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Haven't you ever wondered what your cat does all day when you're not home? Or what you look like from his perspective? Just me? OK, fine. #forevercatlady

No seriously, there's no way I'm the only one that's ever wondered what a cat's view of the world is because cat cams exist. Yep, cat cams: automatic cameras that your feline friends can wear around their necks to document what's going on around them.

Seminal '90s indie rockers Superchunk have realized what UTTER GENIUS this is and made the best music video ever incorporated a cat cam into their newest video, "Crossed Wires," off their Majesty Shredding album. Only this cat really gets around -- bars, strip clubs, puking, etc. And he's not even the tiniest bit guilty when he gets home. That Superchunk would create a cat-themed video is both excellent AND unsurprising considering they put out an album entitled No Pocky for Kitty.

We do have to say that we couldn't mention the "Crossed Wires" video without mentioning the O.G. cat of cat cams: Cooper, aka "Photographer Cat," an orange American Shorthair who travels around with a camera strapped to his neck that takes a photo every two minutes. His pictures are so popular that he even has his own book. Photographer Cat, 1; your photojournalism degree: 0.

+ Watch Superchunk's "Crossed Wires" kitty masterpiece video. And, naturally, watch its predecessor, Holy F***'s "Red Lights" video, which is up for an O Music Award for Best Animal Performance! And because it's Flashback Friday, watch Superchunk's 1997 "Watery Hands" video, featuring David Cross and Janeane Garofalo.

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Tags Cats, LOL, Superchunk, vintage-video

Credit: Getty Images

It's Friday, it's the freakin' weekend, and it's also Flashback Friday, in which we revisit a forgotten video from the MTV video vault.

Sure, people like to call out the '80s as the decade so unapologetically garish they made the next decade look like a Vogue spread. But the '90s had some messed-up ish happening too. Mediatate on this: frosted tips, belly chains, ribbed sweaters, cargo pants and -- worst of all -- Pogs! Granted, there were no pogs in *NSYNC's 1999 music video for "(Thinking Of You) I Drive Myself Crazy," but there was, indeed, some very offensive '90s hair (and a cameo from Elisa Donovan of Clueless fame).

The whole "One Flew Over The Cuckoo Nest" theme -- a light interpretation of the song's title, to say the least -- is pretty funny. Padded cells, strait jackets and an insane asylum where the patients are all wearing enormous silk pajamas? It's very M.C. Hammer-sanitarium chic.

The video is pretty run-of-the-mill as far as music videos from the bubblegum pop explosion era go, but it's still unsettling to see things like Justin Timberlake with that weird haircut. He was by no means the only dude sporting damp, bleach-blond curls, but he was probably the most famous. And did Chris Kirkpatrick wear beaded dreads because that was how you showed you were "weird" 11 years ago? You just know A.J. McLean was rolling somewhere in Orlando, rolling his eyes the first time he got a glimpse of that.

Nevertheless, the boys did something right. Even Joey Fatone knew how to pout properly for all the clamoring girls who would have paid in blood to join the boys inside that enormous padded cell. And, eventually, they came out with "Gone," which was not only a mature step musically, but a peek into how Justin Timberlake would quickly become a sexy grown-up solo superstar devoid of all... wet curls.

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Tags Chris Kirkpatrick, Flashback Friday, JC Chasez, Joey-Fatone, Justin Timberlake, Lance Bass, NSync, vintage-video

One of the best things about working at MTV is finding little hidden gems in the MTV archives. Like this one.

Way before "Live To Dance," before hosting a cheerleading bowl on MTV, and before the major career resuscitation that came in the form of a little show called "American Idol," Paula Abdul was a dancer. Before she was even an international pop star, Paula was -- at heart -- just a girl who could dance her ass off. A former L.A. Lakers girl, Paula eventually rose to stardom choreographing Janet Jackson during her Control era.

And way before she was a gorgeous, sexy, A-list pop icon, Janet Jackson was a baby-faced, soft-spoken powerhouse willing to learn some dance steps from a pro.

We dusted off an MTV vintage video of Paula teaching Janet and her dancers some sweet moves. And don't think we're not loving the dudes in the belly shirts, because we are. Hard.

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Tags Janet Jackson, Paula Abdul, video, vintage-video

In case you've just been cryogenically unfrozen (welcome back! You've got some catching up to do) and weren't aware, Kanye West's bust-up at the 2009 VMAs wasn't the first time he went rogue. Kanye has a history of going rogue like he did at the 2009 MTV VMAs, where he elbowed poor Taylor Swift out of her VMA win for Best Female Video.

