These are not all my favorite videos by a LONG shot, but unfortunately a lot of the ones I love best are either not available online at all anymore, or not available in a format/place that's easy to link to. Still, I hope you'll enjoy this sampling. New recs are boldfaced to stand out.
Song: Against All Odds
Sung by: Mariah Carey (I think...it's not the Phil Collins version)
Vidded by: Deslea
Fandom: The X-Files
Genres: romance, angst
Subject: Byers/Susanne
Why: I've loved this couple from the moment Byers first saw Susanne and fell head over heels for her, and the impossibility of their romance is part of the bittersweet appeal of it. Deslea took a song I would never have thought of and through this video made me realize just how perfect it *is* for them. The odds are against them, but that doesn't stop them from hoping for the day when they can be together. *sniffle* So sweet.
Song: Anything but Ordinary
Sung by: Avril Lavigne
Vidded by: Abby
Fandom: X-Men movieverse
Genre: romance, angst
Subject: Rogue/Wolverine
Why: First, I should probably preface this by saying that Avril Lavigne is one of the only teen pop stars that I actually *like* (even though I've heard she can't carry a tune when her voice isn't being digitally altered) because a lot of her music addresses issues that kids really face and gives good advice. But far more than that, I love this video because it's probably the best Wolverine/Rogue video I've ever seen. Not only do the clips match the lyrics well, but you could say that the entire Rogue character arc of the first movie was getting her to the point where she accepts that it's okay to be extraordinary, and Wolverine is a big part of that journey whether you see their relationship as romantic or not.
Title: AtlantisTales
Song: DuckTales theme
Sung by: Mark Mueller
Vidded by: Jemo
Fandom: Stargate Atlantis
Genres: general, humor
Subject: life on Atlantis
Why: It should not have been nearly this easy for Jemo to make these two fit, but they do, and they fit hilariously. Seriously, it'll crack you up.
Song: Back in Time
Sung by: Huey Lewis and the News
Vidded by: Abby
Fandom: Doctor Who
Genre: general
Subject: Rose and the Ninth Doctor
Why: This was the first Doctor Who video I ever watched, before I'd ever even seen the series (old or new). I watched it because it used a song from Back to the Future, but only after I started watching the show did I realize how appropriate the song really was, beyond the time travel inferences. Really, it fits Doctor Who even better than it did Back to the Future! Watch it and you'll see what I mean. *g*
Song: Beautiful Mess
Sung by: Diamond Rio
Vidded by: Janus
Fandom: Buffy the Vampire Slayer
Genre: romance
Subject: Giles/Anya
Why: Because Giles/Anya is fun and that's what this video is. It's witty, it's wistful, it's cute and goofy and light-hearted and fun to watch, and the lyrics are a perfect Giles POV on Anya, if he were to realize he has feelings for her. Absolutely perfect.
Song: Cartoon Heroes
Sung by: Aqua
Vidded by: Mamoru
Fandom: Stargate SG-1/Stargate Atlantis
Subject: multiple characters, humor, OOC
Why: Because it is, quite simply, laugh out loud funny. Mamoru combines show and behind the scenes footage to create a wonderfully goofy tribute to these two shows and just how much FUN the cast and crew have making them. I swear, it's enough to make you want to *be* cast or crew. ;-) And on top of that, it's put together so well with so many cool effects that my vidding program just can't do that I'm *hugely* jealous of mamoru's skill and software. *grin*
Song: Did We Not Choose Each Other?
