Please recommend music videos emphasizing the dancing
November 22, 2015 12:36 AM Subscribe
I'd like to watch more music videos showing dancers performing on stark, monochromatic, ultra-clean sets like those in Taylor Swift's Shake It Off so I can see what the dancers are doing.
Typically I only like both kinds of music (country and western!) but I really liked watching all the different styles of dancing in her video. Obviously there are tons of music videos online that have tons of dancing but most of the ones I see either have a lot going on visually in order to tell some sort of story or only show very brief clips of dancers. Either way I can never really see the dancers perform. Please recommend music videos from any and all genres where all the viewer sees is the dancers well-lit, in a distraction-free setting. Cheers!
Typically I only like both kinds of music (country and western!) but I really liked watching all the different styles of dancing in her video. Obviously there are tons of music videos online that have tons of dancing but most of the ones I see either have a lot going on visually in order to tell some sort of story or only show very brief clips of dancers. Either way I can never really see the dancers perform. Please recommend music videos from any and all genres where all the viewer sees is the dancers well-lit, in a distraction-free setting. Cheers!
Best answer: C2C's Happy focuses on dancers, with muted scenery. Great dancing.
Two Cousins is only dancers.
posted by BungaDunga at 1:14 AM on November 22, 2015
Two Cousins is only dancers.
posted by BungaDunga at 1:14 AM on November 22, 2015
Not a professionally made video, but you might like this one, beginning at 50 seconds in (posted by a choreographer to showcase her work).
posted by taz at 2:40 AM on November 22, 2015
posted by taz at 2:40 AM on November 22, 2015
Best answer: The obvious example is Beyonce's Single Ladies.
Drake got a lot of shit for the dancing in his recent Hotline Bling video, but I find it utterly charming, especially paired with the James Turrell-esque backgrounds.
There's some good dancing by a variety of body types in All About That Bass.
Sia's Chandelier features modern dancing wunderkind Maddie Ziegler, who was on the reality show Dance Moms.
The infamous choreography in the Beyonce video was inspired by Bob Fosse's choreography for the song Mexican Breakfast. Fosse's choreography is absolutely bonkers. It's not a music video, but here's a great medley of his work from the movie Sweet Charity. You'll want to watch this on full-screen.
posted by Brittanie at 2:41 AM on November 22, 2015 [3 favorites]
Drake got a lot of shit for the dancing in his recent Hotline Bling video, but I find it utterly charming, especially paired with the James Turrell-esque backgrounds.
There's some good dancing by a variety of body types in All About That Bass.
Sia's Chandelier features modern dancing wunderkind Maddie Ziegler, who was on the reality show Dance Moms.
The infamous choreography in the Beyonce video was inspired by Bob Fosse's choreography for the song Mexican Breakfast. Fosse's choreography is absolutely bonkers. It's not a music video, but here's a great medley of his work from the movie Sweet Charity. You'll want to watch this on full-screen.
posted by Brittanie at 2:41 AM on November 22, 2015 [3 favorites]
Best answer: Oh, oh, oh -- have I got your new time suck!
Did you know that you do not need to be limited by official videos as put out by the artists themselves? Oh no! Legions of talented people are making dance videos for popular songs that showcase their inventive, excellent performances. Search the name of any popular song and "choreography" or "dance" and you'll get wonderful things like this one for "Royals" by Lorde (Dance Centre Myway has tons of videos worth checking out) or this one for "G.O.M.D." by J Cole. It's a rabbit hole of joy on Youtube -- there are a lot of talented people in the world...
posted by pH Indicating Socks at 2:52 AM on November 22, 2015 [3 favorites]
Did you know that you do not need to be limited by official videos as put out by the artists themselves? Oh no! Legions of talented people are making dance videos for popular songs that showcase their inventive, excellent performances. Search the name of any popular song and "choreography" or "dance" and you'll get wonderful things like this one for "Royals" by Lorde (Dance Centre Myway has tons of videos worth checking out) or this one for "G.O.M.D." by J Cole. It's a rabbit hole of joy on Youtube -- there are a lot of talented people in the world...
posted by pH Indicating Socks at 2:52 AM on November 22, 2015 [3 favorites]
Iron and Wine's video for Boy with a Coin.
This guy dancing to Pumped Up Kicks is legendary.
posted by mbrock at 2:55 AM on November 22, 2015 [3 favorites]
This guy dancing to Pumped Up Kicks is legendary.
posted by mbrock at 2:55 AM on November 22, 2015 [3 favorites]
That Pumped Up Kicks video is UNREAL!
posted by Brittanie at 3:22 AM on November 22, 2015 [3 favorites]
posted by Brittanie at 3:22 AM on November 22, 2015 [3 favorites]
Christine and the Queens, Tilted.
posted by matildaben at 3:50 AM on November 22, 2015 [1 favorite]
posted by matildaben at 3:50 AM on November 22, 2015 [1 favorite]
Best answer: Parris Goebel's choreography for the most recent Justin Bieber single was supposed to be the backdrop for a lyric video, but they ended up using the footage (shot on a white soundstage) by itself. (It's great, incidentally)
posted by wreckingball at 4:05 AM on November 22, 2015 [2 favorites]
posted by wreckingball at 4:05 AM on November 22, 2015 [2 favorites]
Have always loved the dance scene from the Godard film Bande a Part. On phone, apologies for the crappy linking!
