This will in all probability remain INCOMPLETE for a loooong while. Why? Well, 1.) A new video is released periodically over a few months, so I'll never be complete in that sense. There will always be some other video to write about. And 2.) I have not seen every single video ever made. I've never seen "Universe" or any of the other international ones. But, as devoted as I am to this band, I'll see them yet (well, I've technically seen "Universe", but I saw it online and the resolution really bit a big one). Here I will cover the plot, the amount of Daniel footage, and the overall look of the video. Mainly for people who have never seen the videos and want to know what it looked like and what it was about. For now, here's every other video and all its versions.
I Want You, directed by Nigil Dick. Produced by Squeak Pictures
Plot: From what I can tell, it's about a guy trying to send a signal to this girl he likes using equipment you would normally only find in a Marilyn Manson video (don't believe me? check the videos for "Tourniquet" and "The Beautiful People") or my dentist's office (that weird scanning thing...flashbacks of the x-ray machine...nooooo....).
Daniel Watch: He's all over the place in this video, probably because it was the first and no one really knew who they were. Before all the fame stuff set in.
The Look: Haha. "You've got the look...". Sorry, I just had to quote some Roxette there. I couldn't help myself. This is the video that's awash in blue and metallic hues. Also, the only American video in which Darren's hair is long.
To The Moon and Back: version 1. Directed by Nigil Dick. Produced by Squeak Pictures
The Plot: Hmm, well still not sure on this one. Pretty much about a depressed (and, of course, beautiful) girl moping about her apparently crummy life. Ah yes, the beautiful people really do go through hell looking so pretty, don't they? Haha. Darren and Daniel just pretty much mope around too, playing and singing into old microphones. Okay...
Daniel Watch: He's here, not doing too much though. Just fiddly farting around, playing a guitar. This is not one of their more active videos.
The Look: Bright, lots of shades of light blue and turquoise. Also, Darren's hair is LONG, but this is not an American video! I got this one from Much Music in Canada, and the only time MTV USA ever played it...on a version of "Say What?" when they play videos and their lyrics, which was about 2 years ago before the American "TTMAB" came out. They only played that once. And I got it on tape!
To The Moon and Back: version 2. Directed by Adolfo Doring. Produced by Notorious Pictures
The Plot: Oooh! Another literal translation here, folks! Sad girl, wants to get away, and not liked by many people. Here, you can see Daniel and an almost-bald Darren strut their stuff in NYC, sing to some Chinese lady and breathe on her, and basically put on this look that just screams "Look at me, I'm so hot. I know you want me". This reminds me so much of a German commerical, it's scary.
Daniel Watch: A lot here, and pretty damn good looking too. This is one of the last videos that he's in almost as much as Darren.
The Look: Dark colors, lots of purple, which makes this one of my faves. The moon (of course) makes a lot of cameos here, and the people in the video wear skater clothes and vintage stuff.
Truly Madly Deeply, Directed by Adolfo Doring. Produced by Notorious Pictures
The Plot: 1 guy, 1 girl, 1 band, 1 city of love. The guy and girl are an estranged couple, searching for each other in grand ol' Paris while Darren walks around by himself, acting like a weird tour guide. He finally meets up with Daniel at a café, just in time to catch a jam session. The guy and girl find each other, hug, and walk by Darren and Daniel as they leave the café. How cute.
Daniel Watch: My God, he's in there almost as much as Darren! This is most definitely a first.
The Look: Old 20's-ish with a lot of sepia tones and lots o' leather.
Break Me Shake Me, Directed by Adolfo Doring. Produced by Notorious Pictures
The Plot: Ooh, they get angry here! Reminds me a lot of bikers for some reason. Darren, Daniel, and the band drive out to what looks to be the Australian Outback (I think Ayers Rock makes a cameo here, but my knowledge of Australian landmarks isn't really up to par) to play and smack the camera, which happens a lot. Basically, there really ISN'T a plot.
Daniel Watch: He's here, looking sweaty and melodramatic. A far cry from some of the other videos, I must say.
The Look: A lot of fish-eye camera shots, pretty girls looking sad, and Darren all up in the camera. Also, it's mostly in earth tones to reflect the natural backdrop of the outback. If that's what it is.
Tears of Pearls, Directed by Adolfo Doring. Produced by Notorious Pictures
The Plot: A LIVE video! A nice throwback to the 1980's classic "This Is Spinal Tap", sans the fighting, alcohol, and giant inflatable Satan. This was all shot live in Australia, how quaint.
Daniel Watch: He's here, but it mostly focuses on Darren and the backup singers. Darren mostly.
The Look: Very flashy, lots of flash and pizzazz. Did I spell that right?
The Animal Song, Directed by Adolfo Doring. Produced by Notorious Pictures
The Plot: A happy-go-lucky parade, not unlike my high school's annual homecoming parade. Very peppy, and somewhat nauseating. Except we don't have the dancing guys in suits. But we do have the dancing fruits! This is by far the most fun video they have done. It also contains clips from the movie "The Other Sister", in which "The Animal Song" was featured on the soundtrack. That movie's plot is just about as real as the Disney version of "Pocahontas" (and that is a very big insult).
Daniel Watch: He's barely there! Just barely! You spot him for four seconds on a float! It's a travesty!
The Look: This can be explained in four words: bright, fun, campy, POP.
I Knew I Loved You, Directed by Kevin Bray.
The Plot: Another literal translation video. A guy wanders the subway and sees a beautiful girl, instantly knowing that she is "The One". Of course, "The One" is played by Kirsten Dunst, who is also in the new Crow movie, "Salvation" (go see it when it comes out. IMMEDIATELY). In the end, after a lengthy daydream, they both part to their separate ways. Coolest scene: the red alarm scene.
Daniel Watch: He's in a lot of places here, much to my surprise. However, he's always in the back or in a hard to find place.
The Look: Nice, sleek, and overall cute. The clothes are cute, the people are cute, and well so's the plot.
Crash and Burn, Directed by Yariv.
The Plot: A girl going through tough times looks towards a friend to cheer her up and make her feel worthy. This is of course, Darren. He shows her some universal truths ("Television is a one way conversation", "Communicate any way, any how") and makes her happy. An interesting point: the eye makeup and use of mirrors. In every video I've seen directed by Yariv, there's some mirrors and really, really scary eye makeup. Check Third Eye Blind's "Jumper" to prove this. Coolest scene: the sign language, which translates to the chorus of "Crash and Burn" (thanks to Thea for telling me this!), as done by Darren himself.
Daniel Watch: Uh, good luck finding a clear shot of this guy. He's entirely in the back and you can barely make him out, much less his face.
The Look: Dark, dark, and even darker. A lot of greens and overhead lighting here, and of course the over-abundance of eye makeup.
Affirmation, Directed by ? (this is an Australia-only video so far, BTW)
The Plot:This reminds me a lot of history class w/ Mr. Lustig. Why? Well...it's nothing but shots of old historical videos stuck together with masking tape and a magic marker. With everyone from MLK jr. to Gandhi to the Challenger disaster (my oldest brother has that on tape), it's pretty much a video timeline.
Daniel Watch:He's not here at ALL. But, then again, neither is Darren! Neither them nor an instrument appears in this video.
The Look: Old and wrinkly, much like your grandmother, I'm sure. :)