Video Focus: The Chemical Brothers - Hey Boy Hey Girl

Nothing like an intriguing music video to liven up a Thursday night! Here's a 90's dance anthem from The Chemical Brothers with a suitably psychedelic video. First off, I'd suggest watching the video in it's entirety.


Copyright: Astralwerks/Virgin Records/EMI (1999)


I bet your thinking "what the hell was that?". Well, join the club, as that was what I first thought when I watched it 20 minutes ago.

It's not until I'd watched this several times, that I started to grasp a potential concept about this video - of course, this is just my take on it. To really understand this music video, I'll give you abit of back story.

The Chemical Brothers are a English duo that make "big-beat" dance tunes, and were very much at the forefront of the UK "rave culture" during the 90's. Their big bass electronic tunes were common place at raves up and down the country.

When taking their "rave/clubbing" background into account when viewing this video - it opens a few windows into what it's all about. First off, in the first half we have this young school girl who seems to be fascinated with skeletons/bones of mammals, triggered potentially during a trip to a museum (the book on the bus and the amazement of the skeletons when in the museum itself) in which she later breaks her arm. The interest in the skelton/bones seemingly develops while viewing her x-ray with great interest and intrigue.

Fast forward through the ages, from the bathroom where she's touching her jaw, into a nightclubs toilet. Now, I think at this point, this is where the rave and drugs culture that was widely common place shows it's part.

There are various factors that point to this young lady taking drugs/halloucinogens.

• The touching of the face in the toilet mirror. At a young age, it could be seen as imagination. At the age of the clubber it is more likely to relate to drugs use, such as a halloucinogenic "trip" that has taken her back to her childhood fascination of skeltons.

• The water bottle she carries with her. It is widely accepted advice that you should drink alot when taking halloucinogens to avoid exhaustion.

• The vacant expression on her face most of the time. 

• The fact she is seeing everyone in the club as a skelton! Including the taxi driver! 

There are several aspects of this video I like however. 

• Visual effects - the visual effects are great in this video. The sequence between 2:00-2:08 where the young girl turns into a skelton, then turns into the clubber, while the background is also changing is superb. Also, the detail in the skeltons must have taken a great deal of time and effort, the result is totally worth in though.
  
• Audio manipulation - the manipulation of the music to be more realistic when the female clubber is in the toilets is also really clever. The audio change at 2:09 (to 2:23 when she leaves the toilets) focuses more on the muffled accoustics and the high bass output that you'd hear say, when your outside a nightclub. I'd like to use audio manipulation like this in my music video - as it is likely to be of a dance genre.

• Lighting realism (especially 2:49-3:18) - the lighting is realistic, but highlights facial features and the party atmosphere in the video really well. It shows the dancefloor is a energetic, colourful, vibrant and fast paced location.

• Cameo appearence - you know those 2 guys getting out of the car near the end? They were the Chemical Brothers! I might make a cameo appearence in mine... a la Alfred Hitchcock. ;)

Simply put, I love this track, and the video fits the tune really well. It's a video that'll make you stop, and want to think further about it after you've watched it. You'll probably watch this several times, to grasp the "raver" concept. :)