Below, is a video of Kanye West in December 2005, ranting and raving and gnashing his teeth and all but shaking an angry fist to MTV News, living out an entire emotional arc before the 2006 Grammys and reminding everyone how hard he works (because other artists don't work hard?), how much money he spent on his album, and how much everyone LOVES his music and how it's just balm for the soul if you lost your gram. Basically, Kanye implied a pox on all kittens and puppies if he didn't win the Album of the Year Grammy for Late Registration. (Whoops! U2 won it!)

Then he proceeds to crucify himself. Oh wait... He'd already done that on "Jesus Walks." Keep in mind, this was before Kanye took out his aggressions on his Macbook Air and his blog. Watch Kanye flip his s++t, yet again, in this classic MTV clip.

One of the most foretelling lines Kanye says: "You put the camera in front of me, I'ma tell you like this..." That much is obvious. If there's a camera to be found, Kanye West's gonna find it. Live TV? That's probably even better in Kanye's mind.

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Tags 2009 MTV VMAs, Kanye West, Taylor Swift, video, vintage-video

Madonna in 1979

Every time I get into an intensely heated debate or discussion about Madonna (this happens at least once weekly), I always go back to the fact that the Madonna I miss most is the raunchy, raw, real Madonna, gum-smacking, shellacked hair, torn t-shirts, cherubic-faced, post-punk, totally DIY (even if it meant sleeping with club promoters) ruling the East Village, enamored of her newfound success, and, of course, enamored of herself.

Now, the more Madonna evolves from that aesthetic, the less I can relate to Kundalini/ cock-diesel arms Madonna. And the more I miss flirty, bratty, Boy Toy Madonna. And it almost feels the scarier Madonna's arms get, the more I feel like I'm mourning the loss of the original Madonna.

Madonna at the first-ever VMAs in 1984

In this week's New York Magazine, Writer Emily Nussbaum perfectly captures the impact that The Original Madonna (early 1980s Madonna, not the mother of Christ, though to some, Madonna Ciccone is certainly a holy woman) had not just on music fans (and those who can remember when she -- and Michael Jackson -- put MTV on the map) but on young women old enough to have dressed like Madonna... and how she (and fans like myself) are trying to reconcile the Madonna of the past with the strange, almost-alien Madonna of today.

+ Read the New York Magazine Madonna article, and below, watch the Madonna I miss the most in an MTV interview from 1984, and, after the jump watch my favorite-ever Essential Madonna Video, "Borderline." More vintage MTV Madonna interviews here.

Read more...

Tags Madonna, video, vintage-video

The subject of my girl Jessica Simpson is not the most cheery for me right now... That said, this vintage TRL video temporarily sent me to a happy place. First off, Jessica's outfit will put a smile on your face; I had to hit pause just to savor the image. I mean... just watch it. The glittery pink eye shadow, the crimped hair, the leather pants... what a difference nine years makes.

Yes, it was a simpler time, a happier time, when Nick Lachey and Jessica Simpson were still together. While the duet of "Where You Are" from Jessica's 1999 debut, Sweet Kisses, showcases Jessica's fantastic voice (she also knows to turn her head before a belt, sparing Nick's eardrums), my happy moment was short-lived.

Why can't it just be like this again? Vanessa's gone; Tony's gone; John Mayer's gone (wait -- Mayer might not be gone; did you hear that rumor?), so couldn't Nick and Jessica offer each other the perfect comfort? So say her Tweets, Jessica's just sleeping with her mom and dogs and listening to Olivia Broadfield songs right now. Help her! Let the rumors of a reconciliation be true...

Watch the duet from the good ol' days below, intro-ed by a "lonely and untalented" Carson Daly.

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Tags Carson Daly, Jessica Simpson, John Mayer, Nick Lachey, Tony Romo, TRL, video, vintage-video

Michael Jackson jokes aren't funny anymore. Being cruel to that special little guy is passe and, well, cruel. "The Way You Make Me Feel" is a particularly problematic video.

For one thing, this song rules. It's amazing. I say with no sarcasm, whatsoever, that it basically almost makes The Beatles look bad. Honestly, the same can be said for much of MJ's early catalog. His talent is just astounding. How in the hell did he do it?!?

On the other (gloved) hand, there are a few things about this video that are just too absurd to ignore. For one thing, as an aggressive pursuer of women, Michael Jackson is completely implausible. There is just no believing him.

