Greg Johnson “Kiss Me”

2004-greg-johnson-kiss-meThis video looks like it was shot on a smartphone, only it predates the modern smartphone. So I think we can just assume it was a cheapie.

This time Greg is in Los Angeles, the city where he now lives. But the “Kiss Me” video has the curiosity of a newcomer as it excitedly explores the city. There are shots of the secretly cool downtown area, the crazy life on Venice Beach, the mighty Watts Towers, a classic LA motel, and journeys into the desert.

Most of the time when we see Greg, he’s superimposed over the top of all the travel footage. So there he is with a billboard advising motorists “All you need is lube” hovering over his face.

At one point the camera lingers on an airline departure screen showing an Air Tahiti flight to Auckland. There doesn’t seem to be any connection to the rest of the video, but it seems like the sort of thing a homesick New Zealander might do upon seeing the name of their hometown flashing upon a screen.

The video feels like it’s lacking a conclusion. The song is about two lovers about to part, the video show Greg on the other side of the Pacific, but he seems quite happy there. Perhaps the lure of California has overshadowed any potential love interest.

Best bit: Greg, in the dessert, standing in front of a sign saying “Fried Liver Wash”, drinking a beer.

Next… the sum of the parts.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *