Video Hangover: Beck - "Sexx Laws"

Every week, we dig in the archives for videos that we find noteworthy, memorable, or just unbelievably stupid. And then, Jon McMillan breaks 'em down for you. Why Video Hangover? Because when you watch as many videos as we do, you're going to feel it afterwards.

"Sexx Laws"
Beck, 1999

Get ready for some hot machine-on-machine action.

Thanks to advances in appliance-interface technology, GE washers and refrigerators can now hump 20% more efficiently
Beck directed this video himself, and, while he gets bogged down in some post-"Praise You" Spike Jonze-isms (the opening "Vision Warrior Men's Circle" bit, for example, and the amateur-ish group dancing at 2:42), he redeems himself with two of the more inspired video moments of the last twenty years: the kitchen appliance orgy, and the Mighty Morphin Power Rangers-style ninja/robot orgy.

Real Mayonnaise (Lyndon Johnson) likes to watch
Apparently Sexx Laws is an homage to "Mister Freedom," an absurdist, allegorical romp about an idiot American superhero who destroys France in order to save it from Communism. Beck offers a far more nuanced -- yet equally powerful - critique of America's arrogant and self-deluding Cold War foreign policy. In Beck's version Smeat (Southeast Asia) and Mr. Cheese (former Secretary of Defense Robert McNamara) are engaged in intercourse, but it's impossible to tell who is fucking who.

Anal splinters, for example
Jack Black was made for music video cameos, and he makes the most of his limited screen time here. He nails his line in the opening segment ("I want to touch people!"), and does a perfect Benny Hill/Scooby Doo mop thing at :35. Scary kitchen! Still trying to puzzle out the nonsensical speech at the end, though. I'm all for defying Sexx Laws, but any sexual taboo that requires two violas to break is probably there for a good reason.

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Posted at 12:23 PM in Video, Video Hangover
Tags: Beck | Jack Black

12 Comments

This song and video are so good I am tempted to become a Scientologist even though Beck apparently wants out.

Posted by: west at 01/08/08 2:52 PM | Reply
Score = 2

looks like i'm busting out midnite vultures today.

Posted by: brent at 01/08/08 3:00 PM | Reply
Score = 0

west: I think that should be wantED. Apparently they applied their "tech" on him until he realized that he was just fine staying right where he was, safe in the snuggly arms of Ron's cult.

Posted by: east at 01/08/08 3:40 PM | Reply
Score = 3

Video No Longer Available... WTF!

Posted by: Proj at 01/08/08 4:38 PM | Reply
Score = 0

weird i just listened to this cd today. didn't remember spinning it since 2003.

Posted by: bull shannon at 01/08/08 6:11 PM | Reply
Score = 1

beck is a sexy sexy man

this video is most awesome i must say.

Posted by: Meredith at 01/08/08 10:18 PM | Reply
Score = 0

easily one of my favorite videos of all time :)

Posted by: annie onymous at 01/09/08 12:53 AM | Reply
Score = 1

I hold to be true the fact that this song is an EXCELLENT karaoke choice. Except there was the time this drunk girl who looked too much like AMy Winehouse for her own good picked up a mic and held it to her face while pushing her butt in my face. I had to stop in order to yell at her.

Posted by: Christopher at 01/09/08 1:46 AM | Reply
Score = 1

"I want angel answers," brilliant.

Posted by: Satisfied '75 at 01/11/08 4:28 AM | Reply
Score = 2

Hahaha is that Neil Strauss at the start, talking about the angel answers? He's the author of "The Game"... Pretty sure its him. Awesome.

Posted by: Jason at 02/07/08 2:06 PM | Reply
Score = 0

Beck is always very inspiring. But there are other crazy guys too. Have you seen this
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W6_dhJaHsps
version ?

Posted by: RoFell at 02/22/08 9:27 AM | Reply
Score = 2

sikesirik

Posted by: sunar at 08/08/08 4:33 AM | Reply
Score = 0