Lets Talk

[turps]

Earlier I asked about meta as related to the pop fandom. withdiamonds commented with something that made a lot of sense. I think of it as stuff like talking about footage, the music, writing, group history, info and anaylysis and opinion about present day activities for each of the boys, and bitching about JC's non-promo for his never-to-be-released CD. That sort of thing Donna, I hope you don't mind being quoted.

She also said we, as a fandom, don't do enough of that and I agree. I suspect that's because a lot of us have been together in this fandom for a long time. Maybe we think we know what everyone thinks, that you can only say something so many times.

I say, none of that matters.

So, I figured I'd try and get some conversation going. Something easy for now, because this could fall flat, but, shy bairnes get nowt and all that.

Last week a mini discussion about the This I Promise You video happened in my journal. Someone loved it, and the song. Someone wasn't so keen.

What do you think? Do you like the video? What crack were wardrobe on when they dressed them in those outfits? Why the boyband forest of doom? And how the heck does the cafe fit in? Is Joey the best thing ever with his ketchup eating ways? The bubbles. Why? What do you think of the song itself? Good, bad, so so? Is the video a good match for the song? If not, what would you have liked to see instead?

Just tell me what you think about the video and song. Just, no bashing. Disliking things is fine, outright bashing in my journal? That's a big no.

If anyone needs the actual video I'll upload it. If I can find it in my folders anyway.

ETA: Youtube link to the vid is here

ETA2: toeprint reminded me of the other TIPY that was recorded, Joey looking hot is here

Comments

[ephemera-pop.livejournal.com]

I will attempt to form coherent thoughts later but have a drive-by link to the video : http://youtube.com/watch?v=aDpLt9P1crs

[domanivalia.livejournal.com]

Thank you for the link!

[turps33.livejournal.com]

You are a star!

Thanks, honey.

*mwah*

[domanivalia.livejournal.com]

TIPY awww I caught a remix of that at Sonic the other day lol.

Their wardrobe...lol I don't remember. But I can say this as a general 'rule' for fashion. Usually, when things come out, like a new video, at that moment they're wearing what is likely something very in style, at least in the country the artists are from/are filming in. But when you go back and view it, even just a week later sometimes you're like "WTF are they wearing??" lmao. I don't remember outright disliking or being confused by their wardrobe (except for Chris but he was always an enjoyable exception lol). But I'm sure looking at it now I'll be like "WTF were they thinking?"

Bubbles. I loved the bubbles. I loved the images in the bubbles and the childlike feel of a bunch of bubbles around. At the time I thought they looked cool and that was it. Now I think there was deeper reasoning to it, such as the childlike feel. In my experience, promises as children were always kept. Pinky swears, hand shakes, promises; these were all things that we meant and were taken seriously. So TIPY with bubbles was like "See? We're totally serious." lol

Joey with the ketcup = priceless. Top ten of the best random pop moments in history, fer sher ;) Also, Joey and Lance behind the other guys talking in a couple of shots. That was hilarious also.

I loved the song, loved the lyrics, everything. If it were something that came out now I'd say, "It's nice, but unoriginal" (and these days, how many original love songs are their really). But when it came out, it was like OMGTEHBESTTHINGEVAR and I thought it was cool.

What I didn't get about the video was why they were standing around in a forrest to sing a song. I kept thinking of that question "If a tree falls in a forrest and no one was around to hear it, would it still make a sound?" and my BF and I joked that they were just morons standing in a forrest waiting for a tree to fall. Maybe they wanted the coloring, or the lighting...but they could've done better for that. It didn't even look real. It seemed computer enhanced (from what I remember).

*deep breath* wow. I had more to say than I thought lol

[turps33.livejournal.com]

Honey. That's exactly what I wanted.

I'm knee deep in coding still, so will reply fully later. But, thank you! I'd have hated to have a post of silence you know?

*smooch*

You rock!

[domanivalia.livejournal.com]

Okay, the roadkill on JC's pants also wasn't flattering *just watched the vid briefly* lmao I remember never liking those.

[turps33.livejournal.com]

But when you go back and view it, even just a week later sometimes you're like "WTF are they wearing??

You're so right. I think I was commenting to Tine the very same thing. That fashion changes so fast that things get outdates really soon. Still, were furry pants ever in fashion? ;)

Also, Joey and Lance behind the other guys talking in a couple of shots. That was hilarious also.

