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Should Roxette work with an American director?

58 replies

Jonas Akerlund is very good but his Roxette videos are always so dark and slow. Too much art in it. That’s one of the reasons music channels don’t show Roxette clips anymore.

It would be much better if Roxette goes with an American director. A crazy guy who brings some freshness in the Rox business.

I really hope the new videoclip for the uptempo single will be directed by such a person.

Why not a clip in the streets of New York on a sunny day?

And why not Stockholm on a sunny day :) ?

Because that’s not exciting enough.

You have to have a ’young’ and ’international’ clip, with lots of colors, something that stands out. And sorry, but Stockholm is too honest. New York or Los Angeles are more defiant.

And if a clip is not ’Americanized’, it won’t have any success. It’s so easy for Roxette to be on the top of the charts again (worldwide). Just release an uptempo song and a big, exciting, colorful, outdoors Americanized videoclip.

i love his dark videos,they’re so cool,and always about love,so,in the end,they aren’t so dark.....
:p

but most of us can’t see them on TV.

Defenitely.. they shud. We have seen TOO MUCH of Mr. Aukerland. American director can mean a lot to Roxette right now. I have said this before and I’ll say it again.. CHANGE YOUR MUSIC DIRECTOR ROXETTE (preferebly an American one!)

Zee

well said, zeeshan.

ok... i only like jonas åkerlund because he is swedish... but i agree, change now!!!! åkerlunds videos is to strange.... but i think they should do the video in Sweden....

I like jonas åkerlund, he’s creative and avant-garde...

Yes! I agreed Roxette should work with a fresh American Director!
This is the right time for they move foward!

ROX-POWER!!!

what does a good clib have to do with the origin of a director?

American directors are good in marketing and know what people (and media) want.

Roxette doesn’t need Akerlund, they need an American director who can create something flashy and who can create something that attracts ’young’ people. Something colorful, something in open air, something with dancers, something trendy. There’s nothing wrong with that.

I don’t know why Roxette still make videoclips. Only a few (local) music channels in the world want to broadcast them. Jonas is a waste of time and a waste of money for Roxette.

ROXETTE NEEDS A NEW (AMERICAN) DIRECTOR !!!

Why not Peter Heath, who directed ’The Look’?

don’t agree! What a strange thought to think that a nationality is influencing a creative process. Besides, Jonas is working with some of the top selling artists, give him a break, it’s very difficult to portray Per and Marie as two cool superstars, simply because they aren’t! I think Jonas is doing a fantastic job. Remember the videos he did for TWATG! GO JONAS!

But what if we can’t see his Roxette videos on TV????????? When we want to watch a Roxette video, we have to surf the internet. That’s so ridiculous, and that for a band that sold more than 40 million copies!!! Akerlund is just a waste of time and money!

You can’t compare Roxette to U2 or Madonna. The success of U2 and Madonna doesn’t depend on their video director!

didn’t get your point? What do you mean by Madonna’s and U2’s success doesn’t depend on the videos? What does it have to do with Rox?

You said the following:
“Jonas is working with some of the top selling artists”

The videoclips of those top selling artists (u2, madonna) will ALWAYS be shown on TV, no matter who directed the clips. Jonas makes nice videoclips but they are not attractive for the big public and U2 and Madonna don’t really care about that because they ALWAYS sell, no matter what.

Roxette is a small band nowadays and their videoclips have to be shown on TV. Roxette’s success decreases every year so their clips have to be attractive. And Jonas is not the right person to make this happen.

so how should a clip be in your opinion?

For Roxette nowadays:

There are different options of course, I’m not a video director. But for example (as I said before) something in New York, in open-air, something with lots of people, a party, something fresh, sunny, cool,... but not like Jonas does, in a dark room with only Marie, Per and 2 other people. We’re really tired of that.

