I don't know of any rec-worthy fanvids for "The Office," but gosh durn it if this isn't the best fanmix I've ever heard.

Fandom: THE OFFICE
Mixer: suchaprince
Musical artist: Various
Pairing: Pam Beesley/Jim Halpert
Mixer on LJ: suchaprince
Mixer's website: Tumblr
Why this mix kicks ass: Not a fanvid, but I think “Save the Receptionist” is worth the exception. I’ve been listening to this fanmix pretty regularly for years, even though it’s been a while since I had any actual activity in the fandom. When I wrote my own Jim/Pam fic, this was pretty much the soundtrack I had throughout the entire process. That’s how fantastic it is.

Save the Receptionist

Vidder: Thomas (Xeth) Pencz
Musical Artist: Unknown
Pairing: Obi-Wan/Qui-Gon
Vidder on LJ: unknown
Vidder Website: YouTube Channel
Why you must see this vid:

First off, this is musically rather odd, because the emphasis in the rec is on the animation, rather than on lyrics or beat. The background plays music suited to special effects, or perhaps a demonstration of special effects that vidders use, such as spiral-in and fade-out. But the animation tracks the Duel of the Fates, matching expressions of the actors in a unique perspective and body design in animated form. Sort of ... surreal? Anyway, commenter Abriggs500 suggests, if you want to try a different viewing: "Just mute [] and open up a new tab on youtube. Search "Duel of the Fates." Then play both vids at the same time." It works!

Darth Maul vs. Qui-Gon featuring Obi-Wan

'Bye for now. I've had fun reccing and hope you consider driving the van. It has GPS and heated front seats that vibrate.

Vidder: The Sherlock Fan Orchestra
Musical artist: The Sherlock Fan Orchestra
Pairing: none
Vidder on LJ: unknown
Vidder's website: Youtube Channel
Why this vid kicks ass:

Sixty-eight musically talented fans from all over the world contributed tracks that were assembled into a wonderful rendition of "Pursuit," the jaunty score to the taxicab chase in "A Study in Pink." Accompanying the music is a well-edited video interspersing views of the participating musicians with scenes from Sherlock. I am in awe of the love, skill, and dedication that went into creating this ultimate collaboration of Sherlock fan love. It makes me happy every time I watch it.


Pursuit

*wipes away a single crystalline bead of brow-sweat*

Can you believe it? Here we are at the end of this gargantuan rec set! I don't know about all of you, but I need a gin and tonic and a bit of a lie down. :)

I hope you've had fun this month; it's certainly been a pleasure for me to share all these favourites with you. I always enjoy an excuse to go back and rewatch fantastic vids.

Happy New Year!

Vidder: eruthros and thingswithwings
Musical artist: "Angel of the Morning" by The Pretenders
Pairing: Various
Vidder on LJ: eruthros and thingswithwings
Vidder's website: eruthros' Vid tag and thingswithwings' complete list of fic, vids, podfic, and meta
Why this vid kicks ass: I'm finishing up this set with what is, perhaps, the best loved songvid tribute to rare fandoms: eruthros and thingswithwings's ode to the mega fic exchange, Yuletide. It has every pairing you can conceive of, and a few you probably can't, and it's so lovingly put together it will leave you both awestruck at the brilliance of it and smiling with happiness. It's that kind of vid.

One-Night Fandoms: A Tribute to Yuletide

Vidder: SE
Musical artist: Amanda Ghost
Pairing: Various
Vidder on LJ: sol_se
Vidder's website: fannish.flux
Why this vid kicks ass: Today's vid is a gorgeous journey into a surreal dreamscape, in which sol_se's editing matches up echoing images from different source texts. The result will linger in your mind for a long time.

Filthy Mind

Vidder: tearful eye
Musical artist: "the living" by natalie merchant
Pairing: None
Vidder on LJ: tearful_eye
Vidder's website: my vid masterlist
Why this vid kicks ass: tearful_eye has one of the most distinctive styles of any vidder I've ever seen -- beautiful cuts, gorgeous use of repetition, and a relentless build that starts off slow and ramps you up and up until you're left limp with emotion and awe. "Care to Stay" is about the many character deaths there have been in recent fan shows, and it's heartbreaking.

Care to Stay
Warning: Deals with depression and suicide

Vidder: Isagel
Musical artist: "Creep" by Stone Temple Pilots
Pairing: None
Vidder on LJ: isagel
Vidder's website: vids tag
Why this vid kicks ass: I would never in a million years have thought I'd love a songvid about amputees. But OMG, Isagel brings it, and I totally do. I really can't do justice to this vid in words, just believe me that it's worth it and click on the link. Go on. Shoo.

