519 ways to love you

Subware are starting with the computer-animated man in the mirror
Subware are starting with the computer-animated man in the mirror
TrueBliss don't give a damn what the haters say
TrueBliss don’t give a damn what the haters say
Stayfree Carefree target the all-important crustacean/bogan crossover demographic
Stayfree Carefree target the all-important crustacean/bogan crossover demographic

It’s the second anniversary of 5000 Ways to Love You, which is a good a time as any to celebrate and look back at all the videos I’ve been watching. So that’s 519 down (though that is a bit of a back-of-an-envelope calculation) and almost 2000 to go. Crikey.

A year ago, I was entering the dawning of the age of the Feelers, those years in the early ’90s where New Zealand pop-rock bands did rather well. There was also Zed and the trio of female-fronted bands, Stellar, Fur Patrol and Tadpole. All of these groups made their mark with their music videos. It’s wasn’t just enough to stick the band in an interesting place and command them to rock out; videos had to do something.

And heading into the new millennium, it’s obvious that there’s a change in the technology behind music video as camera and editing equipment got cheaper and more digital. The low-budget videos start to look slicker, and the medium budget videos look really slick. The more prolific music video directors started to become well known for their work.

As always, trends come and go, like that period when videos had artistic and/or comedy subtitles. It’s proof that New Zealand isn’t an isolated island; that international trends in music video making are felt here too. Or when indie bands started doing ironic formation dancing (well before genuine pop acts did it sincerely).

But what really makes this project all worth while is the input from other people. Comments from music fans, people in bands, video makers and others with stories to tell; the awesome team at NZ On Screen sourcing those great old videos; and the great people who have gone to the effort of putting old videos online, particularly Peter McLennan and John from SANZ. And a kia ora to NZ On Air and Audio Culture, the very enjoyable new website about New Zealand music history.

And so to the early years of the ’00s, just coming up to Shihad’s Pacifier years and the eve of NZ Idol. It all feels a bit awkward looking back from 2013, but that’s all part of the journey.

— Robyn

283 ways to love you

Marcus Lush makes a dramatic cameo in a Greg Johnson vid
Marcus Lush makes a dramatic cameo in a Greg Johnson vid
Ngaire rests her head on a blown-up cask-wine bladder
Ngaire rests her head on a blown-up cask-wine bladder

Jordan Luck illustrates the ethos of 5000 Ways
Jordan Luck illustrates the ethos of 5000 Ways
It’s the first anniversary of 5000 Ways to Love You! It all started in early 2011 with an idea with sprang from an idle thought about 20 years of NZ On Air music video funding.

I wondered if anyone else had some sort of website about NZOA-funded music videos, I googled, didn’t anything, so figured it was up to me. And hey, I like music, I like video, I like writing about music videos. It would probably be quite fun.

And it has been! As well as revisiting the fave vids of my youth, I’ve also discovered long forgotten videos, weird blips in New Zealand’s pop history, and bands that tried really hard but just didn’t make it.

It’s also made me aware of the trends that come and go in music-video making, like the time when dudes in bands started appearing with no shirts on. I think at the time, the dudes in question wouldn’t have thought they were following a popular trend, but hindsight gives a different perspective.

I’ve also been surprised at what videos are available online. Videos from artists that were a really big deal back in the day are now strangely absent, and videos from obscure indie bands are available on YouTube in good quality versions – and all it takes it one person to do that.

I’m also grateful for the team at NZ On Screen who have happily taken my suggestions and managed to source some classic videos that deserve a new digital home. And NZ On Air have also been helpful with lots of information and history, and for getting some old videos up online.

And the site wouldn’t be what it is without all the comments and feedback I get, from directors, people in bands, various people involved in the music industry and other fans. It’s been a very cool experience!

In the first year of the site I’ve covered seven years of music videos, from 1991 to 1997. Just over half of the funded music videos are available online – that’s 283 videos, with another 253 not available online… yet. I’m happy that since I started the project, more old videos have become available online – and I want more!

And hopefully more is what I’ll find when I make it into 1998, 1999 and into the bold new millennium!

– Robyn