I get your point...maybe they should try that. I really like ROX videos. For me there is no sense in going to New York, if you can shoot in one of the most beautiful cities of the world. Besides, Akerlund did some pretty cool stuff, remember the TWATG videos, or the videos he did for Kylie or Metallica...Akerlund is very creative..maybe the way Rox wants to be portrayed is not the way you would like Rox to be...

“maybe the way Rox wants to be portrayed is not the way you would like Rox to be...”

Perhaps, yes. But I don’t know what’s wrong with a fresh, cool, sunny, bright, energetic, open-air, happy videoshoot.

Akerlund’s videos are always so dark, cold, detached, negative, boring, too much art, intellectual, forced...

It’s time for something more energetic, exotic, southern, sunny, uplifting,... And by the way, Marie and Per don’t necessarily have to play the main role in the videos.

True....

In case it will happen, I’m open for it! You’re right, Rox could experiment and do something different, what can they loose?

Anyway, my point wasn’t that they can’t go different ways, my point was that the nationality of a director has nothing to do with the quality or the style of a video clip. There are way too many cheap and boring clips on TV nowadays (talking about american directors).

*a chat with the angel guy, how cool*

@pascal : Thanks!

True nationality has nothing to do with a video being a hit. I am all for a new rox American director because of the following reasons...

1) Access of anything is BAD and in this case.. Accessive Jonas is not doing Roxette a favour. People like typical music but they never ever like typical videos. Nowadays it is all about how you present your stuff. Even if your product sucks you should present it in a way that it gets noticed atleast. Remember KYLIE MINOGUE!???

2) Jonas has already said, “It is hard to come up with new ideas everything”. Having quoted that I think it becomes inevitable to hire the services of a new director (lets skip nationallity here). A man is admitting that he can’t make NEW stuff hence the theory of same-old-dark-videos-all-the-time proves itself.

3) As Pascal earlier mentioned that American directors KNOW what their media and people want to see. They know what is “IN” and what is “OUT”. Surely we don’t expect a non-american director to know the current-typical-needs to run a video successfully in American media.

4) An American director means that u r getting attention in USA. Media will be looking forward to see something coming from an American director. Roxette (or atleast their name) will break into the US market as soon US Media men hear about such a news. Isn’t it all about marketing your music!?? your product?

I emphasis on marketing and target audience and on change because I do that all the time. I happen to be a web designer and therefore I DO have an idea of making your presence “feel” in the market and around.

Enuff Said...
now yr comments plez!

Zee

Stakka Bo makes nice videos...And he’s a Swede.

Anton Corbijn’s clips are superb! Let’s get him back!

1) Remember KYLIE MINOGUE!???

-remember Love at first sight? I think it was Jonas shooting the video! Btw, I’m not from the states but pretty close to the border, which means that we receive the same channels and ups...the video was really popular!

2) “It is hard to come up with new ideas everything”

-I’m sure a lot of people who work in a creative field for a longer time could be quoted the same if you take one sentence out of contents...

3)Surely we don’t expect a non-american director to know the current-typical-needs to run a video successfully in American media.

-how difficult, music in general is so country specific?!?!?! And again, JONAS is making clips for successful artists.

I emphasis on marketing and target audience and on change because I do that all the time. I happen to be a web designer and therefore I DO have an idea of making your presence “feel” in the market and around.

-everybody who works in a creative environment does....Jonas too!

I think the problem is that Jonas is somehow misunderstood and not understood at all. It’s so much easier to understand a video like Madonna’s ’Die another day’ where brain use isn’t required or Christina Aguilera with Dirty, where she’s close to an orgy for the entire run...

Wayne Isham!

He did Spending My Time, Church Of Your Heart and Do You Get Excited? for Roxette and worked with other big artists, for instance:
- Miami (Will Smith)
- Livin’ La Vida Loca (Ricky Martin)
- I Want It That Way (Backstreet Boys)
- It’s My Life (Bon Jovi)

Look at his videography:
http://www.mvdbase.com/director/I/wisha.htm

I think he’s much better than Jonas to direct a Roxette video!