Half the Man
Warning: Violence and frontal nudity (fuller warning given on splash page)

Vidder: such heights
Musical artist: "Slow Lynch" by Sebastien Tellier
Pairing: Various
Vidder on LJ: such_heights
Vidder's website: Fanworks Masterlist
Why this vid kicks ass: Another recent trend in vidding has been multi-fandom vids which explore a particular theme, often related to kink bingo cards. Today's rec is such_heights's gorgeous essay on hands. It will make you yearn to reach out and touch someone.

Many Hands

Vidder: LithiumDoll
Musical artist: Eartha Kitt vs Giant Jr
Pairing: None
Vidder on LJ: halcyon_shift
Vidder's website: Alter Idem
Why this vid kicks ass: To finish off the 'awesome women' theme of the last couple of days, I offer, "I want to be evil," which is one of the cleverest matches of song and source it's ever been my pleasure to watch.

I Want To Be Evil

Vidder: Foomatic
Musical artist: Northern State
Pairing: None
Vidder on LJ: foomatic
Vidder's website: vids tag
Why this vid kicks ass: Today's rec continues with the theme of awesome women being awesome, but this time with an edge sharp enough to cut.

Girl 4 All Seasons

Okay, so we're heading into the final stretch of this rec set, and it's time to look at some of my favourite multi-fandom vids.

Vidder: arefadedaway
Musical artist: Superchick
Pairing: None
Vidder on LJ: arefadedaway
Vidder's website: vid tag
Why this vid kicks ass: This vid is about awesome women being awesome. Watching it makes me want to climb mountains, run for Prime Minister and basically complete multiple impossible feats before breakfast. It'll get your blood pumping too. Maybe that makes it sound like a health tonic, but believe me, it tastes much better. :)

One Girl Revolution

Vidder: Speranza and Seah & Margie
Musical artist: Sparks
Pairing: None... or many and various
Vidder on LJ: cesperanza and flummery
Vidder's website: Speranza's Fiction and Vids by Flummery
Why this vid kicks ass: To wrap up meta week, I leave you with this serious meditation on the fannish use of metaphor. *serious face is serious*

Metaphor

Vidder: thingswithwings
Musical artist: Angelo Badalamenti, from A Very Long Engagement (instrumental)
Pairing: Various
Vidder on LJ: thingswithwings
Vidder's website: complete list of fic, vids, podfic, and meta
Why this vid kicks ass: thingswithwings says that this vid was inspired by Henry Jenkins' research into slash, in which he said that "slash is what happens when you take away the glass" between two characters like Kirk and Spock. This vid is a gorgeous meditation on that theme, showing exactly why fans have such a fascination with the barriers -- both real and metaphorical -- between all our favourite characters.

The Glass

Vidder: OTW (directed by Francesca Coppa and edited by Laura Shapiro, sound editing by AbsoluteDestiny)
Musical artist: Various
Pairing: Various
Vidder on LJ: None
Vidder's website: Vidding History Projects
Why this vid kicks ass: I kicked off meta week with songvids about songvids, and so now it seems appropriate to rec a project that takes this idea of vidmeta to its logical conclusion -- documentaries about vidding, made by vidders.

Not long ago, the Organization for Transformative Works interviewed a whole heap of vidders about vidding, sampled their work, and created a series of snapshots that showcase their art and philosophy. What a neat idea! I love the voices of fans talking about their passion -- it's so rare to get a chance hear fans' real voices -- and I also love that this series has been made by vidders, using the skills they acquired through vidding, and that it's unashamedly pro-fanworks. I fell in love with vids all over again when I watched this.

Vidding

Vidder: counteragent
Musical artist: Thomas Dolby
Pairing: Various
Vidder on LJ: counteragent
Vidder's website: My vids
Why this vid kicks ass: counteragent has a real gift for remixing disparate sources and styles, and forging them into something seamless, with it's own narrative drive and logic. This songvid is a perfect example. It's gorgeously framed with the trappings of the cinema, beautifully matched to the music, and at the same time working as an elegant showcase for Charmax's vids. Such a clever piece of work.

She Blinded Me with Science (a Charmax tribute)


This recommendation is part of a set, which includes three of charmax's vids (links go to the recs):

Multi-fandom - I'm your Man
Lost and Delirious - Cry Me A River
Multi-fandom - Seven Nation Army

Vidder: Charmax
Musical artist: Patricia O Callaghan
Pairing: Various
Vidder on LJ: charmax
Vidder's website: Bronze Ambition
Why this vid kicks ass: Made for the International Day of Femslash, this vid is a glorious celebration of friendship, romance, crossdressing, and women generally being awesome with other women. Need I say more?

