obtusity, 2. March 2007, 06:30
Ciara "Like A Boy" vs. Beyonce "Upgrade U"


Two new videos, including the Diane Martel-directed "Like A Boy," feature these female stars in male garb. One works, the other doesn't.

Flash

("Upgrade U" directed by Melina/Beyonce)
         
i hear they shot four separate videos for Beyonce at quixote studios all one after the other... WHY?? I can't think of a reason as to why anyone would think this would be a good idea. and all directed by the same director, Melina?
         
Nice entry, the Ciara video is excellent. You should post it on antville.
         
melina/melinda/miranda?
         
Her name's Melina. Her last name's Greek, I can't remember it, it's kinda long.
         
yeah it's melina. i'm not sure why i misspelled it twice, but i've fixed it now. thanks.
         
Melina Matsoukas
         
Indeed, the Ciara video is great, especially when posted in with the Beyonce vid which comes up especially short in contrast. A nice set up.
         
This comparo thing is cool. Like Car & Driver.

I have heard (and it seems true) that they are re-releasing the Beyonce "B'day" album - but with a video for EVERY song. Ray Kay did at least one of them, perhaps "Freak Um Dress." I believe this re-issued Beyonce disc will include that Jake Nava shot Shakira duet.

I wonder if the re-issuing deal will work for Beyonce. Obtusity seems to agree that she might be over-saturating the market.
         
Obtusity: It's worth mentioning that Melina is the same director who you trashed for the Ying Yang Twins "Dangerous" video. I'm not entirely sure how that affects your thesis, but it certainly puts the video in a new light.
         
I actually like the Beyonce video a lot.

Here's Status Ain't Hood's thesis on it: (an interesting afterword to 30f's post a few weeks back)
www.villagevoice.com
         
that's a good point otc, i hadn't made the connection. i'm not sure what to think of it either, but regardless the ciara video is a definite progression in terms of content and style for the director, imo.
         
by the way kids , melina had only directed six videos before the beyonce clips all of which are excellent... party people check your horoscopes
         
in my last comment i meant to say the beyonce video instead of the ciara video, since melina directed the former and not the later.