Stereogum Home
November 9, 2005

New White Stripes Video (Featuring Conan O'Brien) - "Denial Twist"

Directed by Michel Gondry. May cause dizziness. QT | WIN

UPDATE: Cool behind-the-scenes (despite Jack's gripes) ... Part I | Part II (Thanks Scott!)


Photo By Tom Breihan.

Posted at 12:28 PM




51 Comments

very cool, but not as awesome as fell in love with a girl...he did that too right?…and michel g has never done drugs in his life! *snicker* oh well they said the same about dali

Posted by: andhi warhol at 11/09/05 12:56 PM | Reply
Score = 0 Vote up Vote down

I wonder if that means that Conan is a fan of the stripes. I would like to know who Conans favorite artists are, any idea anyone? I know that Letterman is a huge fan of the Foo Fighters.

Posted by: Dude at 11/09/05 1:47 PM | Reply
Score = 0 Vote up Vote down

Great video, Gondry's always are though. This made me want to see which others of his I could find online and thus I posted about it on my site here:

http://earfarm.blogspot.com/2005/11/i-want-my-mtv_09.html

Posted by: Matt at 11/09/05 1:57 PM | Reply
Score = 0 Vote up Vote down

conan's a huge fan of the white stripes, that's why he had them as musical guests for a week straight. i think it's even referenced in the vid.

Posted by: mattshu at 11/09/05 2:20 PM | Reply
Score = 0 Vote up Vote down

awethome. though i think "take, take, take" would've been a cooler single.

Posted by: scott at 11/09/05 2:26 PM | Reply
Score = 0 Vote up Vote down

When conan came to toronto he went to Much Music (like MTV) and requested a white stripes video... i guess thats more proof he likes them.

Posted by: Felicia at 11/09/05 2:29 PM | Reply
Score = 0 Vote up Vote down

Meh.

Posted by: JT at 11/09/05 2:30 PM | Reply
Score = 0 Vote up Vote down

well liking the Stripes might be Conan's only saving grace ... when did he become such a right-wing tool

Posted by: Conan Sucks Teh Ass at 11/09/05 2:41 PM | Reply
Score = -1 Vote up Vote down

Conan likes U2, Springsteen, White Stripes, and Kenny Rogers. His rendition of "The Gambler" is classic.

Ryan Adams was on Letterman last week, after he performed "Come Pick Me Up", Letterman went on about how much he loves that song and how that song accurately details everyday of his life since 14.

Posted by: pinder at 11/09/05 2:42 PM | Reply
Score = 0 Vote up Vote down

I wish Conan would book more of those week long musical guest spots. The Stripes' residency must have past me by this year, but I really enjoyed the Strokes' appearences when "Room On Fire" came out. Who else is worthy of a five-night stand with the Cone-man? I nominate the New Pornographers, though the combined glow of red hair from Carl and Conan may bust TV sets across the land.

Posted by: Erik at 11/09/05 2:52 PM | Reply
Score = 0 Vote up Vote down

One of the coolest videos I've ever seen. The Stripes' videos are always better than the songs they visualize. Gondry is the greatest video director of all time, hands down.

...unless I find out who directed Herbie Hancock's "Rockit," which gave me the night frights as a tad.

Posted by: marathonpacks at 11/09/05 3:09 PM | Reply
Score = 0 Vote up Vote down

Did you notice it's Friggin ONE SHOT??!?!? Watch it again keeping that in mind.
Gondry is a genius.

Posted by: BAM! at 11/09/05 3:30 PM | Reply
Score = 0 Vote up Vote down

Great video, but I'll never understand what people see in that band.

P.S. Conan, a right wing tool? What the hell are you talking about?

Posted by: Billy K at 11/09/05 3:42 PM | Reply
Score = 0 Vote up Vote down

I agree with Billy K on the right wing comment. Also, he just had Neil Young on for a week last week. It ruled, hard.

Posted by: Nate at 11/09/05 3:47 PM | Reply
Score = 1 Vote up Vote down

right wing? I say thee nay.

