HIP Year in Review: 2009
Flashback Friday – Elvis Costello – “Monkey To Man”
August 9, 2024
Flashback Friday – Patent Pending – “This Can’t Happen Again”
August 16, 2024
Samuel Johnson said, “The true art of memory is the art of attention.” In 2009, quite a few moments caught our attention and continue to live on in our memories, such as the loss of 50-year-old “King of Pop” Michael Jackson. Also, Zooey Deschanel from She & Him and Ben Gibbard from Death Cab for Cutie — both of whom HIP Video Promo had teamed up with in years prior — officially tied the knot. On television, Breaking Bad hit the airwaves. What’s more, Andy and the HIP team remember working to secure deserved attention on these dozen artists and music videos.
Pearl Jam – “The Fixer” – 5.3M views – This visual might be a straightforward live performance, but at the time, having a video at all was a big deal for the fans of Pearl Jam, especially one that flaunts the group’s unparalleled energy in the concert setting. Fleet Foxes – “Mykonos” – 22,013,366 views – Did someone say indie? Fleet Foxes had that genre covered with the “Mykonos” single from their 2009 EP, Sun Giant. The acoustic color on the track has an easygoingness that allows listeners to sit back and take it in; partnered with the band’s distinct vocal harmonies, the mood and tone were set.
Flogging Molly – “Float” – 4.3M views – It may be a rarity nowadays, but folk punk was a big deal when it was initially introduced by the Pogues in England. When the Irish-American band Flogging Molly recorded “Float,” they had similar vibes but with an Irish twist; it was even shot in the band’s home country.
The Gaslight Anthem – “Great Expectations” – 3.7M views – As the soft static turns up and the light guitar riff commences, one would think this rock single is a bit subdued, but it’s proven to be a trick quickly after. The Gaslight Anthem sets the tempo on fire and blazes through this breakup song’s lyrics.
Metric – “Help I’m Alive” – 493K views – Metric is one of those bands that does not need the blog post to give them an introduction. By the time we promoted the “Help I’m Alive” music video in 2009, the song had already been released digitally in 2008 and had shot to the top spot on Canadian charts and the Billboard Heatseekers chart. It was in the indie Top Ten for weeks, and it’s not hard to see, hear, and understand why.
M83 – “We Own The Sky” – 8.7M views – The devotion of the M83 following allowed for a mega showdown in the 2008-2009 “We Own The Sky” music video contest. As a fan and budding video director, how cool it would be to be able to say that you produced a visual for none other than M83! Anthony Gonzalez, lead songwriter and vocalist, judged which original submission would win and be distributed as their official music video.
Moby – “Mistake” – 452K views – When listening to “Mistake,” anyone can tell that Moby genuinely relates and connects with the song’s story and message, yet it can be interpreted to fit so many scenarios and personal experiences of others. That is part of the beauty in Moby’s music, particularly those songs under Wait For Me.
Dinosaur Jr. – “Over It” – 3.4M views – In some respects, one could argue that Dinosaur Jr. is an excellent example of how some things simply get better with age. “Over It” highlights their ceaselessly triumphant return to them doing what they do best. It was the leading single from their second comeback album, Farm, since Beyond in 2007.
Holly Williams – “Three Days In Bed” – 161K views – Inspired by the city of love and her French men crushes, Holly Williams wrote the soulful country ballad “Three Days In Bed” to depict the romantic affair that took place within her mind. Her heartfelt performance as she delicately picks and strums her guitar touches the listeners’ hearts between the clips of the couple’s intimate days spent inside.
Antony & The Johnsons – “Epilepsy Is Dancing” – 759K views –With the artistic vision and direction from the Wachowskis, who wrote the screenplay for V for Vendetta, the music video for “Epilepsy Is Dancing” complements Antony & The Johnsons’ audible break from convention.
Anti-Flag – “When All The Lights Go Out” – 6.5K views – Fire spreads rapidly and can burn up the majority of everything it reaches. Earlier, we mentioned how The Gaslight Anthem had a subtler start before igniting the single ablaze, but there was absolutely nothing dim about the beginning of Anti-Flag’s “When All The Lights Go Out.”
We Were Promised Jetpacks – “Roll Up Your Sleeves” – 421K views – Closing out 2009, We Were Promised Jetpacks brought HIP their “Roll Up Your Sleeves” music video. The visual does not make perfect sense when you listen to the song’s lyrics, but that is also the lure of it. The musicians are on irregular cut-outs, surrounded by other random shapes and colors amidst the grain.
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