Videos: MIA, Coldplay, the Hold Steady

While checking out a new No Age video the other day, I got shot to this terrific Web site that, honestly, I still don’t fully understand.

The nondescript Director’s Bureau seems to be a joint effort by some of the best young directors out there, people like Patrick Daughters (who did the “1 2 3 4” video for Feist) and Sophia Coppola, who really needs no introduction. Each director has their own page that includes, along with a brief bio, an archive of their videos.

I guess the site is a way for the directors to promote their work while putting out new material. But I’m not quite sure. Variety describes it as a “videos and commercials venture.” Which means … I don’t know, exactly. Where are you when I freaking need you, Wikipedia?

Regardless, these are directors that really know how to work a music video. It’s a cool site. Check it out.

Anyway, the following videos have nothing to do with that Web site. Here we go:

MIA – “Paper Planes” – Video

The controversy over MIA’s hit song “Paper Planes” is a bit interesting. Her video has caught flak for its gunfire, and also for MIA’s past. Some have accused her, wrongly, of being a terrorist sympathizer. To read about how she does not support terrorism, check out this post from Pitchfork, which also makes note of this Village Voice article, written back in 2005, when a sales bump from Judd Apatow trailers was still just a glimmer in the collective eye.

Coldplay – “Viva La Vida” – Video

Coldplay released two videos for “Viva La Vida.” Neither are sponsored by Apple. The second one, from photographer Anton Corbjin, is fairly awful. It has Martin walking around dressed as king. After all, the song’s about a guy who USED to rule the world, get it? Sigh. Moving on, the other one, from Hype Williams, is only moderately awful. So here’s that.