OK Go videography explained

The rock band OK Go has earned considerable fame for their creative but often low-budget music videos, most of which have been promoted through Internet video sharing sites like YouTube.[1] Many of these have become viral videos; the 2006 video for "Here It Goes Again", in which the band performed a complex routine with the aid of motorized treadmills, has received over 50 million views four years later.[2] Their video for Needing/Getting, released February 5, 2012 in partnership with Chevrolet, debuted during Super Bowl XLVI and has over 32 million views on YouTube.[3] Samuel Bayer, who produced many music videos in the 1990s, asserted that OK Go's promotion of music videos on the Internet was akin to Nirvana's ushering in the grunge movement.[2] Many of the videos also use long or single-shot takes, which Salons Matt Zoller Seitz says "restore[s] a sense of wonder to the musical number by letting the performers' humanity shine through and allowing them to do their thing with a minimum of filmmaking interference".[4] The success of OK Go's music first won the band the 14th Annual Webby Special Achievement Award for Film and Video Artist of the Year.[5] The video for "This Too Shall Pass" was named both "Video of the Year" and "Best Rock Video" at the 3rd annual UK Music Video Awards.[6] "This Too Shall Pass" won the LA Film Fest's Audience Award for Best Music Video,[7] UK MVA Awards – Music Video of the Year Winner 2010,[8] among others.

The band has worked with directors including Francis Lawrence, Olivier Gondry (brother of Michel Gondry), Brian L. Perkins, Scott Keiner, and Todd Sullivan. The videos have been screened and displayed at museums, art galleries, and film festivals around the world including The Guggenheim Museum,[9] The Museum of the Moving Image,[10] The Edinburgh International Film Festival,[11] The Los Angeles County Museum of Art,[12] The Los Angeles Film Festival,[13] and the Saatchi & Saatchi New Director's Showcase.[14]

In 2008, Damian Kulash said that the band had not produced the YouTube videos as part of any overt "Machiavellian" marketing campaign. "In neither case did we think, 'A-ha, this will get people to buy our records.' It has always been our position that the reason you wind up in a rock band is you want to make stuff. You want to do creative things for a living."[15]

Style

OK Go's distinctive, choreography-heavy performance style first originated from a 1999 appearance on the Chicago-based public television show "Chic-a-GoGo"; WBEZ radio personalities Peter Sagal, Jerome McDonnell of Worldview, Gretchen Helfrich (formerly of Odyssey) and Ira Glass pretended to play instruments to "C-C-C-Cinnamon Lips" as OK Go danced, because the band wasn't allowed to play live on the show.[16] On August 31, 2006, OK Go appeared live at the 2006 MTV Video Music Awards performing their treadmill routine for "Here It Goes Again". On November 7, 2006, OK Go released a deluxe limited edition CD/DVD of the album Oh No. The DVD contains their music videos (dancing and playing instruments), a video of 180 fans performing the "A Million Ways" dance for a YouTube contest, previously unseen footage, and a behind-the-scenes look at their treadmill rehearsals for the "Here It Goes Again" video and for the MTV VMAs.

Discography

Studio Albums

Videos

Videos from OK Go

"Get Over It"

"Don't Ask Me"

"Don't Ask Me (Dance Booth)"

"You're So Damn Hot"

"What To Do"

Videos from Oh No

"A Million Ways"[21]

"Here It Goes Again"

"Invincible"

"Do What You Want" (Party Version)

"Do What You Want" (Wallpaper Version)

Videos from Of the Blue Colour of the Sky

"WTF?"[35]

"This Too Shall Pass" Official Video (Marching Band)[39]

"This Too Shall Pass" Rube Goldberg Machine[42]

"End Love"[46]

"White Knuckles"[51]

"Last Leaf"[58]

"Back From Kathmandu"[64]

"All Is Not Lost"[68]

"Needing/Getting"[72]

"Skyscrapers"[76]

Videos from Hungry Ghosts

"The Writing's On the Wall"

"I Won't Let You Down"

"Upside Down & Inside Out"

"The One Moment"

"Obsession"

Special collaborations and non album-related videos

"Today Goes Viral"[86]

"The Muppet Show Theme Song"[88]

"Primary Colors"[94]

"Saatchi and Saatchi Music Video Challenge 2013"[97]

"OK Go: An NPR Tiny Desk Concert In 223 Takes"[100]

"All Together Now"

