At the same time, I think the video shows that they both recognize and are willing to make great use of their own built-in absurdity. It’s actually pretty fun when a band realizes that they’re a self-parody and just go with it. Because of that, I’m not sure I’d like this song very much separate from the video.

The GnR video, on the other hand, is an entirely different matter. GnR apparently has the reputation for “revitalizing” arena rock and singlehandedly extending its popularity for a least a few years. I think that reputation is a bit overblown, but I’ll agree that their gritty look and sound (and the contrast that made with their contemporary cookie-cutter glam bands) was “their thing”. This video and song are so far away from that. Strings?!? Seeing it makes me think a little about the spoken video pitch in Kevin Gilbert’s “Certifiable #1 Smash”.