WoW Moviewatch: Surfing with the Alien
by Michael Gray 
Apr 17th 2009 at 12:00PM
Today's Moviewatch is another music video. Surfing with the Alien is a song performed by guitarist Joe Satriani, who's about as well-qualified a musician as you could hope to hear. Kakashisan built this video as a backdrop to the instrumental, giving action to Satriani's song.
This video is going to be one of my long-term favorites. In my opinion, it's damned near perfect. Satriani's music is astoundingly good, and Kakashisan didn't try and overwhelm that music by over-producing his video. The imagery is basic, streamlined, and not complex. The action doesn't distract the audience from what we're hearing.
While Kakashisan does use the same L70ETC models that every other music video uses, he made a very key change in the lead guitarist. The blood elf is bald, like Joe Satriani himself. It's a subtle touch that lends a lot of credibility to the video, backing up Kakashisan's homage to the original artist. The carpet chase mirrors Surfing's sense of motion, without trying to add false narrative.
Sometimes, "simple" works best. I would not say Kakashisan's work is "simple," of course, but I will say that he kept his context appropriate to the work. I look forward to seeing more like this.
If you have any suggestions for WoW Moviewatch, you can mail them to us at machinima AT wowinsider DOT com.
Previously on Moviewatch .
Filed under: Analysis / Opinion, WoW Moviewatch
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Jon Apr 17th 2009 12:10PM
Just curious, it is permissible to use copyrighted works in creating machinima? Have been wondering this for awhile.
csdx Apr 17th 2009 12:56PM
Depends on many factors, such as how much of the material you use and what you're doing with it really. Most creations should fall under 'fair use', but the law is tricky and of course I Am Not A Lawyer.
Of course, I'm pretty certain WoW character models/sounds likely already have copyright attached to them. If recall blizz specifically grants machinima creators a non-commercial license, so maybe look at that for some general ideas.
On the actual video, I liked it, it was actually probably slower than most music videos out today, but pretty well done. The visual was a pretty hilarious WoW take on the title.
rfactor Apr 18th 2009 5:00AM
Song just reminds me of Rfactor the game. Perhaps belfs in cars woulda been better.
Avan Apr 17th 2009 12:22PM
"[Satriani]'s about as well-qualified a musician as you could hope to hear."
Satch isn't just well-qualified, he is a guitar god.
damansfi Apr 17th 2009 1:29PM
^^ This!
Satch == Guitar GOD.
Adding Satriani to any video = insta-win.
Now I need to go break out "Summer Song" for raiding tonight. =)
Saintgutfree Apr 17th 2009 5:00PM
Satch is a guitar god, no doubt. But have you ever considered what it feels like to be his rhythm player? Watch some videos of the band playing and the rhythm guitarist is just like "Yeah Satch you rule! (E5-A5-C5) YEAH!"
Not saying it would be a bad job, but when your Satch's backup man, you're NEVER gonna be in the light. Ever.
McRaider Apr 18th 2009 2:42PM
That's a good point, but you might want to take a look at it this way: What if the rhythm guitarist don't want to be in the light?
If you want to be in the light, you have to be better guitarist/bassist/drummer before that. Otherwise your band has to be equally good and not to have such extreme solos all the time showing how good your guitarist is, or crazy bass solos...
If you are a bassist, it might be even harder, tho. Sometimes I can't even hear the bass. If you want to be in the light, you'll have to focus the ears of the listeners to that instrument. Then if they think you're good, you'll be in the light.
Also you mustn't forget, that every single one of the band is important. Everybody should put all the members of it to fame (if they want to) because if they miss one of them, the song might suck. Ie. I played Red Hot Chili Peppers - "By the way" with my friend without a bassist or a singer, it sounded a bit... empty at some points :S
But, yea. The rhythm guitarist will never be in the light if he DOESN'T PUT THE VOLUME UP. I can't hear him sometimes, but that might be because I can't hear him through Joe's awesomeness. ^^
steve Apr 17th 2009 12:51PM
pretty much any video will be good, as long as its coupled with a satriani song......bested perhaps only by a bumblefoot song
Nekudotayim Apr 17th 2009 1:01PM
The band part just ruled, but the carpet needed a lil more action to deserve such a song.
Captain Satriani to the rescue!
Kavir Apr 17th 2009 1:49PM
What's funny is that many of the worlds greatest living guitar players such as Kirk Hammett and Steve Vai were students of Satriani before he became a solo artist.
Satch taught the gods of rock how to rock.
Outstanding video to watch while listening to one of the greatest musical genius' of our time.
Sorro Apr 17th 2009 1:51PM
I almost never watch Machinima, but had to check this one out because of Joe Satriani. Very well done. Michael Gray already discussd most of what I liked about the video.
I'll add attention to detail in matching the playing of instruments in the video to the actual instruments in the song - aka the guitar fingering and even drumming.
Very well done!
jay Apr 17th 2009 2:25PM
Satch = the Whole Foods of metal.
Lvl70ETC sure are in a lot of videos these days. I guess the lead player had to shave his head and tie his ears back for this one.
Stone_Rhino Apr 17th 2009 2:49PM
All wow music videos made must include the lvl70etc band members, because all machinima creators lack the ability to model their own characters and or instruments for their vids.
Its in the rules.
richard.ashton Apr 17th 2009 2:26PM
All we need now is a Paul Gilbert, SRV and a Van Halen WoW machinma and we have 3 of the best guitarists ever.
Dachande Apr 17th 2009 3:39PM
"The carpet chase mirrors Surfing's sense of motion, without trying to add false narrative. "
I think it's also important to note the source of "Surfing with the Alien's" album artwork, which depicts a certain very well known surfing alien... I assume a carpet-surfing Draenei is a play on words of who the original surfing alien was.
http://www.satriani.com/discography/Surfing_With_The_Alien/Surfing_With_The_Alien.jpg
Kakashisan Apr 18th 2009 12:19AM
I must say, I am honored to have my video in the movie watch as it did not get much attention on warcraftmovies.com. I'm also glad you noticed the "simpleness" of it. For the most part, I like to keep my work true to the WoW game engine without much changing and altering. I wanted to try to make it feel like an actual rock concert in game by Satch with colorful lights on stage. Once again, I'm glad that people enjoyed the video and Satriani's music.
smacklab Apr 18th 2009 12:23AM
Guess i will be the only hater here.... i loved this song.. like when i was 13... in 1989... Satch can flat out play.. but hes pretty one note.. :) only got his blues thing (well he can play anything, but that blues rock thing is his name if u know what i mean)...
Vai always was a better composer and more creative (theres only so much credance u can put in "satch taught him!")
... but i dont really care... i can cant listen to that much wank anymore... i needs me a melody...
vid was good tho... and the song was good when included with it...