Wayne works for A BAND APART (http://www.abandapart.com)

7966 Beverly Blvd 2nd floor
Los Angeles, CA 90048
Tel. (323) 951-4400
E-mail: [email protected]

Can someone contact him, please and arrange a booking for Roxette?

yeah Wayne Isham would be great

i love COYH and excited videos... they are great!!!!!

or one of the directors that did the videos for Westlife’s ’Uptown girl’, Enrique Iglesias’ ’Escape’ or Ricky Martin’s ’She Bangs’?, to get some more temperament for the up-tempo hits compilation’s first single. Seems P&M have a huge fan base in Latin America, this could only reflect that fact.

Btw, the video to ’Stars’ (although a bit weird- I must admit) and for sure the utopic dreamworld created in the clips for ’Milk And Toast And Honey’ were indeed a real enlightment to see in a somewhat monotonous circle of Åkerlund clips.

@ pascal “You have to have a ’young’ and ’international’ clip, with lots of colors, something that stands out”....
...Go to Stockholm on the Stockholm Pride Parade : young, international, lots of (rainbow) colours ;)

that standing out enough?

Ok sorry it´s late and I have missed the Sthlm Pride for the first time in 3 years and baaah i miss Sthlm!

stars was NOT directed by Jonas Åkerlund....

Any Norwegian city is full of colour :D... (ok, better in the summertime :P)

And I think “The Look” is the worst video ever done... in music history :S:S:S:S

@Santi: and what abt STARS?? ;)

Zee

@ marcusvandeursen

Neither ’Stars’ or ’Milk and Toast and Honey’ were directed by Jonas Åkerlund.

’Stars’ is by Anton Corbijn - how long does it take to make it clear to everyone?

’Milk and Toast and Honey’ is by Jesper Hiro, another fellow in Åkerlund’s company; makes very dull videos.

Okay... 2 words... well, maybe more than that:

The Look
Dressed For Success
Joyride

Need I say more?

...the video is on, but the colours are gone ...

Why not Per as a video director?...

Blah blah blaaaah...... havent we had this discussion a thousand times be4?

3 words: RAY OF LIGHT

This video won countless awards - not because it was Madonna, but because of the video. It made Madonna what she is 2day. After going into a slum she was finally back thanx to Mr Akerlund.

I do however agree that Roxette requires a vibrant fun video - seeing that the American market digs that kind of stuff. We can only wait in anticipation. Its another 5 - 6 months that we’ll have to though.
Have this discussion then?

Cheers.

PS: 1 word - GONE (N*SYNC) - US#1, black and white video. Your whole theory of slow, dark videos that arent shown on tv just went up in smoke. And lets face it: its a crap song.

@animalkingdom: The M&T&h video was not dark. But Per was looking like a granpa!!!

@LittleSpooky: Well said!

@underdog: NICE! ;)

@Regn: BAD idea. Let him make music alone not the video too.

@Carbon_Boy: You first negate most of the above opinions and then you negate your own comments. And NOOOOOOO Ray of Light is NOT the song which made Madona went raves. Madona is not Roxette.. it is a BIG name.. and I mean a BIG name! (However I am not a madona fan but hey the fact is a fact!)

Zee

roxette is also a BIG name.... but noone cares about it anymore....

@ Zeeshan:

“And NOOOOOOO Ray of Light is NOT the song which made Madona went raves.”

Erm, WTF?! Hello?! Madonna went into a slump with her Erotica & Bedtime Stories albums. She needed a new image, and after seeing the Smack My Bitch Up video, she got Akerlund to do Ray of light for her: which was an instant hit thanx to the video - it became one of the most played videos of that year winning shitloads of awards:
Grammy Win: Best Short Form Music Video (Ray Of Light, video)
Much Music Video Awards: Best International Video Ray Of Light, Jonas Akerlund
MTV Video Music Award: Ray Of Light Video of the Year, Jonas Akerlund
MTV Video Music Award: Ray Of Light Best Female Video, Jonas Akerlund
MTV Video Music Award: Ray Of Light Best Direction, Jonas Akerlund
MTV Video Music Award: Ray Of Light Best Editing, Jonas Akerlund
MTV Video Music Award: Ray Of Light Choreography, Madonna
MTV Video Music Award Nomination: Ray Of Light Best Dance Video
MTV Video Music Award Nomination: Ray Of Light Breakthrough Video

Want more?! She has NEVER IN HER LIFE won so many awards for 1 of her videos.