I'm your Man


This recommendation is part of a set, which includes:

• charmax's vids: Lost and Delirious - Cry Me A River , Multi-fandom - Seven Nation Army, and
  
• The commentary She Blinded Me with Science (a Charmax tribute) by counteragent

Vidder: Charmax
Musical artist: Effcee
Pairing: None
Vidder on LJ: charmax
Vidder's website: Bronze Ambition
Why this vid kicks ass: The theme of this vid is very simple: it is an ode to robots. Killer robots! Seven types of killer robots rampaging across time and space! And yes, it is made of win.

Seven Nation Army


This recommendation is part of a set, which includes:

• charmax's vids: Multi-fandom - I'm your Man, Lost and Delirious - Cry Me A River and
  
• The commentary She Blinded Me with Science (a Charmax tribute) by counteragent

Vidder: Charmax
Musical artist: The Cliks
Pairing: Tori/Paulie
Vidder on LJ: charmax
Vidder's website: Bronze Ambition
Why this vid kicks ass: I haven't seen this movie yet, but in this gorgeous vid Charmax makes it look all kinds of awesome -- private girls school, duels, forbidden love, angst, lesbian romance. Yay.

Cry Me A River


This recommendation is part of a set, which includes:

• charmax's vids: Multi-fandom - I'm your Man, Multi-fandom - Seven Nation Army, and
  
• The commentary She Blinded Me with Science (a Charmax tribute) by counteragent

It's meta week in Songvid Oddity land! (And yes, how ironic is the timing, given this week's meta about meta? :)

There's been a trend in the last year or so of meta vids which reflect on what it is to be a vidder, and what vidders love about the art form. I'm going to try and give a sense of what that conversation looks like, and that means posting more than one rec at a time for a couple of days. Bear with me while I wrangle all the cross-links. Hopefully it will all be worth it!


Vidder: bradcpu
Musical artist: Various
Pairing: Various
Vidder on LJ: bradcpu
Vidder's website: Sticky post: My vids
Why this vid kicks ass: kiki_miserchic is one of the most unusual vidders out there. Her stuff is always gorgeous, and interesting, and often confronting. In this vidder profile, bradcpu captures what makes Kiki tick as an artist, combining an interview with excerpts of her vids. As well as being a brilliant introduction to Kiki's work, it's a stunning piece of work in its own right.

To make the experience richer, you might want to watch a sample of Kiki's vids (I've recced three below) before you watch this vidder profile.

August Vidder Profile: kiki_miserychic
Warning: The video excerpts included in this profile contain profanity, nudity, sexual images, and violence (including a torture/disembowelment scene from the movie "The Cell").


This recommendation is part of a set, which includes three of kiki_miserychic's vids (links go to the recs):

Multi-fandom - She's Awesome
The Cell - Bootystyle
The Fall - Once Upon a Time

Vidder: kiki_miserychic
Musical artist: "Excess" by Tricky
Pairing: None
Vidder on LJ: kiki_miserychic
Vidder's website: vid tag
Why this vid kicks ass: Wow. I just... you know what? Nothing I can say here will really do justice to this. It's surreal and stunning. Go watch it right now.

Once Upon a Time
Warning: Violence


This recommendation is part of a set, which includes:

• kiki_miserychic's vids: Multi-fandom - She's Awesome, The Cell - Bootystyle, and
  
• The DVD commentary August Vidder Profile: kiki_miserychic by bradcpu

Vidder: kiki_miserychic
Musical artist: "Glass Danse" by The Faint
Pairing: None
Vidder on LJ: kiki_miserychic
Vidder's website: vid tag
Why this vid kicks ass: This is like a short, sharp kick to the head, with a pounding beat, relentless movement, and glorious women in the centre of the frame. Awesome, indeed.

She's Awesome
Warning: Violence


This recommendation is part of a set, which includes:

• kiki_miserychic's vids: The Cell - Bootystyle, The Fall - Once Upon a Time, and
  
• The DVD commentary August Vidder Profile: kiki_miserychic by bradcpu

Vidder: kiki_miserychic
Musical artist: "Bootystyle" mashup from Dunproofin' using Teddybears STHLM's "Cobrastyle" and Robyn's cover
Pairing: None
Vidder on LJ: kiki_miserychic
Vidder's website: vid tag
Why this vid kicks ass: This is simultaneously one of the most gorgeous and one of the most disturbing songvids I've ever seen, with the kind of graphic violence I just don't expect in a vid. The gothic grandeur of the visuals is beautifully matched to unexpectedly perfect music. Apart from all that, this is an ode to Jennifer Lopez, and it really makes me want to go see all her films immediately.

