Todd Rundgren Change Myself Lightwave Music Video



Uploaded by: hrlaser
Video Description:
Created totally with NewTek's LightWave 3D modelling and rendering software and NewTek Video Toasters on Amiga computers, Todd released this video in the early 1990s, in support of what was pretty much the only "hit" single off his album "Second Wind." It received very little airplay on VH-1. So little, in fact, that most Rundgren fans have never seen it. This video was ripped to MPEG from a very high quality promotional VHS tape. This video was a monumental achievement in 3D animation for its time in the early 1990s and it was done COMPLETELY on affordable, personal computers. Todd actually used a stack of ten Amigas (because it would have taken forever to render this many frames of 3D animation on a single machine).. and was sneakernetting SCSI hard drives between them since Commodore, Amiga's maker, would not provide him with networking hardware to make the rendering of the thousands of frames in this video easier. He did most of the 3D object modelling and animation scene plotting himself. So he's not just a singer / songwriter, but a VERY talented artist and computer wizard too. He originally intended the video to be 100% 3D rendering but Warner Bros. insisted that he appear in it, so he filmed himself in front of a black backdrop and then overlayed the film of him singing the song onto various 3D objects in the final rendering (the leaf, the sailboat's sail and so on.. again, all done with NewTek Toasters in Amiga computers. Amiga World, IDG's former Amiga magazine, ran a feature story in one of their final issues about how Todd created this video. The Amigas were literally stacked up on his dining room table. NewTek still sells LightWave 3D but no longer supports the Amiga, which is, sadly, an orphaned computer platform. But this video shows what Amiga computers could do and is an absolutely gorgeous example of what a very talented artist and singer/composer could do with 3D rendering software on personal computers. Damn good song too.
Later that year, Todd gave a two hour speech at, of all places, JPL in Pasadena, CA. to an SRO crowd at the local SIGGRAPH chapter meeting, showed the video and explained how he had made it. (I was in the audience..) .. That speech was later sold on VHS tape. I have a copy, but it runs over two hours so it's way too long to digitize and upload.
Enjoy.


Tags for this video: 3D Amiga Change LightWave Myself NewTek Rundgren Todd

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Comments for this video on YouTube
excellent! ... ( 1 year ago by realcatgirllover)
excellent! LightWave was always my fav modeling/rendering package.
listen tonite wed, ... ( 1 year ago by rockwello)
listen tonite wed, 8pm central to rundgren radio
his wife is the special guest
I was looking for ... ( 1 year ago by MatthewWBooze)
I was looking for this video forever...I'm a huge fan of the Amiga, Lightwave, and this song. Thanks!
WOW, I remember ... ( 1 year ago by peglol)
WOW, I remember this song. It's incredible that you bring this video to us. TY!
I'd forgotten this ... ( 1 year ago by yetanotheraccount2re)
I'd forgotten this lovely song- thank you for sharing it with us! I've watched it several times since finding it here last night, and it's been in my head all day. Couldn't wait to get home and play it again. Wonderful Todd.
Actually, the cuts ... ( 1 year ago by dandflamora)
Actually, the cuts for this album were live. It was recorded at the Palace of Fine Arts in SFO over three days. As members of the audience, you couldn't make a sound until the song was completed. If the band made a mistake, they started the track over. It was like being in the studio. He had assembled a great band consisting of members of Bourgois Tagg, Journey and the Tubes.
cool one! :D ( 1 year ago by MaryStewart)
cool one! :D
i love the ... ( 1 year ago by summerkoolsummer)
i love the beginning where the cube is a wizard a true star
30+ years later how true that title ended up being
this song is so beautiful
Thanks for posting ... ( 10 months ago by Dethmeister)
Thanks for posting this video. I remember reading about it in an Amiga magazine.
Hund Bless Todd. ( 10 months ago by jci10)
Hund Bless Todd.
Love this song. ... ( 9 months ago by dpier1111)
Love this song. Todd rules!
Love Todd. He ... ( 7 months ago by connielou29)
Love Todd. He still sounds good.
I have had Todd's ... ( 7 months ago by luv4todd)
I have had Todd's Second Wind Cd since it came out in what.. 1991 or so? As I listen again, it sounds great and like his other stuff, ahead of its time. I don't believe any of his recordings sound dated. Just a phenomenal talent, a genius, a true renaissance man. I love you Todd!
I love the very ... ( 7 months ago by yetanotheraccount2re)
I love the very last scene, of the moth going into the flame...
Thanks for posting ... ( 7 months ago by manysons)
Thanks for posting this.. my favorite vid!
Todd is Godd ( 6 months ago by marci147)
Todd is Godd
Is there anything ... ( 5 months ago by peterm3964)
Is there anything this guy CANT do ???
I attended a Video ... ( 5 months ago by RonRaddio)
I attended a Video Production workshop back in 1993 and that's where I first saw this video. The guy teaching it was a big fan of Video Toaster. the vid was state of the art at the time, and still looks good. It prompted me to go out and buy the Second Wind cassette. Still have it!
Really like this ... ( 4 months ago by swimoften)
Really like this one.
He still LOOKS ... ( 2 months ago by IndieMom6)
He still LOOKS amazing also. Just celebrated his 60th birthday and still smokin HOT!!
*amiga 4 eva* :) ... ( 1 month ago by animaze86)
*amiga 4 eva* :) such a brilliant platform.
I believe I read ... ( 1 month ago by Ginzmom7)
I believe I read every post here, and I don't think anyone has mentioned the smudges under Todd's eyes in this video. Okay, I know that is not "important" but my curiosity is peaked. Is it just Todd's way of "dressing up" for the video? Maybe he is recovering from a facelift? Did Michele have a go at him? Does anyone know, care, or even notice this besides me?
If you read my long ... ( 1 month ago by hrlaser)
If you read my long "more" essay about this video and Todd's lecture at JPL about how he made it, when he took audience questions, not a single person asked him about the black schmutz under his eyes.. looks like the same stuff football players often use.. I don't think it means anything any more than the purple and green streaks in his hair.. just something to look "different".. ::shrug:: ..
After reading your ... ( 2 days ago by motorpsych0)
After reading your liner notes, I am now convinced that Todd is a "computer wizard" too! I would very much like to see the 2-hour speech at SIGGRAPH! Maybe someday? Great song, btw! Thanks for posting!



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