Lost Video Island

[LVI Bot]

"Happytown" 06-04-2006
Are they missioners of faith or grace or vision or are they grinning prisoners in Happytown?

A slightly ominous and allegorical ensemble piece with music by Buddhist/cowboy folk duo Dave Carter and Tracy Grammer.
Song: Happytown by Dave Carter and Tracy Grammer
Vidder: thefilmchick
Length: 3:36 (26.9MB wmv)

Link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qhdlCA1OfzQ

[Aislynn]

Very nice! I liked how it was upbeat yet ominous all at the same time. Great job!

[thefilmchick]

Thanks, Aislynn! I'm glad the ominousness (ominosity? kidding!) came through, and wasn't sure if it would effectively enough - though anything with Henry Gale smiling certainly hits properly frightening levels, I think.

Good to hear the contrast wasn't too jarring, either. There's a certain sinister element in the lyrics too, though. Viddy below:

Happytown, Dave Carter/Tracy Grammer

Beat down, misdirected, cropped short and sized to fit.
Honey, if we're still connected, I could really use a hit.
I am not lookin' for a key to open every door,
Just a pillow on the floor where we can sit.

Here in the shining city; here in the endless summer;
Here in the cave of wonder, number ninety-two.
The sky of never-was was never quite this blue,
But it's all right, it's all right with me, if it's all right with you.

Guru child on glory mountain, waitin' patient, turtle wise.
Twenty years of bliss and countin' -- trips and riddles in his eyes.
He says the primal quest ain't nothin' but a second guess.
Sometimes you just do your best to compromise.

Here in the shining city; here in the endless summer;
Here in the cave of wonder, number ninety-two.
The book is empty from the sparrow's point of view,
But it's all right, it's all right with me, if it's all right with you.

Shootin' fools and starry gazers, wizard-hip and button-down.
I walk the Occam's razor way through priests and circus clowns.
Am I a missioner of faith or grace or vision or
Another grinning prisoner in Happytown?

Here in the shining city; here in the endless summer;
Here in the cave of wonder, number ninety-two.
We chase the shadows of the chosen and the few,
But it's all right, it's all right with me, if it's all right with you.

So strap me in, I'm goin' clear; I'm burnin' circles 'round the sun.
The Fisher King is here, but he is not the only one:
Parsifal and Valentino, ridin' winged palominos,
Willie in his El Camino, on the run.

Here in the shining city; here in the endless summer;
Here in the cave of wonder, number ninety-two.
The gods will lounge around until the show is through,
But it's all right, it's all right with me, if it's all right with you.

[leylin]

that was great!!

( i watched it once without stopping, then again, and during it, i'de pause it and write these comments, their all in order of the song, but sorry if it didnt make sence, i wrote what was on my mind,lol).

i loved how u started out with that fog and charlie playing the guitar (with the song). and sayid looking into the village then shanon, i dont know why, i just thought that part was cool. I liked how the whole vid. had that foggy/ happy kind of feel to it. and again, i love charlie playing the guitar to the song. it just fits. tripps and riddles in his eyes with sawyer,lol. 1:29 in has the footage of charlie again,( i know, its like i love charlie, but i like how that fit into the song perfectly!), but i love the face pan!! circus clowns with hurley and charlie dancing,lol. wow! cave of wonder, and u had that map that sayid cant figure out!! i would have never thought of that in like a million years!!lol. "chosen" with the captives, thats great. aww! jin and sun look so happy!!

wow! I loved it! it was soo original and creative!!
I liked how it didnt drag on. thats a hard song to vid withought making it drag on and loose the viewer's attention (and believe me, im a hard person to keep the attention of,lol.). it didnt really get boring. and (im not sure if i said this before) but I liked how it was all foggy/ misty/ lazy-kind of happy.
loved it! great job!!!

[thefilmchick]

Thanks for the detailed comments, leylin!

As far as the Sayid-in-the-village to Shannon-sunning-herself transition, I think that works well because it's the first instance of the lyrics and as such had to be the most direct and straightforward instance of them, as far as the video was concerned.

It's good to know the Charlie sequences don't get old. I tried to use different points and time the chord changes to his hand changes, but I was still worried that they would be like, 'Oh no, here comes the guitar again.' I had to recycle the shots, though, but I generally did that when the song itself was recycled, so I think that works too.

As far as the 'chosen and the few' lines with Henry Gale picking out Hurley and then a shot of the captives, I like that as well, given how chilling the words are when put into that context.

And regarding the fog, it's good to know that didn't seem hackneyed. I needed a little something to distinguish the choruses without isolating them completely from the song; that seemed like a good thing to use and, as you pointed out, contributed to the misty feel of the song.

So thanks!

[PsychoCynic]

A nice feel-good video. Very cute/well-done job!

[thefilmchick]

Thanks, PC! Though I don't know if 'very cute' is exactly the term I'd give to half of the shots, but hey.

The next video I'm planning is 'Prison Grove'-style super-dark, though, so I guess you're probably right, considering.

[PsychoCynic]

thefilmchick wrote:

Thanks, PC! Though I don't know if 'very cute' is exactly the term I'd give to half of the shots, but hey. The next video I'm planning is 'Prison Grove'-style super-dark, though, so I guess you're probably right, considering.

I only used the term "very cute" because of the song. It just has a very happy-go-lucky feel to it. However, I do notice the ominous clips you chose that (oddly enough) accurately represented the song lyrics.

So, for lack of a better word, you conveyed many uplifting/saddening emotions with this. Er, you get what I mean.

[littleton_pace]

I agree with PC, very happy go lucky song. the lil "it's alright, it's alright with me. if its alright with you." is twirling round and round my head. If this had effects I think it may get a gold sweet clip choice to, but you know that already

[thefilmchick]

Bah, effects. Too much of a premium on 'em.

And you saw ship scenes in this one too. But yeah, the song will stick in your head. Good luck with that!

[thefilmchick]

(Couldn't resist mentioning/bumping this one up--is anyone else cracking up at the commercials for ABC's 'Happytown' that air during Lost, or is it just me?)