Vid: Clint Eastwood

[bop_radar]

Vid: Clint Eastwood
Artist: Gorillaz
Source: Battlestar Galactica, through 4.0
Warnings: adult themes, sex, violence
Description: Gaius Baltar is... Gaius Baltar
Download: from sendspace or direct download (32MB) or streaming at BAM, YouTube or Blip
Credits: The concept is wisteria_'s (though I'm not sure if this is exactly what she had in mind). Thanks to supacat for cutting through my panic with her beta.
Lyrics:
I got sunshine in a bag.
I'm useless, but not for long.
The future is coming on.

I ain't happy. I'm feeling glad.
I got sunshine in a bag.
I'm useless, but not for long.
The future is coming on.
It's coming on, it's coming on,
It's coming on, it's coming on.

Yeah, ha ha.
Finally someone let me out of my cage.
Now time for me is nothing 'cause I'm counting no age.
No, I couldn't be there. No, you shouldn't be scared.
I'm good at repairs and I'm under each snare.
Intangible, bet you didn't think, so I command you to.
Panoramic view, look I'll make it all manageable.
Pick and choose, sit and lose, all you different crews.
Chicks and dudes, who you think is really kicking tunes?
Picture you getting down in a picture tube,
Like you lit the fuse.
You think it's fictional? Mystical, maybe.
Spiritual hero who appears in you to clear your view when you're too crazy.
Lifeless, to those the definition for what life is.
Priceless to you because I put you on the hype shit.
You like it? Gun smoking, righteous, with one token psychic
Among those, possess you with one go.

I ain't happy. I'm feeling glad.
I got sunshine in a bag.
I'm useless, but not for long.
The future is coming on.

I ain't happy. I'm feeling glad.
I got sunshine in a bag.
I'm useless, but not for long.
The future is coming on.

The essence, the basics, without it, you make it.
Allow me to make this childlike in nature.
Rhythm, you have it or you don't, that's a fallacy.
I'm in them, every sprouting tree, every child apiece,
Every cloud at sea, you see with your eye.
You see destruction and demise, corruption in disguise,
From this fucking enterprise, now I'm sucking to your lies
Through Russel, not his muscles, but percussion he provides
With me as a guide.
Y'all can see me now 'cause you don't see with your eye.
You perceive with your mind. That's the inner.
So I'm-a stick around with Russ and be a mentor,
Bust a few rhymes so motherfuckers remember
Where the thought is. I brought all this
So you can survive when law is lawless.
Feelings, sensations that you thought was dead.
No squealing, remember that it's all in your head.

I ain't happy. I'm feeling glad.
I got sunshine in a bag.
I'm useless, but not for long.
The future is coming on.

I ain't happy. I'm feeling glad.
I got sunshine in a bag.
I'm useless, but not for long.
My future is coming on.
It's coming on, it's coming on, it's coming on, it's coming on.
(Repeats)

I have Stuff to say about this, but I'll do so in a separate post... at some point. :)

Comments

[crickets.livejournal.com]

Well holy shit this was frakking amazing. I need to go watch this about 20 more times. Best Baltar vid I've ever seen!

BRB, watching your vid again.

[bop-radar.livejournal.com]

Wow! Thanks! I'm so thrilled you liked it that much. I was veeerrrry nervous posting it so this was a hugely encouraging comment.

[daybreak777.livejournal.com]

Ah, old-school Baltar! This vid made me kind of miss him and and his antics. It gave the show much needed lightness at times. Since we are talking about lyrics this week in vid chat, I was focused on these during the vid. I especially like "chicks and dudes" at 1:03 and of course "all in your head" at 2:44. Hee! You have definitely captured crazy!Baltar's journey. I also liked how both the Centurion and Head!Baltar cock their heads at real Baltar. Even machines and his own head!people puzzle over him. Thanks for another vid that made me smile!

Oh, and I love the crazy hanging credits. Baltar was and is so bonkers sometimes. :-)

[bop-radar.livejournal.com]

Thanks, DB! I'm glad you liked those touches. (And yay, you are liking my credits recently--this is good!)

[airings.livejournal.com]

Wow, amazing! I loved it :D I miss old school Baltar :(

[bop-radar.livejournal.com]

Thanks! I've always wanted to do something with old school Baltar--he's just so expressive and hilarious.

[cylune9.livejournal.com]

Coming from superduperkc's rec...That was amazing and so much fun to watch!

[bop-radar.livejournal.com]

Thank you!! I'm thrilled you like it.

[gigglemonster.livejournal.com]

OMG!
I don't even have words for how awesome that was!
So perfectly Baltar and so perfectly perfect!

ps. also? would you mind if i friended you? i really love your vid chats as well :)

[bop-radar.livejournal.com]

Hee! Thanks, and ABSOLUTELY! (I think I've meant to friend you for some time!)

(So delighted to hear this hit the right note for you!)

[turnonmyheels.livejournal.com]

awesome vid

[bop-radar.livejournal.com]

Thanks! :)

[pali167.livejournal.com]

*is speechless*

[bop-radar.livejournal.com]

Thanks!!

