The Passenger Experience According to Music Videos
Share
When Richard Dunn found himself alone at Las Vegas’ McCarran International Airport on a long layover, he did what any self-respecting person would do: He created a music video. But, he wasn’t the first. We look at some of the most notorious airport and airplane cameos in music videos and the spin they put on the airline passenger experience.
Run through the airport, but stop to smell the roses
Kanye West ft. Syleena Johnson – All Falls Down (2004)
Traffic jams, unexpected problems and general last-minuteness make the dash through the airport inevitable, but Kanye West’s mainstream music-video debut can also be seen as an ode to the airport moments we all cherish. There’s the scene of the chauffeur unloading an entire collection of Louis Vuitton luggage from the trunk – glamorous, for those of us who can afford it; the joy of walking through airport security without issue; and the happy-sad goodbye to a loved one. The music video, filmed at Ontario International Airport in California, also features many inaccuracies, such as Kanye getting onto the baggage scanner when he sets off the metal detector, but we’ll allow Yeezy some artistic license there.
You can have a beautiful day without leaving the airport
U2 – Beautiful Day (2000)
Bono shows that Paris’ Charles de Gaulle Airport can be a playground. He slow dances through the revolving door, swings from the top of the escalator, sips tiny cups of coffee at the boarding area with his bandmates and goes for a spin on the baggage carousel while lying on his back and snacking on an apple. The highlight of his day? Jamming on the runway while computer-animated aircraft take off above his band’s heads.
Moving walkways are for dancing on…
Feist – My Moon My Man (2oo7)
Singer-songwriter Feist hops onto a moving walkway at Pearson International Airport in Toronto, presumably about to board a red-eye. She stays still while the conveyor belt carries her forward. But when she hears the piano chords to her song come in, she is overwhelmed and starts to dance. Add the twinkling tarmac lights in the background and the moving walkway becomes a stage for performance. Makes you wonder why they’re tearing them out at Chicago O’Hare International Airport.
… and using as a metaphor for life
Casey Neistat – Life Explained in 27 Seconds (2015)
Not really a music video, but just watch it. It’ll take longer to explain in writing.
Space travel is going to be a blast!
OK Go – Upside Down and Inside Out (2016)
According to OK Go, when we’ll be able to take trips into outer space, passengers will still be on their laptops, reading in-flight magazines (in print) and flight attendants will still be relevant. This isn’t really space travel, but it’s the closest experience to it until Virgin Galactic takes off. Shot on an S7 Airlines zero-gravity flight, the video also suggests that monkey bars would be an excellent feature in spaceship cabins and that releasing a suitcase full of colorful balloons, disco balls and paint at cosmic cruising altitude is a splendid idea. Also, there will be no more queuing in the aisle or awkward brushing of strangers’ knees to get in and out of your seat, passengers and flight attendants in the future will be able to do aerial flips and rolls to get where they need to go.
Did we miss any? Tweet @theapexassoc to let us know.