#80: “a healthy pop bounce”
Welcome to issue #80 of THIS NEWSLETTER CANNOT SAVE YOU, your source for short form video goodness to enjoy while the world steadily crumbles around us. You know, friends, I forgot to mention something last issue and I’d like to sneak it in this issue: it’s my playlist of Favorite Music Videos of 2025. I maintain these playlists going back quite a ways, and sometimes they’ve peaked at over a hundred entries, but this year just fifteen music videos made the cut, from the likes of Imogen Heap, Stereolab, A. G. Cook, Max Cooper, Childish Gambino, Aphex Twin, and others. “There’s a little something for everyone!”
OK, let’s jam.
Scottovision
“Klonox” (2007) - A procession of tanks careens across the flatland, until it suddenly finds itself facing a strange mystery, in this animated short film by Thomas Guerigen. For fans of strange mysteries, also tanks.
“im glad i know that now thank you: kissing” (2026) - An episode of a small web series created by someone using the handle “Chris (Simpsons Artist),” this short animated film teaches you how to kiss, except these techniques will decidedly not work as expected. Funny and very weird. Other amusing entries include “phones” and “death.”
“It’s Not That Serious” (2025) - Ricky Ubeda, winner of season 11 of So You Think You Can Dance, directs and choreographs this tight-as-heck dance film, whose whimsical title is only slightly reflected by the sheer talent and stylish precision display. Longtime readers of this newsletter will know I frequently have trouble describing dance despite my regular efforts, and this is no exception. But it’s set to the music of Vampire Weekend, which I can say gives the proceedings a healthy pop bounce.
“Locked Groove” (2026) - Animator Emanuele Kabu brings us this artisanally-crafted abstract short film inspired by the phenomenon of pareidolia, and in today’s AI-drenched landscape, it’s quite a treat to see something so complex and beautiful coming at us from the mind and hands of an actual animator. Kabu has delivered a string of beautiful music videos over time, many of which I’ve long admired, and I’m delighted to see Kabu operating completely on his own inspiration here.
“Have You Considered?” (2025) - You see, the dancers are rapelling down the face of a cliff, and it’s beautiful. New music video from Imogen Heap and Pattie Gonia, with musical contributions from Boreta of The Glitch Mob.
“Ralph Styles Ultra” (2025) - In the world of a 1970s-era luxury cigarette commercial, an attempt to arrange a ménage à trois goes sideways, in this slick retro short film written and directed by Nick fforde.
“SHARKS WITH LASERS!” (2024) - I mean, what do you think it’s about?
“Palm Rot” (2018) - I like the official description for this animated short: “Investigating a mysterious explosion in the Florida Everglades, a crop-duster named Bill discovers a lone crate that survived the wreckage. Curiosity gets the better of him and he pulls the crate unto his airboat. That’s just the first in a series of decisions he learns to regret.” Somehow the animation itself maintains the same mysterious quality as the storyline. Written, directed, and animated by Ryan Gillis.
“Flawless” (2019) - A robbery goes haywire when both the robber and the victim wind up trapped in an elevator together. Psychological hijinks ensue, grounded by a pair of great performances. Written by Nathan Franck and Marion Defer, directed by Franck.
“The Weird Guy” (2026) - Writer/director Sandy Honig presents this sweet and charming silent film about - you guessed it - a weird guy, looking to find love in a neighborhood where weird guys are expressly forbidden. Honig, one of the creators and stars of the Adult Swim show Three Busy Debras, has a knack for oversized absurdist comedy, which she uses here to full fourth-wall-busting effect.
Exit Music
Sending you out this issue with an a cappella treat. The music blog Cover Me recently ran a feature entitled “The Best Björk Covers Ever,” featuring 35 covers in a range of styles, and while many of them are worthy of recommendation, they really nailed it with their inclusion of “Jóga” as covered by Sonos, from the group’s 2009 release Sonosings. If you like this silky kind of vocal sound - and why wouldn’t you? - then you should also take a quick listen to their cover of Radiohead’s “Everything In Its Right Place” while you’re at it, which trades a jagged, experimental edge for the warmth and smoothness of the Björk cover. The range is impressive.
Here's the YouTube playlist with (most of) this issue's recos. Please enjoy responsibly.
Until next time, I remain your friendly correspondent, thinking of you,
Scotto
Scotto Moore is the author of WILD MASSIVE, BATTLE OF THE LINGUIST MAGES, and YOUR FAVORITE BAND CANNOT SAVE YOU.
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