I want to warn y'all right now: I am about to take shameless advantage of Drive-In Friday vid recs not counting against my monthly total. There are a number of excellent vids in our fandom, and I can see not many have been rec'd here, so I'm going to offer up a handful.

Fandom: FIREFLY
Vidder: YFish42
Musical artist: Stephen Schwartz
Pairing: Gen
Vidder on LJ: yfish42
Vidder's website: none
Why this vid kicks ass: This vid is a delightfully inspiring tribute to the wonderful, strong, vibrant women of Firefly. I want to start my vid pile with this widely-rec'd gem, even though I think it's very likely that our entire fandom has already seen it. Joss has seen it (and approved!), and you can't get much more classic than that. This vid deserves the attention it's garnered, not only because of its smooth pacing and excellent pairing of clips to song lines (the clip of Zoe at Wash's gravestone paired with "flying solo" is particularly striking), but also because it really crawls right into your heart and makes you feel like defying gravity yourself.

Defying Gravity

Fandom: FIREFLY
Vidder: bakanomiko
Musical artist: Emerald Rose
Pairing: Gen
Vidder on LJ: unknown
Vidder's website: unknown
Why this vid kicks ass: This vid is set to a filksong, which, of course, is a perfectly tailored fit. The song itself is pretty funny, but the way it interacts with the images really works to make the whole package even more fun. This vid is well made and nicely paced, but the humor alone would be worth the trip even if it were a less refined piece.

Big Damn Heroes

Fandom: FIREFLY
Vidder: Sarah
Musical artist: Godsmack
Pairing: Gen
Vidder on LJ: sarah_1228
Vidder's website: just her LJ
Why this vid kicks ass: It's true that I have always wanted a Firefly vid set to this song; I will own that. However, I wouldn't rec it if it wasn't also breathtakingly visually stunning and absolutely gorgeously paced to the music. This is one of those vids you stare at in jaw-dropped awe because it's just so very damned pretty.

Serenity

Fandom: FIREFLY
Vidder: Beth Linden
Musical artist: Matchbox 20
Vidder on LJ: trekkiebeth
Vidder's website: just her LJ
Why this vid kicks ass: This is quite simply the perfect River vid; it's a brilliant character study on all levels. The song is ideal for River's character, the clips are well-chosen and fit just right, and the pacing is great. The images chosen to juxtapose with the line from the chorus "how I used to be" are especially effective on each round, but all the choices are really impressive.

Unwell

Okay, last vid for the pile, though really, I could go on all day with the genius that's kicking around our fandom.

Fandom: FIREFLY
Vidder: Jaidan Wolf
Musical artist: Within Temptation
Vidder on LJ: dreamrequiem
Vidder's website: Reese's Collection of Unauthorized Creativity
Why this vid kicks ass: dreamrequiem calls this "an atmospheric music video of one of my all-time favorite series, highlighting the gorgeous visuals and the diverse and loveable cast", which is as fine an explanation as any I could come up with. Her love for the series and all the characters is wonderfully palpable in this vid. The editing and pacing are lovely, and she chooses some of the best moments to capture to evoke a deep sense of fond nostalgia. If Browncoats ever decided to storm Fox studios seeking revenge for Firefly's cancellation, this is probably the vid we'd use to whip ourselves up into a Reaver-like frenzy of righteous fury beforehand.

Memories of Firefly

Vidder: Shishu1025
Musical artist: They Might Be Giants
Pairing: None
Vidder on LJ: shishu1025
Vidder's website: None/unknown
Why this vid kicks ass:

This is a vid about Tad, The Colbert Report's put-upon building manager. "Stephen" has got to be a terror to work for, and basically I don't think Tad gets enough love in this fandom. Enjoy!


Here, at Dailymotion.

Fandom: Smallville
Vidder: talitha78
Musical artist: Finger Eleven
Vidder on LJ: talitha78
Vidder's website: http://talitha78.livejournal.com/tag/music+vid
Why this vid kicks ass: When you combine flawless technique with a great sense of characters and emotion, you get fantastic vids such as those that talitha78 puts out. I had a hard time choosing just one of her works to recommend today. She pretty much has a perfect Smallville video for every ship or character. Today, "Change the World" is getting the nod because it does the music + video meshing so well. The song tells a story about a guy who's both pushing a girl away for her own good and reaching out to her because he can't do it without her. Clark and Lois dance around each other in this video that catches the ebbs and peaks of their on-and-off relationship.

Change the World -- Streaming and download links

Fandom: TERMINATOR: THE SARAH CONNOR CHRONICLES
Pairing: maybe implied Derek/Sarah if you squint
Length: ~1,800
Author on LJ: missnyah
Author Website: none listed

Why this must be read:

What do you do when your god dies? You fake it.

That is MissNyah’s summary for Paul is Dead. Simple and spare, something this fic is not. It takes the things we know from canon and twists them into something new and yet something that could be.

