Much like Timbaland, will.i.am is a better producer than rapper/singer, but he does have two gems on his latest album that I'd recommend downloading.
The first is "Geekin'," which is basically a geek anthem. If he could get enough technological innovators and recent news-making young nerds, like Spelling Bee champ Arvind Mahankali to be in the video, it could be his first hit single off the album. Innovative videos like the one he did for his first single "This is Love" with Eva Simons could be his bread-and-butter. Especially since shelling out dough for crappy collaborations with Britney Spears ("Scream and Shout") and Justin Bieber ("#thatPower") isn't doing him any favors. He'll learn that for sure after his next single, "Fall Down," featuring Miley Cyrus, hits the airwaves.
My favorite part of "Geekin'" is when he says:
I’m so pay, my friends call me Pay Pal I make a lot of chips, now they call me Intel *Intel jingle*
The second song, "Bang Bang," is criminally a bonus track on the deluxe edition. It's an old-timey, 20s flapper tune, complete with scatting, that would seem impossible to modernize, but he manages it by dropping the base right before the chorus for a fist-pumping beat. It would make a great award show performance with a pop star known for her dance skills, like Britney Spears. Her incentive? Proving she's still got it. If she could pull off the 15-second, tap-dancing break towards the end, she'd get a standing ovation. In fact, why not bring out all the pop stars who've been milking throwbacks (Justin Timberlake and Bruno Mars) to join them? That would bring down the house.
Twitter is all aflutter with news that Rihanna is up for not one but two Video of the Year nominations at MTV's 2012 Video Music Awards for "Take Care"and "We Found Love." I realize that most award shows are rigged to sell commercials, but I've always been particularly annoyed by the VMAs because they rarely award, or even nominate, the right videos.
In 2007, Rihanna won Video of the Year for her breakout single "Umbrella." She beat Amy Winehouse's lounging video for "Rehab," Beyonce's breakup video for "Irreplaceable," Kanye West's hi-tech revival video for "Stronger," Justin Timberlake's revenge video for "What Goes Around…Comes Around," which starred several actors, including Scarlett Johansson, and Justice's innovative animated-meets-live-action graphic design-heavy video for "D.A.N.C.E."
"Umbrella." The video where it rains sparks, CGI water splashes around, she struts like a ballerina, and does a silver homage to Goldfinger. That video.
Yes it's true. That song is a bonafide earworm. Even if you haven't heard it in the last 5 years, you can still hear it echoing in your head right now. Ella ella eh eh. But not only was Beyonce's song better written and sung, but Justice's video was ten times more impressive. So if it were in MTV's interest to award the Best Video of the Year, they would've given it to Justice. Instead, they chose the new girl who photographs well.
Now, five years later, amidst new controversy concerning her exes Drake and Chris Brown, Drake's video for "Take Care," featuring Rihanna on the chorus, has been nominated four times (Video of the Year, Best Male Video, Best Art Direction, and Best Cinematography). Maybe they're trying to stir up controversy to get as many eyeballs on the live airing as possible, or maybe they actually think an existential video featuring a mountain, a bull, a bird, a fish, a coy, half-dressed, constantly-caressed Rihanna going in slow motion is worthy of going up against Katy Perry's fairytale video for the regret-filled "Wide Awake" and M.I.A.'s feminist Middle Eastern revolution video for "Bad Girls." How about this? If either one of them can explain what any of those things has to do with the song, they deserve the award? How's that?
If MTV wanted to acknowledge Drake for one of his videos on a grand scale, I would've went with his video for "HYFR (Hell Yeah Fucking Right)" feat. Lil Wayne. It starts off with real footage from his bar mitzvah and then goes into a present day hip-hop bar mitzvah that's far more raucous and debauched. It's clever and worthy of more than just a Best Hip Hop Video nomination (a category that includes Childish Gambino's "Heartbeat," but should actually include his far more controversial and surprising "Bonfire"). And instead of the ass-tastic Nicki Minaj video for "Beez in the Trap" feat. 2 Chainz, they should've nominated Odd Future's "Oldie." I don't even like Odd Future, they're way too aggressive for me, but the video is ten minutes long and it takes place during a Terry Richardson photo shoot for XXL magazine. Tyler, The Creator basically tells Terry to fuck off and each member goes through their verse in a makeshift moshpit. It was bold and unexpected, and that's what the best videos are supposed to be.