http://youtu.be/u1MKUJN7vUk
posted by stevedawg at 5:54 AM on November 22, 2015
http://youtu.be/u1MKUJN7vUk
posted by stevedawg at 5:54 AM on November 22, 2015
The new Missy Elliot video WTF
posted by greta simone at 6:38 AM on November 22, 2015 [1 favorite]
posted by greta simone at 6:38 AM on November 22, 2015 [1 favorite]
Best answer: I can watch Levanna McLean (Northern Soul Girl) for hours.
posted by peagood at 7:59 AM on November 22, 2015
posted by peagood at 7:59 AM on November 22, 2015
Best answer: Jungle - Busy Earnin'
posted by hannahelastic at 8:41 AM on November 22, 2015 [1 favorite]
posted by hannahelastic at 8:41 AM on November 22, 2015 [1 favorite]
Best answer: K-pop groups often release 2 versions of a music video - an "official" version and a dance version. The latter can range from full-costume source for the official music video's dance clips to studio rehearsal footage.
An official music video showing only dancing is Exo's "Growl", shot in one continuous take following the members' movements (the studio rehearsal version, for comparison purposes).
Brown Eyed Girls "Abracadabra" performance version - this shows how the song is going to be performed on the television music shows, including backup dancers.
DBSK (or TVXQ, or THSK, depending on whether you know them through their Korean, Chinese, or Japanese name) "Mirotic" dance version - the choreography still looks great after all these years.
posted by needled at 9:13 AM on November 22, 2015 [4 favorites]
An official music video showing only dancing is Exo's "Growl", shot in one continuous take following the members' movements (the studio rehearsal version, for comparison purposes).
Brown Eyed Girls "Abracadabra" performance version - this shows how the song is going to be performed on the television music shows, including backup dancers.
DBSK (or TVXQ, or THSK, depending on whether you know them through their Korean, Chinese, or Japanese name) "Mirotic" dance version - the choreography still looks great after all these years.
posted by needled at 9:13 AM on November 22, 2015 [4 favorites]
Best answer: Man on Fire by Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros. The first bit is cheer/skipping/dance, ballet starts at about 3:15.
There were some fabulous videos that fit your criteria in my previous question, especially this.
posted by Lay Off The Books at 9:19 AM on November 22, 2015
There were some fabulous videos that fit your criteria in my previous question, especially this.
posted by Lay Off The Books at 9:19 AM on November 22, 2015
Best answer: Mickey - Toni Basil
The Pleasure Principle - Janet Jackson (There is scenery but the focus is on Janet's dancing. It's one of my favorite dance videos.)
Rhythm Nation - Janet Jackson
Would Straight Up by Paula Abdul count?
posted by SisterHavana at 12:26 PM on November 22, 2015
The Pleasure Principle - Janet Jackson (There is scenery but the focus is on Janet's dancing. It's one of my favorite dance videos.)
Rhythm Nation - Janet Jackson
Would Straight Up by Paula Abdul count?
posted by SisterHavana at 12:26 PM on November 22, 2015
Best answer: They're only music videos in the most pedantic sense, but Fred Astaire's dances were always filmed with minimal cutting and camera movement, for the reason you're getting at—he wanted you to see the dance. Here's "Puttin' on the Ritz," which features a music video's worth of Astaires.
posted by Polycarp at 1:54 PM on November 22, 2015
posted by Polycarp at 1:54 PM on November 22, 2015
kate bush- wuthering heights
kate bush- running up that hill
sia- elastic heart
posted by iahtl at 2:25 PM on November 22, 2015
kate bush- running up that hill
sia- elastic heart
posted by iahtl at 2:25 PM on November 22, 2015
Response by poster: Thank you to everyone who took time to answer! (In case anyone else comes looking, there are several extra videos with some behind the scenes footage of the dancers in Taylor Swift's video here.)
The infamous choreography in the Beyonce video was inspired by Bob Fosse's choreography for the song Mexican Breakfast. Fosse's choreography is absolutely bonkers.
It's fun to watch the two versions. The contrast of the outfits and music is so great. Beyonce and her dancers seem borderline hostile after watching Gwen and her gals dance to that perky music!
I think I should have waited until after finals to ask this question - so many great videos!
posted by Beti at 3:52 PM on November 22, 2015 [1 favorite]
The infamous choreography in the Beyonce video was inspired by Bob Fosse's choreography for the song Mexican Breakfast. Fosse's choreography is absolutely bonkers.
It's fun to watch the two versions. The contrast of the outfits and music is so great. Beyonce and her dancers seem borderline hostile after watching Gwen and her gals dance to that perky music!
I think I should have waited until after finals to ask this question - so many great videos!
posted by Beti at 3:52 PM on November 22, 2015 [1 favorite]
I can't believe I'm saying this but Justin Bieber's "Sorry" is a bunch of tough happy ladies dancing against a white background and it's SO FUN!
posted by sestaaak at 7:33 PM on November 22, 2015
posted by sestaaak at 7:33 PM on November 22, 2015
Best answer: Beyonce - Upgrade U choreographed by Willdabeast Adams which has a ridiculous 74m views on YT.
posted by PenDevil at 12:13 PM on November 23, 2015
posted by PenDevil at 12:13 PM on November 23, 2015
I saw this compilation video just the other day - 100 dance scenes set to Bruno Mars' 'Uptown Funk'. See how many movies you can name...
posted by DandyRandy at 11:37 AM on November 24, 2015
posted by DandyRandy at 11:37 AM on November 24, 2015
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by zeusianfog at 12:57 AM on November 22, 2015