( click here for an excerpt )

Paul is Dead

Reccers are needed in a number of fandoms over the next few months, including Book/Literary, DC Comics, Doctor Who, and Popslash.

Sign up HERE to help out!

Fandom: HARRY POTTER
Pairing: Remus/Tonks, Teddy/Victoire
Length: 120,029; 26 chapters
Author on LJ: [Bad username or site: @ livejournal.com]
Author Website: Profile at FF.net
Why this must be read:

This is the type of story that just hooks you in and keeps you awake all night because you just have to finish. The opening chapter is just perfection as the author sets the scene for the greatest time-travel fic that I've read in fandom.

A Little More Time

Fandom: POPSLASH
Pairing: Gen
Length: ~7,800
Author on LJ: turps33
Author Website: YIMAN
Why this must be read: LLANCE! One of the things that I adore about this fandom is its affinity for producing wonderfully delightful fic that plays happily in the land of magical realism. I mean really. Also, its fascination with turning Lance into an assortment of animals/inanimate objects. Lance isn't the only one that has this happen but I think he's the most common victim because we love him so. That's my story and I'm sticking to it.

Anywho, you should read this fic because Terri wrote a great remix where the boys deal with the new Lance with the help of JC's animal psychic ability. It's super funny, from the descriptions of Lance coming to terms with his new found llama-hood to the hilarity of each of the other guys reconnecting with llama Llance. It's an adorable tale of friendship triumphing over unexpected animal transfiguration. What could possibly be better than that?

( Have an excerpt )

Walk Like a Camelidae: The Doctor Dolittle Talk Talk Mix

Fandom: HIGHLANDER
Vidder: giandujakiss
Musical artist: Commercial for Levi by Placebo
Vidder on LJ: giandujakiss
Vidder's website: Monsters from the Vids
Why this vid kicks ass: This is a rare vid in Highlander fandom: a Byron vid. I must say I know nothing about vidding and its technicalities, but I know what works for me, and this vid does it big time. Lyrics are amazingly fitting with tragic Byron story, and giandujakiss choice of clips is perfect.
And, please, tell me: could you be able to avoid a Highlander vid with Drunk on immorality in it? Yes, that was what I thought :)
So, go here, download and have a blast
Commercial for Levi

Vidder: Fabella
Musical artist: Cat Power
Pairing: Chris/JC
Vidder on LJ: wistful_fever
Vidder's website: Songvid Tag
Why this vid kicks ass: The song and vid are both very melancholy and they get me all teary eyed because they just make me feel for the Chris and JC that Fabella has created in this video. Fabella pulls together a story that starts with a very dreamy memory lane feel and then crashes into the 'reality' with a series of quick flashes from the height of the band mixed with older memories of how things used to be and then the subsequent plummet that Chris took after the hiatus turned into the end of the group. It's a very delicate story that she manages to tell and it leave me feeling a little raw by the end.

In Plain Sight On IMEEM
Download

Vidder: Enednoviel
Musical artist: Phil Collins
Pairing: there is, if you wish
Vidder on LJ: enednoviel
Vidder's website: here
Why this vid kicks ass:

Why did I choose this fanvid? I chose it because it's all about fourth season Hutch and fourth season Hutch is my favorite Hutch ever.

First of all, this song is just meant for the show. Starsky and Hutch are growing apart and Hutch is taking it really bad. He is losing everything what had ever had any value for him and on the top of the list is losing Starsky. It begins with the hit in the garage in the Sweet Revenge and after that Hutch is recalling the last year, when everything went from bad to worse; every fight they had, every missed opportunity to mend things between them, every angry look and all bitter remarks. It's not easy while watching his best friend dying, but in the end Hutch realizes something what makes him smile again. Maybe he had lost everything important in his life, but the most precious thing came back to him at the end. And stayed.

You don't watch this fanvid – you feel, you hope, you hurt, and you even love and die with Hutch.

This vid is a masterpiece because to use only fourth season footage and to use it with such style, taste and feeling for the situation is really an art and only a few vidders can do it faultlessly. enednoviel is one of them.

( Lyrics )

Against All Odds

Fandom: SUPERNATURAL
Vidder: Absrip
Musical artist: Poets of the Fall
Pairing: Wincest
Vidder on LJ: absrip
Vidder's website: Absrip on ImeemAbsrip on UTube
Why this vid kicks ass: IMO it is simply brilliant. Taken from Sam's pov with spoilers throughout S4. The transitions, music, lyrics, special effects, manips, art, the tarot cards— again are ALL simply gorgeous. The vid is SO good it leaves me speechless. Your best bet is to go download this gem, it’s a serious keeper.

