How much European is TOO European?

I have to tell you something; I don't understand why American people can't cope with European music.

Why is that, you say? Right now there are tons of European acts on the Billboard charts; The Beatles were from the UK; Adele was the most sold artist a couple of years ago on US and she's also British; and so on. You get the point.

However, how come that they always receive different treatment on videos, singles and the like, when they come from Europe?

I have several examples on this, and I'm not going to bore you with useless data, so check out those videos and watch for yourself how different are things from Europe (UK, especifically) once they get the "American treatment":


ALL SAINTS - "NEVER EVER"

UK Version



US Version



I mean, what was the point? The UK version was in accord to the song, and the US version looks like a demonstration on special effects on Hollywood, and some random flowers and animals. And that was it.




ACE OF BASE

UK Version - "Life is a Flower"






US Version - "Whenever You're Near Me"





Basically, another song, another tempo, another everything. "Whenever..." wasn't even a proper single. I know "Life is a Flower" sounds so corny on paper, but it was a good song. Why they thought Americans wouldn't like it, we'll never know.




LEONA LEWIS - "BLEEDING LOVE"

UK Version






US Version





OK, in this case, American version is better and more in tune with the song. But why is the need to make different videos for a song about a heartbreak? We all understand the concept, which in the US version is loud and clear. UK version is more cryptic, I guess.




NATASHA BEDINGFIELD - "THESE WORDS"

UK Version






US Version





Maybe, and this is just a guess, they wouldn't want people to take Natasha as a Pink clone, as seen in the first video. Or maybe, the cheesy effect of multiple Natasha's threw them off. But clearly, UK version is less generic and got soul.




CHER LLOYD - "WANT U BACK"

UK Version






US Version




I know they were supposed to portray Cher as a sassy, salacious girl because they didn't know her from UK's "X Factor", but the American version is pure nonsense. UK's more fun, if you ask me. But thanks for getting rid of that awful rap, I guess.




JOHN NEWMAN - "LOVE ME AGAIN"

UK Version






US Version





In the obsession to tell a story, many sins are portrayed here. Meanwhile the first video is stylish, simple and classic, on the US version we have the old "Romeo and Julieta" treatment that is yawning, really. And the ending? Please don't make me. Just don't.



What can we infer here? It is obvious that things are different on both continets, but we all can agree that music and its message is the same. So I don't really see the need to make various videos for different approches, if the music is the same. Unless you really, really, are doing something inappropiate on the European version.

But really, how am I complaining? We have two videos for the same price, so it's a win-win, isn't it?