And then:
“You first negate most of the above opinions and then you negate your own comments.”

Dyou actually know what negate means? Look it up in your dictionary and go read what I said before u accuse me of contradicting myself.

Cheers

Could it be also that it was not only the new video but William Orbit’s new production that make the song so successful???
May we remember Roxette also tried to go into dance music but many fans didn’t like that???

Maybe the video for Stars should’ve been done by herr Åkerlund instead of that “big joke” they made...

carbon_boy: Ray of Light is a step of Madonna’s career, as are so many others. Of course it was a good video, but then, the song was pretty good too and the entire album wasn’t that bad either...

@Santi: so right~!

@carbon_boy: What is with the attitude??? Calm down Angry Young fella.

First let me tell u what I found in dictionary...

Reference Dictionary – POD (Pocket Oxford Dict.)

negate v. (-ting) 1 nullify. 2 assert or imply the non-existence of. [Latin nego deny]

Reference Dictionary – The Merriam-Webster Online Dict.

ne-gate ni-‘gat vb ne-gat-ed; ne-gat-ing 1: to deny the existence of truth of 2: to cause to be an ineffective or invalid :nullify.

English is NOT my mother tongue so still if u think that I am wrong so pleaseeee do tell me since I want to improve my communication skills.

Secondly, I never said that RAY OF LIGHT was NOT a good video neither I said that it didn’t win any awards. The video was good and according to the song but I strongly opposed and still oppose your comment....

”. It made Madonna what she is 2day. “

Who said that Jonas doesn’t makes good videos? He does.. SMACK MY BITCH was gr8!!! but tell me is he doing his BEST for ROXETTE!??? is he!? I don’t think so.

Zee

Edited the spelling of YOUNG (which I wrote as YOUN). May have more mistakes but hey.. I don’t have time to spell check the whole thing :)

@Stillfar: now YOU are contradicting what has been said here be4. Image IS everything - some songs are totally crap but the video makes up for it! Im obviously NOT saying Ray of Light is a crap song, im just saying that the bouncy, colourful video directed by herr Akerlund pushed it, and made it bigger than it wouldve been. The fact remains that there is still THAT list of awards and more that ROL won. And then some ppl on this forum still says he’s a bad director who cant do the fun, colourful, sunny, bubblegum videos. Arf.

AND, I didnt insult any1....yet. Before using words you’re not completely sure what they mean: look ’em up! Its irritating when some wrongfully accuses you.

Cheers

Carbon_boy: first of all, I deleted part of my comment before you posted your reply, because I realized that I misinterpreted your comment. However, I don’t like your attitude. English isn’t the mother tongue for most people on this board, others should treat them with respect, as most of these people speak more languages than…whatever!
I’m not contradicting myself, maybe I don’t agree with what other people say…but as far as I remember, that isn’t illegal. For me Frozen is by far the better video and ups, it’s not that colorful after all…Let Rox decide what kind of videos they want to do, they are always involved in the creative process and if the current videos are the way they’d like to be portrayed…it’s fine with me!
btw: read my comments and you’ll find out that I never questioned Akerlund’s talent.

Stars......aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaarrrgggggggggggghhhhhhhhhhhhhh...................can’t believe that,what a song,what a video,the worsed in music history.......
Jonas’ ideas are so much better......

...another in the series ’ the worst video in the history of bad videos ’

@Carbon_boy: Why do you say 5 to 6 months ?
Isn’t it more like 2 to 3 months??

Carlos E. New York

Well guys, what do you think? Should Roxette work with Wayne Isham in the future?

