As if you didn’t know, we’re somewhat fans of nudity. Not just any nudity, but quality nudity used in the correct manner. Take “Ain’t No Easy Way Out” for example. In fact, that’s our perfect example. Nudity in music videos isn’t new, but it isn’t very popular. The most hardcore/best video we’ve seen includes nudity, but only because it includes drugs, violence, sex and the like, so it goes with the territory. Which leads us to “Yeah Yeah” by Body Rox.

This work came out a ways back, but I’d like to bring it up as an example of how nudity and/or sexuality can go from an important effective element to a cheap trick or gimmick.

We’ll take a wild guess and surmise the idea fueling this video: Such a singer/song is so hot that when performed causes an intense sensation among people so strong that they begin to give into their horniness and try to fuck themselves better. This we can handle. It’s too bad that this song sounds like some techno eurotrash.

The problem we find here is that despite certain shots, there’s no reason to care about the sexuality, so it’s effect ends up flat. The subjects are emotionless. Maybe its to accentuate the singer, Luciana’s, over-the-top bravado. Or maybe it’s to show how the subjects start with zero emotions and allows us to follow their progression. Either way, this renders the video dead before it even starts, because the end game is eventual sex and thus, nudity. Meaning the work relies solely upon the nudity. So if you already expect that or remove it from the video entirely, you’ve got a subpar if not pointless video.
If you don’t believe me, check out the censored version:

So how does a video like “Aint No Easy Way” succeed you ask? Well, the difference is in the use of nudity for starters. I mean, in the Bodyrox video, it’s obvious and used for shock, whereas Mehling uses nudity out of necessity to make his project more genuine. To prove that the shot was in a brothel, he needed to show it as frank as possible and therefore almost do the opposite as Bodyrox and downplay the nudity. Such a decision makes the nudity more believable and realistic, to which I ask: Which is more effective, blatant fantasy sex or hidden real sex? Answer being hidden real sex, because it promotes the idea that this could and is actually happening, which makes it voyeuristic! A-ha!

This leads us to why Saam’s shot for Hustler” is also successful at its goal of sensuality, sexuality and eroticism, despite not showing any nudity whatsoever. What most will think is the driving force of the video, that being the girl-on-girl game of telephone, is really only part of the bigger picture. You see what Saam is really doing to sell the video is working on making the shot raw with static and tracking to give it an almost bootlegged feel. Like a found tape or some sort of sex tape that was not meant to be found, unlike “Yeah Yeah”, which shoots itself because it’s almost too good looking. By focusing not only on the action of the ladies, but the setting and details of the frame, Saam makes his video that much stronger. For instance, if you replaced the girls making out with say a murdering or a chasing or beating, the video could still work, because it has the way it was designed to fall back on. The reality of the direction. Just as if you took away the way Saam shot the video and left only the girls making out, well, that wouldn’t be such a bad video either.

So you see, while there are some decent shots and arousing poses for the “Yeah Yeah” video, it isn’t completely effective. It doesn’t suck either. I’d watch this way more than I’d watch, say a My Chemical Romance video or an Evanescence video (sorry Marc Webb, it’s not you, it’s them). Now go out there and shoot some damn fine sexiness people, oh and as your reward for staying, check out the uncensored version (in quicktime no less, double score!) of “Yeah Yeah” below. Who loves ya baby?

NSFW Version!!