The video in question isn't the one used on David Byrne's hilarious cult film "True Stories" but in fact one made to sell the song. Strange that
it is one of Talking Heads lesser known videos, or at least it didn't played out as much as the others I know, yet it's definitely one of their most
fun and intelligent ever conceived by the group.
No storyline is given to "Love for Sale", it's merely a critical concept on massive advertising on television with countless products being shown on screen time and again, creating that endless sense that you need to buy things all the time as those products are things that you must have it, must consume it. Between the several products displayed on screen all shown in a hurried manner, as the viewer was flipping through TV channels, the Heads appear in some sequences being drenched in chocolate and becoming the product itself.
This whole marketing idea of bigger, better, faster and more as trying to show how important what's being sold and that one must have it and consume it fits perfectly with the Heads idea of love being for sale.
Chocolate, cars, food, cigarettes, beer, you name it. For each or all of those mentioned, there's a need for fulfillment just as love is also a need, therefore whatever the product you need and keeps flashing before your eyes, there's some love for it, it's for sale and you can buy it, unlike true genuine love and caring for another person. Well, that last one sometimes can be bought but you know how it goes and that's a different take.
I don't remember exactly the video used in the 1986 film, but it certainly would work inside that fun concept of Bryne visiting a series of eccentric characters of a smalltown as there was a consumerism critique on there as well. This one is funny, colorful, energetic and very entertaining. And the song is one of their best. 10/10.
No storyline is given to "Love for Sale", it's merely a critical concept on massive advertising on television with countless products being shown on screen time and again, creating that endless sense that you need to buy things all the time as those products are things that you must have it, must consume it. Between the several products displayed on screen all shown in a hurried manner, as the viewer was flipping through TV channels, the Heads appear in some sequences being drenched in chocolate and becoming the product itself.
This whole marketing idea of bigger, better, faster and more as trying to show how important what's being sold and that one must have it and consume it fits perfectly with the Heads idea of love being for sale.
Chocolate, cars, food, cigarettes, beer, you name it. For each or all of those mentioned, there's a need for fulfillment just as love is also a need, therefore whatever the product you need and keeps flashing before your eyes, there's some love for it, it's for sale and you can buy it, unlike true genuine love and caring for another person. Well, that last one sometimes can be bought but you know how it goes and that's a different take.
I don't remember exactly the video used in the 1986 film, but it certainly would work inside that fun concept of Bryne visiting a series of eccentric characters of a smalltown as there was a consumerism critique on there as well. This one is funny, colorful, energetic and very entertaining. And the song is one of their best. 10/10.