Posted by: jim at 11/09/05 3:51 PM | Reply
Score = 0 Vote up Vote down

seriously if you are going to call Conan a right winged tool then back that shit up. what the fuck are you talking about. conan + gondry + white stripes = awesome. i can't wait to see this video in large format.

Posted by: halified at 11/09/05 3:58 PM | Reply
Score = 0 Vote up Vote down

Not crazy about the video but Conan owns my soul.

Posted by: Rina at 11/09/05 4:01 PM | Reply
Score = 0 Vote up Vote down

From the desk of Michel Gondry--

Recipe for "Denial Twist" video: Malkovich crossed with "Tiny House" with big splashes of fucked-up and a dash of insane.

Posted by: kyle g at 11/09/05 4:02 PM | Reply
Score = 0 Vote up Vote down

I thought this song was decent before, but watching the video and hearing it all at once made it sound so much cooler. I guess that's the purpose of music videos?

I agree though that "Take, Take, Take" would've been more interesting.

Posted by: Edwin at 11/09/05 4:11 PM | Reply
Score = 0 Vote up Vote down

I'm just curious where the right-wing tool comment would come from...I mean, can you just tell by watching him that he's right-wing? Source? We need some proof here.

Posted by: Justin at 11/09/05 4:16 PM | Reply
Score = 0 Vote up Vote down

Conan is a big fan of rockabilly, I've heard - since the White Stripes sometimes channel a bit rockabilly into their songs, it doesn't surprise me that Conan would be a fan.

Posted by: Joey Headset at 11/09/05 4:26 PM | Reply
Score = 0 Vote up Vote down

Letterman does like the Foos. So does Conan.

From September:

CONAN: Wait, what song was that?
MAX: That was uh, Foo Fighters ["Born To Fly"].
CONAN: That's like the most modern thing you've ever played! You actually played something from like ... that's like from the mid-'90s! That's a new record for you.

Posted by: scott at 11/09/05 5:15 PM | Reply
Score = 0 Vote up Vote down

according to http://www.livejournal.com/community/ohnotheydidnt/ tonite's conan show has been cancelled due to the impending birth of his child.

as a right-wing tool myself, I don't get the conan is a right-wing tool comment.

Posted by: mattshu at 11/09/05 5:23 PM | Reply
Score = 0 Vote up Vote down

Letterman was (is?) also a big fan of weezer. Or at least just the blue album.

Posted by: Bonham Hathaway at 11/09/05 5:33 PM | Reply
Score = 0 Vote up Vote down

That was really fun. Gondry did "Dead Leaves and the Dirty Ground" too, no? Very Eternal Sunshine-esque.

Posted by: Jen W at 11/09/05 5:42 PM | Reply
Score = 0 Vote up Vote down

OK, I obviously need to school you punks. I like Conan. Watch him every night, but I'm no Conan-ite. I'm not one of those freaks that worships him. However, I know the following:

Conan is into rockabilly and surf

Conan collects Gretsch guitars (the rockabilly axe of choice)

Conan used to hang with Rob Schneider and go to all the rockabilly shows in NY when they were at SNL together.

He knows his music in general, and appreciates vintage rock n' roll. You can tell by his bookings. Who else would book Southern Culture on the Skids, Big Sandy, and Los Straitjackets?

Posted by: Billy K at 11/09/05 5:46 PM | Reply
Score = 0 Vote up Vote down

and his most vocal reaction to a musical guest more than likely being my morning jacket's one big holiday: "I am going to buy that CD!"

Posted by: jacob at 11/09/05 5:55 PM | Reply
Score = 0 Vote up Vote down

Um, Bam? It's not one shot. Every time the camera wipes across the screen when J&M go past a wall or through a doorway, that is an edit. An old trick from that 80s Janet Jackson video when she's skipping through her neighborhood (can't remember the song). Still, this Stripes video is cool nonetheless.

Posted by: ScriptGrrl at 11/09/05 6:42 PM | Reply
Score = 0 Vote up Vote down

Actually, that "wipe" trick's been around at least since Citizen Kane. But good catch, though.

Posted by: marathonpacks at 11/09/05 6:48 PM | Reply
Score = 0 Vote up Vote down

so gondry. lots of shapeshifting. kinda boring and funny but not, like conan.

