McCartney

May 29, 2007 5:26 PM

The new video for Paul McCartney's UK single, "Dance Tonight" starring Natalie Portman.
posted by semmi (63 comments total)

Uh, was the ghost of Natalie Portman playing pong on Sir Paul's bookcase? Is that what I saw?
posted by Civil_Disobedient at 5:33 PM on May 29, 2007

Yes, Pong.

The whole time I was watching this I was thinking that house definitely could use an exorcist.
posted by konolia at 5:35 PM on May 29, 2007

Your favorite beatle, etc...
posted by BrodieShadeTree at 5:37 PM on May 29, 2007

The whole time I was watching this I was thinking that house definitely could use an exorcist.

And some lyrics
posted by doctor_negative at 5:39 PM on May 29, 2007 [2 favorites]

...and McCartney receiving a glassing.
posted by Item at 5:40 PM on May 29, 2007 [3 favorites]

Madcap larks!!
posted by Jody Tresidder at 5:42 PM on May 29, 2007

When I saw Natalie Portman was in the video I thought I knew why Paul hadn't retired yet. Then I saw she isn't riding him, but a ghost applied during post production. Back to square one.
posted by fire&wings at 5:43 PM on May 29, 2007

Say what you will about the quality of his music, he defines the word prolific.

(Here's what I'll say about his music though -- go away you old fuck.)
posted by bardic at 5:43 PM on May 29, 2007

he defines the word prolific.

Really? With one new album, what, every few years or so?

He defines nothing more than a greedy, tired, elderly gentleman way past his excused allotment of oxygen.
posted by Item at 5:48 PM on May 29, 2007

"Everybody gonna dance around tonight"...

Well, it ain't the best lyric the old Beatle ever turned in, is it? The mandolin was a good touch, I guess: gave it a warm kind of vibe, although Stevie Winwood's "Bring Me a Higher Love" from several years back used the instrument to much better and more subtle effect. The beat was really clunky, too. Looks like Sir Paul's got a real cozy little place in the country, there, though.
posted by flapjax at midnite at 5:52 PM on May 29, 2007

So...... Paul receives a haunted mandolin at his home, which is also haunted... by the spirits of his appliances... which kill him (?) and freak out the mailman, who dies... while on route to his next dropoff, during which time Paul's appliances do a switcheroo?

I'm confused. Everybody on the YooToob is talking about how brilliant this video is, so I'm feeling a little inadequate right now.

I do like the song, though. It's fun. The dishwasher likes it.
posted by katillathehun at 5:53 PM on May 29, 2007

Everybody on the YooToob is talking about how brilliant this video is, so I'm feeling a little inadequate right now.

Considering the average quality of YouTube comments, I think you'll be fine.
posted by IronLizard at 5:56 PM on May 29, 2007

oops. Stevie Winwood's "Bring Me a Higher Love""Back in the High Life Again" from several years back used the instrument to much better and more subtle effect.
posted by flapjax at midnite at 5:58 PM on May 29, 2007

You know what? Looking at this, I actually think this might be devoid of post-production / CGI (except for any lasers) — it might have been filmed in "real time" using the age-old Pepper's Ghost effect, made most famous at Disneyland's Haunted Mansion.

This would mean that all of the "ghost" actors are on the other side of a glass wall directly behind the camera, front-lit, carefully in sync with the action/camera moves. There a few moments, like a sideways track in the kitchen, where I thought I could see the seam for the glass half-way in the post...

This would have been not easy, and is sufficiently low-tech enough to make me really like this video, if true.

If not true, well, Paul is still my hero.

And I am a nerd.
posted by cabel at 6:03 PM on May 29, 2007 [2 favorites]

He defines nothing more than a greedy, tired, elderly gentleman way past his excused allotment of oxygen.

Damn. I guess there's an expiration date on the ability to write and record songs, and rake in the cash people are willing to pay for those songs.

I'd best get cracking, then
posted by davejay at 6:07 PM on May 29, 2007 [1 favorite]

There were two or three good parts in that video, and they were all Gareth Keenan.
posted by Nahum Tate at 6:07 PM on May 29, 2007

It's true! I am a nerd. From the PR:

"All the ghost effects are done in camera: the ghosts are actually evolving in front of a glass separation that reflects their image into the shot. This technique is based on smoke and mirror effects of magic tricks (known as the Pepper's Ghost effect) and other early cinema effects."

And directed by Michel Gondry, no less.
posted by cabel at 6:07 PM on May 29, 2007 [1 favorite]

I haven't had a chance to listen to this song yet, but listen to Chaos and Creation in the Backyard before totally writing off late period McCartney. It is actually quite a good album and show what he can produce when he has a strong figure pushing him.

YMMV, of course.
posted by Joey Michaels at 6:07 PM on May 29, 2007

Approved.
posted by mr_crash_davis at 6:10 PM on May 29, 2007

Faint of Butt's interest in this video, on a scale of 1 to 10, upon learning facts about it:

There's a video for a new song by Paul McCartney: 1
It's got Natalie Portman in it: 2
With interesting ghostly visual effects: 3
The visual effects are done in low-tech real time: 6
It's directed by Michael Gondry: 11!
posted by Faint of Butt at 6:27 PM on May 29, 2007

Michael Michel Gondry, dammit.
posted by Faint of Butt at 6:28 PM on May 29, 2007

Good call, cabel.

