Just out of curiosity... does that theme mean focusing on using music with more instrumental focus than lyrical content, or merely less focus on syncing footage with lyrics?

Either way, the only advice I can offer would be to quote my post replying to Sharnii's latest AMV thread. That's just my opinion, it's all I can think of to say really.

me wrote:

Muse, your videos, this AMV.

On a side note, a fair number of songs from the Absolution album sound to me like they'd make great Utena AMV material as well...

(Adolescence) Apocalypse Please

Butterflies and Hurricanes (Ode to Utena)

(Juri's) Time is Running Out

Sing for Absolution (Also obviously Juri-centric)

Then again I also think... well, actually just about any song off that album would work, I just listed the most fitting ones I could come up with atm.

I'll probably do this myself when I get the DVDs, but here's an interesting AMV idea:

Johanna Quartet from the original Broadway version of Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street.

Mikage is Sweeney, talking about Tokiko and Utena

"And if I never hear your voice, my turtledove, my dear
I still have reason to rejoice, the way ahead is clear, Johanna
And in that darkness, when I'm blind with what I can't forget
It's always morning in my mind, my little lamb, my pet Johanna.

You stay Johanna,
The way I've dreamed you are
Oh look, Johanna, a star
A shooting star!

And though I'll think of you, I guess, until the day I die
I think I miss you less and less as everyday goes by, Johanna
And you'd be beautiful and pale and look too much like her
If only angels could prevail, we'd be the way we were, Johanna.

Wake up Johanna
Another bright red day
We learn, Johanna
To say goodbye."

The other parts of the quartet would be Touga as Anthony, Utena as Johanna singing to her prince, and Wakaba as the Beggar Woman singing about how Anthy's a witch.

It's a darkly sentimental song, since he's killing people as he ruminates over the daughter he'll never know.  I think it fits.

Evanescence FTW. :3 Almost any of their songs would work for the Utena cast.

Atomic Lightbulb wrote:

Gainel wrote:

Evanescence FTW. :3 Almost any of their songs would work for the Utena cast.

Thanks for your input!

Much welcome! If you need some additional details, here are some ideas I posted on a different thread:

Gainel wrote:

In general, pretty much every Evanescence song makes me think of a Utena character. I want to make videos of all of them someday :3

Everybody's Fool - Utena (spoken of from Anthy's unhappy point of view... mostly because she knows that Utena's prince-façade IS in fact a façade, and from her line "You could never be my prince anyway - you're a girl." Perhaps not her exact words, but you get the general idea.)

Sweet Sacrifice - Shiori, probably, since the song has such a sarcastic tone in some lines, and Shiori can be pretty cruel. She'd most likely be referring to Juri here... [Could also apply to Nanami -> Keiko, because Nanami kind of... hates Keiko for a good bit.]

Bring Me to Life - Anthy of course. Reasons are obvious.

Weight of the World - Juri, most likely to Ruka. Even though she, in fact, IS held down by who she used to be (by Shiori, of course).

My Immortal - Movie!Utena, when she still cannot get over Touga. Perhaps could also fit either post-series Anthy or post-series Utena, if stuff doesn't go well for them.

RhythmFusion wrote:

How about an Adam Lambert song? Plenty of his songs are quite emotional.

Do you have any song suggestions? I've never listen to Adam Lambert so it would be a great help to know where to start.

RhythmFusion wrote:

"Whataya Want from Me" and "Sleepwalker" are good ones to start with.

I love those songs!

Hm.  I'd recommend checking out Emilie Autumn's Laced/Unlaced albulm.  All instrumental power violin songs.  Excellent, excellent musician, too.

One time when I was looking up info on what happened to Souji Mikage, I came across a little fan-made Utena analysis page.  The page on Mikage was VERY short, but it did include lyrics to a song called "World Leader Pretend" by R.E.M.  It kinda fit.

