Justin Bieber has been one of his typical Twitter binges of late, trying to drum up hype for his new video “As Long As You Love Me,” and its super-special guest star, character actor Michael Madsen. Never mind that The Bieb wasn’t even alive for most of Madsen’s most famous film roles, as tough guys in flicks like Thelma and Louise and Reservoir Dogs—even Free Willy predates Bieber by nearly a year—the teen pop star has been profuse in his Chuck Norris-style Madsen gushing over the Bluebird:
Michael Madsen has inside jokes with complete strangers
— Justin Bieber (@justinbieber) July 23, 2012
Michael Madsen can create tornadoes by running around in circles.
— Justin Bieber (@justinbieber) July 23, 2012
Michael Madsen built the hospital he was born in. #AsLongAsYouLoveMeVideo
— Justin Bieber (@justinbieber) July 23, 2012
And so on.
Though The Bieb’s mancrush will undoubtedly introduce legions of tweens to the badassery of Madsen, he’s far from the first musical artist to take note of the actor’s music video potential—he’s actually had a fairly rich history of appearances in such videos already. Here’s a brief guide to the actor’s pre-Bieber MTV-ready work:
MICHAEL JACKSON, “YOU ROCK MY WORLD” (2001)
The first notable video cameo of Madsen’s career came in the would-be blockbuster video for Michael Jackson’s 21st-century comeback video, “You Rock My World,” in which he played a mob heavy whose exotic belle MJ was attempting to purloin. Madsen’s under-scripted performance was understandably overshadowed by the yammering of co-star Chris Tucker, the gargantuan (in more ways than one) presence of aging screen legend Marlon Brando, and the generally ghoulish appearance of Jackson, but still—no one could rock the sunglasses-and-toothpick look quite like Madsen.
EVERY TIME I DIE, “KILL THE MUSIC” (2005)
It made sense that Madsen would take the call for a pop immortal like MJ to cameo in one of his videos, but the logic behind his appearance in the video for hardcore band Every Time I Die’s “Kill the Music” was less self-apparent. The actor certainly looks like he’s having fun, though, drumming along to the song from his director’s chair, bopping his head and playing around with the megaphone—that is, until he gets frustrated with the ETID guitarist’s tomfoolery, unleashes his giant whip on him, and lays waste to both guitarist and guitar. The lesson, as always: It’s strictly business with Michael Madsen.
SKY FERREIRA, “OBSESSION” (2010)
By far the most reverent Madsen video—at least until Bieber’s clip is unveiled—was wise-beyond-her-years pop talent Sky Ferreira’s “Obsession,” in which the target of the titular infatuation is none other than Madsen herself. Sky has pictures of the actor all over her room, a “Michael” tattoo, and a dangerous imagination, in which she and Madsen torture a non-understanding friend of hers. Eventually, she breaks into his house, and maybe even wins him over—he shows up to pick her up from a restaurant with a matching “Sky” tattoo. Dreams really do come true in Hollywood.
STEALER’S WHEEL, “STUCK IN THE MIDDLE WITH YOU” (1992)
OK, not a music video, strictly speaking, but Madsen’s turn as the sadistic Mr. Blonde in Quentin Tarantino’s beloved ’90s gangster flick Reservoir Dogs did equip him with his all-time most most famous musical moment in film, in which Madsen tortures a cop and eventually cuts his ear off, while dancing gleefully to Stealer Wheel’s ’70s country-rock jam. It’s not surprising that a decade later, all these artists would suddenly start casting Madsen in their videos—if he could revive “Stuck in the Middle With You” like that without even being paid by the band to do so, what could his specifically commissioned appearance in your video do for your career?
The “As Long As You Love Me” video premieres later this week.
The post The Rich, Pre-Justin Bieber Music Video Acting Career of Michael Madsen appeared first on Popdust.
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