Sung by: Sophie B. Hawkins
Vidded by: Deslea
Fandom: The X-Files
Genre: romance
Subject: Doggett/Reyes
Why: I don't support DRR. In fact, I'm adamantly against it. And I had never heard this song before. But I love this video to pieces and have watched it so many times I've memorized the song. What does that tell you? :-)
Song: Falling for the First Time
Sung by: Barenaked Ladies
Vidded by: Mamoru
Fandom: Stargate Atlantis
Genre: romance, humor
Subject: Sheppard/McKay
Why: I'm not a huge McShep fan, but I've discovered I like it better when it's played for laughs. (Hence why I made two Shep/McKay humor videos of my own. ;-) ) And this...well, this is by the same artist who brought us "Cartoon Heroes" so you *know* it's going to be funny! It's McKay POV, which means you can't get a much more perfect band than Barenaked Ladies, plus, some of her clip-to-lyric coordination is just amazing--like using Rodney's reaction to Chaya for "anyone perfect must be lying" or McKay waving his compass around for "what if I lost my direction." It's the the kind of video you want to watch over and over just so you can keep that big silly grin on your face. :-)
Song: The Glory of Love
Sung by: Peter Cetera
Vidded by: Karen Ward
Fandom: Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman
Genre: romance
Subject: Lois/Clark
Why: The Clark/Lois/Superman triangle has always been the twentieth century's answer to courtly love, and the song is a twentieth-century ballad about an old-fashioned fairytale romance--it's almost as good a match as the spunky modern woman and her knight in blue spandex themselves. ;-) And this vid illustrates that so well that it's impossible to pick out one perfect moment--the whole thing is perfect.
Song: Good Friend to Me
Sung by: Jessica Andrews
Vidded by: PoopyPooh
Fandom: Stargate Atlantis
Genre: pre-romance
Subject: Sheppard/Weir
Why: I've resisted rec'ing this one just because I'd rec'ed every other Pooh video I've watched, but I can't help it. She's just that good. :-) And one thing I love about this vid is one thing I love about the 'ship, and hate about a lot of the fanfic--whatever else may or may not happen between the characters, there's a foundation of friendship definitely in the works and that's the kind of 'ship I like, one that starts there. :-) To me, Sheppard/Weir is about that friendship, not "and then they dun sex," and the fact that this video not only supports that but does so beautifully...well, how could I *not* love it? :-)
Song: Gravity of Love
Sung by: Enigma
Vidded by: Deslea
Fandom: The X-Files
Genre: romance
Why: I didn't even know this song when I downloaded the video, but now I know all the words. :-) It's dark but hopeful, intense, angsty and sexy as anything, very much like Alex and Marita themselves. Hmm, could that be my criteria? That the video matches the couple? ;-)
Song: Happy Girl
Sung by: Martina McBride
Vidded by: Pipsqueak
Fandom: Buffy the Vampire Slayer
Genre: single character
Subject: Tara
Why: Tara always struck me as one of the most mature of the Scoobies when I met her during season 6 (my first season watching the show), so it was interesting to go back and see how the character'd grown from where she started in her earliest episodes. That's why I love this vid--it's an affectionate, nostalgic (in a good way) look back at the shy girl who came out of her shell and became a force for good not only in the battle against evil but in the lives of her friends and lover. And the song fits her perfectly.
Song: Holding Out for a Hero
Sung by: Bonnie Tyler
Vidded by: Beth
Fandom: MacGyver
Genre: single character, action
Subject: Mac, the hero
Why: I've always *loved* this song, and if the fit with MacGyver is a little unconventional, that's okay because Mac was an unconventional hero. *g* The clips are well matched to the lyrics, and all in all it's just a lot of fun to watch!
