So, a friend of mine was in the WBC and I’d go to see them play live quite a lot. They were a really choice live band – full of the well-rehearsed slickness and energy that a good ska band needs – and really good to dance to.
But “Ease Ya Mind” wasn’t even close to being one of their strongest singles and I was really annoyed when I heard it was going to be the subject of their first video. It was like they’d turned completely on what made them so good live and gone for the one easy-listening number in their repertoire. WTF, guys.
And then came the video. It starts with the band stumbling across a dusty old barn filled with – quelle coincidence – enough musical equipment for a six-piece ska band to play. And they play.
Outside we discover the old barn is in a vineyard. An old man strolls the rows of grapes and tastes a glass of wine in the middle of the grape plants. And two farm girls (who looks more like promo girls) tread some grapes with their feet. I grew up on a vineyard and I can confirm that neither of these things actually happen in real life. (Nor was there a ska band in the garage.)
The band then gather around a table and enjoy a delicious meal, served by the promo girls. The old guy is pretty drunk by this stage and has a dance by himself. He is probably remembering the old days, before the ska bands came.
It’s not a bad song or a bad video, but it could all have been so much better. But, oh well. It still reminds me of happy times, and that’s a good thing.
Best bit: the saxophonist’s lonely walk out in the vineyard to play his solo.
Director: Ivan Slavov
Ngā Taonga Sound & Vision
Next… high school musical.