[danegen.livejournal.com]

Hee! Oh, wow, that song is perfect for Baltar. I love this so much! His little crazy faces! Gotta go watch this about 400 times.

[bop-radar.livejournal.com]

It really is an AWESOME song for Baltar--wisteria_ dropped that vid bunny in my lap a good long time ago now, but it definitely kept pestering me to get made! ;)

[anno-superstar.livejournal.com]

OH MY GOD THAT IS AMAZING.

[bop-radar.livejournal.com]

Thanks! :D

[scully1121.livejournal.com]

Best Baltar vid i'v seen !!
awesome editing and so great choice of song ( i started a vid with this song 3 weeks ago and i know it by heart lol)

i have to check all your vids now :)

[bop-radar.livejournal.com]

Thank you! That's so flattering! I love the song and it was fun to vid to but did give me some headaches. Good luck with your vid!

[counteragent.livejournal.com]

Fabulous vid! Amazing song choice! LOVE IT LOVE IT LOVE IT.

[bop-radar.livejournal.com]

Thanks! Song choice credit is all wisteria_'s--she suggested it a long time ago, and it definitely demanded to get made.

[taragel.livejournal.com]

This was a really interesting combo of song and vid subject--I wondered what inspired this particular pairing as I think the connection was not so obvious (to me anyway)? What was your "way in" so to speak on this vid?

I've never been the biggest Baltar fan, though I liked him in s1 quite a bit, and in this season's interactions with Laura on the basestar as well. I felt like he was more himself than he's been in ages on Galactica.

But this really brings his best moments back to mind. I especially enjoyed the "bag of sunshine" clips at each refrain. (I liked the crazy credits too!)

[bop-radar.livejournal.com]

I found the song pretty instantly 'Gaius'. That refrain of 'I'm not happy... I'm feeling glad' and the idea that he has 'sunshine in a bag'. He always does his best to rise to the top of whatever happens to him. The two vocalists suggested split personality, split impulses within Baltar, and the lyrics allowed for lots of fun playing with Baltar's ego-driven behaviour.

Honest truth is I haaaated Baltar through season 1 when I first watched it, used to hurl things at the screen when he was on. But I found my groove with him eventually and retrospectively enjoyed the comedy of early Baltar. Vidding him has brought me to a really different position... but I might save that for a follow-up post.

[frelling-tralk.livejournal.com]

Awesome video!

[bop-radar.livejournal.com]

Thanks, hon!

[frolicndetour.livejournal.com]

You vidded BSG again! What a sublimely perfect song for Baltar, too. (I see what you mean about non-literal and ironic use of lyrics too, hee!) Great look at Baltar's self-perception and his progression through the series. The "future" refrains were increasingly creepifying. I loved the bit with Lee as "Russ" and Baltar as his mentor. ;] And the earlier part where you alluded to Baltar cock-blocking him. Heh. Funny and perceptive - nicely done!

[bop-radar.livejournal.com]

I did. :) It took a while... and I had to find a different way into the show, but I did it!

The "future" refrains were increasingly creepifying.
Oh yay! That's good. I wanted to show Baltar work through his various incarnations. In some ways it's a hard vid to make without knowing what Baltar's future really is--but at least that allowed me to milk the sense of growing anticipation about where his journey will end.

I loved the bit with Lee as "Russ" and Baltar as his mentor. ;]
Lee just wormed his way into this vid, I swear. For ages, I kept asking myself 'who is Russ?' ;) Lee works really well as the 'straight man' to Gaius's mania.

[bloodygoodgirl.livejournal.com]

Old School Baltar is the best. You did such a good job matching the tempo and just the general feel to work. Love it darlin.

[bop-radar.livejournal.com]

Thank you! Tonally appropriate = yay!

[etrangere.livejournal.com]

azdhbaejkfhejkfh new fravourite Baltar vid!

I love how rhythmic this is, great synchronisation. That's the kind of vid that really keeps me scotched to my screen and wanting to watch again as soon as it's over. Also somehow it feels very fresh in your choice of images to use.
This portray of Baltar is awesome, the craziness, hyperness, desperation, narcissism, sexuality and "watch me! watch me!" eagerness is all there and works so well.

Moments I really really like:
"finally" with the desk tapping
"chicks an dudes" with Kara and Felix,
"mystical, maybe" with that roll of eyes
"i'm happy" with Baltar nodding then shaking his head
"it's all i your head" of course
the raising hands from the cult
every single times Baltar raised his hands
various ironic images on "sunshine in a bag" (basically all of them)

I think I'm getting better at this vid commenting thing :)

[bop-radar.livejournal.com]

Wow, thanks again! Your feedback is awesome. I'm glad you liked the rhythm--I've never worked with a rap style lyric before so it was new for me.

"watch me! watch me!" eagerness
Oh, he totally has that! I like that description.

You listed some of my favourite parts too--yay! I am a sucker for that shot where he nods and then shakes his head. And 'chicks and dudes' made itself. ;)

[boom-queen.livejournal.com]

What an awesome premise: Gaius's internal conflicts with himself and head!Six against his raving egomania and public bravado. He's a very schizophrenic character and the two vocal parts really play that well.

