New Arcade Fire Video- ZOO TV Influence?

[Pete12U2]

I just watched the video for the new Arcade Fire single "Reflektor," and I couldn't help but notice the Zoo TV visual influence. I immediately thought of U2's use of the Giant Heads and the Mirrorball Man.

I know Anton Corbijn directed the video which makes the connection even stronger to me. Just curious if anyone else agrees or if I am just that bored waiting for this new album to come out!

Heres the video:
Reflektor - Arcade Fire

 

[Headache in a Suitcase]

You're just that bored

 

[subnet]

Opening sequence is a hint at the music from the Toronto band Holy Fuck.

 

[purpleoscar]

Competition for U2. Oh Noes! And they are working with Bowie which his Berlin period influenced Achtung Baby! Conspiracy!

 

[mofo82]

I just watched the video for the new Arcade Fire single "Reflektor," and I couldn't help but notice the Zoo TV visual influence. I immediately thought of U2's use of the Giant Heads and the Mirrorball Man.

I know Anton Corbijn directed the video which makes the connection even stronger to me. Just curious if anyone else agrees or if I am just that bored waiting for this new album to come out!

Heres the video:
Reflektor - Arcade Fire

Thanks for posting the link Pete. Just watched/ listened to it for the first time and really like where Arcade Fire is going. I see the similarities you point out but I don't see any blatant 'rip offs'. Very creative and awkwardly interesting is how I'd describe the Reflektor video.

 

[LemonMirrorSky]

Honestly, similarities like big heads and mirrorball men only occurred to me after you pointed them out. While watching this video for the first time yesterday never did I once think that oh no! they are rippin U2 off! That said, it is very much possible that they were inspired by arguably U2's greatest live tour. Anyway, interesting video and song, that.

 

[Pete12U2]

Just to be clear, I am not accusing them of ripping U2 off. I was looking at it as more of an influence, which all artists use and I appreciate.

I just thought it was a cool connection and use of an influence, if there was an influence at all.

 

[david]

Maybe because of the hat the mirror guy was wearing, but he did remind me of late 80s bono... Covered in mirrors.

The big head thing was created a long time ago by a dance troupe in the UK I believe.

 

[Headache in a Suitcase]

My first thought upon seeing the video was "wow, that's a shitty video."

 

[Spun2U]

my first thought upon seeing the video was "wow, that's a shitty video."

+1

 

[LemonMirrorSky]

Come to think of it, that mirrored guy in the video... his side profile looks a lot like that famous silhouette of Bono wearing a hat during the Joshua Tree tours.

 

[U2NativeSon]

they have other videos with the "heads"

Arcade Fire presents Sprawl II (Mountains Beyond Mountains) - YouTube

Arcade Fire - Sprawl II Invitation (Pool) - YouTube

Arcade Fire - Sprawl II Invitation (Dance) - YouTube

 

[gvox]

Do you need to drop acid to "get" Arcade Fire videos?

 

[Rhiannon64]

Come to think of it, that mirrored guy in the video... his side profile looks a lot like that famous silhouette of Bono wearing a hat during the Joshua Tree tours.

Yeah, kinda like Mirrorball man meets JT Bono.

What is the story line to that video? I've watched it a few times and I'm trying to piece it all together.

Also, sounds like Bowie singing in the background towards the end. (MirrorMan is holding up a wooden thing to the sky when a Bowie-esque voice comes in).

 

[domo-kun]

Just to be clear, I am not accusing them of ripping U2 off. I was looking at it as more of an influence, which all artists use and I appreciate.

I just thought it was a cool connection and use of an influence, if there was an influence at all.

Reminds me more of a good mix of everything that Anton has probably seen in his life.

Depeche Mode's video for Suffer Well (also directed by Corbijn), especially with the mirror ball part. Exactly the same. He places objects, preferably lights in the middle of the frame all the time.
The whole , I'm in a car driving theme has been done before too, (Depeche Mode - Behind the Wheel/ and Question of time.
Paper heads, mirrorball man, might be a U2/Zootv refference and so on.

I guess that's what happens when you do to much directing in a short period of time.


I DO like the video. Ripoff or not.

 

[digitize]

Also, sounds like Bowie singing in the background towards the end. (MirrorMan is holding up a wooden thing to the sky when a Bowie-esque voice comes in).

It doesn't just sound like Bowie. It is Bowie.

 

[Tom in Boston]

Bono is in the new Arcade Fire video.

Edit: I'm dumb. I can't figure out how to embed it. Here's the link.

 

[U2girl]

Going from Zoo TV to Discotheque.

 

[mikal]

I will say that Bono played that very well.

 

[gvox]

Achtung Babies: Why Arcade Fire Are Having Their U2 Moment - Music, Celebrity, Artist News | MTV.com

I guess U2 die hards on Interference weren't the only ones who saw parallels

Honestly..while the Reflektor video doesn't scream OMG THEYRE COPYING U2!11!1! to me, it would be hard to put that video, plus the Saturday night special with its U2ey references throughout, together in context, and not come up with many of the same conclusions as the article I've linked above.

 

[u2popmofo]

My first thought upon seeing the video was "wow, that's a shitty video."

So they ARE copying U2!!!!!