Jonas Åkerlund facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Jonas Åkerlund
|
|
|---|---|
Åkerlund in March 2012
|
|
| Born |
Hans Uno Jonas Åkerlund
10 November 1965 Bromma, Sweden
|
| Occupation | Filmmaker |
| Years active | 1983–present |
| Spouse(s) | Bea Åkerlund |
Jonas Åkerlund (born November 10, 1965) is a famous filmmaker and musician from Sweden. He is best known for directing creative and memorable music videos for some of the world's biggest pop and rock stars.
Before he became a director, Åkerlund was a drummer in the Swedish metal band Bathory. He later discovered a passion for filmmaking and has since directed videos for artists like Madonna, Lady Gaga, Taylor Swift, Beyoncé, U2, Metallica, and the Rolling Stones.
His work has won many awards. The video for Madonna's song "Ray of Light" won a Grammy Award and five MTV Video Music Awards, including the top prize for Video of the Year. He has also won Grammys for his work with Paul McCartney and for directing Madonna's concert film, The Confessions Tour. Besides music videos, Åkerlund has directed several movies, including Spun (2002), Lords of Chaos (2018), and Polar (2019).
Contents
From Musician to Director
Jonas Åkerlund started his career in music as the drummer for the Swedish band Bathory from 1983 to 1984. Soon after, he began to explore filmmaking. His first-ever music video was "Bewitched" for the band Candlemass.
He then became the main video director for the popular Swedish duo Roxette. This work helped him become known for his unique visual style. In 1997, he directed a video for the Prodigy's song "Smack My ... Up," which caused a lot of discussion because of its adult themes.
A major turning point in his career came in 1998 when he worked with Madonna on the video for "Ray of Light". The video was a huge success and made Åkerlund one of the most in-demand directors in the music industry.
Famous Music Videos
Åkerlund is known for his long-term work with many artists. He has directed several videos for Madonna, including "Music" and "American Life". The "American Life" video was pulled shortly after its release because its themes were considered too intense at the time.
He has also created some of the most talked-about videos of the 21st century.
- "Telephone" by Lady Gaga featuring Beyoncé is like a mini-movie, full of action and fashion.
- "Moves like Jagger" by Maroon 5 featuring Christina Aguilera is a fun, retro-style video.
- "Hold Up" by Beyoncé shows the singer walking through the streets in a memorable yellow dress.
- "When Love Takes Over" by David Guetta featuring Kelly Rowland is a high-energy video that captures the feeling of a live concert.
He has also worked with rock bands like Rammstein, Metallica, and Queens of the Stone Age, creating videos that match their powerful music.
Directing Movies and Films
Besides music videos, Jonas Åkerlund has directed several feature films. His first movie, Spun, was released in 2002. He later directed the thriller Horsemen (2009) and the comedy Small Apartments (2012).
More recently, he directed Lords of Chaos (2018), a film about the early Norwegian black metal scene, and Polar (2019), an action film based on a graphic novel.
Åkerlund also directs concert films and documentaries. He captured Madonna's tour in I'm Going to Tell You a Secret and The Confessions Tour. He also directed concert films for Paul McCartney, Taylor Swift, and a TV special for Beyoncé and Jay-Z's On the Run Tour.
Awards and Recognition
Jonas Åkerlund's work has earned him many of the highest honors in the music and film industries.
- Grammy Awards: He has won three Grammy Awards. The first was for Best Short Form Music Video for Madonna's "Ray of Light" in 1999. He later won Best Music Film for Madonna's The Confessions Tour in 2008 and for Paul McCartney's Live Kisses in 2014.
- MTV Video Music Awards: The "Ray of Light" video was a massive winner at the 1998 MTV VMAs, taking home five awards, including Video of the Year and Best Direction.
Over the years, he has won many other awards for his videos with artists like Lady Gaga, Rammstein, and James Blunt, proving he is a master of visual storytelling.
See also
In Spanish: Jonas Åkerlund para niños
