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I downloaded a copy of this (fiber optic internet service is a wonderful thing) so I could skim through and look for interesting parts without having to really watch the whole thing. I agree with what others have said about this being Dave putting himself out there, showing folks the effort and time he puts in, and maybe showing some things that aren't going to make the stage at a VH show.
Interesting things (to me, anyway):
I don't know how much formal dance training Dave has or whether the physical control is simply part and parcel of the years of yoga and martial arts training, but he's got great form and control. And he seems to be able to go just as well in workboots on a concrete floor as he does in the sneakers on the waxed hardwood. I see echoes of a lot of things, from the Nicholas Brothers forward through to modern dance (mind, I'm not exactly an expert, so YMMV). A couple of times you see him definitely digging a move he just did and repeating it a few times. There are also a couple of spots where he almost seems to be doing some truly modern urban stuff that reminded me of the slow-motionesque stuff done by Les Twins (YouTube them, they're insane), but that might just be a function of the editing.
As for, "Dave looks gay doing this stuff," the best response I can think of to that is that older folks used to say the same thing about Dave's style and moves in the eighties. If that's all you can think, then guess what? You just turned into your Dad. I guarantee if you were to pull out a few of these moves convincingly in the right place you'd have no trouble getting female attention.
There is plenty of fun to be had watching this and looking for stuff. And with no shows going on right now, why not?
Interesting things (to me, anyway):
- The quality is amazing. This video could have been just as long but 1/2 or 1/4 the size. Instead we're getting full HD.
- There are at least 5 venues: the place seen at the beginning of the video (I'm assuming it's the MojoDojo), the tour bus, Henson Studios (I believe), what looks like a New York (I think) loft or studio space where I think some of the "Dave explains the songs" stuff was shot, and another small study-looking room (at his ranch, maybe?).
- There's a full-color section (no doubt color-corrected by the man himself) starting partway through #46 and going to #48 or #49 where he's wearing stage gear. And at one point drinking a huge evil-looking Starbucks drink.
- In the color bit you can tell the computer to the left in the early parts is a Mac. I'm guessing at least some of this was edited/assembled on it.
- It looked to me like some of the earlier video pieces from #1-10 are repeated around #40-45. What's interesting is that you seem to get more variation in the audio in those spots (early on in one of them he's jiving stuff like, "Russell! What do you have in your mouth? Is that a chicken?")
- Russell shows up at one point on the tour bus, trundles over, scratches, and then does a hilarious flat-out flop before deciding he's probably not in a safe spot and vacating.
- There are a couple of spots where it looks like Dave's singing something else; I guess he probably wasn't dancing to Love Train every time. I would imagine the video has been adjusted to suit, but it's been done very well.
- While it's clear that much of the footage is shot with a stationary camera, in at least some of the "loft" sections (somewhere in the 30's, I think) he's being filmed by a team of two with a dolly -- they do a full 360 around him and you can see them in the mirrors.
- Speaking of mirrors, the wall behind the camera in the first location is almost certainly covered in them; so he's watching himself the whole time (makes sense, really).
- I'm 36 and I would kill to look as good in a t-shirt as Dave does at near 60.
I don't know how much formal dance training Dave has or whether the physical control is simply part and parcel of the years of yoga and martial arts training, but he's got great form and control. And he seems to be able to go just as well in workboots on a concrete floor as he does in the sneakers on the waxed hardwood. I see echoes of a lot of things, from the Nicholas Brothers forward through to modern dance (mind, I'm not exactly an expert, so YMMV). A couple of times you see him definitely digging a move he just did and repeating it a few times. There are also a couple of spots where he almost seems to be doing some truly modern urban stuff that reminded me of the slow-motionesque stuff done by Les Twins (YouTube them, they're insane), but that might just be a function of the editing.
As for, "Dave looks gay doing this stuff," the best response I can think of to that is that older folks used to say the same thing about Dave's style and moves in the eighties. If that's all you can think, then guess what? You just turned into your Dad. I guarantee if you were to pull out a few of these moves convincingly in the right place you'd have no trouble getting female attention.
There is plenty of fun to be had watching this and looking for stuff. And with no shows going on right now, why not?
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