Notes and References

  1. Ranking the OK Go Video Catalogue: Are the Videos Always Better Than the Songs? . . 2010-11-10 . 2010-11-26 . Nate . Jones .
  2. News: Here they go again: new OK Go video is a White Knuckle ride . Priya . Elan . 2010-09-25 . 2010-09-25 . . London.
  3. Web site: Super Bowl Commercials 2012: OK Go's Chevy Sonic Music Video. sbnation.com. 13 June 2013. 2012-02-05.
  4. Web site: Can OK Go save the movie musical? . 2010-09-21 . 2010-09-25. . Matt Zoller . Seitz .
  5. Web site: 14th Annual Webby Special Achievement Award Winners . 2010-05-04 . 2010-05-04 . . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20130404205528/http://www.webbyawards.com/webbys/specialachievement14.php . 2013-04-04 .
  6. News: OK Go win video of year award . 2010-10-13 . 2010-10-13 . . London.
  7. Web site: OK Go win Audience Award For Best Video . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20110204083659/http://2010.lafilmfest.com/award-winners/ . 2011-02-04 .
  8. Web site: OK Go Win UK MVA Awards Music Video of the Year. Ukmva.com .
  9. Web site: YouTube Play: Live from the Guggenheim. guggenheim.org. 26 July 2013. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20130720012218/http://www.guggenheim.org/new-york/press-room/news/3758. 20 July 2013.
  10. Web site: Spectacle:The Music Video. movingimage.us. 26 July 2013. 7 January 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200107110623/http://www.movingimage.us/exhibitions/2013/04/03/detail/spectacle-the-music-video/. dead.
  11. Web site: 'Here It Goes Again,' OK Go's Latest Homemade Video (on Treadmills) Added by VH1. prnewswire.com. 26 July 2013.
  12. Web site: OK Go Video Release Party @ LACMA. breesays.buzznet.com. 26 July 2013. https://archive.today/20130726203719/http://breesays.buzznet.com/user/journal/6722401/ok-video-release-party-lacma/. 26 July 2013. dead.
  13. Web site: TIMELINE: 2010-2012. lafilmfest.com. 29 July 2013. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20130806142216/http://www.lafilmfest.com/about/festival-history/timeline-2010/#.UfaO6mTzZCc. 6 August 2013.
  14. Web site: Saatchi & Saatchi New Director's Showcase. saatchi.com. 26 July 2013. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20130518095352/http://www.saatchi.com/new_directors_showcase. 18 May 2013.
  15. Book: Kirsner , Scott . Fans, Friends & Followers: Building an Audience and a Creative Career in the Digital Age . 2009 . CinemaTech Books . Boston, MA . 978-1-4421-0074-9 . 88 . 2013-07-03 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190630034130/http://www.scottkirsner.com/fff/ . 2019-06-30 . dead .
  16. News: Peter Sagal And Ira Glass In A 1999 OK Go Video, Seriously . 2010-03-10 . 2012-08-21 . Peter . Sagal . NPR .
  17. Web site: Get Over It - Official Video. YouTube. 13 June 2013.
  18. Web site: Don't Ask Me - Official Video. YouTube. 2022-06-27.
  19. Web site: Don't Ask Me (Dance Booth) - Official Video. YouTube. 2022-07-01.
  20. Web site: You're So Damn Hot - Official Video. YouTube. 2022-07-06.
  21. Web site: A Million Ways - Official Video. okgo.net. 13 June 2013.
  22. Web site: A Million Ways - Official Video. YouTube. 2022-07-06.
  23. Edmond. Maura. Here We Go Again: Music Videos after YouTube. Television & New Media. 15. 4. 305–320. November 27, 2012. 10.1177/1527476412465901. 145150774. 14 June 2013.
  24. Web site: OK Go to Perform 'Here It Goes Again' - On Treadmills! - On MTV's Video Music Awards on Thursday, August 31st. prnewswire.com. 15 August 2013.
  25. Web site: Here It Goes Again - Official Video. YouTube. 2022-07-06.
  26. Web site: Kaufman. Gil. YouTube Faves OK Go: The Band Least Likely To Become Famous For Their Dancing. https://web.archive.org/web/20111113163338/http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1539637/go-risk-becoming-goofy-dancing-band.jhtml. dead. November 13, 2011. MTV News. MTV. 14 June 2013.
  27. Web site: Nike's Viral Attachment. freshpeel.com. 15 August 2013. 2008-01-11.
  28. News: YouTube Presents First Awards . . 2007-03-26 . 2008-03-26.
