What I want to see in a music video is one that makes me smile or laugh. Now, don’t get me wrong. Live performance videos are entertaining. Narrative videos can be clever but also head-scratching if the lyrics don’t match the plot. Concept videos are just too confusing because the lyrics have little to nothing to do with the action. Animation videos are the most original, but all too often it feels like you’re watching an endless loop of “Magical Mystery Tour.”
When I’m just lazing about on the couch, in between watching an episode of “Only Murders in the Building” and “Gutfeld!” sometimes I’ll scan the inbox to see what’s new in the world of music videos. One that caught my eye recently has been shot for the song ‘Tarzan’ by Mean Mary from her upcoming “Woman Creature (Portrait of a Woman, Pt. 2)” album, the follow-up to her scintillating 2022 album, “Portrait of a Woman, Pt. 1.”
This video makes you want to grab a liana vine and swing from treetop to treetop to the sounds of jungle/bluegrass banjo. You’ll see Mary in a leopard-spotted dress and hat, fingers flying all over the fretboard of her banjo, sounding the clarion call (Ungawa!) to all the monkeys, elephants and other wildlife in the vicinity. It almost makes you want to see the jungle for yourself, which sounds exciting, that is, if you don’t mind the heat, humidity, mould, mildew, poisonous snakes and predatory 400-pound leopards with teeth like steak knives.
You’ll hear Mary’s iconic Tarzan call, which is pretty close indeed to Johnny Weissmuller’s ululating yell – Taaar-maan-ganiii! Her brother Frank James chimes in on jungle animal sounds, similar to those heard on Paul Simon’s “Graceland” or The Tokens’ 1961 smash hit single, ‘The Lion Sleeps Tonight.’ oh Wimoweh, oh Wimoweh.
Don’t miss Mary’s wild, fun-filled, and utterly original music video. This exhilarating visual adventure perfectly captures the spirit of the song, and you can tell Mary had a blast making it. But somebody has to inform her that she absolutely can’t keep Cheetah and Tantor in the backyard, and that 20-foot-long hungry python slithering from room to room is a serious violation of the local reptile ordinance. Tell her mama she shouldn’t encourage the monkey to whip bananas at anyone who comes by the house. Oh, one more thing: the musicians in her band are refusing to call her Big Bwana.
Don’t forget to pre-order here. “Woman Creature (Portrait of a Woman, Pt. 2)” shipping the week of October 4. The album was recorded at Mary’s home studio and showcases her exceptional gifts as a songwriter, vocalist, multi-instrumentalist, arranger, producer, and a howling Woman Creature. Make sure to click the Notify Me button on YouTube so you don’t forget when it’s time! Mary will be in the live chat, answering your questions and hanging out in real time as the video plays. Ungawa.
Roll the credits
Sane, Red-Blooded Girl – Mary James; Jungle Woman – Mary James; Jungle Guitar Woman – Mary James; Jungle Banjo Woman – Mary James; Mischievous Monkey – Frank James; Mean Monkey – Mary James; The Hunter – Frank James; Fearless Camera Operators – Jean James and Johnny Giles; The Elephant – Tantor IV
Mary James – vocals, banjo, guitar; Frank James – vocals, jungle animals (lion, elephant, chimpanzee, parrot); Oli Hayhurst – upright bass; Larry Salzman – percussion; Mixed by Dominic Romano
No animals (or people) were harmed during the making of this video.