Whenever a video is this obnoxious, you're almost guaranteed there is something technically marvelous going on. I'm reminded of the REM Imitation of Life video, which I hated until I discovered the chicanery behind it.
posted by pokermonk at 6:30 PM on May 29, 2007

Oh, it's directed by Gondry. Then it's cool.
posted by smackfu at 6:33 PM on May 29, 2007 [2 favorites]

I wonder, in all seriousness, if this is Paul's way of saying, after Heather, that he really misses Linda. Or, alternately, to what extent Linda weighed on his (and Gondry's) mind while developing the video.
posted by kimota at 6:35 PM on May 29, 2007

I am very fond of the Beatles, but I saw this video and thought "wtf? is this what a lifetime of pot-smoking will do to your judgment?"

And then I saw this this photo of Paul peeking out of the local Starbucks, and I thought "that may have been a cute pose when you were 23, Paul, but it really doesn't suit you now. don't you have an assistant with the ability to speak troof to Beatles?"
posted by potsmokinghippieoverlord at 6:36 PM on May 29, 2007

"wtf? is this what a lifetime of pot-smoking will do to your judgment?"

Seriously, if you've come to expect weighty lyrics and complicated melodies out of Paul, you've got him confused with a number of other Beatles (well, at least 2 others).
posted by thanotopsis at 6:41 PM on May 29, 2007

...I thought "that may have been a cute pose when you were 23, Paul, but it really doesn't suit you now. don't you have an assistant with the ability to speak troof to Beatles?"

Yeah. That was... scary. Like, old-man-with-a-boner scary.
posted by Civil_Disobedient at 6:45 PM on May 29, 2007

"that may have been a cute pose when you were 23, Paul, but it really doesn't suit you now."

I'd say he looks pretty fucking good for someone who died in '66.
posted by mr_crash_davis at 6:47 PM on May 29, 2007 [4 favorites]

I demand that all my future deliveries include a ghostly Natalie Portman, or better yet, a corporeal one.

Stevie Winwood's 'Bring Me a Higher Love' 'Back in the High Life Again' from several years back
Regret to inform that "several years back" = 21 years ago.
posted by kirkaracha at 6:54 PM on May 29, 2007 [2 favorites]

Give my regards to BroadPants.
posted by squidfartz at 6:56 PM on May 29, 2007

"And then I saw this this photo of Paul..."

Oh dear. It's true, the man really just shouldn't pose like that anymore. That whole "he's the cute Beatle" thing, I guess he never got it out of his head? He also needs a more dignified haircut. Oh well. He wrote a few good songs, back when.

"if you've come to expect weighty lyrics and complicated melodies out of Paul, you've got him confused with a number of other Beatles (well, at least 2 others)."

Exactly. Ringo and Pete Best.
posted by flapjax at midnite at 7:00 PM on May 29, 2007

Regret to inform that "several years back" = 21 years ago.

Heh. Well, I never said I wasn't getting old... Anyway time flies when you're having fun.
posted by flapjax at midnite at 7:02 PM on May 29, 2007 [2 favorites]

The postman is Garth from "The Office". It must be fun to get to appear in a music video with a Beatle, even if it's not a great song.
posted by Kraftmatic Adjustable Cheese at 7:15 PM on May 29, 2007

Pardon me, Gareth from "The Office".
posted by Kraftmatic Adjustable Cheese at 7:15 PM on May 29, 2007

Good eye, cabel. It's awesome they used that technique.
posted by brundlefly at 7:20 PM on May 29, 2007

"He also needs a more dignified haircut."

I haven't really been following his big D I V O R C E from Unipod, but one of the tidbits was that he dyes his hair -- I can't remember if it was to woo her or she insisted or whatever.

Maybe he's afraid that if he cuts it it won't come back?
posted by potsmokinghippieoverlord at 7:25 PM on May 29, 2007

Junk
posted by Postroad at 7:29 PM on May 29, 2007

Wow Natalie's a real double threat. She can't act nor can she 'dance'.
posted by Gungho at 7:37 PM on May 29, 2007

Gungho, if you'd seen "Closer" then you'd know how wrong you are on both counts.
posted by hermitosis at 7:41 PM on May 29, 2007

Ditto Gungho. She's a pretty cute girl but god is it painful to watch her "act".
posted by vronsky at 7:45 PM on May 29, 2007

The song's better than "Silly Love Songs"... which I know is setting the bar very low, but it's something.
posted by wendell at 7:47 PM on May 29, 2007

I was more excited to see Gareth than Paul, Nat, etc.
posted by Juggermatt at 8:10 PM on May 29, 2007

Why am I reminded of this?
posted by nathan_teske at 8:21 PM on May 29, 2007 [1 favorite]

I thought the exact same thing nathan_teske.
posted by vronsky at 8:51 PM on May 29, 2007

That's funny, I was reminded of this.