I only saw that this time. I may have been a little focussed on Chris usually, but they totally are! So funny *g*

Now I think there was deeper reasoning to it, such as the childlike feel. In my experience

You know, I love seeing what people get out of the video, and that's one cool theory. There has to be a reason for the bubbles and that could be it. The serious nature of love and the way it can last forever.

*deep breath* wow. I had more to say than I thought lol

I'm glad you said all that. Thank you!

[glendaglamazon.livejournal.com]

This I Promise You is, to me, one of the heights of boyband cheez, NSYNC style. And that is why I love it so. JC wears fur pants. FUR PANTS! How does it get any better than that? No how. That's how. FUR PANTS! Bubbles! Mighty redwoods, because the only thing mightier than their forever love is the mighty redwoods! And there is ABSOLUTELY NOTHING GAY ABOUT THE FIVE OF THEM SITTING IN A SAN FRANCISCO CAFE SINGING ABOUT LOVING FOREVER! NOTHING!

[glendaglamazon.livejournal.com]

Um, I wasn't done yet, but I guess I got a little excited and posted somehow. I was going to say, I believe the reason Joey (was it Joey? Maybe it was Justin?) ad-libbed the perving on some chick walking by was because he could tell how very NOT GAY, NOPE! the whole setup was.

*sigh*

I ♥ them.

[withdiamonds.livejournal.com]

I don't mind being quoted at all. I miss us talking about these important things, although I'm sure the reason we don't much is exactly what you said.

I adore TIPY the song. I think it's heads above any of the other ballads they did. I never, ever get tired of it. I think JC's voice is breathtakingly gorgeous in it, and totally makes up for the sappy lyrics.

The video-AHAHAHAHAA. When Lance says things like "Joey and I did the treatments for all our videos" I also add "except TIPY" to the end of his sentence. I don't want to think those two crazy kids had anything to do with this. Obviously, someone said "Hey, I wanna go to San Francisco," so they did. And the redwood forest is right there, so let's dress up to blend into the priceless, ageless trees, and then we can film random people, and then follow it up with a meal at a cafe on the bay. The video looks like it cost them about $3.99 to make, since I would imagine both locations were either free or cheap. Maybe it had something to do with not spending a lot of Jive's money right off the bat? Although the BBB video doesn't look cheap at all.

Anyway, points of love: JC's pants. Lance and Joey talking in the background while the other guys sing. The expressions on both Justin and JC's faces as they sing in the forest. Lance sitting at the table with his chin in his hand looking gorgeous. JC singing "every word I say is true, this I promise you" at the table, and then looking over at Justin as he sings the same line.

The whole time I was re-watching this video, all I could do was laugh and wish that I could watch it with you all at Camp Sparkle.

[glendaglamazon.livejournal.com]

I think you're exactly right about the definition of pop meta, and you are among my most favorite people to pop meta with. I miss that. You need to come to New York sometime soon! Especially if I really do wind up moving across the country. Or better yet, maybe I need to come storm your house for a weekend and laze about and watch footage and meta all the livelong day. :)

[nopseud]

When Lance says things like "Joey and I did the treatments for all our videos" I also add "except TIPY" to the end of his sentence. I don't want to think those two crazy kids had anything to do with this.

No, no, this totally makes sense of the whole thing!

Lance wanted to make a video with them all wearing ugly sweaters while standing in an utterly inexplicable forest full of bubbles (probably because he had a secret love of the '(Everything I Do) I Do It for You' video). And Joey wanted to make a video where they got to hang out in San Francisco and ogle women (no secret reason required). And for once they couldn't compromise, and so they put both things in the same vid, thereby increasing the overall randomness manyfold.

I wish you could be at Camp Sparkle too.

[frausorge]

I think it's heads above any of the other ballads they did.

I'll second that. I'm not a big ballad girl, but there is something to this one. I have to confess though that when I think of this song, I don't think of the actual video but of them on the platform traveling over the concert crowds and Justin looking down kindly at all the screaming girls.

