www.perceptualedge.com/blog/?p=1532
This article can come off as somewhat stodgy to some, but it presents very good points on the dangers of trying to add vitality to data analytic software.
When the bar chart is absolutely the finest way to display the data and the designer is being pressed to use a less effective display, such as a word cloud, the designer has to sell the bar chart visually as well as empirically. Comparative designs that are user tested should reveal the best option with minimal dissension.