Diane Martel, a beloved, prolific music video director who helmed iconic clips for Miley Cyrus, Mariah Carey, Robin Thicke, Justin Timberlake and Christina Aguilera, amongst many others, has died at age 63. In line with Rolling Stone, Martel’s household mentioned she died peacefully in New York at Memorial Sloan Kettering Hospital surrounded by buddies and family members after an extended battle with breast most cancers.
The native New Yorker with a nostril for distinctive, typically provocative visuals was greatest recognized for a pair of 2013 movies that pushed the boundaries of the medium, the controversial “Blurred Strains” clip from Robin Thicke feat. T.I. and Pharrell and the mind-bendingly bizarre home social gathering video for Miley Cyrus’ “We Can’t Cease.”
Talking concerning the influence of that uncommon double-double headline-grabbing duo in 2013, Martel advised RS, “My s–t is on level proper now. I do need to admit I like being provocative. That’s punk, that’s rock & roll, that’s hip-hop. It’s passionate. We’re not doing pharmaceutical adverts.”
“Blurred Strains” spent 33 weeks atop the Billboard Scorching 100 throughout its large run, but it surely was the lascivious video that drew nearly as a lot consideration because the tune’s lyrics, which have been criticized on the time for objectifying girls and taking part in too unfastened with notions of sexual consent. The video featured a sprig of mylar balloons that spelled “Robin Thicke Has a Large D–okay,” as well as a parade of almost bare fashions cavorting with the absolutely clothed male performers.
Martel advised Grantland that her intention was push again in opposition to the “misogynist, humorous lyrics” in a way by which the ladies overpowered the lascivious male gaze, forcing the boys to really feel “playful and by no means like predators” by asking the fashions to stare straight into the lens to indicate that they have been in management. She mentioned she didn’t assume the ensuing clip was sexist as a result of the lyrics have been “ridiculous” and the boys appeared “foolish as f–okay,” calling her work “meta and playful.”
A number of years later, nonetheless, one of many fashions, Emily Ratajkowski, claimed in a memoir that Thicke sexually harassed her on set, grabbing her breast, an account Martel seconded, saying she requested the visibly upset mannequin if she was okay throughout the shoot and screaming “in my very aggressive Brooklyn voice, ‘What the f–okay are you doing, that’s it!! The shoot is over!!’”
Cyrus’ “We Can’t Cease” drew consideration as effectively for its daring, suggestive imagery from the singer who was transitioning from Disney royalty to hip-hop-adjacent provocateur. Sporting gold grillz and writhing on a mattress in a white bra and scorching pants, the clip featured the then 21-year-old Cyrus surrounded by buddies consuming sandwiches made out of $100 payments, constructing french fry skulls, twerking, butt-slapping, pretending to slice off their fingers and soiled dancing with large teddy bears.
Cyrus’ clip has multiple billion views on YouTube thus far, with “Blurred Strains” on the cusp of that mark.
In line with RS, Martel was a highschool dropout who started making efficiency and road artwork within the late ’80s and dealing as a dancer and choreographer, abilities that clearly got here into play in her directing salad days whereas engaged on dance-oriented clips for Spears, Ciara and Timberlake.
Born in New York on Might 7, 1962, Martel bought her begin in directing in 1992 with the PBS hip-hop dancer doc Reckin’ Store: Reside From Brooklyn, which led to her first music video for dirty rap crew Onyz, “Throw Ya Gunz.” That led to her first of a number of collabs with Mariah Carey on the dancing within the area video for “Dreamlover,” in addition to gigs directing visuals for S.W.V., Gang Starr, Technique Man and Ol’ Soiled Bastard.
An early excessive level was her dwelling video-like video for Mariah Carey’s perennial vacation Billboard Scorching 100 No. 1 smash “All I Wan For Christmas Is You,” which featured the singer frolicking within the snow with Santa and an lovable pet.
Although her work may usually push the envelope, Martel additionally had a eager eye for placing her topics in a flattering, emotionally direct gentle, such because the elegant clip for Beyoncé’s 2011 single “Greatest Factor I By no means Had,” which discovered the singer posing in lingerie and a marriage robe as she kisses of a former lover who by no means bought her, capped by candy footage of joyous nuptials.
Her fame blossomed within the late Nineties and early 2000s, with credit together with Aguilera’s breakthrough “Genie in a Bottle” and “What a Lady Needs,” Khia’s provocative “My Neck My Again (Lick It),” the Clipse’s gritty “Grindin’,” Timberlake’s dance-heavy “Like I Love You” (in addition to JT and Ciara’s “Love Intercourse Magic”), Alicia Keys’ “If I Aint’ Received You” and Spears’ “3,” amongst many others.
Although her candy spot was choreo-heavy pop, R&B and hip-hip, Martel — who notched just one greatest path nomination on the MTV VMAs, in 2005 for her work with Francis Lawrence on Jennifer Lopez’s “Get Proper” — additionally dipped into rock as effectively with the Killers’ “Learn My Thoughts,” the White Stripes’ “Conquest,” the 1975’s “Give Your self a Attempt,” The Bravery’s “Fearless.” As well as, she helmed movies for American Idol alums Clay Aiken (“Invisible”) and Adam Lambert (“Whataya Need From Me”), P!nk (“Simply Give Me a Motive”), Avril Lavigne (“No person’s House”), John Legend (“So Excessive”) and Addison Rae (“Obsessed”).
Frequent collaborator Ciara paid tribute to Martel in an Instagram submit on Friday (Sept. 19) that includes quite a lot of clips from their work collectively, writing, “You believed in me and I believed in you! You’ll eternally maintain a particular place in my coronary heart and I’m eternally grateful for all of the magic we’ve have been capable of make collectively. I do know it was all God! Heaven has simply gained an Angel. I like you a lot @DianeMartel_ A.okay.a. Miss D! Relaxation In Paradise.” Her remaining recognized music video was for Ciaras’ “Ecstasy,” which was launched earlier this 12 months.
Try a few of Martel’s most beloved work under.
