Jonas Åkerlund (born November 16, 1966) is a Swedish film and music video director. He is best known for his stylish music videos, which are often mock movie trailers and short films.

Contents 1 Biography 2 Videography 3 Filmography 4 References 5 External links 6 Books

[edit] Biography

Jonas Åkerlund was a member of the Swedish black metal band Bathory from 1983 through 1984. He first found fame as main video director for Swedish pop act Roxette. In 1998 he worked with Madonna for the song "Ray of Light", he has since worked with superstars such as Metallica, Christina Aguilera, U2 and P!nk. He directed the music video for the Smashing Pumpkins' single Try, Try, Try, from which a short film Try was spawned. He also turned his hand to designer and photographer for the Roxette album Room Service in 2001. In 2002 his first full length movie, Spun debuted. He directed recent adverts for Swedish clothing retailer MQ and the re-imagining of the Devo song "Watch Us Work It" used in Dell Computers commercials.

He has become a long collaborator of pop singer Madonna having worked on such music videos as "American Life", which was pulled due to its graphic content and the Iraq war, and "Jump". He also directed her documentary film I'm Going to Tell You a Secret and her concert television special The Confessions Tour: Live from London.

[edit] Videography

1988 "Bewitched" for Candlemass 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 P!nk 2009 "Paparazzi" for Lady Gaga "When Love Takes Over" for David Guetta featuring Kelly Rowland "We Are Golden" for Mika "Celebration" for Madonna "Pussy" for Rammstein "Fresh Out The Oven" for Jennifer Lopez

[edit] Filmography

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

[edit] References

• Encyclopaedia Metallum: The Metal Archives, www.metal-archives.com

[edit] External links

• Jonas Åkerlund at the Internet Movie Database
• Jonas Åkerlund at the mvdbase
• CNN interview with Jonas Åkerlund
• Official web page

[edit] Books

• Henry Keazor, Thorsten Wübbena: Video Thrills The Radio Star. Musikvideos: Geschichte, Themen, Analysen. Bielefeld 2005, p. 117ss., p. 146ss., p. 448

v • d • e Bathory Quorthon Freddan · Jonas Åkerlund · Vvornth and Kothaar · The Animal Studio albums Bathory · The Return of the Darkness and Evil · Under the Sign of the Black Mark · Blood Fire Death · Hammerheart · Twilight of the Gods · Requiem · Octagon · Blood on Ice · Destroyer of Worlds · Nordland I · Nordland II Compilations Jubileum Volume I · Jubileum Volume II · Jubileum Volume III · Katalog · In Memory of Quorthon Music videos One Rode to Asa Bay