Plus, the music is 1000% more authentic / interesting.
posted by Exchequer at 9:10 PM on May 29, 2007

"Why am I reminded of this?"

Yeah, ex-Beatles singing in their mansions. It's practically a genre unto itself.

And apologies, actually, for linking to "Imagine". I really pretty much hate that song, but it is perhaps worthwile as a reminder that if you sing "imagine no possessions, I wonder if you can" your video probably shouldn't feature shots of the extensive grounds around your mansion, exterior and interior shots of the mansion itself, and a frickin' white baby grand piano. Imagine, indeed.
posted by flapjax at midnite at 9:21 PM on May 29, 2007 [1 favorite]

You know, the first thing I thought of when he opened that box was "Please, don't let it be a prosthetic leg!"

I am probably going to hell for that.
posted by luminous phenomena at 9:40 PM on May 29, 2007

don't you have an assistant with the ability to speak troof to Beatles?"

Unfortunately, he died in 1967.
posted by oneirodynia at 10:02 PM on May 29, 2007

A wooden washing machine? Seriously?
posted by Blazecock Pileon at 10:02 PM on May 29, 2007

It's lighthearted, doesn't take itself seriously...I like it. Not worth analyzing imo though, just something to pass the time.
posted by samsara at 12:00 AM on May 30, 2007

McCartney gets a little too much of a plate-and-beansing compared to other ex-Beatles. He's a pop musician and it's pop music. That "dance tonight, feel alright" stuff is a string of pop cliches, but Lennon wrote stuff like "Woman please let me explain, I never meant to cause you sorrow or pain, so let me tell you again and again and again, I love you (yeah, yeah) now and forever" to a basic pop melody. If you read something like that on a Hallmark card, you'd gag. But it's pop. Like it or change the station.
posted by pracowity at 1:38 AM on May 30, 2007 [3 favorites]

Umm... I quite enjoyed that. It cheered me up a bit. My inner music critic must still be snoozing.
posted by RokkitNite at 2:46 AM on May 30, 2007

Thanks for posting this. I'm a huge fan of Michel Gondry's work, and this was just as solid as his other videos.

Don't mistake this spirit of this piece; it's supposed to be whimsical.
posted by chuckdarwin at 2:53 AM on May 30, 2007

Hilarious how everyone thought it was shit until they figured out it was a big-name director, and suddenly it's BRILLIANT!
posted by reklaw at 3:18 AM on May 30, 2007 [1 favorite]

Hilarious how everyone thought it was shit until they figured out it was a big-name director, and suddenly it's BRILLIANT!

FWIW, I still think it's shit. I'm not a knee-jerk McCartney hater either, but, yeah, I think it's pretty much shit. Anyway, like procowity said, like it or change the station. I had no problem changing the station. (Listening to some Patsy Cline at the moment...)
posted by flapjax at midnite at 3:27 AM on May 30, 2007

Why am I reminded of This?
posted by tehloki at 4:28 AM on May 30, 2007

It's not a bad little McCartney track. It's no Band On The Run or anything but I've always had a soft spot for his simple little throwaways (although I'm sure he doesn't think of this as one).

This song actually wouldn't sound out of place on the first McCartney solo album or Ram (sounds a bit like "Ram On" with the mandolin). It's just a shame that McCartney is no longer able to reproduce that warm, laid back and unpolished sound of those early solo albums. It's all so produced now which spoils it for me.

And despite the glowing reviews from McCartney fans who have heard the new album, I just don't think it's that great. Loved Chaos and Creation though.
posted by gfrobe at 4:38 AM on May 30, 2007

When I saw Natalie Portman was in the video I thought I knew why Paul hadn't retired yet. Then I saw she isn't riding him...

You always have such a classy way of looking at things, f&w.

Personally... I think Paul needs to stop trying to act in his videos or elsewhere. Ever. The scenes always feel so stilted and lame to me, and I think "Why don't you just get on with it and sing the song you want me to hear? Please? Why do I have to work for it?"

It reminded me more of this. UGH.
posted by miss lynnster at 8:22 AM on May 30, 2007

Seriously, if you've come to expect weighty lyrics and complicated melodies out of Paul, you've got him confused with a number of other Beatles (well, at least 2 others).

Or maybe you've been listening to songs like For No One, Yesterday, and Eleanor Rigby.

This song is a throwaway, but I heard a different one from this album and thought it was good.
posted by ludwig_van at 12:42 PM on May 30, 2007

There's a nice piece on McCartney in the most recent New Yorker, although it's not on their website right now.
posted by danb at 1:48 PM on May 30, 2007

What an incredibly boring song.
posted by Lucie at 11:55 PM on May 30, 2007

There's a nice piece on McCartney in the most recent New Yorker, although it's not on their website right now.

It is now.
posted by flapjax at midnite at 12:31 AM on June 1, 2007

It is now.

No, it's not. That's just a summary of the piece.
posted by beagle at 6:58 AM on June 3, 2007