By : TEAM TOS
MUMBAI :
There are songs and there are music videos. As soon as the songs start climbing up the charts in their respective countries, and before they go on to become international hits, a music video is often released to cash in on its success and it is this music video, which if shot well, can be a make or break factor, going a long way in determining how the song performs on the charts. After “sexy women,” the second most obvious choice for shooting music videos are “cool cars” and that is why this week, we write about seven cool songs that have featured some of the most unforgettable cars in their music videos. Needless to say, these cars have been imprinted on our minds forever.
Austin-Healey 3000
Everybody wants to rule the world by Tears for Fears
The British band, Tears for Fears, use a British sports car, an Austin-Healey 3000, in their 1985 video Everybody wants to rule the world from the album, Songs from the Big Chair. The video features a green Austin-Healey 3000, being driven by their lead singer Curt Smith around southern California and the scenes oscillate between open roads and an in-studio performance. Everybody wants to rule the world topped the charts across several continents and not simply because it was a great song with some unforgettable beats and lyrics but also because it featured a handsome and powerful sports car. With lyrics such as “Welcome to your life, there’s no turning back/ Help me make the most of freedom and of pleasure/Nothing ever lasts forever…” which other song could get in its way of soaring up the charts? Not many as few could compete with Tears for Fears’ absolutely refreshing musical sound that gave out the quintessential 80s vibes. This song was also used in the 1985 movie Real Genius. And oh, the Austin Healey 3000 wasn’t all they featured in their beautiful video, in fact, the video also featured a few ATVs (All-Terrain Vehicles) and dirt bikes. The video ended with Smith driving on into the sunset.
1965 Chevrolet Impala Super Sport
Life is a highway by Tom Cochrane
Canadian singer, Tom Cochrane’s hit song Life is a highway from the album Mad Mad World, features a red 1965 Chevrolet Impala Super Sport in the video. This song was originally written as Love is a highway back in the 80s but it remained unfinished and thereby unused by Cochrane, back then. This song, with most of its vocals recorded in Cochrane’s home studio, peaked on the Billboard charts in the 90s. Cochrane’s video is remembered not merely for featuring a really cool car but also for featuring a ‘Fender Telecaster,’ better known as the world’s first commercially successful solid body electric guitar. The video with the red 1965 Chevy Impala Super Sport was shot in Alberta, Canada and features the Dinosaur trail.
Ferrari F355 GTS/Lamborghini Diablo SE30/ Ferrari F40
Cosmic Girl by Jamiroquai
Cosmic Girl by British Funk/Acid Jazz band Jamiroquai, from their album, Travelling Without Moving, is nothing short of a tribute to the finest Italian supercars out there. Cosmic Girl, please do note, features no girl, despite its enticing title, instead, it features a black Ferrari F355 GTS, a purple Lamborghini Diablo SE30, and a red Ferrari F40 which actually belongs to Pink Floyd’s drummer Nick Mason, who is also seen driving it in the video. The video is all about these car drivers having a blast, racing each other on the highways as well as in some really scenic mountainous locations, in Cabo de Gata, Spain. During the making of the video not only was one Lamborghini Diablo completely totaled but the one used in the video also ended up with a smashed windscreen thanks to one of the crew cameras falling on it. That is why if you look carefully, you will see that the purple Lambo has no windscreen which is what is giving Jay Kay, that wind in the hair effect as he speeds to play catch up.
Jaguar S-Type
Desert Rose by Sting
The video of the song Desert Rose by Sting, featuring Algerian legend, Cheb Mami, from the album Brand new day, will probably be remembered by many teenagers for introducing the Jaguar car to them, during MTV’s nascent days. The video features Sting, seated comfortably in the backseat of the Jaguar S-Type, with the windows partially rolled down as he enjoys the desert air and records on a sleek silver Handycam, while a lady chauffer wearing oversized black sunglasses drives him through the Mojave desert. The video shows the Jag moving from the desert and entering a bustling city with neon lighting all over the place followed by Sting entering a nightclub and performing alongside Cheb Mami. Watch this video to see some really beautiful side profiles of the Jaguar S-Type, especially the ones shot in the desert.
Shelby Cobra
Payphone by Maroon 5
Payphone by American Pop Rock band, Maroon 5, featuring Wiz Khalifa from their album, Overexposed, depicts a custom 1967 Shelby Cobra that is being driven by Adam Levine, who is being chased down by cop cars through a desert after an armed bank robbery. This is a video that tells the botched-up love story of a guy and a girl and how things between them now hang in a limbo. With high octane stunts in the video with guns, helicopters and car blasts, there is some very skillful driving involved too. The video is a mini film of sorts with a storyline that doesn’t exactly make sense but then when there is a Shelby Cobra starring in the video, we’re only too happy feasting our eyes on it.
1968 Chevrolet Impala
How Bizarre by OMC
New Zealand’s OMC had a smash hit with their song How Bizarre which featured in their debut album with the same name and the song did supremely well internationally as well. The music video featured OMC’s lead singer Pauly Fuemana driving a red 1968 Chevrolet Impala with his buddies. The video which was shot on a shoestring budget of $7000 also had a dash of quirkiness to it with a mix of pop and rap. The music video featured some really good frontal shots as well as some toppish shots of the red car with generously-sized black leather seats. However, what this music video will probably be remembered for most is the license plate of the car which didn’t feature a registration number, instead had the band’s name, OMC, emblazoned on it.
1970 Dodge Challenger
Show me how to live by Audioslave
Show me how to live from Audioslave’s album by the same name was a huge hit especially for its rock sounds. The video features a 1970 Dodge Challenger and quite a bit of illegal driving, not to mention some dangerous road racing as well. A guy with a convertible is driven off the road followed by a cop who is pursuing the Dodge, who also goes on to meet the same fate. It is very rare to see a white car in any of the music videos but this video features the 1970 Dodge Challenger in white and it does look uber cool what with the extensive desert serving as a backdrop. The car is driven through a desert with the windows rolled down and besides the action sequences, there is also a road block thrown in with two heavy duty earth movers with cops stationed outside waiting for the Dodge to arrive, so that the occupants of the car can be arrested. There is something very retro not just about the car but also about the feel of the video. The Radio Jockey’s words “Freedom of the soul” best encapsulate the driving experience in that 1970 white Dodge Challenger. Watch the video to see how it all ends.
