SoulBounce Honors 2008's Video of the Year: Erykah Badu's 'Honey'

SoulBounce Honors

SoulBounce Honors 2008's Video of the Year: Erykah Badu's 'Honey'

Harlem | 12/18/2008 at 6:00 PM | Comments (20)

We know. We gave a lot of love to Erykah Badu around these parts in 2008. From her album release, to her interviews, to her love life, to her pregnancy, to her commericals, to even her posters, SoulBounce is clearly in E-Boogie's corner. Some of you, not so much. Which is fine. Hopefully, one thing we can all agree on is that the video for New AmErykah (Part One)'s lead single, "Honey," definitely deserves the distinction of SoulBounce Honors Video of the Year.

Yes, it bowed in late January. And sure, hundreds of videos (if not more) have come across our screens since then. However, the fact that no video this year came close to matching the clip's creativity or understated genius, speaks volumes about its excellence. Reuters called the clip a forthright "love letter addressed in equal measure to a special soul, and to some classic records that have been among the greatest loves of our lives." Word.

Directed by Badu and Chris Robinson, the Grammy nominated "Honey" starts out as a simple romp through a neighborhood record store, but blossoms into a much-welcomed trip down a musical memory lane, with iconic R&B, hip hop and rock album covers coming to life in an unequivocal tribute to music and music lovers. It doubles as the ultimate Trivial Pursuit session, too (although we helped you cheat), with so many spending days trying to locate every cover recreated.

There was a lot crammed into the four plus minutes, including a video-within-the-video clip of Badu's super-group Edith Funker performing an excerpt of their song, "Annie" and a shout out to E's baby daddy Andre 3000's hit "Hey Ya!" What else could you want? The graphics? Sharp. The re-creations? Nearly impeccable. The recognition? Well-deserved.

A video for the ages. Soul that literally bounced off of the screen. That's how we like it here. I'm sure that's something else with which we can all agree.

Tags: andre 3000, chris robinson, edith funker, erykah badu

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Comments

honey is a killa video and erykah is a killa artsit

me | August 31, 2009 10:18 AM | Permalink

I really do believe New Amerykah was the best album of 2008. It was my favorite a rich tapestry of lyrics, images, melodies, harmonies and muscality. Can't wait for the next installment. She is a beautiful artist.

glo | December 29, 2008 7:00 PM | Permalink

oh and dont get it twisted. i have love for erykah...she has done some brilliant work in her career...but i have not really been feeling her recently

... | December 24, 2008 1:24 PM | Permalink

uh...first of all, i dont watch cable at all so i dont know much about the videos that were out this year. however i did happen to catch the Many Moons video at a premier and agree that Many Moons was far more imaginative than this crap (i just watched the Honey video for the first time). perhaps it is her self absorbed, preachy, self righteousness that has turned me off to her (ebadu) but i didnt like the album (i liked/ could tolerate maybe 3 of the songs), the song (Honey), nor am i impressed with the video. im not gonna front on her being a very talented woman...but she is starting to sound repetitive. although i am not really checkin for mainstream music n videos...i know enough to argue the point that this could not have been the best of 08. and if it is...then it confirms why i dont check for mainstream shit.

... | December 24, 2008 1:19 PM | Permalink

Hmmm... LOVE Erykah but I would have gone for Janelle Monae's Many Moons video. Imaginative beyond belief and went beyond just visualizing the music to get me into her sound.

Que? | December 21, 2008 4:20 PM | Permalink

Coco: Thanks for the love girl! (We have to keep it real around these parts.)

jennifer | December 20, 2008 3:31 PM | Permalink

Diana Ross' "Blue" is a great album, and was tapped for this. Ironically, it was unreleased until 2006, though recorded several decades back. Great video, great album.-QH

QH | December 20, 2008 10:52 AM | Permalink

Agreed.

If not her......"whose"?

Ambivalent about the entire CD. But the video is a classic.

hoodedmonk | December 20, 2008 7:22 AM | Permalink

Love.that.video
This has been a great year for E.badu on SB. She gets so much love here and its well deserved.
I went back and reread that commentary on the pregnancy... whoa. I felt like I was watching a tennis match and jennifer clearly won!

coco | December 19, 2008 5:29 PM | Permalink

Haha at stoney!! We know you love badu:)

jennifer | December 19, 2008 11:57 AM | Permalink

I'm lovin this choice!! Extremely creative, great concept, funky, wit a lil ol school mixed in. Yes Ms. E. Badu is one of my favs! Gotta luv her!!! Much Congrats!!!!

Dana | December 19, 2008 9:52 AM | Permalink

Perfect choice! This video embodied everything you loved about music. Took me back to the days of digging through my parents album collection and hitting up mom and pop record stores for albums. Ah, the innocence of the times.

Soulrific | December 19, 2008 8:31 AM | Permalink

This is by far my favorite video of the year. One of my favorite of all times.

Sheree | December 19, 2008 7:05 AM | Permalink

New Amerykah really divided the fans, personally I loved it but then it would get pretty borin around these parts if everyone agreed on everythin!

Great choice for video of the year IMO.

Soul UK | December 19, 2008 4:38 AM | Permalink

Best video of the year?!? WTF..............Ms. Badu must have some damning photo's of the staff at SB from a Vibe Party or sumptin:) The album was abysmal, the video wasnt THAT bad, but best of the year? ......................................SB has lost some points with me:) but I still wish ya'll a Happy Kwanza:)