Jonas Ak
erlund
Jonas Akerlund (born November 10, 1965) is a Swedish film and music video director. He is best known for his stylish music videos, which are often mock forms of movie trailers and short films. Akerlund was first a member of the Swedish black metal band Bathory from 1983 through 1984. From the late 1980s through much of the '90s, the 44-year-old Swedish filmmaker and video director spent his career working with Swedish acts such as Candlemass, Roxette, Sinclair and Whale. In 1997, Akerlund made his first foray into the mainstream music video scene outside of his country in the form of "James Bond Theme" for Moby and "Smack My Bitch Up" for the Prodigy. In 1998 he worked with Madonna for the song "Ray of Light", the celebrated music video won a Grammy for Best Short Form Music Video as well as seven awards at the 1998 MTV Video Music Awards, including the top prize, Video of the Year. Although "Ray of Light" was their first and most celebrated collaboration, Akerlund and Madonna continued their working relationship with videos for "Music" in 2000, "American Life" in 2003, "Jump" in 2006 and "Celebration" in 2009. He has since worked with acts such as Metallica, Christina Aguilera, U2, Blink-182, P!nk, Rammstein, and most recently Lady Gaga. Akerlund is well known for a cinematic and epic style being brought to his music videos that should be viewed as 'mini' movies', they certainly have a clear narrative and lots of pre-song material. He uses cineamtography effectively to create a variety of situations that can shock or present a message.
erlundJonas Akerlund (born November 10, 1965) is a Swedish film and music video director. He is best known for his stylish music videos, which are often mock forms of movie trailers and short films. Akerlund was first a member of the Swedish black metal band Bathory from 1983 through 1984. From the late 1980s through much of the '90s, the 44-year-old Swedish filmmaker and video director spent his career working with Swedish acts such as Candlemass, Roxette, Sinclair and Whale. In 1997, Akerlund made his first foray into the mainstream music video scene outside of his country in the form of "James Bond Theme" for Moby and "Smack My Bitch Up" for the Prodigy. In 1998 he worked with Madonna for the song "Ray of Light", the celebrated music video won a Grammy for Best Short Form Music Video as well as seven awards at the 1998 MTV Video Music Awards, including the top prize, Video of the Year. Although "Ray of Light" was their first and most celebrated collaboration, Akerlund and Madonna continued their working relationship with videos for "Music" in 2000, "American Life" in 2003, "Jump" in 2006 and "Celebration" in 2009. He has since worked with acts such as Metallica, Christina Aguilera, U2, Blink-182, P!nk, Rammstein, and most recently Lady Gaga. Akerlund is well known for a cinematic and epic style being brought to his music videos that should be viewed as 'mini' movies', they certainly have a clear narrative and lots of pre-song material. He uses cineamtography effectively to create a variety of situations that can shock or present a message.
The Ray of Light video cleverly matches the fast and upbeat tone of the song and creates an effective effect as it speeds up the actions of everyday life as people and cars pass by to create a frantic montage like image with Madonna bouncing around energetic in front of the world. The frantic cutting and flashing through streets, journey's and the sky translates well for the fast beat and 'head banging and body bouncing' quality of the song and makes the video particularly memorable.
The Paparazzi video is one of Akerlund's mini movies which sees Gaga in the pre-song material fall off a balcony after a struggle with her boyfriend who tries to force her to have her picture taken by the paparazzi. Throughout the video she is on crutches from the accident, dances and gets revenge on her boyfriend by poisoning and gets arrested whilst images of how fame can kill or ruin lives are depicted. The music video has a clear narrative, shock value, sex appeal and a dark message about fame. The video is interesting as it delves deaper into meanings not particularly linked to the song making it a work of 'fantasy' and having GaGa go through actions like killing and prison are shocking and entertaining.
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