[buddleia.livejournal.com]

1. I still think that they all turned up to the forest set with GIANT MUTUAL HICKEYS and the costume people just did what they could with rollnecks.
2. JC is sincere. Really, really sincere. *hugs him*
3. Justin doesn't understand why everyone else isn't making hand gestures. *hugs him too*
4. Lance is trying really hard not to giggle. *hugs him with care*
5. Chris isn't even trying not to giggle. *steals him*
6. Joey is just happy JC's trousers eclipsed his. *gives him to Lance to play with*

[pensnest]

Yes, yes. In my mind, this is the Nobody Loves Joey video, for he is unhickeyed.

I love the way JC and Justin can Be So Sincere all the time. I spose that's why they're the lead singers?

[trumpeterofdoom.livejournal.com]

I LOVE THE CHEESE THAT IS THE TIPY VIDEO. So, so much. It didn't hurt that they all looked good, but Lance honey, we seriously knew something was up with you when you gave JC that uber meaningful look over the table. BASSEZ 4EVA YAY!

What I really love about TIPY though, is watching the video first, then watching the Mad TV parody of it, because Mad TV followed the format so closely. Comedy gold!

[trumpeterofdoom.livejournal.com]

Also! I'd like to counter this discussion with one dicussing the emoty goodness of either Drowning or More Than That, if only for Nick's twirling and Howie's nipples of DOOM.

[ihearthings-ii.livejournal.com]

it's not my favorite video. it's really kind of painful to watch. I mean, beyond the pretty boys.
I like them in the forrest with the redwoods. I think that's pretty, and it's a good image of like, you know, the forever kind of love - you know their love is like the redwoods, or something like that. it's entirely possible I'm reading too much into this, but well.

but the bubbles? weh? and I think that there are too many of the little stories. I'd rather have seen like, one story, and then have it more detailed, or something.

and it always made me cringe that they were there at that table, all like, 'yes of course, we're having a meal -- and singing! at the same time! because that's perfectly normal'. I don't know why, but it's just. weird. if they'd just been sitting there, I think it would have been okay. but Joey with the ketchup, and Chris with his --- koolaid? -- it's just kind of awkward, I think.

also, even though I don't like a lot of the pieces of clothing they are wearing, I do like the colors, especially in the forrest.

[turps33.livejournal.com]

the forever kind of love - you know their love is like the redwoods

CJ! I think you may have got it. I mean, the gay has been explored, but I think you have the actual reason behind the forest of doom! Forever love. It makes so much sense.

'yes of course, we're having a meal -- and singing! at the same time! because that's perfectly normal'

I've never thought about it that way, but I can see why you do.

Thanks so much for cutting through the wtfness of this.

[http://users.livejournal.com/_unashamed/]

The song is okay. All depending on my mood, some days I can listen to it on repeat, some days I just skip it.

The video doesn make no sense to me. Well, apart from the fact that JC keeps glancing at Lance in the café scene. Hihi.

[turps33.livejournal.com]

I really like the song, but I have to be in the right place to listen. Like, driving, puttering around the house where I can sing along. Yep. When I'm walking not so much.

Well, apart from the fact that JC keeps glancing at Lance in the café scene. Hihi.

That seems to be a popular opinion *g*

[callsigns.livejournal.com]

In my opinion, Yo Te Voy A Amar trumps the English version, at least musically.

[luxshine.livejournal.com]

Really? that's odd. I had never met someone who liked Yo Te Voy A Amar better than This I Promise You. Cool :)

[dryope.livejournal.com]

LOL, I had never seen that. I always forget how much I love JC's voice, because you hardly hear any NSYNC or JC by chance this part of the world. MHMMM.

Yeah, kay, adressing the questions now: JC wouldn't have dressed himself any better and besides his pants I see nothing wrong with their clothes. Justin and Chris look very good even. It's a 90 pop video, so I am not gonna get hung up on the bubbles or any other of the cheesy stuff. They only thing that pisses me off about that video (and I sincerely hope it does not constitute bashing, since I doubt it was his fault) is that I have to wait a whole freaking minute before I get to see anyone but Justin. Is it my devotion to very early Syncers or to BSB or is that the most one person centric boyband video I have ever seen? When JC sings his part there isn't half as much JC-centricness going on, too.

[buddleia.livejournal.com]

JC wouldn't have dressed himself any better
Ahahaha! This is so true, bless his heart!

[vaudevilles.livejournal.com]

I love the emoting in TIPY - it's the complete cheese and one of the reasons I fell in love with the boybands originally. That much earnestness and over the top heartfeltness = LURVE.