Pascal: Colour me stupid, but who?!?

Then again, I usually don’t look at WHO made the videos beyond the band / people performing in them.

For example: I believe Primus did a cover of “The Devil Went Down To Georgia” by Charlie Daniel’s Band. I don’t know who made the video, but it was done in Claymation format and everytime I hear the song, I see the hopping chickens to the chorus.

(Claymation = Clay-animation for those that don’t know. Best example of this: California Raisins!!! :o) )

@LittleSpooky: What do you mean with “Colour me stupid, but who?!?” ?

:)

:D

I guess is: “ok, you maybe now think I’m stupid, but who’s that Wayne Isham” :D

Isn’t it? :P

you can also color me stupid then :DDDDDD

Who is Wayne isham?.... well, this will give you a clue:

Parental guidance Turbo Lover

Sweat it again Westlife
1981-jun Pretty in pink Psychedelic Furs
1983-jan Livewire Motley Crue
1983 The lady wore black [live] Queensryche
1983-nov Looks that kill Motley Crue
1984 Freewheel burning Judas Priest
1984-may Too young to fall in love Motley Crue
1984 Take hold of the flame [live] Queensryche
1985-jul Smokin’ in the boys’ room
(co-director : Chris Painter) Motley Crue
1985-nov Home sweet home (version 1) Motley Crue
1986 Locked in Judas Priest
1986-jun You give love a bad name [live] Bon Jovi
1986 Walk in the shadows [live] Queensryche
1986-sep Living on a prayer (version 1) Bon Jovi
1986-dec Living on a prayer (version 2 : live) Bon Jovi
1987-feb Heat of the night Bryan Adams
1987-mar Wanted dead or alive Bon Jovi
1987 Wild in the streets [live] Bon Jovi
1987-jul Never say goodbye [live] Bon Jovi
1987-nov So emotional Whitney Houston
1988-feb Pour some sugar on me (version 2 : live) Def Leppard
1988-apr Armageddon it [live] Def Leppard
1988-sep Bad medicine (version 1) Bon Jovi
1988-nov Bad medicine (version 2) Bon Jovi
1988-dec Born to be my baby Bon Jovi
1989-feb Eyes of a stranger (version 1 : megamix) Queensryche
1989-mar One of these days [live] Pink Floyd
1989-apr I’ll be there for you [live] Bon Jovi
1989-jul Lay your hands on me Bon Jovi
1989-aug Dr. Feelgood Motley Crue
1989-oct Rock and a hard place (version 1 : post modern) The Rolling Stones
1989-nov Living in sin Bon Jovi
1989-nov Kickstart my heart Motley Crue
1989-dec Rock and a hard place (version 2) The Rolling Stones
1989 Blood on blood [live] Bon Jovi
1990-jan Almost hear you sigh The Rolling Stones
1990-jul Blaze of glory Jon Bon Jovi
1990-aug Same o’l situation (S.O.S.) Motley Crue
1990-sep Black cat Janet Jackson
1990-oct Miracle Jon Bon Jovi
1991 Desert moon Great White
1991-jun Jet City woman Queensryche
1991-aug Enter Sandman (version 1) Metallica
1991 Lovin’ kind Great White
1991-nov Spending my time Roxette
1992-feb Church of your heart Roxette
1992 The thin line [live] Queensryche
1992 Symphony of destruction (version 1) Megadeth
1992 I was a king Eddie Murphy
1992 Rest In Peace (version 2) Extreme
1992 Resistance [live] Queensryche
1992 Symphony of destruction (version 2 : Gristle mix) Megadeth
1992 (Do you get) Excited? Roxette
1992 Desdamona Eddie Murphy
1992-jun Make love like a man Def Leppard
1992-jun Wherever I may roam Metallica
1992 Silent lucidity [live] Queensryche
1992-aug Have you ever needed someone so bad? Def Leppard
1992-oct Sad but true Metallica
