Week 2 Video Reviews
Rio
Artist's Name:
Michael Nesmith. Nesmith is a songwriter who was once part of the corporate band The Monkees.
Song Title:
The song is titled "Rio"
CD/Album Title
From a Radio Engine to the Photon Wing
Year
1977
Record Company
Pacific Arts
Director
William Dear
Narrative of Video:
The video begins with everything dark except a shining globe in the background and the outline of a person in the foreground. The only thing that is visible on the person is a mouth that is moving. The image becomes clearer and Nesmith’s face becomes visible. The scene changes. Nesmith is in a chair that appears to be being flying. There is a white billowy background that appears to be clouds that change into rippling ocean waves. The next scene is Nesmith’s face hovering in the air, and behind him, are the faces of three women wearing Carmen Miranda type hats who are singing backup vocals. The faces seem to be peering out of the ocean. That scene changes to outer space and Nesmith’s arms are spread with the three women hanging on to them. The overhead camera angle makes it appear that are flying. In the background, a giant moon passes by and then it changes into the earth. The earth, surrounded by stars, is fading away from the camera. It occasionally spins like a large white pinwheel. The next scene shows Nesmith wearing a cowboy outfit, then a tuxedo, and then dancing what could be the waltz with a blonde woman. The scene changes again and Nesmith is walking along a beach toward the ocean. The three backup singers are sitting on outside lounge chairs under beach umbrellas. Nesmith goes over and sits down on one of the lounge chairs. The camera moves in closely showing each of the people then the scene
changes and Nesmith is once again dancing with the blonde woman. As the camera moves back, you can see a stage with a palm tree on each side of where the
couple is dancing. A crowd of dancing couples fills up the space, and Nesmith and his partner dance through the center of them. The video stays on this crowd scene for a few minutes then it shows a solitary white shoe sitting in the center of the dance floor. The camera moves back to Nesmith who is obviously dancing with one shoe off. He a few attempts to put his foot into the white shoe but the woman moves him away from it. He finally walks over, retrieves the shoe, and walks out of camera range. But a moment later he returns, and drags the woman off with him. The next scene shows the woman dragging him across the floor while he is trying to put his shoe on. All the while, this group of people are gathered in the background talking and laughing as if they are at a cocktail party. Nesmith appears again, and a series of clothing changes take place until he is in a tuxedo. A microphone from the 1930s appears and he picks it up and begins singing into it. Now he has four women backup singers, each dressed in a colorful costum and still wearing the large decorated hats. They continue to sing until the blonde woman he was dancing with returns, and they begin dancing together again. The background has changed colors and looks like a sunset. The scene changes again to Nesmith and the three women flying back through space. They fly over the earth and descend onto the earth’s surface. In the next scene, they are dancing again. A man wearing coveralls is there with lighting equipment. As the camera moves in closer, it shows that this man is Nesmith. The video comes to an end.
changes and Nesmith is once again dancing with the blonde woman. As the camera moves back, you can see a stage with a palm tree on each side of where the
couple is dancing. A crowd of dancing couples fills up the space, and Nesmith and his partner dance through the center of them. The video stays on this crowd scene for a few minutes then it shows a solitary white shoe sitting in the center of the dance floor. The camera moves back to Nesmith who is obviously dancing with one shoe off. He a few attempts to put his foot into the white shoe but the woman moves him away from it. He finally walks over, retrieves the shoe, and walks out of camera range. But a moment later he returns, and drags the woman off with him. The next scene shows the woman dragging him across the floor while he is trying to put his shoe on. All the while, this group of people are gathered in the background talking and laughing as if they are at a cocktail party. Nesmith appears again, and a series of clothing changes take place until he is in a tuxedo. A microphone from the 1930s appears and he picks it up and begins singing into it. Now he has four women backup singers, each dressed in a colorful costum and still wearing the large decorated hats. They continue to sing until the blonde woman he was dancing with returns, and they begin dancing together again. The background has changed colors and looks like a sunset. The scene changes again to Nesmith and the three women flying back through space. They fly over the earth and descend onto the earth’s surface. In the next scene, they are dancing again. A man wearing coveralls is there with lighting equipment. As the camera moves in closer, it shows that this man is Nesmith. The video comes to an end.
How the Music and Video Relate:
The music and video relate in content. The lyrics are easily understood to be about taking a trip to Rio, and that is what the video demonstrates.
Review:
In the context of being a music video, it definitely establishes that this isn’t just a clip of someone singing. It tries to convey a complete story. The special effects are well done, but there is too much going on in this video in comparison to the simplicity of the song lyric.