Mr Mysterious by Vanessa Amorosi
Remember when Vanessa Amorosi was the chubby 90’s face of the millennium? (Actually, I have no idea if anyone outside of Australia knows who Vanessa Amorosi is now, let alone back in 1999 - this song is a good introduction. It totally empowered a 14 year old me).
But she’s all grown up now, got a new do and some awesome tatts, teaming up with Seany B (I dont care what anyone says, that voice is amazing) and rocking some attitude.
It’s not really that great a video but the square/boxed effect is done so well that I can’t go past it. Because it’s been done before and done not so well, a long time ago and much more recently. But here, what it does is create a space that’s not actually present.
By using windows and mirrors and frames and by having the camera move in and out of these boundaries, it feels like the video is taking place in several different scenes, when really, it’s just one white (or possibly green) studio.
The costume changes really help create the illusion of multiple spaces as well but what’s most effective is the image flipping - which is interesting because let’s face it, it’s just an effect they stole from KeyNote. But we’re so used to an image flipping insinuating that time has past, in this video it really pulls the clip along for 4 minutes.
After my little Jason DeRulo product placement rant, I have since learned that Apple do not (will not) pay anyone for product placement (and really, why would they need to?). So the inclusion in this video (and every second one made nowadays) of an iPhone baffles me - do we really think Apple products are that exclusive and cool and even the slightest glimpse of the iPhone will get us onside with it’s owner? (She says as she types this on a MacBook).
All up, I really do like this video, and while I always think I dislike the song when the opening chords hit, I always end up singing along by the end. But - just because we all like mistakes - have another watch and keep and eye on her legs and how her tatt’s keep changing sides. :)
