Directors

Update February 2010: I don't have time to check the links and I'm a bit tired of the fact that YouTube keeps deleting files. I'm afraid this part of the site has had its time. It started out as a list of links back in the days when online video was still rare and people would rejoice when they found a copy of a beloved video online. With the advent of YouTube I added YouTube links, but there's little point to that anyway.

Spike Jonze has directed many seminal music videos: The Beastie Boys: Sabotage, The Beastie Boys: Sure Shot, Fatboy Slim: Praise You, Fatboy Slim: Weapon of Choice, The Pharcyde: Drop, The Chemical Brothers: Elektrobank and many more. If you haven't got it already, get the Spike Jonze retrospective DVD.

Anton Corbijn has directed many classic music videos for the likes of Depeche Mode, U2 (One, Electrical Storm), Nirvana: Heart shaped box, Golden Earring: Quiet Eyes, Metallica: Mama said, Joy Division: Atmosphere and many others. If you like Anton Corbijn's work the Depeche Mode DVD "The Videos 86>98" is worth buying. I can highly recommend the Anton Corbijn DVD, even if you don't like or even know some of the featured artists. In 2007 Anton Corbijn directed his first feature film, Control.

Jonathan Glazer is another director who has directed some seminal music videos: Radiohead: Karma Police, Radiohead: Street Spirit, Jamiroquai: Virtual Insanity, UNKLE: Rabbit in your headlight, Richard Ashcroft: A Song for Lovers and Massive Attack: Live with me, which can be viewed here (click music videos then Jonathan Glazer). In 2001 he completed his first full-length movie, Sexy Beast. I just loved the scene where the rock rolled down from the mountain into the swimming pool. He also directed the Levis commercial with the guy and girl running through walls.

Chris Cunningham has directed a handful of legendary music videos: Madonna: Frozen, Aphex Twin: Windowlicker, Aphex Twin: Come to Daddy, Björk: All is full of love. They are included on the Chris Cunningham retrospective DVD.

Michel Gondry is the man behind one of the best dance videos of all time, Daft Punk: Around The World and countless other great music videos. If you haven't got it already, get the Michel Gondry retrospective DVD.

I like the dirty realism of Jonas Akerlund. The Prodigy: Smack my bitch up, Madonna: Music, Metallica: Turn the page, The Cardigans: My favourite game, The Smashing Pumpkins: Try, Try, Try and Robbie Williams: Come Undone.

Hammer & Tongs. They directed Blur: Coffee & TV, Badly Drawn Boy: Spitting in the Wind, Supergrass: Pumpin up your stereo, Fatboy Slim: Right here right now, among others.

Floria Sigismondi has created a unique aesthetic universe, akin to that of The Brothers Quay, Jan Svankmeyer and Romeo Castellucci and the Societas Raffaello Sanzio. She has directed Marilyn Manson: The Beautiful People, David Bowie: Little Wonder, David Bowie: Dead Man Walking, Tricky: Makes me wanna die and Amel Larrieux: Get Up (QuickTime 12.8Mb) among others. The video she did for Amon Tobin: 4 Ton Mantis (QuickTime 15.7 Mb) is incredibly beautiful and very inspiring.

Traktor is the collective behind Basement Jaxx: Where's your head at, The Prodigy: Baby's got a temper and some great commercials for the likes of Nike and Siemens.

Stephane Sednaoui has directed some wonderful videos, including The Smashing Pumpkins: Today, U2: Discothèque, The Red Hot Chilli Peppers: Scar Tissue, MC Solaar: Le Nouveau Western, Depeche Mode: Dream on.

Mike Mills is perhaps most famous for Air: All I Need. He also directed two rather sad, melancholic videos: Everything but the Girl: Temperamental and Les Rythmes Digitales: Sometimes as well as various other videos. He's also a graphic designer.

Mark Romanek has directed some seminal videos for the likes of Nine Inch Nails, Madonna, The Red Hot Chilli Peppers, Beck and Janet Jackson.