Posted by: anotherone at 11/09/05 7:02 PM | Reply
Score = 0 Vote up Vote down

Conan's actually a lefty, so the right wing tool thing is confusing to me as well.

Conan = the best late night
Stripes = great band

Posted by: F.J. at 11/09/05 8:02 PM | Reply
Score = 0 Vote up Vote down

Conan's obviously less of a prick than Letterman, but wouldn't Conan be the first to agree that the fact that he/they like a band makes said band seem infinitely less cool? I mean, c'mon, people!

Posted by: David at 11/09/05 8:24 PM | Reply
Score = 0 Vote up Vote down

Oh, by the way, including the black bodyguard (and simply re-enacting the final night of the Stripes' 4-night stint on Conan in 2003, given the weight that she places on it in her "White Stripes are racist" theory) is a fuck-you to Amy Phillips. So fuck you, Amy.

Posted by: David at 11/09/05 8:34 PM | Reply
Score = 0 Vote up Vote down

I like that video 'cause it's one of the first where Gondry reveals the trick at the end by panning around the entire set so we can see how everything looked without the distortion effects added. Gondry also directed the video for "The Hardest Button to Button," which is an even bigger headtrip than this one is!

Posted by: Devin at 11/09/05 8:38 PM | Reply
Score = 0 Vote up Vote down

"Oh, by the way, including the black bodyguard (and simply re-enacting the final night of the Stripes' 4-night stint on Conan in 2003, given the weight that she places on it in her "White Stripes are racist" theory) is a fuck-you to Amy Phillips. So fuck you, Amy."

how do you figure? anyway, the bodyguard was portrated by amy's fellow pitchforker, tom breihan:

http://www.villagevoice.com/blogs/statusainthood/archives/2005/10/acting_in_a_whi.php

http://www.villagevoice.com/blogs/statusainthood/archives/2005/10/acting_in_a_whi_1.php

Posted by: scottpl at 11/09/05 8:58 PM | Reply
Score = 0 Vote up Vote down

More about the ideas behind this vid:
http://www.director-file.com/gondry/stripes4.html

Posted by: Kevathens at 11/09/05 11:25 PM | Reply
Score = 0 Vote up Vote down

I like the song, the video is good...I mean it's interesting to watch but nothing to rave about.

Posted by: calliwell at 11/09/05 11:59 PM | Reply
Score = 0 Vote up Vote down

scriptgrrl & marathon packs

I love when people think they know what they're talking about, but don't.

It's funny.

The ENTIRE thing is one LONG TAKE.

Morons.

Read the story about the video shoot on the same page as the video.

Fools.

Posted by: Doog at 11/10/05 2:57 AM | Reply
Score = 0 Vote up Vote down

Conan also does a great Led-Zep.

Posted by: Conanimal at 11/10/05 7:22 AM | Reply
Score = 0 Vote up Vote down

Hold up people.. this is a music video coming from apple.com for free? Is this a special case or can you still get others that haven't been eaten by the new iTMS pay scheme?

Posted by: Dan Kordik at 11/10/05 10:51 AM | Reply
Score = 0 Vote up Vote down

Scottpl, I honestly thought Tom was a white guy when I first read that Voice blog-piece a couple weeks back. I mean, check out that photo of him, Jack, Meg and Michel! He looks as pale as Jack! Either way, my theory holds!

Posted by: David at 11/10/05 12:39 PM | Reply
Score = 0 Vote up Vote down

tom's a tall-ass, lanky white guy who probably knows more about jay-z than most people you'd know. he's also from charm city. he's one badass guy.