Secondly, the fact that he seduces this woman by screaming, literally screaming, "ahhhhhh," right in her face, is almost more than I can handle. Could that ever possibly work? Will somebody PLEASE try it and report back? If it works, we'll give you a reality show.

Back to the matter at hand. As flat-out incredible as "The Way You Make Me Feel" is, as a single, the plot line of the video is almost completely indigestible. Michael Jackson just can't be believed as a romantic lead. It's like casting Christopher Mintz-Plasse opposite Angelina Jolie in a Gladiator sequel. Totally impossible. All except for one part. The end. Where the woman finally submits to Michael Jackson's animal advances.

In the perfect climax to 6+ minutes of raw "masculinity," they approach each other tentatively in shadows, sizing each other up, breathing heavily, and then... They hug.

Tags Michael Jackson, The Beatles, video, vintage-video

It's Flashback Friday! And it's also pretty much a rock-solid fact that the "Wannabe," by the Spice Girls, is, was, and always will be one of the most irritating songs ever recorded. So when they dropped "Say You'll Be there" -- the second single off their debut, unimaginatively titled album, Spice -- it was almost as if Posh, Ginger, Baby, and Mels B. and C. were offering the world "Say You'll Be There" as a mea culpa in song form.

While the "Wannabe" video was pretty much a panning party (although it was done in almost one continuous take, which is pretty amazing) and took place in a hotel, "Say You'll Be There" was shot in the Mojave Desert and featured the Girls as naughty ninjas fighting... something or other... with boomerangs, Chinese throwing stars, and vinyl pants.

One of the best parts about "Say You'll Be There" -- both the song and the video -- is the harmonica hoedown part at the bridge. And if you're a total music geek, you either already know, or you'll be as nerdily thrilled as I was to discover that the harmonica solo was performed by Judd Lander, who also performed the harmonica part in Culture Club's "Karma Chameleon." (Watch that video after the jump.)

Other ways that the Spice Girls were clearly saying "we're sorry" in their "Say You'll Be There" video -- the ridiculous sound effects, cheese-tastic retro "surveillance" equipment, and former Madonna boy toy Tony Ward, who's first shown right before 1:00.

Oh yeah, the Spice Girls also performed "Say You'll Be There" at the 1997 MTV VMAs, which is just another reason I wish I had a time machine. Anyway, enjoy the sounds of 1997... without the burdens of zigga-zig-ah.

+ Watch "Karma Chameleon after the jump!
Read more...

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Tags Culture Club, Spice Girls, Victoria Beckham, video, vintage-video

Billie Joe's Mugshot

About a month ago, during the lead-up to the release of 21st Century Breakdown, I told the story of what hell broke loose at my high school when Dookie came out (still can't get over that phrase). Here is an excerpt, in case you missed it.

"I was 14 when Dookie came out and my whole school just about lost its mind. The next day everybody had green hair, tight striped shirts and lip rings ... When [Green Day] came to town, their show got shut down because kids were freaking out and throwing bottles. It was the coolest thing any of us had ever heard of ... They were so dangerous."

What I didn't mention, is that those events took place in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. As far as I know, an early curfew was the only consequence Green Day faced for that mayhem. BUT! I have just discovered, with the help of the ever-illuminating MTV Vault, that Green Day's beef with Milwaukee didn't end there!

Two years later, Green Day came back. I can't remember if they were promoting Insomniac or Nimrod, but I do remember that the Dookie really hit the fan that time! For a colorful account of how Billie Joe landed in the Beer City slammer, just click play below.

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Tags Green Day, vintage-video

It's easy to forget, after all these years of hysteria and unparalleled strangeness, how a guy as odd and troubled as Michael Jackson got to be one of the world's biggest celebrities.

Believe it or not, it wasn't just by virtue of being strange. It wasn't by writing Thriller either, or for the way the floor lights up when he dances, although both certainly helped (just ask Justin Timberlake).

What first established Michael Jackson as a full-blown phenomenon was the fact that, at the age of 11, homeboy could match pipes with Aretha Franklin. Lil Michael Jackson could sing a whole gospel choir under the table. Back then, when they called him a freak of nature, it was a major compliment, which is really hard to imagine today.

Well, you don't have to imagine. The good folks who guard the MTV Archive have squeezed off another dose of vintage brilliance, this time in the form of The Jackson 5. The video below obviously came long after the 1969 song, "Who's Lovin' You," which was the B-side to first Jackson jam, "I Want You Back." But, updated as it may be, the video is still your front row ticket to see a star being born.

Tags Jackson 5, Justin Timberlake, Michael Jackson, vintage-video