Following those standards, I wholeheartedly approve of Carly Rae Jepsen's "Call Me Maybe" video being nominated for Best New Artist. Yes, it's as vapid and earworm-y as Rihanna's "Umbrella," but the narrative plays out like a Farrelly brothers movie. Girl crushes on boy-next-door, girl washes her car attempting to look sexy, boy-next-door finally comes over to watch her band play, boy-next-door starts crushing on male band mate. Burn! That's hilarious. Even her popstar-filled lip synch video featuring Justin Bieber and Selena Gomez deserves respect. It's refreshing to see any of those kids act normal, even when it's orchestrated. I'd gladly award her over One Direction's beach jaunt in "What Makes You Beautiful" or The Wanted's euro-bash in "Glad You Came." And I'd even get behind Rihanna's other Video of the Year nomination "We Found Love," a video that features a guy who is a Chris Brown lookalike, and "Where Have You Been," which was nominated for Best Choreography. But "Take Care" was just straight famewhoring on MTV's part.
There are some amazing videos out there and they're going unnoticed. I realize MTV is no longer interested in music, but couldn't they change their name and leave the slot open for a channel that does.
Madonna is staging a major comeback. She took a little hiatus after her last album, Hard Candy (2008), to direct a passion project, W.E., and now she's back to reclaim her Pop Queen status. I'm assuming she figured Beyonce and Pink would be busy with their newborns, and Katy Perry with her divorce (cause we all saw that coming), so she'd just swoop right on in and get comfy.
The thing is though that three years in music time is like a decade. Listeners have developed other interests, different standards, and new obsessions. The current multitude is gyrating to Rihanna, copying Beyonce's dance moves from the trillion videos she dropped before popping out a mini-B, karaokeing the hell out of every Adele song they can get their hands on, and recording themselves rapping as fast and dramatically as Nicki Minaj. So it's understandable that Madonna would try to mooch off of one of those artists' current fame and get a subliminal cosign by their mere presence. And it's even more understandable that women like Nicki Minaj and M.I.A., who no doubt grew up watching the greatness that was Madonnna, would be intensely honored to be featured on one of her tracks.
I get it. I have no qualms with living the dream. The problem I have is with 1) the song they chose to sellout on and 2) the simple fact that they did indeed sellout!
Let's pretend for a solid 60 seconds that Nicki Minaj, the self-proclaimed Barbie, who's 80% façade and 20% hood, has integrity. Let's pretend that she hasn't manufactured a personality fit for commerce. And let's pretend that she is the greatest female MC of our generation with lyrical genius that Biggie himself would tip his Yankee cap to. Why in God's name did she override everything she's worked towards as a respected rap artist for 13 seconds on a shit song? I'm surprised she didn't end her rhyme with "Yes massa!"
I won't knock Minaj too much though. At least she didn't compromise on her aesthetic, like Lady Gaga did for Beyonce in '09 for "Video Phone," or like M.I.A. did in this video. I'm sorry. Did pregnancy fry her brain? She's wearing lace and performing sexualized choreography. Not only is that out of character, it's embarrassing. The only thing that could redeem her is if she only did it to meet Minaj, and this summer they plan to release a scathing rap collaboration that'll take over the radio waves. Then and only then could I get her Rihanna-esque dirty wind out of my damn head.
As for Madonna, I'm slightly impressed that she still looks fit at 53. But that's grounds for a workout video not a comeback. She has nothing new to say and no new way to say it. She used to return with a whole new persona, but it seems like the only reinvention she can muster these days is regression, looking and acting like a 20something tart.
