Short Break #4
Welcome back to another short break.
For the past few months, I’ve listened to music almost exclusively on Youtube. Not Youtube Music, but the video Youtube (the fact that I have to explain this just shows how much progress Youtube has made over the past few years).
There’s a couple of reasons for this. I don’t like people seeing my activity on Spotify anymore (which is another story entirely) and I quite enjoy the slowed+reverb genre (which I highly recommend everyone to get into). But most importantly, it’s because I highly appreciate the art form of music videos.
I’ve always had a deep love for music videos, despite not having a particularly wide knowledge of music. But there’s something about seeing the visual aspect of an auditory art form that is both incredibly cool and mesmerizing.
I have a couple of favorite music videos, but one of the top 5 is definitely Element by Kendrick Lamar. It’s a mosaic of various artistic shots, some inspired by the director’s own film, some inspired by famous photographs from a legendary photographer.
It may not have worked if it was just a series of camera shots. But with Kendrick’s verses being the backdrop for the entire video, somehow it all ties together very well.
Music videos may not be as praised as feature films, but that shouldn’t mean that they be considered a lesser art form. Many might consider music videos to just be a huge gimmick for companies to place their products, but that would be disrespectful to the creativity and artistry it takes to shoot and edit a music video.
From ASAP Rocky’s pumping videos to The 1975’s colorful (yet often monochrome) palette to The Killers narrative driven videos, each artist has their own taste and preference for music videos. And I am here for all of it.
I’d love to be involved in making a music video one day.
Sometimes I wonder what it’s like to be devoted to an art or a discipline.
To not only make it a part of your work, or a part of your life, but to make it entirely your life.
There’s countless people who have done it — from Olympic athletes, to the film auteurs, to the top musicians, not to mention all the other people who have the same level of devotion but with less fame.
I don’t think I’ve ever been that devoted to something in my life. Writing and debating would be quite close, but even those I consider more as hobbies rather than lifetime devotions.
Sometimes I wonder if it’s too late. That if I didn’t choose what to be devoted to when I was young, then it’s not going to happen ever. I hope not.
I hope one day I get to immerse myself into something entirely. To spend every day and night fully devoting myself to one thing, and one thing only.
I’ve often praised the choice to be a generalist, as you can technically do everything.
But to be a specialist, to be an expert in one thing, that seems pretty cool too.
See you in the next break.
