SD - Jonas Akerlund Director Case Study

Jonas Akerlund is a well known Swedish film and music video director who has worked with stars such as Madonna especailly but also Lady Gaga, Christina Aguilera , Pink, Malatica and Blink 182. His first music video that he directed was in 1988 with Candlemass - 'Bewitched' (see below). He is known for being quite controversial after a number of his videos, mamily including the ones he was involved with in Madonnas music including 'Music' and 'American Life' which featured scenes from the American at war with Iraq. As you can see in the table below he has become increasingly popular with Pop and R&B stars in recent years. It's not surprising that from his looks, before her bacame a director he was part of a Swedish 'Viking Metal' band called Bathory before the band split in 1984.

Candlemass - Bewitched...was Akerlunds first work as a director back in 1988.










Videography


1988


"Bewitched" for Candlemass [1]


1989


"Whats the noise" for Walk on water


1992


"Så länge det lyser mittemot" for Marie Fredriksson(Female half of Roxette)


"Mellan sommar och höst" for Marie Fredriksson


1993


"Fingertips '93" for Roxette


1994


"Run To You" for Roxette


1995


"A la ronde" for Sinclair


"Vulnerable" for Roxette


"Pay For Me" for Whale


1996


"June Afternoon" for Roxette


"She Doesn't Live Here Anymore" for Roxette


"Un Dia Sin Ti" for Roxette (Spanish version of "Spending My Time")


1997


"Do You Wanna Be My Baby?" for Per Gessle (Male half of Roxette)


"James Bond Theme" for Moby


"Kix" for Per Gessle


"I Want You To Know" for Per Gessle


"Smack My Bitch Up" for The Prodigy


1998


"Ray of Light" for Madonna


(Won the 1999 Grammy Award for Best Short Form Music Video)


"My Favourite Game" for The Cardigans


"Turn the Page" for Metallica


1999


"Whiskey in the Jar" for Metallica


"Wish I Could Fly" for Roxette


"Canned Heat" for Jamiroquai


"Anyone" for Roxette


"Corruption" for Iggy Pop


2000


"The Everlasting Gaze" for The Smashing Pumpkins


"Music" for Madonna


"Porcelain" (version 1) for Moby


"Try, Try, Try" for The Smashing Pumpkins


"Try" (15-minute alternate version to "Try, Try, Try")


"Beautiful Day" (version 1: airport) for U2


"Black Jesus" for Everlast


"Still" (version 2: white hair) for Macy Gray


2001


"Gets Me Through" for Ozzy Osbourne


"Walk On" for U2


"The Centre of the Heart" for Roxette


2002


"A Thing About You" for Roxette


"Lonely Road" for Paul McCartney


"Fuel For Hatred" for Satyricon


"Me Julie" for Ali G and Shaggy


"If I Could Fall In Love" for Lenny Kravitz


"Beautiful" for Christina Aguilera


2003


"Beautiful Day" (version 2: Eze) for U2


"American Life" for Madonna


"Good Boys" for Blondie


"True Nature" for Jane's Addiction


"Come Undone" for Robbie Williams


"Sexed Up" for Robbie Williams


2004


"I Miss You" for blink-182


"Aim 4" for Flint


"Tits On The Radio" for Scissor Sisters (internet video only)


2006


"Rain Fall Down" for The Rolling Stones


"Jump" for Madonna


"One Wish" for Roxette


"Mann gegen Mann" for Rammstein


"Country Girl" for Primal Scream


2007


"Wake Up Call" for Maroon 5


"Good God" for Anouk


"Same Mistake" for James Blunt


"Watch Us Work It" for Devo


2008


"No. 5" for Hollywood Undead


"Undead" for Hollywood Undead


"Sober" for Pink


2009


"Paparazzi" for Lady Gaga


"When Love Takes Over" for David Guetta feat. Kelly Rowland


"We Are Golden" for Mika


"Celebration" for Madonna


"Pussy" for Rammstein


"Fresh Out the Oven" for Jlo


"Ich tu dir weh" for Rammstein


(Won the 2011 Echo for best video national)


2010


"Telephone" for Lady Gaga feat. Beyoncé


"Hot-N-Fun" for N*E*R*D feat. Nelly Furtado


"Let Me Hear You Scream" for Ozzy Osbourne


"Who's That Chick?" for David Guetta feat. Rihanna (Day Version)


"Who's That Chick?" for David Guetta feat. Rihanna(Night Version)


2011


"Hold It Against Me" for Britney Spears


"Hear Me Now" for Hollywood Undead


"Moves Like Jagger" for Maroon 5 feat. Christina Aguilera


"Girl Panic!" for Duran Duran


"Mein Land" for Rammstein










As well as this Akerlund has directed a number of short film but has also directed commercials and trailers such as Dior make-up and scent adverts and Bazaar Magazine.
Filmography

Spun (2002)
Madonna: I'm Going to Tell You a Secret (2005)
Madonna: Confessions Tour - Live from London (TV Special) (2006)
Madonna: The Confessions Tour (CD/DVD Release) (2007)
Horsemen (2009)
Small Apartments (2012)