In case you couldn't gather by my scathing criticism, this video is horrible. It involves football players and cheerleaders, who obviously have nothing to do with the song, because she's doing the Super Bowl. The rest, the spandex, the lace, the plastic baby(?), are homages to other incarnations of herself throughout her career, as if to remind people who she is. But maybe someone should remind her. At this point, I'd rather watch Lana Del Ray during half-time. At least then, I'll know the spectacle will be intentional.
Here are the best videos of the year by category. Click on the photos to watch the videos:
BEST ACID TRIP: Ke$ha's "Blow"
90s heartthrob (for some) James Van Der Beek + unicorns that bleed rainbows = Somebody's gotta be high.
BEST BIBLICAL REFERENCE: Magnetic Man's "Getting Nowhere" feat. John Legend
The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse as hooded bikers.
BEST CAMEOS: Chris Brown's "Beautiful People"
Many videos with celeb cameos look orchestrated and excessive, but this video actually made it look organic. List of notable cameos: Swizz Beatz, The Game, Tyga, Estelle, Lil Bow Wow, P. Diddy, Pharrell Williams, Brandy, Timbaland, and T-Pain.
BEST CHOREOGRAPHY: Beyoncé's "Run the World"
Honestly, she makes every other popstar's attempt to "dance" in a video seem pathetic. Look around. There's no one else who can do it better. Britney gave up the throne years ago.
BEST COMEDY: Sara Bareilles's "Gonna Get Over You"
At first this video seemed...kind of racist. It's not often that you see a white girl dancing around with a bunch of cholos, but then the ending delivers an extremely funny and unexpected twist that explains it all. Who knew Sara had a sense of humor? Or that she'd let Jonah Hill take the director's chair?
BEST CONCERT MIX: Lupe Fiasco's "The Show Goes On"
Concert videos are lazy and boring and completely unappreciated. Fiasco's, however, doesn't seem like a quick-and-dirty afterthought. There's impressive cinematography, fluid transitions, and even a sense that his journey to the stage is a culmination of everything he's worked towards as it flips from the young Fiasco to the present day Fiasco.
BEST DRESS-UP: Jessie J's "Who's Laughing Now"
A young Jessie J rages against her two-faced, middle school bullies, while the present day Jessie J plays dress up and is utterly unrecognizable.
BEST LOVE STORY: James Morrison's "I Won't Let You Go"
It goes from him laying down with her in solidarity to everyone who's watching laying down too. It gives this odd feeling of national unity.
BEST POLITICAL MESSAGE: Lupe Fiasco's "Words I Never Said"
The video shows a world muzzled by the government, who brainwashes and censors the public.
BEST REHEARSAL: Beyonce's "Love on Top"
Leave it to Beyonce to make boy bands look uncoordinated.
BEST REMAKE: Cults's "Go Outside"
This video starring Emma Roberts and Dave Franco reminded me of the 1987 rom-com Mannequin, except instead of being a plastic doll, Roberts' character climbs out of a film and falls in love with an amateur filmmaker, only to return to her world and break his heart.
BEST SEQUEL: Beastie Boys's "Make Some Noise" Seth Green, Danny McBride, and Elijah Wood play the young versions of those veteran rappers so that they can continue the saga of the greatest party ever recorded. Later on, Maya Rudolph, Kirsten Dunst, John C. Reilly, Jack Black, Will Ferrell, and several actors join them.
BEST SOLO: The Black Keys's "Lonely Boy"
So, the band got this black dude to basically dance throughout their entire song. Just him. It looks like it takes place in the 70s, but no, it's 2011. So simple. Yet endlessly entertaining.
BEST THROWBACK: Chris Brown's "Look at Me Now" feat. Busta Rhymes and Lil Wayne
This is your average ghetto rave dance party in an abandoned warehouse. (You've been to one of those before, right?) What makes it cool though are the vibrant neon colors and the throwback homage to Busta Rhymes' 90s video for "Put Your Hands Where My Eyes Could See," where he use to get a lot more creative then his rap equals, distorting visuals and playing dress up.
