Songs with multiple videos

Getting back to the idea of finding a video that really works for a song, I wanted to drive home the concept that multiple things can work. Given that, it made sense to go over some of the songs that for one reason or another have multiple videos available. The potential problem with that is that usually one concept is much stronger than the other. I don't think this means that you can't have multiple strong versions, but maybe it just reinforces that it does take some effort.

Let's start with "True Blue" by Madonna. The first version I saw was the winner of a Make My Video contest. The winner, Angel Gracia (along with Cliff Guest), was a film student at the time, and is a professional director now.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rVPxKtdRRVI

When I saw the other version, I thought it was something they threw together quickly because the contest was through MTV, and VH1 needed something to show.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ipt1_N-6cl4&noredirect=1

That was not the case. The video featuring Madonna was shot earlier, and the contest came later. Maybe it was still a little thrown together.

I remember thinking about entering the contest, but how could you have a good video without the musician in it (which we discussed a little bit when talking about the Police). It may seem like even more of a question when you are talking about a performer like Madonna, who is as much personality as musician. Gracia's video still works. There is a sweetness and innocence to it, that would be hard to convey with the Material Girl in the shot.

There is a definite doo wop and girl group vibe to the song, and while both versions interpret that differently, they do incorporate that. Madonna appears in a diner set with a classic car, with pedal pushers and Douglas Sirk style saturated color. Gracia uses black and white photography and full skirts instead. Both have girlfriends playing an important role (though only Madonna has Debi Mazar in hers.) It's interesting looking back 28 years later.

I don't know specifically why there are two versions of George Harrison's "Got My Mind Set on You". Both are by the same director, Gary Weis, so it does not appear to be anyone hating his work in one.

I do know the concept for the one version. Harrison did not want to move around that much, so he plays guitar in a chair while objects around him move. I won't even say that he gets up for one brief dance sequence, because that is just not him.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6WmJUVgHEv8&noredirect=1

Possibly because there was some input from the musician here, I believe it is stronger. The arcade version, while illustrating the determination spoken of in the song, feels much more generic.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ipt1_N-6cl4&noredirect=1

I should also note that Wikipedia says there are three versions, referencing one where Harrison plays against a background of cogs, which is clearly the footage that the girl in the arcade is watching. That's not to days that there might not be a version out there that is only the performance footage, but it's odd they didn't make the connection, and if there is, does the ballerina still pop in?

(Wikipedia still gets great credit for letting me know that the guy in the arcade is Alexis Denisof, which is fun to know.)

Now, I can think of one other song where I have seen two videos, and where one is clearly superior, but only one is authorized, and it's not the superior one, and that will lead us into fan videos. More on that tomorrow.