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Uh Huh Her's video for "Explode" keeps it straightUh huh, it's another video. Leisha Hailey and Camila Grey, the musical duo known as Uh Huh Her, released the video for “Explode” this week. The single is the second off their first full-length release Common Reaction, which came out in August.
Like in their debut video for “Not a Love Song,” the pair again turns to animation. Just don't expect any unicorns this time. Great-looking illustrations. Fantastic, fuzzy slow-burn on the song. But I can't be the only one who thought the video was a tad stalkerish, and — how can I put this delicately — straight? I know I'm not alone on the first point since after she watched the video fellow AfterEllen.com blogger StuntDouble commented, “It could double as a video for The Police: every step you take, every move you make, I'll be watching you.”
As for the straight stuff, well, I realize it's not a queer artist's responsibility to depict gay relationships in all of her work. (Plus, Camila has declined to talk about her private life publicly.) But that doesn't mean we can't wish they would. What can I say? I'm greedy about the gay stuff — I always want more. So, what do you think? Cool video? Hot song? And, is it weird to be attracted to a cartoon character?
Submitted by on October 30, 2008 - 11:00am. |
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hmm...yes
just a tad on the stalker side..and disapointing it is on the straight side.
but what got me more is the editing of the lyrics..since when can yo not say "go down" or "inside me". Am i the only one who is baffled by this? those are some of the hawtest lyrics and they cut them...sad
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Voogle A Voogle Plea
I was amazed by the edits!
Uh yeah
What the frick?!
Lil Wayne can talk about licking it like a lolly pop, and making it juicy? But they can't say "go down" and "inside me". That's reidiculous, and I think maybe I'm a little more pissed pff than I should be.
"There is homophobia in every corner and pocket of this world, but at the core ... you just love someone and want to make mixedtapes for them" -Sara Quin
Yeah I'm pissed off about
Yeah I'm pissed off about this too. Lil Wayne, like many other rappers can say stuff like that because it conjures phallic imagery, which is accepted in our patriarchal culture. If you think about the terms "go down" and "inside me" in this context, it is very much about female sexuality, female sexuality regardless of orientation is still shrouded in mystique in our society. Makes people feel uncomfortable I guess.
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"Strong people don't need strong leaders" - Ella Baker
www.youtube.com/user/katejb2
eeee
Screencaps
yeah, I love how so many ppl
yeah, the editing of "down"
yeah, the editing of "down" and "inside me" seems ridiculous.
If the straightness depresses you, just do what I do and pretend that's a tall woman he sees her with upstairs.
Interesting video. When I
Interesting video.
When I pushed play on that video the first thing I noticed was- Hello boobs.
Great song though. Too bad they had to edit it.
I really like this song and
i totally agree
i keep thinking that the woman was some kind of rogue prostitute that was leading him into some unsavory part of town where her gang of prostitute friends were waiting to jump him and steal his money!
oh wait...that was Sin City right?
loved the animation.
the unicorn would of been kick ass too. he could of jumped in with the gang of bad ass prostitutes and kicked some ass too. and if the prostitutes didn't give him his cut...well then he was gonna break bad on them too. the unicorn doesn't play favorites...everyone has the potential to meet the business end of his horn. lol
oh and song editing? not cool/
~birds flyin high~
finally....
i searched all yesterday trying to find a site where i could actually view the video...so thanks. :D when i saw that the video was animated, i was pretty excited cause this is the stuff i love and study. jodi sandler did a fantastic job in my opinion on it...very cool. but on the overal scheme of things i was kinda disappointed. i felt that they almost took all the "energy" out of the song...and i agree i was peeved when they made edits to the song too...but for me explode was a powerful...rock out...energy packed song...and i didn't get that at all here. lastly i think the video was made more "straight" because they want to get a bigger audience...and unfortunately if they made it "gay" they would have possibly been limiting themselves with the crowd that already knows and likes them (for the most part). do i agree with this action...no not really, but the girls are just trying to do the best they can.
you stay. i'll stay. we'll be alone.
but Camilla might be
but Camilla might be straight or bi.. Even if she's not its clear that most of heir fans are of Leisha's primarily (as to how they found the band even if they liked them equally now) and their shows are seen as lesbian shows and they've done nterviews on here both written and on a vlog and even if they are both gay (tho the girl in the vid looks like Camilla) its like a step away from The L Word as I guess it must get annoying a lot of people only go to gigs 'cus of that and scream at every word Leisha says and not Cam and worse stuff like "We love you Alice" :S and you know, not go foe the music so much in many cases, maybe they wanted to step away from that so it was more about the music? Its better than someone *cough Katy Perry cough*making it gay to get attention but like in a fake way with a guy in bed at the end (tho iambeginning to like aspects of that song now)
Saying that tho its pretty animation its a very drab feel for a song I imagined way differently..
Persepolis anyone?
In terms of graphics/animation, it really reminds me of the film/graphic novel Persepolis, don't you think so?
***** ***** *****
Taking off - the novel, coming soon. Starring Katie, a lesbian in London...
In the meanwhile, you can read reviews of films and books with lesbian/bi characters and/or taking place in London at www.takingoff.org
I agree
I thought the same thing...the animation is beautiful.
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Voogle A Voogle Plea
censored!?
Love the song!