BEST TRAGEDY: Best Coast's "Our Deal"
It's a modern day Romeo & Juliet, a mix of West Side Story and Grease, directed by Drew Barrymore and starring Chloe Moretz, Tyler Posey, Alia Shawkat, Miranda Cosgrove,Shailene Woodley, and Donald Glover. It's only four minutes long but it managed to sum up the story quite well. And in place of dialogue, there are written and spray-painted notes. It was cleverly adapted.
BEST TRANSFORMATION: Katy Perry's "Last Friday Night"
Katy never ceases to amaze me when it comes to not taking herself seriously.
BEST TWIST: Childish Gambino's "Bonfire" Donald Glover stars in his own horror music video where he plays a man who barely escapes a lynching when his rope is cut. He looks for help and discovers a bonfire of young people who are unaware that a man is coming to lynch one of them. He runs and screams to save them only to discover they can't see him and that he's actually a character in their horror story. Then he ends up back where he was, noose around his neck, freshly cut down, like he's damned to repeat the nightmare over and over. That's one way not to dance around the issue.
BEST VIRAL VIDEO: Beyonce's "Move Your Body" Beyonce had a "try to make kids lose weight" campaign this year, remixing one of her old beats and making a dance to it. It swept the internet, and schools and kids everywhere were all too pleased to remake it. It's adorable.
BEST VISUALS: The Strokes's "Taken for a Fool"
They illustrated the vibrations of their music with dancing drops of colorful liquid and multiple incarnations of themselves. This is what it feels like on the inside when I listen to music.
Gaga made a mini-movie for her latest single "Marry the Night." I know she was trying to be artistic with the self-aware narrator and the fame-hungry hospital patient, who I think was a self-mutilating ex-dancer who "got back on the horse" and never gave up??? Not sure, but that's not what I'm posting about. Watch the video and see what looks like Gaga dressed as Madonna circa Desperately Seeking Susan:
Elle Varner is a 22-year-old L.A. native and a recent NYU grad of the Clive Davis Program of Recorded Music. This summer she released her first single off her upcoming album Perfectly Imperfect, which is stuck in development hell due to her contract's transference from the recently disbanded J Records to RCA Records. After hearing her Estelle-meets-Macy-Gray voice, however, I know that her soulful R&B-Pop sound won't soon go unheard. This first single features the ever-so-smooth J.Cole. Hopefully his cosign will encourage other artists to boost her street credit with more collaborations. For now though, get addicted to the sultry sounds of Elle Varner:
After getting to see what Sara Bareilles is like via NBC's a capella competition series "The Sing Off"—spirited, saucy, and sweet—I started to like her more. Although for the record, I liked her just fine before, because she always doles out some incredibly soulful music that I play all year round, long after they've dropped off the Hot 100. But having got to know her better, I was a little shocked by this super weird video. In it, she knocks Mexicans down and they get back up dressed like they're in the movie Grease, then your basic dancing-in-a-grocery-store video proceeds, something I thought she may have borrowed from Bublé. And just when you think it's over, because of the confetti climax, you discover she's been daydreaming the whole thing. Wait! She wasn't dreaming about pushing immigrants. She just happened to be in a Mexican neighborhood and everyone around her melted into her fantasy of not just dancing well but singing well. I swear, the minute the music dropped out and she started wailing like Sugar in "Glee" and it was obvious all of the Mexican customers thought she was crazy, I immediately thought: "JESS!" That is so a thing that Zooey Deschanel's character on her new FOX series "The New Girl" would do. Check it out. It's hilarious:
I was watching MTV tonight, waiting for the encore presentation of "Awkward," when I saw a quick clip of Chloe Moretz (Kick-Ass), Miranda Cosgrove ("iCarly"), Donald Glover ("Community") and Tyler Posey ("Teen Wolf") in a music video. Naturally, I was miffed.