Bootystyle
Warning: Explicit violence


This recommendation is part of a set, which includes:

• kiki_miserychic's vids: Multi-fandom - She's Awesome, The Fall - Once Upon a Time, and
  
• The DVD commentary August Vidder Profile: kiki_miserychic by bradcpu

Vidder: Hazel K
Musical artist: Portishead
Pairing: None
Vidder on LJ: aycheb
Vidder's website: new vid tag
Why this vid kicks ass: I'm wrapping up the small-fandom recs with this stunning vid by Hazel K. I keep watching and re-watching it, because everything about it is intriguing, from the unusual music choice, to the fantastic matching of images (both to each other and to sound), and the way Hazel focuses in on the sharp-edges of a film which feels much less bleak on the big screen. I keep seeing new things and making new connections and being astonished all over again. This is vidding at its very best.

Silence
Warning: Violence

Vidder: Jake Productions
Musical artist: The Battle of Kerak, Crusaders, Breached, and Burning The Past by Harry Gregson-Willaims
Pairing: None
Vidder on LJ: Unknown
Vidder's website: PowerMonkey Studios
Why this vid kicks ass: It's hard to pick what I love most about this songvid. It's gorgeous; it's epic; it's got heart-pounding action. But the thing that stands out for me is that the music has no lyric, and yet there's such a sense of drama conveyed through the editing.

Kingdom of Heaven (scroll down)
Warning: Violence and death

Vidder: Prodigi
Musical artist: "On The Stereo" by Psychopunch
Pairing: Various
Vidder on LJ: prodigi249
Vidder's website: AMV Profile
Why this vid kicks ass: Let me just say this right up front: I have Issues with the misogyny and violence in Sin City. That said, I still find it visually compelling, maybe even because of the discomfort I feel when I watch it. This songvid captures both of those things perfectly: it provokes a really strong emotional reaction, but it's also one of the most amazing visual extravaganzas I've ever seen in songvid form.

Sin
Warning: Violence and death

Vidder: Trille
Musical artist: I Am Kloot
Pairing: None
Vidder on LJ: special_trille
Vidder's website: vid tag
Why this vid kicks ass: This is a gorgeously edited character study, looking at the faultlines in both psyches and families, and the bloodshed they lead to. It's graphic, but fascinating.

Twist
Warning: Violence

Vidder: Permetaform
Musical artist: Muse
Pairing: None
Vidder on LJ: permetaform
Vidder's website: kanzeyori
Why this vid kicks ass: Hero is one of the most spectacular movies I've ever seen, which means the bar is high for a vidder if they want to do it justice. Luckily for us, Permetaform is more than up for the challenge -- this is easily one of the most beautiful vids in my collection. You should add it to yours; it's so worth it. Click, and prepare to be thrilled.

Sunburned (scroll down)

Vidder: Ryan
Musical artist: Tegan and Sara
Pairing: V/Evie
Vidder on LJ: ryty
Vidder's website: morbidmuch.com, alternative site on BAM Vid Vault
Why this vid kicks ass: V for Vendetta struck a chord with fandom when it came out, and appeared in a lot of multi-fandom vids, like Us (which I recced in the last Songvid Oddities set). Ryan's songvid focuses on V and Evie, and it's my favourite encapsulation of the movie, with a perfect meld of song choice and visuals.

Superstar

Vidder: Nicky
Musical artist: Britney Spears
Pairing: Britney Spears/Kevin Federline
Vidder on LJ: obsessive24
Vidder's website: obsessive24.net
Why this vid kicks ass: Every time I watch this songvid, it blows me away all over again. It's Britney's song, telling her own story, but illustrated with Nicky's editing magic. The result is a gorgeous, haunting gut-punch. Just, wow.

Piece of Me

Vidder: Zimshan
Musical artist: "All These Things That I've Done" by the Killers
Pairing: None
Vidder on LJ: zimshan
Vidder's website: My Vids Tag
Why this vid kicks ass: RPF vids have taken off in the last year or so, and this one is a beautiful snapshot of the sense of hope that was buzzing like a livewire during the American election. But it's more than that, too; it's the faces of everyday people, people like us. I love that we have songvids like this, side-by-side with those exploring more traditional fannish concerns. The passion is the same, the techniques the same, and it shows how we're connecting all these dots between our fictions and the wider world.

All These Things