  29. Web site: New OK Go Video Is For The Dogs (And The Goats!). Yahoo Music. 21 June 2013.
  30. News: Sudath. Clair. The 30 All-TIME Best Music Videos. Time Magazine. 13 June 2013. 28 July 2011.
  31. Web site: Invincible - Official Video. YouTube. 8 Aug 2022.
  32. Web site: Chiemi. Walking Asakusa with Olivier Gondry. Ping Magazine. pingmag.jp. 14 June 2013. 3 June 2013. https://web.archive.org/web/20130603105310/http://pingmag.jp/2006/10/10/walking-asakusa-with-olivier-gondry/. dead.
  33. Web site: Do What You Want - Official Video. YouTube. 9 Aug 2022.
  34. News: Dansby. Andrew. In OK Go's case, video saved the radio star. 15 June 2013. Houston Chronicle. 16 February 2007.
  35. Web site: WTF? - Official Video. okgo.net. 13 June 2013.
  36. Web site: WTF? - Official Video. YouTube. 10 Aug 2022.
  37. Web site: OK Go The Making of WTF. ifc.com. 14 June 2013.
  38. Web site: The OKGO WTF effect. blog.makezine.com. 14 June 2013. 2010-01-18.
  39. Web site: This Too Shall Pass Marching Band - Official Video. okgo.net. 13 June 2013.
  40. Web site: This Too Shall Pass, Marching Band - Official Video. YouTube. 10 Aug 2022.
  41. News: Nagy. John. A 'massive explosion of joy and music'. 13 June 2013. Notre Dame Magazine. Winter 2009–2010.
  42. Web site: This Too Shall Pass Rube Goldberg Machine - Official Video. okgo.net. 13 June 2013.
  43. Web site: This Too Shall Pass, Rube Goldberg Machine - Official Video. YouTube. 10 Aug 2022.
  44. News: How OK Go's Amazing Rube Goldberg Machine Was Built. wired.com. 14 June 2013. Dylan. Tweney. 2 March 2010.
  45. Web site: How OK Go Built the Craziest Rube Goldberg Machine Yet. 3 March 2010 . gizmodo.com. 14 June 2013.
  46. Web site: End Love - Official Video. okgo.net. 13 June 2013.
  47. Web site: End Love - Official Video. YouTube. 22 April 2014.
  48. Web site: OK Go "End Love" – Masters of the One Take Music Video, by Gunther and Lieberman. motionographer.com. 14 June 2013. 2010-06-22.
  49. Web site: OK Go Answer Readers' Questions About 'End Love' Video. spinner.com. 14 June 2013. 16 December 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20191216011512/http://www.spinner.com/2010/07/13/ok-go-answer-readers-questions-about-end-love-video/. dead.
  50. Web site: Buxton. Adam. BUG BITES: OK Go - End Love. Adam Buxton's Bug. Sky Atlantic. 14 June 2013.
  51. Web site: White Knuckles - Official Video. okgo.net. 13 June 2013.
  52. Web site: White Knuckles - Official Video. YouTube. 15 Aug 2022.
  53. News: OK Go's new music video for 'White Knuckles' features talented dogs (and raises money for homeless animals). latimesblogs.latimes.com. 14 June 2013. 24 September 2010.
  54. Web site: The Greatest Music Video Ever: OK Go White Knuckles Dog Video. talentedanimals.com. 14 June 2013.
  55. Web site: OK GO HITS TV CIRCUIT WITH "WHITE KNUCKLES". fender.com. 14 June 2013. 14 July 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20140714130238/http://www.fender.com/news/ok-go-hits-tv-circuit-with-white-knuckles/. dead.
  56. Web site: OK Go "White Knuckles". nintendo.com. 14 June 2013.
  57. News: New OK Go Video Promotes Animal Rescue Efforts. huffingtonpost.com.com. 14 June 2013. Victoria. Fine. 21 September 2010.
  58. Web site: Last Leaf - Official Video. Okgo.net. 13 June 2013.
  59. Web site: Our Story - Laser Cutting and Manufacturing Blog. Dangerawesone.co. 26 May 2023.
  60. Web site: Last Leaf - Official Video. YouTube. 15 Aug 2022.
  61. Web site: OK Go: Last Leaf (Video). 10 November 2010. theawesomer.com. 14 June 2013.
  62. Web site: Samsung NX100 and OK Go "Last Leaf" Video Collaboration Premieres Today. businesswire.com. 14 June 2013. 2010-11-09.
  63. Web site: OK Go Toast to New Video for 'Last Leaf'. 9 November 2010. billboard.com. 14 June 2013.
  64. Web site: Back From Kathmandu - Official Video. okgo.net. 13 June 2013.
  65. Web site: Back From Kathmandu - Official Video. YouTube. 16 Aug 2022.
  66. News: Behind The Music: Is It OK For Bands to Court Brands?. guardian.co.uk. 29 July 2013. London. Helienne. Lindvall. 1 April 2011.