What sort of Twilight Zone had I tapped into where a 27-year-old comedian was hanging out with two accomplished teen actresses and an up-and-coming teen heartthrob? So after a few seconds of googling, I discovered that the video in question was for the indie rock band Best Coast, it was directed by the ever-surprising hipster queen Drew Barrymore, and it also stars Alia Shawkat (Whip It) and Shailene Woodley ("The Secret Life of the American Teenager"), who is unrecognizable in the video.
What impressed me the most about it wasn't the star-studded cast though, but the concept. When I first read that it was a modern day Romeo & Juliet, a mix of West Side Story and Grease, I thought it would just be another half-baked rehash. But in this version, Moretz and Cosgrove play members of the Night Creepers gang, which is led by Shawkat, and Glover and Posey are members of the Day Trotters gang, which is led by Woodley.Moretz and Cosgrove get caught on Day Trotters' territory. Cosgrove gets beat up, and Moretz meets Posey and falls in love. She asks him to run away with her, and he responds by spray-painting the words "I Can't" on the wall. At the end of the video, we discover that she ran away in disappointment before she was able to read the rest of his message written around the corner, which was an acceptance of her request. Unfortunately, a tragedy occurs before she figures this out. So just like in Romeo & Juliet, a case of misunderstanding destroys any chance of destined lovers, initially at odds, ever being together. Not bad Barrymore.
I miss Lauryn Hill. I realize motherhood is time-consuming, especially when you're the mother of five with another one on the way, and that in this industry whoring yourself goes hand-in-hand with creating art, so making a comeback isn't that enticing, but I really really miss her.
And as it turns out, a sped-up version of 1998's "That Thing" sounds awesome!:
I've always had trouble with the nominees and winners of the Video Music Awards. In my opinion, if an award title says "video," the criteria for why the artist should win should be based on their video and not just the song or its popularity. For that reason, I've listed my picks below in pink and based my choices on what the award title suggests and not what made it on my, and everyone else's, iPod this year:
VIDEO OF THE YEAR
• Adele -"Rolling In The Deep"
It's a little difficult to be affected by a video when the star of it is barely moving.
• Tyler, The Creator - "Yonkers"
While I understand that Odd Future is one of the breakout rap groups of the year, that doesn't mean I understand nor appreciate their contribution to the music industry. And I definitely don't getTyler. He's straight up playing with a cockroach, throwing up, undressing, and then committing suicide in this video. And they say Gaga has issues.
• Katy Perry - "Firework"
This
video told inspiring stories of overcoming insecurities and coming out
of your shell, and it included an insane amount of fans. Definite
runner-up for me.
• Bruno Mars - "Grenade"
I like the surprise, albeit overly dramatic, ending, but not much else goes on in the video.
• Adele - "Rolling In The Deep" • Beyonce - "Run The World (Girls)" The video saved the song from obscurity and returned B to form.
• Katy Perry - "Firework" • Nicki Minaj - "Super Bass"
I didn't really have any
expectations for this video even though I loved the song the first time
I heard it, but I wish she would've been a little more innovative to
make it a viral sensation, instead of just being the black Gaga. I would've put Taylor Swift and Selena Gomez in the video, since they already knew all the words. That certainly would've made it a Twitter-topic within the hour, and worth consideration. • Lady Gaga - "Born This Way"
It was certainly creative because of the kaleidoscope effect, but I would've nominated "Judas" over this one.
BEST MALE VIDEO
• Cee Lo Green - "F*** You"
It sure has become a runaway hit, but I hope it doesn't win solely because of the "Glee" connection. • Eminem feat. Rihanna - "Love The Way You Lie"
I've always thought this video was kind of controversial because Megan Fox and Dominic Monaghan play lovers who wail on each other, and Rihanna, a recent victim of domestic violence, is singing the chorus. But it was shot beautifully and the song was depicted properly.
