Thirteen Music Videos featuring Umbrellas

Here's the link to all the Umbrella music videos on a YouTube playlist. #YouTubeNchill

I just finished a book (Un Lun Dun by China Mieville) in which magical broken umbrellas (called uNbrellas) are used to protect (?) the citizens of the city under/above London from their biggest enemy yet, smog. Then, I saw this uNbrella today while walking in London and decided to resurrect this post from the depths of procrastination. You may not think you give a shit about music videos with umbrellas but I didn't know I was into Salt Beef on a Beigel (Corned Beef on a Bagel) until today; learning stuff about yourself is good. As if you needed convincing beyond the whole epic bagel thing, umbrellas have been chique since before Charlie Chaplin rocked one.

1. Main Source - "Looking At The Front Door" 1990  This umbrella's silhouette game is on point. I would have loved to hear the conversation about adding the umbrella as a prop to the video. Were they like "it needs something...shit, I got this umbrella, how bout this?...She could be like dating the umbrella or something?"



2. Cut Chemist - "My First Big Break" 2008  It's kind of awesome how much this umbrella adds to the video; since I find them almost useless in the real world (weird Seattle quirk). Since most rainstorms come with wind, umbrellas tend to make walking in a rainstorm a more stressful experience. I already knew I'd be down to go to any party in which Cut Chemist is the DJ but this video cements it; these people know how to have a good time.




3. Grimes - "Flesh without Blood/Life in the Vivid Dream" 2015  Grimes with a budget for music videos is one of the best things about life. Stay weird Grimes, I think you're great and loved that eight of the eleven people on your team were women when I worked my only stagehand shift for your show at The Showbox in Seattle in October 2015. #props




4. Bjork - "It's Oh So Quiet" 1995  My sister Ingrid made me a journal mod-podged with Bjork (as seen on the "Post" cover) on it in the mid 90s, it's filled with all sorts of teen angsty/crush/music lyric stuff since I was 16 when the album came out. Bjork has been inspiring me for decades and continues to do so with her new Bjork Digital Exhibition. I had an eight hour layover at the Reykjavik airport recently and they had this quote from "Joga" from the Homogenic album on a window that I had forgotten about, "I feel emotional landscapes they puzzle me." I've been trying to figure out what the hell that means for two weeks now but I still think it's rad she's achieved airport quote status. 





5.  Gifted Gab - "Dead Wrong" 2013  SEATTLE MUSIC  The musical journey of Gifted Gab will be the stuff of legends, she is one of the best rappers in Seattle...period. Gifted Gab was a perfect choice for the Swisher Sweets Convenience Store Sessions.



Gifted released "Gab The Most High" back in May 2016, this is what the Seattle Weekly thought about it.




6. L'Orange - "The Quiet Room" 2013  L'Orange has been steady grinding for years and makes the kind of music I love the most. He has excellent taste in both samples and in collaborators; Jeremiah Jae, Kool Keith, Stik Figa, Mr. Lif, and Homeboy Sandman. He's got a damn good squad behind him at Mello Music Group.




7. K.Flay - "Rawks" 2013  Hairless cat, mustard in reverse, big messes, slow motion scenes, flower head, AND an umbrella; this video totally rawks. She's headed out on tour in February, you should probably go see her.





8. Kool A.D. feat. Toro Y Moi + Amaze 88 - "The Front" 2014  The vibe is so right with this one; likely due to the supreme chillness of Toro Y Moi. That said, I can't recall any Kool A.D. music that I didn't like (but why would I want to remember that?).

9. Milosh - "This Time" 2013  Milosh flew onto my radar as a producer for Rhye when "The Fall" was released. This video is great because watching two people in love (the couple is Milosh himself and his wife, actress Alexa Nikolas) having a fabulous time together is a beautiful thing.