Song: I Am a Scientist
Sung by: The Dandy Warhols
Vidded by: Clara
Fandom: Bones
Genre: general
Subject: all characters
Why: I'm not really all that into Bones--I saw a few eps but that's it--but this is just a *fun* video to watch, even without much context. And the clips she chose for the "whoo!"s at the beginning of the song are just priceless. *g*
Song: I'll Be There For You
Sung by: The Rembrandts
Vidded by: Melanie
Fandom: NCIS
Genre: friendship/romance, humor
Subject: Gibbs/DiNozzo
Why: Put together one of my favorite subjects, a great song, and absolutely flawless editing and this is what you get. It made me laugh so hard, and captured so many of the great moments for these two that it's darn near perfect. :-)
Song: I'm a Believer
Sung by: The Monkees
Vidded by: Kelly K
Fandom: MacGyver
Genre: romance
Subject: Mac/Penny
Why: Because it's adorable and I've always had a soft spot for Mac and Penny, even though I know in the long run they'd probably be horrible for each other. *grin* But the video highlights all the sweetest moments from their relationship, whatever its nature, and deserves to be watched for that alone if nothing else. *grin*
Song: I'm My Own Grandpa
Sung by: Ray Stevens
Vidded by: Settiai
Fandom: Buffy the Vampire Slayer/Angel
Genre: multiple characters, humor
Subject: Spike's family
Why: My favorite videos by Settiai are the ones that take a slightly different tack on things, maybe one I wouldn't have thought of myself. This vid is a hilarous look at the rather circular vampiric "family" of Darla, Angel, Dru and Spike, with Connor and the child vamp from first season thrown in for good measure and to complicate things. *g* You'll laugh out loud, I promise!
Song: Imaginary
Sung by: Evanescence
Vidded by: Nel
Fandom: Firefly
Genre: single character
Subject: River
Why: Because ever since I saw this video, I have not been able to imagine a more fitting song for a River character study. I mean, the lines I know well what lies beyond my sleeping refuge/the nightmare I built my own world to escape could've been penned for her (especially with the clips she chose to illustrate them). And Nel utilizes that perfection...well, to perfection. *grin* The video really gets inside River's head, which is either awe-inspiring, scary, or both. ;-)
Song: It's So Hard to Say Goodbye
Sung by: Boys II Men
Vidded by: Brianna
Fandom: Stargate SG-1
Genre: romance, angst
Subject: Sam/Martouf
Why: I don't really have much investment in this couple, positive or negative, although I think Martouf is an absolute sweetie. But even before I'd ever seen an episode with him in it, this video was able to bring me close to tears every time I watched it. I felt the loss even before I understood it, and that says something.
Song: Just Wanna Live
Sung by: Good Charlotte
Vidded by: PoopyPooh
Fandom: Stargate Atlantis
Genre: episodic, action
Subject: "The Siege" parts I & II
Why: Not just because it's a Pooh video (whyever would you think that? ;-) ) but because I swear she gets better with every new one. The hardest thing about episode videos (speaking from experience) is finding a song that you can illustrate with clips *only* from that episode, and the way she makes this one work is awe-inspiring. Especially considering it's an action video set to a song that's really a band complaining about the paparazzi. ;-) I also love the use of zoom in this one, and there's one scene where she manages to time Shep firing his gun to the beats of the song and that's just cool. My favorite episodic video yet. :-)
Song: Kryptonite
Sung by: Three Doors Down
Vidded by: PoopyPooh
Fandom: Stargate Atlantis
Genre: single character, action
Subject: Sheppard
Why: Pooh jokingly comments on her website that she seems to be doing a series of Superman-related songs about the men of Atlantis, and I, for one, am glad of it. Because despite the running theme, so far the songs have been *perfect* for their subjects. This one's a Sheppard video, and his weakness--his "kryptonite"--is the people he cares about on Atlantis: Weir, Ford, Teyla and McKay. The fast pace of the song also allows for abundant opportunities to show Shep in action, and that's when he's at his best. So yeah, it's basically just a *great* marriage of song and subject. :-)
Song: The Last Time I Saw William
Sung by: Alannah Myles
Vidded by: Settiai
Fandom: Buffy the Vampire Slayer
Genre: multiple characters, sortof romance, sortof not
Subject: Spike/Halfrek (William/Cecily)
Why: Honestly, I never even caught the connection between Halfrek and Cecily until someone pointed it out to me, so I've certainly never given these two much thought as a 'ship, for or against. But this video *makes* you think about it, and it's eerie just how perfectly the song fits. There's a bit of repetition of clips, but considering the shortage of footage it's understandable. Very cool.
