After 20 years at Virgin Records, and latterly at EMI Records, Carole Burton-Fairbrother – the most experienced music video commissioner in the UK – retires from her post of Director of Video today.

It’s no exaggeration to say she leaves a legacy of work including nothing less than some of the greatest videos ever made – for the likes of Massive Attack, The Verve, and in particular the Chemical Brothers, for whom she has commissioned every one of their videos. Carole’s contribution to British music videos has been huge.

She says: “It’s very sad to go in loads of ways, but also, I’m very excited about whatever the next chapter will bring.”

And she is very much still contactable – at carolebf@gmail.com.

So here, in her own words, are her own all-time-favourite commissions – including, as previously mentioned, some of the best ever…

All the very best Carole…

Spice Girls – Say You’ll Be There
Director: Vaughan Arnell

CBF: “For the second Spice Girls single, and because the first single had been such an instant hit, that the pressure was on to ensure this video really took it up a notch, which I think Vaughn did really well. All I remember about that shoot was that it was bloody hot in the desert and Victoria practically melted in that PVC cat suit!”

Meat Loaf – I’ll Do Anything For You
Director: Michael Bay

“This was one of those very much `back in the day ‘ videos! Big budget, three day shoot, 35mm, all singing, all dancing… Meat Loaf was charming to everyone, but my main memories of that one was a scene where Meat Loaf sat in a throne that was rigged to make it effortlessly glide across the room, and on the second take, it got caught half way across, throwing Meat out of the chair. He remained motionless for about two minutes, and I remember thinking, ‘Oh Gawd, great! This huge shoot, big hit record and we’ve managed to kill the artist!’ My other memory on this was that Michael Bay rocked up in a different car on each consecutive shoot day.”

The Verve – Bitter Sweet Symphony
Director: Walter Stern
“Richard Ashcroft looks so damn cool in this one. Whatever you do with him, he just oozes cool… Yep, I’ve had the hots for him for yonks!”

Massive Attack – Teardrop
Director: Walter Stern
“This was a brave route to take really, because of the subject matter. Walter Stern executed it brilliantly, and we won MTV Europe video of the year in Milan that year. I had one of the best nights of my life that night…”

Chemical Brothers – Let Forever Be
Director: Michel Gondry
“I read the script, which was some scribbles and diagrams from Michel Gondry, because it was such a complex idea… and I thought: ‘mmm, I don’t have a damn clue what he’s saying here’. We had a conference call, so that he could explain it in his French accent… and I put the phone down and thought… ‘mmm, still don’t have a clue what this is going to be like…’ But what are you going to do? It sounded extremely clever and it’s Michel Gondry. The guy is a genius, and it’s still one of the cleverest videos I’ve seen.”

Chemical Brothers – Hey Girl Hey Boy
Directors: Dom & Nic
“This was the third video we did with Dom and Nic and their producer John Madsen, the first two being Setting Sun and Block Rocking Beats. All three were great, and it has been a really good relationship that has lasted the test of time…. it really felt like a team.”

Chemical Brothers – Believe
Directors: Dom & Nic
“Again, a Dom and Nic special. Apart from anything on this one, I was just so impressed with the guys from Framestore, who did the post. They are such perfectionists and worked way over and above the call of duty – eating, sleeping and breathing this job so that it looked as good as it could. And it looked great, and won MTV Europe video of the year that year.”

Chemical Brothers – Salmon Dance
Directors: Dom & Nic
“My last job with the Chems – same team, same post house, same amount of dedication that they all put in. And it still makes me smile when I watch that video!”

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