• Bruno Mars - "Grenade" • Kanye West feat. Rihanna & Kid Cudi - "All of the Lights"
All of the Youtube-style lyrics displaying across the screen were a little wack for such a high-caliber artist, but I did like the black+white intro and the interspersed color-tinted scenes. • Justin Bieber - "U Smile"
I like that, unlike most teen videos, it's in black and white, and that he showcases his piano skills, but that's not enough to merit an award.
BEST HIP HOP VIDEO
• Lil Wayne feat. Cory Gunz - "6’7’"
Aside from the clever-but-kinda-late Inception-intro, the video is really literal with imagery, showing a flower for nature and an old man for Father Time. The song is sick though! • Kanye West feat. Rihanna & Kid Cudi - "All Of The Lights" • Chris Brown feat. Lil Wayne & Busta Rhymes - "Look At Me Now"
I like that it's a throwback to Busta's 90s videos with the fish-eye lens, but it doesn't really do much to enhance the lyrics. • Nicki Minaj - "Super Bass"
• Lupe Fiasco - "The Show Goes On"
There have been many attempts at making the from-backstage-to-the-stage video and they've usually been pretty basic, akin to behind-the-scenes DVD footage. But Lupe really played with the backgrounds, sets, and even had a kid play the younger version of him, which made it seem a lot less half-assed than those videos usually are. That said, I wish his other video for "Words I Never Said" was nominated instead. It covers political conspiracies in a clever way, complete with gas masks and brainwashing.
BEST NEW ARTIST
•Foster The People • Wiz Khalifa
Dear Wiz, I would like to never hear the words "Black and Yellow" in succession ever again. Thank you, Adults.
• Big Sean • Tyler, The Creator
I think he'll win if only so we can see what he'll say, or even do. •KreayShawn
This girl cracks me up and I love her chola-like style. Missing Nominee: It's totally unfair that Mac Miller didn't get nominated. He had great videos and his rhymes were above-par for a newbie white boy.
BEST POP VIDEO
•Katy Perry - "Last Friday Night (T.G.I.F.)"
This video showed some serious 80s love and allowed the voluptuous popstar to show her more goofy side, while still being sexy.
• Adele - "Rolling In The Deep" • Bruno Mars - "Grenade" • Pitbull feat. NE-YO, Nayer & Afrojack - "Give Me Everything"
This is basically a club video. •Britney Spears - "Till The World Ends" They'll probably give it to Spears just to get her reaction, but this video was just a bad attempt at proving she can still dance.
BEST ROCK VIDEO
•The Black Keys - "Howlin For You"
I am so confused. That was a music video? It was a trailer. And the song was in the background. And that counts? I mean, I love the band, but this seems like a bit of a stretch. •Foo Fighters - "Walk"
This was actually a really funny video. Dave Grohl got to get his funny on.
•Foster The People - "Pumped Up Kicks"
It's your average on-the-road tour video. •Mumford & Sons - "The Cave"
They're a fan favorite lately, but they're kind of just riding around on mopeds a la Larry Crowne. •Cage The Elephant - "Shake Me Down" This is like a trippy trip down memory lane.
BEST COLLABORATION
•Pitbull feat. NE-YO, Nayer & Afrojack - "Give Me Everything" •Chris Brown feat. Lil Wayne & Busta Rhymes - "Look At Me Now"
This was one of the best songs of the year. It marked the official return of Busta Rhymes, and was later amplified by a surprising Youtube duet.
•Kanye West feat. Rihanna & Kid Cudi - "All Of The Lights" •Katy Perry feat. Kanye West- "E.T."
This was the wackest contribution Kanye's ever given. It was obviously just a publicity stunt to win back Taylor Swift fans, since Katy is her close friend. Sorry 'Ye, co-sign disregarded. •Nicki Minaj feat. Drake - "Moment 4 Life" Drake has that Midas touch and Nicki's like his female equivalent. Barring any controversies or scandals, they should make it very far in this business—Hova & Beyonce far.