Song: Mary
Sung by: Patti Griffin
Vidded by: Deslea
Fandom: Buffy the Vampire Slayer/Angel
Genre: single character
Subject: Drusilla
Why: The first time I watched this, I found it a little shocking. The juxtaposition of the lyrics and the footage--not to mention the subject *g*--seemed almost...well, blasphemous. But, I almost always love Deslea's stuff so I decided not to watch it for a little while and come back to it with fresh eyes. When I did, I made sure to read the little section she wrote about why she made the video first...and saw it with new eyes, all right. Because she's right--in a way, Dru did retain her innocence even while evil, due to her madness, and this illustrates that beautifully. My favorite moments? How she uses footage of Angel/Angelus to illustrate the lines "another man/who served the world proud" and "while the angels are singing his praises in a blaze of glory." Very, *very* thought-provoking and deep, but that's Deslea for you.
Title: May the Force Redeem Us
Song: Our Solemn Hour
Sung by: Within Temptation
Vidded by: Aruna7
Fandom: Star Wars
Genres: general, angst
Subject: Episodes I-III
Why: I'm not a big fan of the prequel trilogy. I think there are a lot of areas where the storytelling fell down on the job, but this video? Gives the trilogy back a little of the epic, tragic feel it *should* have had all along. Great song choice, and wonderful job matching the music to the footage.
Song: The Muppet Show theme song
Sung by: the Muppets
Vidded by: SuzVoy
Fandom: Angel
Genre: episodic, humor
Subject: "Smile Time"
Why: Because really, the episode was just asking for it, and I'm glad Suz was the one to do it, because she did a beautiful job. It'll make you giggle at worst, and at best laugh out loud just as much as the episode. And the end...I don't want to give it away but it's just perfect. *giggle*
Song: One to Make Her Happy
Sung by: Marque
Vidded by: Yvi
Fandom: Once a Thief
Genre: single character, multiple pairings
Subject: The Director and her men
Why: The song is about a foursome, the video takes one of the most deliciously fun female characters in all of television (hear that US TV creators?) and showcases her with *all* the men in her life--her subordinates, her lovers, her enemies, you name it. *g* Fun fun fun!
Song: Party for Two
Sung by: Shania Twain and Billy Currington
Vidded by: Jemo
Fandom: NCIS
Genres: friendship and/or romance
Subject: Tony/Abby
Why: Tony/Abby was my first 'ship on NCIS and I still have a soft spot for it even though I'm much more into Gibbs/DiNozzo these days. This video, whether you interpret it as friendship or more, is a perfect reflection of the sweet, FUN dynamic the characters have when the writers let them play together. It puts a smile on my face that takes a long time to wear off. :-)
Song: Pray
Sung by: Tina Cousens
Vidded by: Deslea
Fandom: The X-Files
Genre: romance, action
Subject: Krycek/Marita, mythology
Why: This one is not really a 'shipper video in the traditional sense. It's more of a mythology-based video, with Krycek/Marita as the heart of it but featuring other characters as well. Still, the bond between Alex and Marita is as strong and clearly communicated as it is in Deslea's more overtly romantic vids. I love the song on this one, and I love how it fits the couple, communicating what it feels like to live your life knowing the fate of the world could literally rest on your choices.
