When I was a lad, checking out the popular music of the day didn't involve sitting around the radio. Instead, my friends and I would eat our breakfast in front of the television, gorging ourselves on the latest music videos. Every morning before school, every afternoon, every evening - every free moment I had was spent devouring a cavalcade of music videos. Even now, I can't think of many of my favourite songs without imagining their accompanying clip.
Music videos seemed like they were going the way of the dinosaur for a while there, replaced on television and in the minds of a generation by reality shows. But, thanks to sites like YouTube, they've made a real resurgence. Nowadays, bands are coming out with more imaginative music videos than ever, and I'm pleased to report that the format looks like it's here to stay.
Just one example of that is the Prism Prize. It's a new award handed out to the finest Canadian music video of the year. Think the Polaris Prize, but for videos. And on Sunday night, the inaugural trophy (with accompanying oversize novelty cheque) was handed to Noah Pink, director of Rich Aucoin's amazing video for Brian Wilson Is A.L.I.V.E.
What are your favourite music videos? If the Prism Prize had been awarded before this year, who should have won it?