Chris is way hot, turtleneck or not.

And obviously they are filmed in the middle of the redwoods because they are all super-endowed and not intimidated by some of the biggest phallic symbols on Earth. And then they're filmed in SF because its a huge gay town and they're not saying anything about that AT ALL.

[turps33.livejournal.com]

I.... Just.... I love my flist. That is all.

And obviously they are filmed in the middle of the redwoods because they are all super-endowed and not intimidated by some of the biggest phallic symbols on Earth.

This is my favourite explanation ever!

btw. mail soon. By the time I'd finished coding last night I was more than ready to get offline.

[turloughishere.livejournal.com]

TIPY isn't among my favourite songs (to put it mildly) or video, but except JC's pants I don't think there's anything wrong with their clothes at all. I love polonecks! And Lance is just so beautiful in this video it's almost scary. No wonder all of the others keep looking at him all the time!

The two things that stands out in my mind after rewatching it now is the tattoo parlor scene in the beginning - at first I thought the woman must be his mother because she looked so much older than him, and then they kissed! clearly Justin had some influence over this scene :-) - and the bit with the elderly guy sketching the girl and showing it to her and she turns her head away - I really disliked how disdainful and bored she looked *frowns*

[pensnest]

I said out loud "I thought that was his mother!" with some indignation when I looked at it this evening. Hmm. I am convinced that your suggestion that Justin had some influence here must be correct. Now then. What was JC's input?

[nopseud]

I love TIPY, probably more than any of the other ballady ones. (Except they covered 'Everything I Own', which, much love.) But the video is so random: forest and cafe, with only the most tenuous bubble-related links between them

So...I'll watch it again.

Redwoods are cool. It should totally be Lance in that tattoo parlour, having JC's Chris's Justin's Joey's oh, God, I can't decide his boyfriends' name put on his arm.

I like how Justin half steps out of the shadows there, looking all pouty and serious. I'd like it even better if he were carrying an axe, but, you know.

OMG! Justin does the boyband-tears thing with his finger! I'd totally forgotten about that, and now all I can see is 'Cry Me A River'. Creepy-psycho=stalker Justin in embryo form.

Here comes Joey, lost in the Forest of Bubbles. (Joey, here in the red jacket, who goes on the play the Big Bag Wolf. I'm sure there's some meta in there somewhere.)

Though it seriously pains me to admit it, even to myself, Justin's singing-face is sometimes not attractive. The one he's making at all aloooooooooooong..., where his eyes are closed, and his mouth is open and kind of twisted to one side, and he had one eyebrow raised, and he's frowning. Just, no.

Okay, these are some seriously fucking ugly sweaters. Did they all have hickies or something and that was all wardrobe had to hand? Although Lance is really working that sweater and jacket look. Smart boy -- cover up the sweater.

Chris...so pretty.

Aha! Joey and Lance *are* totally talking in the background there. Hee! I never noticed that before. Ignoring the sweater, Joey looks pretty hot in that jacket, too. What are the ugliest costumes at the front?

Ack! Closeup of JC's sweater! I think I've been struck blind. (But, dude! He's so *skinny*! And he had such lovely cheekbones.)

FUR PANTS! {falls off chair laughing} (You know he still has them in the closet at home, and he wears them on the special evenings when Justin comes round to spend the night.)

Chris...with a bubble...so pretty.

Emote JC! Emote!

Wow. That was a totally random hand gesture there, JC. One arm across stomach, other arm held at ninety degrees to body and waved around. I have nooooooo clue what emotion that's conveying. (Indigestion, maybe?)

I find it really hard to care about all the random San Franciscans. Especially when I could be watching JC sing instead. Nice concept, though.

Mmm. Hot Joey moment, as he closes his eyes and turns his face away from the camera a little.

Oh, God. Over and over I fall... I don't even care that he's doing some weird hands-to-head-the-wave-in-air gesture which makes him look EXACTLY like a Sim. I just. JC. Voice. He's so. I can't even. I'll be over here, having a moment

Chris...singing...with a little smile...so pretty.

And now JC Sims himself into a bubble, and we will fly! fly! to San Francisco for NO REASON AT ALL. But the sweaters are gone, so it's all good. And, in fact, everyone is dressed almost normally and looking pretty damn hot. Yum. (Special mention for Joey, who is *outstandingly* hot in this part.)

