Music and visuals have a long standing symbiotic relationship when it comes to the music business. There are many examples of this relationship that goes back as far as the history of film itself. Some of the earliest shorts ever produced have something to do with music. One of the best prime examples comes from a familiar name to all of us. That name is the Walt Disney studios. Disney commissioned a series called the Silly Symphonies that melded the ideas of visuals set to music. These were highly successful and artistic works of art that stretched the imagination of man and art. When done properly they create magic and transport the viewer into a mythical land where all things seem possible.
Then there are examples like the new Darrell Kelley video made to accompany his new single “I’m So High”. This is one case were the production values and concept can end up hurting the audience’s expectations of the song they are taking in visually. There is a sense of dullness in the film itself that casts a pall over the whole video. Starting off in a semi-tawdry fashion the look of the video itself had a dampening effect on my enjoyment of the song itself. R&B Hip hop is all about embracing the fun of life and even the song lyrics themselves suggest that instead of enjoying the blunt Kelley is smoking he is worried about the effect of the powerful THC that this weed has on him. He seems more concerned about basic mot or skills and functions than he does about the power weed has to set you free from anxiety.
Between the vaguely uncomfortable exploitation of women that the video leaves like a residue on my eyeballs, and the creepy kind of lighting and showing the touristy side of Las Vegas, this video just does not leave me satisfied or curious to spend any more time with the seamier side of this artist. Which is a shame, because when done well this type of song should be fun, no? To me there is nothing more annoying than making an experience be banal and unsatisfying artistically. I’d prefer to watch Kelley smoke that weed with a bunch of puppies and kittens rather than the Vegas streetwalker type of girls gyrating soullessly away in the background. Words to the wise; if you are going to do stuff like this you had better come correct, because you will not get repeated views with ho-hum substandard dreck like this.