  67. Web site: Range Rover goes viral with OK Go and their new geo-mapping app. thenextweb.com. 14 June 2013. 2010-11-18.
  68. Web site: All Is Not Lost - Official Video. okgo.net. 13 June 2013.
  69. Web site: All Is Not Lost - Official Video. YouTube. 19 Aug 2022.
  70. Web site: Iezzi. Teressa. OK GO'S HUMAN KALEIDOSCOPE, ALL IS NOT LOST, AND HOW IT TRANSLATES INTO SALES. FastCoCreate. FastCompany. 13 June 2013. 2011-07-28.
  71. Web site: Clark. David. New 3D OK Go Video "All Is Not Lost" Now On Nintendo Video. 3Dsview. 13 June 2013. https://web.archive.org/web/20140714225245/http://www.3dsview.com/2011/07/27/new-ok-go-video-all-is-not-lost-now-on-nintendo-video/. 14 July 2014. dead.
  72. Web site: Needing/Getting - Official Video. okgo.net. 13 June 2013.
  73. Web site: Needing/Getting - Official Video. YouTube. 19 Aug 2022.
  74. News: OK Go and Chevrolet Team Up for Auto-Acoustic Awesomeness . wired.com . 13 June 2013 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20130522023126/http://www.wired.com/geekdad/2012/02/ok-go-chevrolet . May 22, 2013 .
  75. Web site: How fun.'s 'We Are Young' Scored Chevy's 'Stunt Anthem' Super Bowl Spot. billboard.com. 13 June 2013. 2012-02-06.
  76. Web site: Skyscrapers - Official Video. okgo.net. 13 June 2013.
  77. Web site: Skyscrapers - Official Video. YouTube. 19 Aug 2022.
  78. Web site: OK Go "Skyscrapers" Available on Nintendo Video on: Mar 29, 2012. nintendo.com. 13 June 2013.
  79. Web site: OK Go - the Writing's on the Wall - Official Video. YouTube. 19 Aug 2022.
  80. Web site: OK Go - I Won't Let You Down - Official Video. YouTube. 19 Aug 2022.
  81. OK Go - Upside Down & Inside Out . YouTube. 22 Aug 2022.
  82. OK Go – The One Moment – Official Video . YouTube. 22 Aug 2022.
  83. Web site: Background Notes and Full Credits for the One Moment Video.
  84. Web site: OK Go - Obsession - Official Video - YouTube . . 22 Aug 2022.
  85. Web site: Archived copy . 2017-11-24 . 2017-11-26 . https://web.archive.org/web/20171126155330/http://www.doubleaxokgo.com/website2/home/en.html . dead .
  86. News: 'Today' Hosts Get Trapped In Ping-Pong Filled Tubes For OK Go Video (VIDEO). huffingtonpost.com. 15 Aug 2013. Jack. Mirkinson. 18 November 2010.
  87. Web site: Ok Go Music Video for TODAY | Archives | NBC News. YouTube. 24 Aug 2022.
  88. Web site: OK Go and The Muppets - Muppets Theme Song Video. okgo.net. 13 June 2013.
  89. Web site: The Muppets Show Theme Song - Official Video. YouTube. 24 Aug 2022.
  90. Web site: 'The Muppets' Tribute Album Features Weezer, OK Go, Andrew Bird, My Morning Jacket & More. 27 June 2011 . blogs.indiewire.com. 17 June 2013.
  91. News: OK Go and the Muppets Star in New Video, Internet Explodes. newsfeed.time.com. 17 June 2013. 24 August 2011.
  92. Web site: OK Go Perform With The Muppets On Jay Leno. gigwise.com. 13 June 2013.
  93. News: Muppets, OK Go, And Zach Galifianakis Star In The Ultimate Internet Video. huffingtonpost.com. 13 June 2013. Dan. Abramson. 23 June 2010.
  94. Web site: OK Go and Sesame Street Team up to Teach Primary Colors. npr.org. 29 July 2013. 9 March 2013. https://web.archive.org/web/20130309234351/http://www.sesameworkshop.org/our-blog/2012/01/31/ok-go-and-sesame-street-team-up-to-teach-primary-colors/. dead.
  95. Web site: Sesame Street: OK Go - Three Primary Colors. YouTube. 26 Aug 2022.
  96. Web site: Al Jarnow Directs OK Go Video For Sesame Street. numerogroup.wordpress.com. 29 July 2013. February 2012.
  97. Web site: The Saatchi & Saatchi Music Video Challenge. Talenthouse.com.
  98. Web site: OK Go - I'm Not Through. YouTube.
  99. Web site: OK Go - I'm Not Through. YouTube.
  100. News: OK Go: An NPR Tiny Desk Concert In 223 Takes. NPR. 3 June 2013. npr.org. 13 June 2013. Boilen. Bob.
  101. Web site: OK Go: An NPR Tiny Desk Concert in 223 Takes. YouTube. 26 Aug 2022.
  102. Web site: 2020-05-13. OK Go - All Together Now (Official Video). 2022-08-26. YouTube.
  103. OK Go Premiere New Song for Frontline COVID-19 Workers . Claire . Shaffer . May 13, 2020 . May 13, 2020 . .