10. Tuxedo - "Number One" 2015  ReignCity hosted a sold out Tuxedo show at The Crocodile back in July 2015 and it couldn't have been more perfect. One of my favorite things about this video is that it is a really awesome commercial for Lacoste and New Amsterdam Vodka. I love the idea of sponsors for music videos because I hardly know any artists who actually have a budget to create visuals of this caliber.




11. Raven Matthews - "This Is Cinema" 2015  SEATTLE MUSIC  Raven Matthews life really is cinema, he is way ahead of the rest of the world in the game of self-awareness and embracing the weird and you should pay more attention. His Disco Christ album was released in July 2016 and it was so unique that no one knew which box to put it in... which is actually a really good thing. Peep an interview with him here.




12. ABRA - "Closet HD" 2016  I kinda think this song is a hot mess but I still fux with ABRA, she coo.


13. Rihanna ft. Jay-Z - "Umbrella" 2007  It's a no brainer. Get it Rihanna, you're a boss lady supreme. Thanks for being you.

Ten More Music Videos with Projectors

Here's the link to the projector videos I've compiled so far via YouTube playlist. #YouTubeNchill

1. Stalley - "Cup Inside A Cup" 2013  I started this list in 2013 when the song came out, which should clue you into the depths of the back end of this website. In the three years that have passed, Stalley seems to have fallen off my radar due to lack of buzz but the song still goes. I never got a chance to overplay it because it's not on Spotify.




2. Air Credits - "No Water" 2016  I just had the pleasure of working with these guys when they opened for Sims from Doomtree at Barboza in Seattle recently. Air Credits is ShowYouSuck and Steve from The Hood Internet; both gentleman are from the Chicago area and are wonderful people. They've united to create a concept album, I seriously fux with concept albums (Shoutout to Prince Paul & Automator). Here's what Consequence Of Sound has to say about the project:

'The concept goes something like this: Air Credits exist in a kind of dystopian society in the future, where Trump “never left office” due to advanced cloning technology. It’s a situation that’s laid out clearest in a hook on album closer “No Water”: “We ain’t got no water, plus we pay for air/ How we livin’ here, in the wasteland?”'




3. Deltron 3030 feat. Mike Patton - "City Rising From The Ashes" 2013  Special effects or not, it comes as no surprise that Deltron 3030 make use of a 3D projector from the year 3030. Artists like these are the ones that really do it for me. Dan The Automator, Kid Koala, Del The Funky Homosapien, and Mike Patton have made a career out of personal growth and keeping it weird. If you're on a mission to be prolific, as I've heard many say, Mike Patton's discography should encourage you to get to work...you've been slacking.




4. Cut Chemist feat. Chali 2na and Hymnal - "Work My Mind" 2013  Cut Chemist first grabbed my attention as one of the DJs for Jurassic 5, then he quickly became one of my favorite artists through his 45 collaborations with DJ Shadow (Brainfreeze & Product Placement). This video was made right around the time he sold his whole vinyl collection to Amoeba Music, an interesting decision I can vibe with because I move so much.




5. Låpsley - "Station" 2014  A projector, a video camera, and a willing participant were all that they needed to make this video. Using what you've got and keeping it minimal can be magical with the right team.



As proven previously with his remix of Daughter's "Youth," Budo has the amazing ability to make a great song into something that tugs at my heartcords and makes me wonder when he'll get the shine he deserves.




6. The Smiths - "How Soon Is Now" 1984  This song is 32 years old and still sounds fresh every time, to me at least. The Smiths have likely heard this song so many times that they cringe at the first note. I'm pretty sure that making something that can have this much longevity is what most musicians dream of.




7. Grape God feat. Ripley Snell - "Point God" 2014  (PORTLAND MUSIC)  I'm not into basketball but I definitely fuck with this song and these dudes. I've had the pleasure of booking these guys for a couple shows in The Crocodile Back Bar and they were just as weird as I hoped they would be.




8. Dam Funk - "Mirrors" 2009  This song was released on Dam Funk's 5xLP Box Set, Toeachizown, back in 2009 (here's what Pitchfork thought about it).  Shoutout to Peanut Butter Wolf for playing a vital role in the release of this album and everything else that you do, Stones Throw or otherwise. Peace and love to Folerio!




