The New Cher Video!

It's finally here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JjPWL-23w-w, the first new official Cher video in I Found Some Blog history.

And in honor of the new Cher video, I gathered back together the
group of people who attended my Armenian Dinner and Cher Video party for Cher Zine 3. The group includes one Cherfreak (me), a Cher appreciator (C. Crumpet Swank), Julie (a
friend from Sarah Lawrence College who likes 80s Cher primarily), Julie’s
boyfriend Dave, Mr. Cher Scholar, and Natalie (not a Cher fan and too young to
remember anything before “Turn Back Time”). We can't find the woman named Jewel from the party.

Anyway, Swank started things off with some elaborate comments and pictures he emailed me after watching the video.

Swank

I actually like this video! Props to her for including such a wide range
of women in the video, not just a bunch of attractive 20-somethings. I love the inclusion of the older/old women,
the thin/the fat, the tall/the short, the Down's Syndrome girl, the toothy
Ruthie, all the different nationalities. Mixing up the bodies in sections also
works for me, connecting all the characters despite their external differences.
It's a good device that nods to the unity which serves as the premise of the
song (even if the lyrics are trite).

It must be said, the opening wig is FANTASTIC!  Very,
very cool. It looks best, however, up close when you can see the detail of the
newsprint–the colors, typography, etc. When they pull too far away the
fact that it is newspaper is lost and she ends up resembling an Armenian
komondor:

PERFECT VIEW

NOT SO PERFECT VIEW [freeze video at the ten second mark for
an even better comparison shot]

IT'S A WOMAN'S WORLD

I also kind of wish she had headed over to Cyndi Lauper's
house and borrowed the True Colors skirt for this video, but I know that Cher doesn't like to look, as Joan Rivers would say,
"too matchy-matchy."  A boy can dream though… 

I also like the frizzy orange wig Cher
wears–very nice/unexpected/different, and a great match to the Sanctuary style
dress. She looks like a gorgeous medieval wench/queen.

Other moments I appreciate:  

• @57/58 seconds and 1:04 she looks so happy and relaxed!
• @1:47…some actual physical oomph!
• @2:40-42…"Every–boooooodddddy in the club"…love
  the vocal stretch of the word as she skedaddles through it and the music
  spirals up and up, synched to the visual of her arms making fists [the
  boobs nicely flex here too] and then throwing her arms up into the air, like
  she just don't care…
  
• @2:46-48…the knowing use of the signature "teeth
  & lip lick" punctuated with a droll nod perfectly timed to a climactic
  moment of silence in the song. Very meta. Very witty.
• @2:55…freeze it for the most extreme cheekbones I have
  ever seen in my life. Who is that woman? She's beautiful and scary all at once.

And my favorite two moments: 1:34/5, the old lady with
no rhythm on the right looks like she's having the time of her life, and she
looks beautiful and stylish in her cowl neck sweater and black knee high boots;
and at 2:19 she reappears with the older sexy bald black lady who looks so
fantastic and fierce and rocks her iconic Jody Watley earrings–remember those?

Lastly,  any idea how
they make Cher's skin look so flawless in the
close-ups?  It seems impossible that she could have such perfect skin at
67.  Is there a "live" version of Photoshop? 

Julie

I enjoyed
the video. It is nice to see so many types of women dancing and being
empowered. The sliding body panels reminded me of our childhood toy Fashion
Plates. I used to mix my fashion plates with my monster plates to make very
bizarre creations. 

The point of the video is somewhat blown just by the fact
that Cher refuses to age. I agree – she looks
great – but if she really thinks all types of women are awesome, then why not
allow herself to age? This is kinda like Mary Kay empowering women to be their
own boss and go out and unempower other women by convincing them they need a
lot of makeup.

I love all her wigs especially the newspaper one, although
it’s a bit drag queeny. The song isn't catchy to me and it doesn't have anthemic
power. 

Mr. Cher Scholar

Okay, I'm
definitely getting a Godley and Creme "Cry" mixed with Michael
Jackson's "Black or White" video vibe off of this. Which is okay because
I always felt that Michael Jackson's video was a rip off of Godley and Creme.

Loving the paper wig. I would go out with anybody that wore
shredded newspaper on their head. But no smoking and forget about blowing out
the candles on your birthday cake.

This is why newspapers are better than electronic media. I'd
love to be the paper boy on this route, that lucky sonofabitch.

Just imagining what it'd be like in bed after a night
of drinking. Kind of like making love in a hamster cage. Love it.

Is that Chelsea Clinton?

Also love the straight red wig. It's like something you'd
find in the potpourri section at Michael's. Cut the broomstick off, stick it on
your head, and let's shoot this thing.

I think I just saw my mom.

Honestly, I really love this video. I mean I know Cher never saw any of these people and probably
green-screened her part in her living room, but it really feels inclusive of
ordinary women and people (unlike someone else's video that recently came out).

I also feel like this video and song are primed and ready to
become huge hits overseas. It made me want to be a woman so I could be Cher's waist on top of an old lady's legs. Or maybe
I could have my face on Cher's chest with
Chelsea Clinton's legs.

I noticed there are no Inuit women in this video. Maybe just
an oversight, but even still, Cher may have
some explaining to do on twitter.

Trying to pick out who from this video will go on to other
things…

I don't know what's more discomforting: the people who
aren't really into it or the people who are WAY into it.

Think I just saw my mom again. She seemed like she was WAY
into it.

Dave

I think behind the scenes it's interesting how she can
change her outfits so many times again, just like in her concerts, except this
time it's other people's bodies.  I thought it was fresh, unique, simple,
and I enjoyed it very much.

I also really like her 'print' hair.  kinda feels like
her 'in the news'.

And she has a marvelous plastic surgeon.  She doesn't
AT ALL look plastic, just REALLY REALLY good.

Natalie

Wow she's "green". Her hair is made of recycled
paper.

OMG she looks like a Barbie. Goth
Barbie with that eye makeup. Eco-Friendly Empowered Goth Barbie… watch out
world…

This is a woman's world? Bouncing boobies? Dancing and trying to look sexy?
Seriously?

What animals, plants and minerals were harmed in the making of all those
wigs?? Scratch eco-friendly. 

Cher Scholar

I have to
say I really like this video. At first I did worry that it was too plain but
then I saw Lady Gaga’s video and I’m like, yes…plain is the new interesting. I
love most the Cher close-ups. I love the
makeup, the eyeliner, the wig. Don’t love the newspaper hair outfit (why is
everyone wearing those pants? Are we selling them?), but love the other two
ensembles. Cher can do no wrong while wearing
big hoop earrings. I love all three wigs, the black and white one, the red one
(that can’t help but make me think it’s a tribute to Kathy Griffin).

Cher’s still putting the back of her hand to her face dramatically
like a young ingénue. It’s the bent wrist and teeth lick for the 2000s. In the
end Cher gets more passionate about the song
and that’s when she makes a real connection, (since she’s not doing a Mick
Jagger-gymnastic performance anymore). I loved the plethora of female types. I realize
there’s only so much room in a video but I would have loved more international faces and
cultural outfits (like the Indian woman), and more yoga moves (which kick ass).