(Do you think JC's still wearing the fur pants? I bet he is. Notice how he's got his hands under the table? Plus, his shoulders keep moving rhythmically all the way through.)

Chris...with shades...so pretty.

Joey! Ketchup! See, you can tell he's an actor, because he can sing *and* handle props.

Hmm. What's everyone drinking? Chris has....something red. Probably with vodka in it. I think JC and Joey both have...a coke? Can't see Lance's. And Justin has a chocolate milkshake! Aha!

Chris...in profile...looking serious...lurve.

(JC just took his hands out from under the table.)

Lance doing his thoughtful little head nodding thing, little smile, looking down thing when JC is singing JUST KILLS ME. And the way JC is looking at him! And the way JC then looks at Justin. And Justin then looks at JC! (Or maybe Lance or Joey, it's kind of hard to tell. (Or maybe all three of them, because I'm 100% equal opportunity about this.) (And Justin is looking at Chris too. It's easy to be distracted because JC is so fucking pretty just there, but he IS.))

FOREST FLASHBACK!

[vaudevilles.livejournal.com]

(Do you think JC's still wearing the fur pants? I bet he is. Notice how he's got his hands under the table? Plus, his shoulders keep moving rhythmically all the way through.)

That certainly explains the longing looks Lance is giving him.

[luxshine.livejournal.com]

Oh, man. I'll admit that This I Promise You and It's gonna Be me are my two favorite videos looks-wise. I also like Girlfriend, but This I promise you? They all look good.

The outfits... milosflaca and I decided to call JC's pants the 'Spot your squirrel' pants because... it does look as if someone had stapled squirrels to his pants! We even had a nice graphic and everything. (Actually, we're always saying we're going to upload that commentary we did. I'll tell her about it again next time I call her)

I really can't comment much on the video because, I'll admit, my brain *melts* with Chris's closeups. From his sweater, to his ears, to his *eyes* I just sort of forget the others are there.

Although I just want to know... what's up with the bubbles?

(And hey, apropiate icon)

[turps33.livejournal.com]

I totally know what you mean about the Chris close ups. When he catches the bubble? *happy sigh*

The video mostly provokes a wtf?! reaction from me. I mean, it looks nice, but makes no sense. I'm sure somewhere there's a storyboard that attempts to make sense of the whole thing, but personally, I just don't get it. Especially the bubbles.

Though now I'll always have a mental image of JC making his squirrel pants *g*

[toeprint.livejournal.com]

I love the song lyrics (Richard Marx yay!) but am not a fan of the video. I think the It's Gonna Be Me video was much much better, because it had a plot, and was entertaining. Of course, IGBM was a fast-paced song so they could show off their choreography.

Actually another version of the video was made, but only two clips surfaced. I only have the one of Joey (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iVW9I7YHQdk), dressed in black and emoting his heart out. I remember the other clip was of the group sitting inside a cafe.

[toeprint.livejournal.com]

Apologies for the multiple posts; LJ was giving me error messages.

[ariadnem.livejournal.com]

I'm finally here!!

I wish I'd said something yesterday, but it was an awful day, and though it'0s not better today, it's too early and problems can wait.

Let's see... though I've always like JC and have totally fallen for him lately, I hate his outfit. Dunno...the pants are hideous and the sweater...they just don't match. I'm worried about his sense of fashion, really.

Lance, always good looking, with his half smile and makes you go "aww...." Lovely and yummy at all times.

Chris. I so freaking love his sweater., I dunno, it gives him this air of seriousness that make you think that when you get close to him will disappear. I really like him. he looks perfect and have to admit that his lips..wow...got a thing w/his lips anyways ^^U He looks like he's surprised when he touches a bubble. Like he's a child and has never seen one before.

Justin looks good, but I can't get why he moves his hands like that when he's in the forest? I mean, can he do something with them? There's even a moment when you can tell he definitely doesn't know what to do with them. *sigh* Lovely anyways.

And Joey...He's just too perfect to be truth *grin* And in the second video he looks so hot! yeah, he's perfect. Now, does he only eats ketchup? I mean, every time you see the images in the restaurant, he's putting ketchup on his burger (or whatever it is that he's eating.

Why is the video in a forest is a mystery to me, but they look good (expect for JC in the forest), the song is beautiful and I always mixed the lyrics in Spanish and English. XD

*glomps*