Gnarls Barkley: Transformer (Live from Abbey Road)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uPzohswI5Tc

I recently found a smoothed-out, mroe maudlin version of this song.  It's actually a bit sad.  And if you listen to it carefully, the song really is about Anthy... about how she has to change who she is as the Rose Bride to become more acceptable to her Champion, and change who she is for Akio.

Lyrics are as follows...

I, I, I, I, I, I know how to transform
I can transform, I'll transform
I'm a transformer
I, I, I, I, I, I know how to transform
I can transform, I'll transform
I'm a transformer

I'm just being myself
Plus I gotta be me too
Silly of me to think that
I couldn't bring myself to be you

Ah, but behold there is benevolence
Behind this but don't stare though
Be careful 'cause I'll kill you
With kindness

That why I'm dressed quite neatly
'Cause it's easy and discreetly they seek me
And when they reach me and see me
They believe me completely

I'm a real live wire
If it's between me and you
I can transform, I can transform, I can transform
Without even trying

I, I, I, I, I, I know how to transform
I can transform, I'll transform
I'm a transformer

I, I, I, I, I, I know how to transform
I can transform, I'll transform
I'm a transformer

Now I'm someone else
Now someone can be me too
Behold 'The Beautiful and Bold'
Everyday I wake up to be new

Oh, but it's simple but they still can understand why
I think I can, I think I can, I think I can or can I

I'm a microchip off the old block
You know not but I was a robot
And I sold Rock and you would get
For sho' shoot with a gold glock boy I rode pac

Something that you won't see again
What the hell might as well be a friend
I can transform, I'm a transformer
No telling who I will have to be again

I, I, I, I, I, I know how to transform
I can transform, I'll transform
I'm a transformer
I, I, I, I, I, I know how to transform
I can transform, I'll transform
I'm a transformer

First off, thank you to everyone who answer this thread! It was very kind of all of you. I did lose the contest - but honestly my submission wasn't that good. But again, thank you for all the responses.

Raven Nightshade wrote:

An AMV for Foo Fighter's "Best of You".

Let me preface this by saying that this specific AMV is amazeballs from a technical standpoint. The editing and pacing are mindblowing.

HOWEVER...

I want an Utena version. More like NEED. Character focus is left to your discretion. If you'd like to use other anime, feel free, but I'd like to limit it to 5 since the video above uses 120 different anime.

I've seen that video rec everywhere, but I've never actually sat down and watched it because I have a weird aversion to the Foo Fighters. But wow! Not only was the video amazing, but I'm super inspired to make an Utena video for it now. (It is looking to be a series tribute at the moment, with emphasis on Utena and Anthy, but that could change.) I don't know how long it will take - but thanks for the brilliant idea! I'll do my best to make a good video for you!

Atomic Lightbulb wrote:

Raven Nightshade wrote:

An AMV for Foo Fighter's "Best of You".

I want an Utena version. More like NEED.

I've seen that video rec everywhere, but I've never actually sat down and watched it because I have a weird aversion to the Foo Fighters. But wow! Not only was the video amazing, but I'm super inspired to make an Utena video for it now. (It is looking to be a series tribute at the moment, with emphasis on Utena and Anthy, but that could change.) I don't know how long it will take - but thanks for the brilliant idea! I'll do my best to make a good video for you!

The whole idea actually came about because the song suddenly got stuck in my head for about an hour prior to that post. I wound watching the original video and 3 AMVs: the one posted above, a Naruto AMV focusing on Rock Lee(who I think is the wrong character for that song), and a Trigun AMV with a Wolfwood/Vash focus.

TL;DR You're awesome for doing this, and I can't wait to see it.

I actually have another suggestion: How about Kill Your Heroes by AWOLNATION?

I say you kill your heroes and fly, fly, baby don't cry.
No need to worry worry 'cause everybody will die.
Every day we just go, go, baby don't go.
Don't you worry, we love you more than you know.