Brava boppy! Both hilarious and insightful! And as visually appealing/well-edited as ever my dear :)

[bop-radar.livejournal.com]

Ahhhh perfect icon! :D Thank you so much. You know... I struggled TERRIBLY with humour in this vid so I am so pleased to hear you found it funny as well as pacy.

[hollywoodgrrl.livejournal.com]

Here via superduperkc's rec.

And yeah, it was FANTASTIC! I loved the pace, love the song, and LOVE ME SOME BALTAR! Genius, this.

[bop-radar.livejournal.com]

Thank you! Wow, that's very flattering. I'm so glad it's working for people.

[madame-meretrix.livejournal.com]

hee! BALTAR! that was totally him. and it makes me miss BSG. man, there was perfect sync in the part where roslin is shaking her hand as he's getting strip searched. it made me laugh. and where apollo's shaking his finger at him in court! and so many other places. (sorry, so not good with commenting on vids. but i liked it!)

[bop-radar.livejournal.com]

Wow, I made you miss BSG?! That's cool.

I'm thrilled you liked those moments--they gave me a bit of grief at times but it seems like I got there in the end. :D

your comment is perfect balm to my anxious-vidder's soul!

[http://users.livejournal.com/wisteria_/]

Ooh, this is perfect! I'm absolutely THRILLED that you made it, dearie! Everything is exactly the way I saw it in my head, and it's just so much fun to watch. I really look forward to your extended thoughts on the vid, and since I'm not literate in vid-speak, I'll try to come up with something more substantial to say if/when you do. ;)

[bop-radar.livejournal.com]

Ohhh, cool! *wipes brow* I was pretty anxious (as I think you know *coughs self-consciously remembering manic email of crazy*). If it's fun to watch, then I can breathe a sigh of relief, and I'm really glad it married up with your original vision.

It was a real journey making this vid, so I'll definitely have to write some Baltar meta at some stage.

[thedothatgirl.livejournal.com]

Saw this at the Premiere show VidUKon - it was an absolute joy to watch.

Yay Gaius Vid!

[bop-radar.livejournal.com]

Oh, wow, THANKS! I was super-nervous about it (my first ever premiere!). So thrilled you liked it.

[beccatoria.livejournal.com]

This is great, not only for its superb editing and great sense of timing (though that too), and not only for the amazing way you manage to hilariously synch Gaius' comedic expressions on all the right moments (too many to list but...pretty much every time he pulls a face it's awesome), but also because most Baltar vids either focus on his hilarity and ridiculousness, or the tragedy of his selfish, awful existence.

You managed to make it about 'old school' comedy Baltar (which, hey, we see traces of throughout season four so it's not entirely old school) but also included a lot of his darker moments like New Caprica and his dodgy cult.

In retrospect its as easy to forget that though he was used for comedy he had his share of darkness in season one (he was, after all, responsible for the end of everything and talked Sharon into suicide), as it is to forget that he maintains that physical comedy as late as season four. They're both part of his character and it's great to watch a vid that shows that weird juxtaposition.

[bop-radar.livejournal.com]

Oh what a fantastic comment! I really struggled with this vid and part of that was balancing the two aspects you mentioned. I really wanted to show Baltar's progression through various identities (scientist, politician, president, religious leader), and to focus on him as a survivor, an adapter. But maintaining the tone was difficult at times--Baltar's journey is SOOO dark, it was very easy to get bogged down in that, yet since it's Baltar's 'ego' driving most of this vid (you could say it's from his pov), I needed to keep that tightly controlled. That you felt there was a decent balance is very encouraging!

I learnt a lot about Baltar in making the vid, and I'd definitely agree that there is greater consistency in his story than I initially thought of. It maybe helped that I always viewed him as a very dark figure in season 1 (I didn't initially 'get' the comedy--I was too busy fearing that he was going to destroy everyone!) and in later seasons, I grew fonder of him.

This vid almost made me want to make another Baltar vid to explore stuff I didn't get to in this one... but that's probably a pipe dream. Still, it's made me realise how complex his plot is and how hard it is for any vid to capture all of it.

[dianora2.livejournal.com]

Oh my god I can't wait to go home and watch this! Will come back and comment once I do, I just had to share my excitement! Hee!

[bop-radar.livejournal.com]

Hee! Oh, thanks hon! I hope it lives up to expectations.

[norwich36.livejournal.com]

Just a question--this won't spoil me for the last episode of last season, will it? (They never posted that online, so I still haven't seen it).

[bop-radar.livejournal.com]

Nope, actually it won't. I edited that bit out. (Dude, you are SO not missing much! *unimpressed with the consequences of said episode*)

[chasarumba.livejournal.com]

This is so smart and so wry! I love how the humor lends an edge to the vid, but doesn't make it less ominous (if that makes sense). I really liked the "sunshine in a bag" matches, especially the one at 1:40ish with the pills.

[bop-radar.livejournal.com]

Thank you! It's ace that you liked it. I'm glad both the humour and the darkness came through.