1993-jan Bed of roses Bon Jovi
1993-feb Jump (version 2 : live) Van Halen
1993-apr In these arms Bon Jovi
1993-apr Whatzupwitu Eddie Murphy, featuring Michael Jackson
1993 Sweating bullets Megadeth
1993 Psycho love Skid Row
1993 99 ways to die Megadeth
1993-sep Two steps behind Def Leppard
1993-dec Whiplash Metallica
1993-dec Welcome home (Sanitarium) Metallica
1993-dec The Unforgiven (version 2 : live) Metallica
1993-dec Enter Sandman (version 3 : live) Metallica
1994-mar Under the same sun (version 2 : film) Scorpions
1994-may Good guys don’t always wear white Bon Jovi
1994 Train of consequences Megadeth
1994 5 minutes alone Pantera
1994 Cleopatra’s cat The Spin Doctors
1994-sep Angry again Megadeth
1994-oct I am I Queensryche
1994-nov Night moves Bob Seger
1995 Water runs dry Boyz II Men
1995 Visions of a sunset Shawn
1995-aug You are not alone Michael Jackson
1995-nov Satellite The Dave Matthews Band
1995-dec Don’t cry Seal
1996-mar Count on me Whitney Houston & CeCe Winans
1996-apr I don’t mind Drain STH
1996-jul Shout it out loud [live] KISS
1996 Don’t wanna lose you Lionel Richie
1996-dec When you love a woman Journey
1997-mar Havana Kenny G
1997 Tango medley Julio Iglesias
1997 Cemetary gates [Demon Knight edit] Pantera
1997-aug Don’t take your love to town Jon Bon Jovi
1998-mar Hard times come easy Richie Sambora
1998-apr La copa de la vida Ricky Martin
1998-may Fuel Metallica
1998 Miami Will Smith
1998-aug Cruel summer (version 2 : US) Ace Of Base
1998-aug Got you (where I want you) The Flys
1998 Vuelve Ricky Martin
1998 All because of you 98 Degrees
1998 La bomba Ricky Martin
1999-feb Touched Vast
1999-mar Real life Bon Jovi
1999-mar Livin’ la vida loca Ricky Martin
1999 The hardest thing 98 Degrees
1999-may I want it that way Backstreet Boys
1999-jun Promises Def Leppard
1999-jul I do (cherish you) 98 Degrees
1999-aug Lay down (candles in the rain) Meredith Brooks, featuring Queen Latifah
1999-oct Shake your bon bon Ricky Martin
1999-nov Hero of the day (version 2 : live) Metallica, featuring Michael Kamen & The San Francisco Symphony Orchestra
1999-nov No leaf clover Metallica, featuring Michael Kamen & The San Francisco Symphony Orchestra
1999 Fuel (version 2 : live) Metallica, featuring Michael Kamen & The San Francisco Symphony Orchestra
2000-jan Bye bye bye ’N Sync
2000-mar Try again Aaliyah, featuring Tim Berlind
2000-may I disappear Metallica
2000-may It’s gonna be me ’N Sync
2000-may It’s my life Bon Jovi
2000-sep Just one night (una noche) 98 Degrees
2000-sep Say it isn’t so Bon Jovi
2000-sep She bangs Ricky Martin
2000-nov Thank you for loving me Bon Jovi
2001-jan Nobody really wants to be lonely Ricky Martin & Christina Aguilera
2001-may Hit ’em up style (oops!) Blu Cantrell
2001-may Pop ’N Sync
2001-jul I’m not a girl, not yet a woman Britney Spears
2001-oct Forever Kid Rock
2002-mar Soak up the sun Sheryl Crow
The following video is currently in production.
[2002] Extreme ways Moby

Now you have an idea of what he directed :)

wooooo!!!!!

mmmmmmmm!!!

yeah!!!!!

aham... Mr. Per reading this!??

Zee

Wayne Isham is the best, at least for Roxette. He can bring Roxette back at the top of the charts! Jonas Akerlund is NOT the right director for Roxette.

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