http://www.motiontheory.com/global/qt.php?f=david_gray_one_i_love.mov (Quicktime, ~39 MB)

pdl.stream.aol.com (AOL Link, Quicktime, 33 MB)

Motion Theory creates a multiple exposure in motion, echoing the essence of a David Gray song about a soldier whose last memories, dreams, and love flash before his eyes as he lay dying.

         

AOL Link: Quicktime

.... taking fo'ever on the motion theory site.

I like what Motion Theory's been up to. Of course Gondry did this 10 years ago in the very creative "Hyperballad" but it does show that there are ideas that have some steam (unlike, say, furries).

Also note: David Gray sucks.

         

Thanks for the better link captain.

David Gray does not suck, but unfortunately, this song does indeed suck. It sounds like he's doing an impression of a bad country ballad.

Also, I didn't see anything resembling a soldier in that video and had a hard time figuring out what was going on.

         

it's such a cool concept, executed wonderfully, such a shame it's so prosaic to watch.

i guess the technique (motion control w/ superimposed images) is the same as hyperballad, but it seems a little silly to relate them.

         

I think we all need to watch "hyperballad" again. Like most of what Gondry does (or did), it's wonderful and artistic and ahead-of-its-time, but this video is NOT a copy of it.

First off, the David Gray video has no "superimposed images," double-exposures of the artist (which is the main visual in "hyperballad"), or two-dimensional projections (another thing Gondry used heavily in "hyperballad"). Also, "hyperballad" is loaded with animations and abstract layers, while this one is entirely film-based. In fact, contrary to an earlier comment, the David Gray video is not "motion control w/superimposed images" -- it is solely motion control, carefully composited, with no animation or projections.

I do agree, however, that this isn't one of Gray's best songs, especially since it's got a few moments that head into country music territory for me. In its defense, the lyrics are layered, and there's an emotional story in there -- one I didn't catch until I read the lyrics for myself.

Finally, while the video doesn't have anything resembling a soldier, it does certainly have a lot of flashbacks and death imagery -- overturned car, burnt-down house, woman looking out the window, field that looks like a military graveyard, etc. There's definitely a story there, but like the lyrics, it's not on-the-nose and slapping you in the face with its meaning. To me, that's a good thing.