Song: Pretty Fly for a White Guy
Sung by: The Offspring
Vidded by: Melanie
Fandom: NCIS
Genre: single character, humor
Subject: Tony
Why: Because I have never seen a better choice of subject to a video for this song, and that's saying something considering I've also seen it done for Andrew on Buffy and Smallville's Clark! This video captured Tony so well it had me laughing out loud, and as I've come to expect from her, the editing is brilliant too. :-)
Song: Reach
Sung by: Gloria Estefan
Vidded by: LauraJo
Fandom: Stargate SG-1
Genre: single character
Subject: Janet
Why: Janet is a wonderful but woefully underutilized character, which is why it took me longer to warm up to her than to Sam. But now that I've actually seen her in action, I love her, and this vid captures Janet *perfectly*. Her dedication to her vocation, her caring spirit...it'd be very hard to watch this vid and *not* love her when it's done. :-)
Song: Reasons Why
Sung by: Nickel Creek
Vidded by: Pipsqueak
Fandom: Buffy the Vampire Slayer
Genre: romance, angst
Subject: Willow/Tara
Why: Okay, so technically this is a break-up video, but I have reasons for putting it here. It said a lot to me that Tara loved Willow enough to not just blindly enable her in her addiction, even solidified my support of the couple. This captures that perfectly, and I think it's an important thing to understand, since some fans thought Tara leaving Willow showed she didn't love her enough, when in reality just the opposite was true.
Song: She Bangs
Sung by: Ricky Martin
Vidded by: Jemo
Fandom: Stargate SG-1
Genres: romance, humor
Subject: Cam/Vala
Why: Oooooooh boy, how to explain this one? I hate Ricky Martin, and under normal circumstances I can't stand this song, either. But there are few enough Cam/Vala videos out there that I decided to take a chance on it, and I'm glad I did because it is unbelievably perfect. And perfectly illustrated to boot. Even if you hate the song, I swear you won't regret it, the video's just THAT much fun.
Song: So Close
Sung by: John McLaughlin
Vidded by: Clara
Fandom: Stargate Atlantis
Genres: romance, angst
Subject: Sheppard/Weir
Why: This would've been gorgeous under any circumstances, but considering how Elizabeth's arc ended (*stabbity stab stab stab*) it becomes especially, achingly bittersweet. The last line of the song, in context, always breaks my heart. :-(
Song: Something There
Sung by: cast of Disney's Beauty and the Beast
Vidded by: Jemo
Fandom: Stargate Atlantis
Genres: romance, fluff
Subject: Ronon/Teyla
Why: You'd think there would be more Ronon/Teyla videos out there considering the pairing's pretty popular, but in reality there aren't that many and even fewer that I really enjoy. Which makes this one a particular treat. It's light, sweet, and highlights all those significant looks that are what really make the pairing. Not to be missed.
Song: Suicide Note
Sung by: Johnette Napolitano
Vidded by: Charmax
Fandom: Angel
Genre: angst, single character, multiple characters
Subject: Illyria POV on Wes
Why: Want to have a good, cathartic cry? Watch this video, which tracks Wes's slow slide into despair over the course of season 5, with flashbacks to some of the earlier turning points in his life, from the point of view of Illyria. Watching it hurt almost as much as watching "Not Fade Away" itself the first time, but it's a beautiful, fitting tribute to the character out of the entire Angelverse who probably grew and changed the most over the years, the tragic hero in every sense of the word except for the fact that he was the sidekick.
Song: Superman (It's Not Easy)
Sung by: Five for Fighting
Vidded by: PoopyPooh
Fandom: Stargate Atlantis
Genre: single character
Subject: McKay
Why: Have I mentioned yet that Pooh is my new favorite Atlantis vidder? Well, just in case...she is. *g* This is the second in her unofficial "series" of Superman-song videos about the men of Atlantis, and this time she perfectly captures the reluctant hero that is Dr. Rodney McKay. I've seen this song done a lot of times for a lot of different characters, but this is easily my favorite. She captures his strength, his weakness, the way he uses his arrogance to mask his insecurity, all while perfectly matching the clips to the lyrics of the song. It's purely and simply brilliant. :-)
Song: Taking Over Me
Sung by: Evanescence
Vidded by: Callea Veda
Fandom: Stargate SG-1
Genre: romance, angst
Subject: Daniel/Sam, Sam POV
Why: Okay, I'll admit, I'm a little biased in favor of this one because it was me begging for a Sam/Daniel vid of this song that inspired her to create it. ;-) But nevertheless, the end product is stunning! The clip choice is excellent, and you can really *feel* how the lyrics fit the pairing, which is everything I hoped for. The video footage for the instrumental beginning of the song is a little dizzyingly fast-paced, but not too bad, and the rest...I don't know how to describe the rest other than perfect. Absolutely perfect!