9. SBTRKT feat. Sampha - "Look At Stars" 2010  This was a bonus track on SBTRKT's self-titled amazing album. I've yet to see either of these artists live but I'm working on fixing that. SBTRKT is one of the Kings Of Music Videos With Masks, alongside MF DOOM of course.




10. Meyhem Lauren feat. Action Bronson + Heems - "Special Effects" 2012  Yet another video that makes me want to use a projector as a television. Shoutout to Action Bronson for showing the world that stoners CAN get shit done.

Ten Music Videos with Product Placement

1. DJ Shadow + Cut Chemist - "Product Placement" 2001  *These two the kings of Product Placement. Like their Brainfreeze album, Product Placement is a mix of all 45s, this one is made up of old commercials and jingles.




2. Zuke Saga x J'Von - "Meltdpzza" 2014 (SEATTLE MUSIC) These guys amaze me and not just because they burned McDonald's products in their video.




3. The Rolling Stones - "Waiting On A Friend" 1981  I love that this video exists, there's a Miller Lite in it...and some tight white pants. This is from an era when they were still cool.




4. Got A Girl - "Did We Live Too Fast" 2014  This video from the Dan The Automator side project, Got A Girl, has ads for third eye surgery. It's perfectly weird, kind of reminds me (in the best way) of his album with Lovage, Music To Make Love To Your Old Lady By.




5. OCnotes - "Fish + Chips" 2014 (SEATTLE MUSIC) OCnotes with the Proctor Silex Toaster, the Mystery Coke machine, Pike Place Market, and a magic microwave.




6. Prof - "Gampo" 2012  In this video for my favorite Prof song, he pays tribute to Jameson and PBR. There's also a miniature giraffe and some chocolates.




7. Def Dee - "C'mon Now" 2014 (SEATTLE MUSIC)  This video is like a commercial for Seattle and it has a Coca Cola machine at the beginning.




8. SZA - "Julia/(Tender)" 2014  Wishing that SZA hadn't played in Seattle the same night as Mos Def and DJ Shadow + Cut Chemist. I made a great choice with Shadow and Cut Chemist's Renegades Of Rhythm Tour but I would have loved to have seen SZA. Due to the Beats headphones in the sand, this may actually be a really good commercial.




10. Quasimoto - "Catchin' The Vibe" 2014  This has cans of Karhu (a Finnish beer) as product placement. Plus this dude is slanging his product from a shopping cart. All hail Lord Quas. I would love to see Madlib back in Seattle someday soon, maybe the Madvillainy 2 tour?

Ten Music Videos with Special Effects Part III

1. Oddisee - "After Thoughts" 2013  *Oddisee is a supremely talented musician who deserves the sustainable music career he is working towards.



2. Dudley Perkins - "State Of Emergency" (Produced by Madlib) 2013  *Dudley Perkins is also Declaime, I love Declaime.




3. Model 500 - "The Flow" 1995  *I originally fell in love with Juan Atkins Remix version of the I found on the Everything But The Girl Edition of the Back To Mine Series (2001).




4. Q-Tip feat. Norah Jones - "Life Is Better" 2008  *Norah Jones pairs well with Hip Hop.




5. Cut Chemist feat. Chali 2na and Hymnal - "Turn It Around" 2013  *I hope this mean there will be a Cut Chemist tour.




6. L'Orange - "The Epilogue" 2011  *L'Orange is the new hotness, even though he's been around for awhile.




7. 14KT feat. Tiffany Page - "The Inside" 2013  *14KT has a Super Snap, you'll see.



8. Kool and Kass - "Arrested Development" 2013  *They are just so likeable.




9. The Flight - "Dark Corners" 2013  *I would love to hear the instrumental version.




10. DJ Krush feat. CL Smooth - "Only The Strong Survive" 1995  *This song is still way awesome.