Posted by: kc at 11/10/05 4:54 PM | Reply
Score = 0 Vote up Vote down

The quality of the video from the links on S.Gum is pure shite. I also think it's shite that I had to say S.Gum casue those damn stupid Suicide Girls have stolen the moniker S.G. I wish they'd all commit suicide or something. Oh, I shouldn';t have said that, that's just mean spirited. I don;t hope any of the Suicide Girls commit suicide. In fact I hope they all die at the ripe old age of sixty-four. So as I was sayin', I can't tell if it's a good video or not cause the quality of the S-Gum links is so bad. In answer to your questions in the order that they were asked. 1) It IS a good song. B) The video seems to suck (see quality rant above) and iii. Conan's show is tired and repetitive, a dig that the director may or may not have intended seeing as how he reuses the same schtick in all of his videos. Conans schtick is all physical comedy which is why it won't work in the 11 o'clock time slot when most people he appeals to, namely the Stuff reading crowd are out at the bars bangin down brewski's. That said thank god for gondry for whithout him we would be without such a great schtick to complain about in the first place. Also, which do you prefer S.Gum or S-Gum? hmmm? How about S.gum? Nah.... that's just silly.

Posted by: DinoDie at 11/10/05 10:28 PM | Reply
Score = 0 Vote up Vote down

WORST. COMMENT. EVER.

Posted by: nick at 11/11/05 5:34 AM | Reply
Score = 0 Vote up Vote down

luv the white stripes, like the video, love love love the song (and their whole album for the matter) and love conan. nuff said.

Posted by: Alexis at 11/12/05 4:54 AM | Reply
Score = 0 Vote up Vote down

I love The White Stripes; not only is their music fantastic, but their videos are never boring! This new video for “Denial Twist” has to be one of their best yet. I’m a huge fan of Conan O’Brien, since I think he has the best musical guests on late-night TV. It’s refreshing to see someone joining in the fun and allowing their name and image to be used in another project. It’s nice someone has truly has a sense of humor! I like the part where Meg is giving Conan a neck rub and where Jack pulls Meg off the stage with his cane. I like the behind-the-scene footage too!

Posted by: Twentieth Maine at 11/14/05 6:26 PM | Reply
Score = 0 Vote up Vote down

just so you guys know conan is also a huge weezer fan as am i, and on more than one occasion has talked about his teenage obsession with the who. As he has had roger daltry and pete townsend on on more than one occassion.

Posted by: big jon at 11/30/05 1:06 AM | Reply
Score = 0 Vote up Vote down

<---right wing..don't say it like it's a bad thing..I don't like the a Stripes..but Meg sure has a nice rack!

Posted by: Rod at 12/01/05 9:21 AM | Reply
Score = 0 Vote up Vote down

It's obviously not one take as BAM! claimed. The editing is just really smooth and the edits don't jump out and punch you in the face like they do in rap videos for example. The transitions between the different rooms were most likely where the edits take place, but even if they were editing while the subjects were in motion I still wouldn't be suprised. The White Stripes videos always incorporate innovative editing, remember "Seven Nation Army"? The editing in that video won so many awards. Also, Gondry's videos are good, but I wouldn't say he's the best. I'd give that award to Spike Jonze (anyone see his video for "california"? now THAT was one take all the way through, and the guy was on fire the whole time, amazing). Anyways, just putting my 2 cents into the discussion here.

Posted by: Harry the filmmaker at 01/15/06 7:31 AM | Reply
Score = 0 Vote up Vote down

whether the `denial twist` vid is edited OR one long take - does it really matter?! its a bloody good video(m.gondry is so clever!), a bloody good song and the white stripes are a bloody good band, and thats all that matters!!! wow their videos rock...

Posted by: bea at 06/19/07 10:44 AM | Reply
Score = 0 Vote up Vote down

uh, i agree wit doog (way above) - harry the filmmaker should really read that other page about the photo shoot. it WAS one long take actually. jus` sayin`!

Posted by: bea at 06/19/07 10:57 AM | Reply
Score = 0 Vote up Vote down

Leave a comment


2008 Gummy Awards show

 

The 'Gum Drop

Get our newsletter. MP3s and giveaways weekly.

Search




Sort by:date relevance

Information

  • Contact:
  • About
  • Press
  • Advertising
  • Stereogum RSS Stereogum RSS XML Icon
  • MP3-Only RSS Stereogum RSS XML Icon

Staff

Founder/Editor-In-Chief
Scott Lapatine
Executive Editor
Amrit Singh
Senior Writer
Brandon Stosuy
Columnist
Jon McMillan
Technology & Operations
Jim Jazwiecki
Angela Williams

The Cool Kids

All Stereogum Posts