Customer Reviews

Heart - If Looks Could Kill [VHS]

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Along with the emergence of Heart as a force to be reckoned with in the mid- to late 1980's were the emergence videos, be they something artistic or a mere performance clip. The need of a video to push album or single sales were an added visual dimension to further market a group/artist. Heart's ouvre of videos made them a group to watch, with memorable images and a particular focus on the Wilson sisters. So, trivia time? Which book is Ann Wilson seen reading at the end of the "What About Love" video? Answer appears at the end of this review.

The first three videos are from Bad Animals. "Alone" is mostly a performance clip, beginning with Nancy playing a piano while Ann is singing from a balcony. A particularly wonderful effect is when that first ringing synthesizer chord is synced with the top of the piano exploding. All the members are dressed in black, and the fans are reaching out, arms stretched out. It ends with a freeze-frame of Ann's face, covered with a black net.

"Who Will You Run To" is another performance clip with some animated sequences involving the wee beasties featured on the Bad Animals album cover. They even get into a fight midway through the video. Love the way the green lizard guy tattooed on Nancy's right shoulder comes to life. There's a great visual shot of Ann looking through slatted blinds, with the sun diagonally shining through Ann's face, creating a nice effect.

I was really blown away by the orange and pink sunset, pharaoh statues and sphinx scenery in "There's The Girl" on its MTV premiere. I remember waiting in anticipation for this one. The usual hands reaching out, this time through grates for Nancy, and Denny Carmassi's futuristic drumset are two interesting visuals. Ann is seen clapping behind another drumset to the right.

"What About Love" starts with the group aboard their tour bus in grainy black and white. The video turns to colour when the scene cuts to a performance stage, where a metalworks motif comes into play. Metal is poured into a woman-shaped mold, from which a guitar-clutching Nancy emerges. The scene of Mark and Nancy playing atop a burning spiral staircase and then Nancy's supine body being borne by a procession are two other highlights.

Best for last. "These Dreams" has an orange sky, a pool, Greek statues, Nancy in a pink outfit, a desert of sand, walking through a mirror--the colours and visuals are a delight! When she looks into a pool, Ann's reflection looks back at her. The trademark arms reaching out is also there, as is something I call the Nancy Wilson leg kick, where she kicks her left leg out as she's jamming. I've seen in another video--it might have been "Never."

These videos were an example of MTV at its prime. Pity that the videos for "Never" and "Nothin' At All" were excluded--they'd have enhanced this collection, but at least my two favourites are on here. Will a more complete video collection be on the horizon? I hope so. Answer to trivia question: Gone With The Wind.