the dynamics in the video “Little Lion Man.” The actors seem to begin the video seriously, but over time, it turns into a reduction to the absurd particularly at Sudeikis’s and Forte’s make-out scene. They are dressed in a caricature of the band, most notably with Helms’ rugged outfit and Forte’s scraggly beard.

            The video has become an Internet sensation – as of today, it has notched 6,777,349 views on YouTube - and with good reason. Fans of the band can appreciate the video’s familiarity while those who do not follow the band are drawn by it’s star power and comedy. The song is only ranked #123 on iTunes's current top alternative songs list. It is the recent single off the album "Babel." The album debuted #1 on Billboard 200 album charts and sold 600,000 copies its first week. 

            Aesthetically, the video is terrific. The scenery is wonderful. The video quality is superb in HD. The camera angles vary and are unique.

            Personally, I am not a fan of Mumford & Sons. I’m somewhat familiar with their music and don’t have any strong feelings for it. I know their style as a folk band. The song itself didn’t strike any chords with me. I’m simply not drawn to their music. The video, however, I thought was fantastic. I am a fan of the work of these four actors and found a Mumford & Sons parody to be hilarious. The moment I saw the quartet, I began laughing. From there, the video continued to entertain. The four meshed perfectly together. The lip-synching was spot-on. The quality, lighting, and camera work were all impeccable.  This is easily one of the best music videos I’ve seen in awhile.

            I wasn’t the only one that enjoyed it. Rolling Stone posted an online article (http://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/inside-mumford-sons-hopeless-wanderer-video-20130807) in which director Sam Jones proclaimed, “The band loved it – they didn’t want to change a thing.”

            A separate Rolling Stone article included a Q&A session with the band member Ben Lovett about the video. Some notable quotes:

-       “I’m pretty sure my mom still thinks it’s me in that video.”

-       “[on the kiss] That was definitely kind of a wow moment. To be fair it         does fairly reflect what goes on in Mumford & Sons. “

-       “Music videos are ridiculous things that bands do for their music, trying to get it right. It’s very hard. I think having fun with it is probably the only way forward.”

For the entire Q&A, visit: http://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/q-a-mumford-sons-talk-hilarious-wanderer-video-20130809

The video made Time’s online “5 Best Viral Videos of August” as seen here: http://newsfeed.time.com/2013/08/30/the-5-best-viral-videos-of-august/

Review of the Album Babel from Rolling Stong.com

Babel is the second studio album by British indie folk band Mumford & Sons. Babel debuted at number one on both the UK Albums Chart and the US Billboard 200. It became the fastest selling album of 2012 in the UK, selling over 159,000 copies in its first week, and was the biggest selling debut of any album in 2012 in the US at the time, selling 600,000 in its first week. The album received generally positive reviews from music critics and was nominated in the category of "Album of the Year" for both a Brit Award and Grammy Award, winning the latter.
Facts and Figures from- http://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/inside-mumford-sons-hopeless-wanderer-video-20130807

Little Lion Man Music Video

Hopeless Wanderer Music Video