5 Dynamic ‘60s-Style Videos from The Courettes

The dynamic duo of Flavia and Martin Couri formed completely by happenstance. They met in her native Brazil when his Danish band toured on the same bill as her group. The future twosome soon discovered they shared the same musical passions. Following the dissolution of her group, Flavia visited his homeland. Many musical experiments later, the duo become musical and personal soulmates. They may be just two people, but The Courettes produce a full, rich sound influenced, appropriately enough, by the 1960s Wall of Sound, surf rock, garage rock, psychedelia, and more. The duo has named The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, The Kinks, and the late ‘80s punk/garage movement as major influences.

While a lot of musical nostalgia these days tends to veer to the side of the ‘80s and ‘90s, it’s nice to see a talented combo paying homage to the ‘60s. The songs tend to be short and sweet and and don’t overstay their welcome, and the songs are recorded in mono just like back in the day. The Courettes have drawn a lot of critical acclaim and toured internationally.

Here are five videos to explore the groovy tunes of The Courettes. Although music is of paramount importance here, the striking visuals of the following clips add to the allure of the band. The retro ‘60s vibes are augmented by modern effects and editing, giving us a “what if” about how such music would have been marketed if they had more advanced media back in the day.

“The Boy I Love” (2015)

One of the initial Courettes cuts has a “Loco-Motion” vibe at times and feels like bubblegum pop given a Zeppelin-esque rock infusion. Even in this early clip, singer/guitarist Flavia emanates star magnetism, while Martin exudes a quietly commanding presence behind the drums.

“Want You! Like a Cigarette” (2020)

Remember those ‘60s videos with psychedelic patterns brought in behind the performers via primitive chroma keying? This modern update features The Courettes swimming through swirly black and white patterns. It’s old and new school combined to accompany a whimsical ode to ditching a lover whose time has come.

“R.I.N.G.O.” (2021)

Here’s a peppy, hopping ode to the famed Beatles drummer: Forget John Lennon / George, well he’s okay / Done with McCartney / I want Richard Starkey. The contrast of Flavia’s staccato guitar notes and Martin’s thick drum sound in the verses stands out, then they layer on some sweet vocal harmonies and organ washes. The video also showcases their affinity for split-screen shots.

“Daydream” (2022)

Imagine Sonny & Cher’s “I Got You Babe” immersed in an echo-laden landscape with girl-group vibes and a booming drum sound. This hazy video drenched in red hues feels the most legit ‘60s of the bunch as it dissolves through a series of performance images. Flavia barely glances at the camera, and the duo emulates those far-off album portrait gazes of the time.

“Shake!” (2024)

One of their latest and greatest songs and videos, this fuzzed-out rocker has got a killer, hip-shaking groove and sexy swagger to spare. The video was shot in crisp black and white, with splashes of red lips, nails, and guitar. “Shake!” sounds more polished than their earlier work, and who wonders if they will follow the evolution of their big influences and make the jump to stereo next?

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