Carnival of Rust

Vidder: kiki_miserychic
Musical artist: Sufjan Stevens
Pairing: None
Vidder on LJ: kiki_miserychic
Vidder's website: kiki_miserychic’s video tag
Why this vid kicks ass:

All the king’s men can’t put the world back together again. The machines have destroyed the world. But they never counted on Sarah Connor. Sarah Connor, the ordinary woman who became the mother of the future, the mother of John Connor, and the one woman who can save us all.

Flawlessly edited, this video is work of art, merging sound and sight into a story of a mother’s love. I could talk about motion and transitions, cuts and lyrical matches and visual metaphors, but the only thing that can truly convey just how good this video is would be to watch it.

Ding! Dong! by kiki_miserychic

Fandom: STARSKY & HUTCH
Pairing: none
Length: long
Author on LJ: maquisleader
Author Website: HERE
Why this must be read:

My last rec for this month is a happy one. There is a lot of humor, there is their usual banter, they are happy and they will be even happier at the end of the story. Of course they are older, wiser and definitely more careful with their decisions. And what it is about?
Well, when Starsky could not come back to work after what happened in SR, they had to reevaluate their careers and priorities but somehow they managed to find a place on Earth and go on with their lives. But they had to give up something. Something really, really important. Now – after a decade, with pure luck, Hutch had found the lacking piece and decided to give it back to the owner. On the road they would find more surprises, fight many remaining demons and realize that what they really possess is the most precious gift they could ever ask for.

“It’s supposed to be red!”
“First she has to be black.” Merle explained. “There’s a black edge to the stripe, remember?”
“No – yes – I don’t know!”
“There’s a black edge around the stripe – to help it stand out.”
“It needed help to stand out?” The damn thing could be spotted a mile away. How had they ever tailed anybody in it? “You had to paint the whole car?”
“Starskinson, you can’t just paint part of the car. It has to go on in layers – so it’s smooth.” Merle rubbed his hands over the fender. “If you don’t – then it ain’t smooth.”
“And people can tell?” Hutch glared at the car, but it was still black.
“Maybe you can’t tell. But I can tell. And Starsky?” He laughed. “He’d sure be able to tell.”
“I don’t doubt it.” Lifting the camera, Hutch began taking pictures of the not red Torino. “I’m sure he’ll be able to tell how many coats of paint are there when he sees it.”
“Yep.”
A thought struck him. “You’re not going to paint it all white now, are you?”
“Of course not!” Merle smiled and posed by the driver’s door. “Why the hell would I paint it white?”
“The stripe is white – “
“And only the stripe.” He shook his head. “We tape off and paint it white – nothing goes on top of it but more white and then the clear coat. Paint it all white and we lose the black edges.”
“That makes sense.” It didn’t, but the theory was giving him a headache. “It’ll end up red and white, right?”
“Get out of my garage!” Merle threw a shop towel at him.

Chapter 1, Chapter 2, Chapter 3, Chapter 4, Finale

Vidder: Melanie
Musical artist: Outkast, if I remember right
Pairing: Nope
Vidder on LJ: Dunno
Vidder's website: here (but temporarily closed, apparently)
Why this vid kicks ass:

I shall be doing more than one vid rec, methinks. Because there are a couple of vidders whom I can't chose between.

First off, Melanie. Melanie does fantastic videos. Some of them are serious, others funny, others tell a story. This one is just a great, funny video, compiling the briliantly humorous moments of NCIS to the tune of "Hey ya". It shows just what a wonderful show NCIS is, with all sorts of giggle-worthy moments. Perfectly cut to the music.

Melanie also does lovely icons and beautiful wallpapers so her website is wonderful. Also check out her House vids.

( Hey ya )
Hey Ya by Melanie (Link if the above doesn't work)

Vidder: Luthien82
Musical artist: Maria Mena
Pairing: Gibbs/DiNozzo
Vidder on LJ: luthien82
Vidder's website: here
Why this vid kicks ass:

Another fantastic vidder. Luthien has the ability to take clips from the show, mix it up with a great song, and just tell a story that I understand. And I don't always when it comes to vids (maybe because I don't always listen to the lyrics, but...). I guess it helps that I adore this song?

It makes me happy every time I watch it. Luthien has made a couple of depressing vids as well, but I like happy, so I picked a happy one. Check out the other ones too, though.

( Declarations of Love )

Declarations of love by Luthien82 (Link if the above doesn't work)

Vidder: WOnky19
Musical artist: Nerdee
Pairing: Gibbs/DiNozzo
Vidder on LJ: don't know
Vidder's website: Don't know
Why this vid kicks ass:

My final video rec is WOnky19's "Cold". It's put together in an excellent way, and uses one of my all-time favorite exchanges between Abby and Tony (from "Kill Ari"). The song is lovely and just like Luthien's video, it tells a story. The black/white versus the color parts are used well and it's just... really nice. Go watch.

Also check out her other vids, among others there's her behind the scenes of NCIS cut together, and Inspector Gadget which is funny and great.

( Cold )

Cold by WOnky19 (Link if the above doesn't work)