Song: That Don't Impress Me Much
Sung by: Shania Twain
Vidded by: SuzVoy
Fandom: MacGyver
Genre: romance
Subject: Mac/Nikki
Why: It's cute! I've only seen a very few episodes with Nikki in them and I don't really have a MacGyver 'ship or ever expect to (a guy as committment shy as Mac? never gonna settle down), but the video is irresistibly charming by simple virtue of the fact that it'd take quite a woman *not* to be impressed with Mac: committment shy or no, the rest of my gender--myself included vicariously--seems to fall all over him. ;-) And the man really *does* have "being right down to an art." LOL.
Song: Then I Kissed Her
Sung by: The Beach Boys
Vidded by: Baconlover
Fandom: Firefly
Genre: romance
Subject: Zoe/Wash
Why: Eeeeeeeeeeee, it's a Wash/Zoe video! For the only canon *couple* (as opposed to potential couples) on the show, they're surprisingly hard to find. And this is such a sweet, sentimental Wash POV on his warrior woman, with just enough whimsy to make it perfectly in character for him. Just makes you wanna melt, y'know? :-)
Song: Three's Company theme
Sung by: Ray Charles and Julie Rinker
Vidded by: JrMsToughChick
Fandom: Doctor Who
Genre: humor, romance
Subject: Nine/Rose/Jack
Why: It's impossible to watch this video and not crack up over how incredibly well the song fits. Especially when it gets to the line "where the kisses are hers and hers and his"--how many OT3s out there do you know who could match that line with actual kisses? *grin* I watch this one compulsively, I swear, I enjoy it so much.
Song: Total Eclipse of the Heart
Sung by: Bonnie Tyler
Vidded by: Michelle Lunsford
Fandom: Stargate SG-1/Atlantis
Genres: romance, angst
Subject: Sam/Jack, Daniel/Janet, Sheppard/Weir
Why: This is one of the best put together videos I've ever seen, just breathtakingly beautiful. I've watched it repeatedly since I downloaded it, and considering I only 'ship *one* of the three couples featured in it...that says something!
Song: Toy Soldiers
Sung by: Martika
Vidded by: Deslea
Fandom: The X-Files
Genre: romance, angst
Subject: Krycek/Marita
Why: Even if you've never considered Krycek and Marita to be lovers in the truest sense of the word--heck, I'd say *especially* if you haven't--you should check this one out. As she so often does, Deslea beautifully utilizes non-X-Files footage in addition to the XF clips to paint a picture of Marita after Alex's death: her mourning, her regrets, her memories...it's painfully bittersweet, but if you come out of it still believing they didn't really love each other...well, you have a strength of conviction that I admire greatly. *g*
Song: What I Really Meant to Say
Sung by: Cyndi Thompson
Vidded by: Callea Veda
Fandom: Stargate SG-1
Subject: Sam/Daniel
Why: This video takes footage *just* from the beginning of "Fallen" and pairs it perfectly with the lyrics to express what every S/D 'shipper knew was *really* going through Sam's mind at the end of that tent scene. ;-) It's heartbreakingly poignant, and I'd daresay even if you're *not* an S/D 'shipper, as long as you're not dead set against it, by the end of this one you'll be saying, "It's not too late, Sam! Tell him the truth!" ;-)
Song: You Get Me
Sung by: Michelle Branch
Vidded by: SuzVoy
Fandom: Stargate SG-1
Genre: romance
Subject: Sam/Jonas
Why: Although I've written Sam/Jonas, overall I don't really have a strong opinion one way or the other on the 'ship. But this one is cute. I like how the lyrics explain the clips, and the idea of two intellectuals finding someone who understands them. :-)