It has always been my favorite, but I do not like the video...I mean it's got great animation, but this song needs a bit more than this black and white walk down a snowy path. I guess it's just boring to me...
~Homosexuality is God's way of insuring that the truly gifted aren't burdened with children -Sam Austin~
They could have just left
haha
Location Paris ?
Does anyone know why the animation seems to be located in Paris : typical sideways, cars, bikes, buildings, parks... ? I'm French... that's why I think recognize Paris in the background !
I've always loved this song, I don't mind they changed the lyrics, it didn't strike me at first (my attention was too drawn on the location). And the animation is beautiful !
You're right
Definitely Paris
Yes that is definitely Paris.
Horrible video! Is this really how they see their song brought to life?
It's mediocre, trendy, and soul-less.
(No amount of advanced-techolonogy, combination of red/white/black or allusions to Paris can save that!)
wow
It always saddens me when they edit sonds, but this being the first time I heard the song, I didn't Notice. It does draw you in and hooks you. Maybe it is a song of regret of what could have been, I do not know but the video does seem kinda stalkerish.
Woudl it have been better if her pusherer was a woman? would that make it creepier?
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Everywhere I go the cars all follow me, I'm the girl with magnetic tights.
Voulez-vous travailler avec moi ce soir?
I thought...
The annimation is good but I don't get it...what's with the end? Why can't he walk past the grass? Why does it go fuzzy? And where is annimated Leisha? Lol.
Seriously though it's an awesome song but I'm not feeling the video, it's a bit boring aswell.
KiwiMarie, I thought the person in the window was a girl the first time. Maybe it was just me hoping...
I personally like it. I
I personally like it. I think its a great work .
*wants more*
I love the song but the
And I'd always envisioned it as a much more colourful song, personally.
Love the Video
I actually love the video... from a bi perspective I see the video as the girl leading on a guy... possibly using him and then hooking up with a girl upstairs and him being crushed - try to see it that way if it's not 'gay' enough ha
The lyrics really shouldn't be taken out either!!!
This is pretty disappointing all around
i just watched the video...
i just watched the video... but on youtube (It has been posted once so far). That one wasn't edited.
Though it is possible for someone to replace the edited music with the original.
It doesn't really bother me
The video doesn't really bother me. Because seriously, would anyone really like it better if it was a girl doing the creepy stalking?
Love the song. The censoring is stupid.
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-Everyone is entitled to be stupid, but some abuse the privilege.
I blog, therefore, I am
did you see his chin?
How come the cartoon dude looked like Michael Jackson?
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The 4 winged dear with the metal tongue knows what it takes to get things done.
What the hell is up with
What the hell is up with them bleeping "go down" and "inside me"? That's not even how they meant those lines to be; Cam and Leisha said it themselves.
It's straight because if you want to break into the mainstream, like they're really trying to with UHH, you've got to even things out and appeal to a more general audience. Besides, at least it's a straight stalker, and not a gay one.
Love the feel of the animation, though I prefer the wide shots of them walking because of their super tall forms. Reminds me of Kirchner's "Street, Berlin".
I hear yah
"Besides, at least it's a straight stalker, and not a gay one."
I hear yah! We get enough bad P.R. as it is. Goddamn those lesbian serial-killer movies.
wat??
I am not a fan...
The animation was too slow paced for the song, choppy flash is one thing but the lack of variation with "shots" shows (sorry i am a flash artist and i see things that normal people dont see)
N yeah when can you not say "go down" or "inside me" .Sorry its just unfare how straight people can sing about sex blatenly. but we cant even hint at it...
love the song just had a different music video running through my head :P
uh huh no..
that was sooo anti-climatic! that is my absolute fave song at the moment - and i imagined a kick-ass video when i heard it was animated :(
For me the clip didn't need to be gay, i was more disappointed it was soo straight!!! ha ha if only the guy didn't have facial hair...
really?
really? this video is disappointing, i think.
love the band, love the song
the video, however? not so much.
but, I agree, amazing animation.
just the content was meh
Freaky
The video was freaky in a bad way. The guy seemed to enjoy being a stalker a little too much. Little disappointed in the video, but still enjoy the song.
A cat sees no good reason to obey another animal, even if it does stand on two legs.
I like the song but not the
AmAzInG ViDeO Love it, Love it, Love it!
The music video has an amazing appeal. The animation fits so well with the music, Love it! I was not aware I could actually be attracted to an animated character almost carnal in desire, seduction to my core ;) As for some of the above comments can somebody say, Ultra Crusty Feminazi??? Try to realize the real depth of the video and you may actually discover more about yourself, and if that fails I suggest retail therapy. Hugssss.
you cant handle the truth...
The symbolism of this video is self evident--a dominant female leading a man around like a puppy dog, then dumping him for.....? Or is it running away from the "straightness".? The comments on this board about the "straightness" only proves to me that narrow mindedness is not limited to sexual persuasion.
Obviously, this work is more than visually appealing. If focuses on the mini battles we fight everyday with ourselves, our friends (and wannabe friends), and the decisions that define who we are. It is the artist's own interpretation of their inspiration--the song. Works of art have to be viewed on many levels, and the best ones make us think our own thoughts instead of the group thought that is so pervasive. Free yourself from the spam of your mind and enjoy it for what it is.
i love the song..