VILNIUS - There are two good reasons to purchase a copy of Tango TV's "View of the Year" DVD. The first is to learn all about the nascent state of the Lithuanian pop video. The second is because it's a scream to watch
Tango TV is a national TV channel that targets the young with its music industry orientated programs. It has just released what it claims to be the first ever Lithuanian music video compilation - "Metu vaizdas" (View of the Year). It's a little doubtful that this is the first ever such compilation, but it appears to be the first of its kind available on DVD format that's for general sale in all the main music stores.
"Metu vaizdas" is a compilation of videos from 2003 that that were in competition for best video at the Tango TV awards. While watching it, it is striking just how obsessed Lithuanian pop-video directors seem to be with special effects. True, special effects are very much the norm in pop videos, but these particular special effects tend to make you wonder if you're accidentally watching those swirly Windows Media Player patterns that provide the background to your music. It would seem that Lithuanian video makers either resorted to Windows Media Player-style graphics to make some sort of point about the parlous state of the Lithuanian music industry, or they honestly believe that such designs are a breakthrough in pop video art.
Another oddity that this DVD throws up is that Lithuania has its very own lachrymose version of Enrique Iglesias. Just watch the tearful antics of Alanas Chosnau as he dances along with a stunningly beautiful woman, and you're sure to start wondering if the Iglesias dynasty has a few lost roots somewhere in Palanga.
You'll also notice (it's impossible not to) that half of the videos featured on this DVD were shot using a hand-held camera. Ordinarily, this in no way implies bad quality. Think Dogma. Think Woody. Think Blair Witch.
But unfortunately the effect of this technique as it is here employed by such notable artists as B'avarija, Mango and Outside merely resembles a bad parody of a wobbly home video of a wedding featuring drunk guests doing karaoke.
That said, this compilation does possess some praiseworthy attempts at visually getting to grips with a song.
A cartoon in the manner of Japanese Anime enhances the nature of an Amberlife song, which is one of the few tracks to stand out from the abundance of banal pop rhythms.
The group Kastaneda won Best Video for its song "Sombrero," a truly Latin-style number as the name suggests. The video at least looks professional in its deliberate "Desperado" atmospherics, and is visually playful in its depiction of saloon brawls and gun fights. The song's not bad too.
"Metu vaizdas" is certainly a good way to get a glimpse of Lithuanian pop culture, and there are doubtless a few sociologists out there who might find it a useful study tool as well.
Lake Leigo Music is one of those curiously Estonian events that combine a wonderful sense of creativity with a natural environment. It takes place each summer on the hilly landscapes of the Otepaa highland, and includes a diverse series of concerts. Musicians perform on a stage in the middle of a beautiful lake, while thousands of spectators watch from the sloping shores. But there's nothing at all kitsch about it. The performances can range from the avant-garde, to rock, to somber chamber music. It really is something special, as much for the amazing surroundings and atmosphere as for the music. The concerts go on until late into the night, and there's food and drink available. This year there are three concert days, beginning on July 31 at 5 p.m. The next concert day is on Aug. 7, and the final one is on Aug. 14. For a more detailed program visit www.leigo.ee.