BEST ART DIRECTION
•Adele -"Rolling In The Deep" •Katy Perry feat. Kanye West - "E.T."
The aliens in this video look pretty cool, but the lyrics don't really merit this level of dramaticism. •Lady Gaga - "Judas"
Depicting religious elements using a biker gang is definitely unique, but it also seemed like more of a stunt than a statement. •Kanye West - "Power" If they're basing it on concept, then I think Kanye's should win because of the attention to detail in the recreation of the art.
•Death Cab For Cutie - "You Are A Tourist"
It had a very DIY-feel to it—in a good way. Choreography, lasers, and projections were all a solid effort.
BEST CHOREOGRAPHY •Beyonce - "Run The World (Girls)" Hands down the best performer in the game. •Britney Spears - "Till The World Ends"
You've got to be kidding me. If "Slave For You"-Britney saw this video, she would laugh until she peed herself. •Lady Gaga - "Judas"
Let's be honest: Gaga can't dance. •Bruno Mars - "The Lazy Song"
He did an adorable job of trying to do a viral dance video. •LMFAO feat. Lauren Bennett & GoonRock - "Party Rock Anthem"
I love this dance song but it just has one dance: shuffling. lol
BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY • Adele - "Rolling In The Deep" • Beyonce - "Run The World (Girls)"
• Eminem feat. Rihanna - "Love The Way You Lie"
I usually judge this category based on which video has movie-quality cinematography and Em accomplished that with this video, and even managed an actual storyline, unlike the others, in the process. • Katy Perry - "Teenage Dream"
Just another let's-drive-to-the-beach video. •Thirty Seconds To Mars - "Hurricane"
This video just seems rather pointless. Elaborate? Yes. Provocative? Yes. But still pointless.
BEST DIRECTION
• Adele - "Rolling In The Deep" • Eminem feat. Rihanna - "Love The Way You Lie" • Katy Perry feat. Kayne West - "E.T." • Thirty Seconds To Mars - "Hurricane"
• Beastie Boys - "Make Some Noise"
I think it's rather impressive how the director incorporated so many cameos seamlessly and with so many well choreographed long-takes.
BEST EDITING
• Adele - "Rolling In The Deep" • Katy Perry feat. Kayne West - "E.T." • Thirty Seconds To Mars - "Hurricane" • Kanye West feat. Rihanna & Kid Cudi - "All Of The Lights"
• Manchester Orchestra - "Simple Math"
You've probably never seen this video or even heard of this band, but trust me, it should win. You know a video is good when even without star power it still resonates. A crash that incorporates flashbacks has been done, but for the director to melt the past and present together and cause a sort of Inception-like sequence is pretty impressive.
BEST SFX (SPECIAL EFFECTS)
•Manchester Orchestra - "Simple Math" • Katy Perry feat. Kanye West - "E.T." • Kanye West - "Power"
• Linkin Park - "Waiting For The End"
The band members outlined in 3D constellations is by far the most intricate effect among these videos.
When I heard that Britney wasn't dancing in the video and that it had an actual plot, I really wanted to see it, because she should really just stop dancing. Her heart is obviously not in it anymore. As I watched, I tried to pick up on all the "winks" to real life gossip headlines. I get that saying "Fuck You" to the press, being overtly sexual towards a fan and a hot cop, and assaulting Terminator-like paparazzi with a microphone is her way of rebelling, but wearing an Avril Lavigne outfit, complete with pink streaks and spiky boots, at age 29, having babies and children whistle lewdly at her, and ending the video like Michael Jackson's "Thriller," with a robot in place of werewolf was both inappropriate and lame. And I would've been psyched to see Guillermo Diaz ("No Ordinary Family," "Weeds," & "Mercy"), but I have this sneaking feeling that he was playing Adnan Ghalib, the paparazzo she dated for two years, which would explain why Diaz is revealed to secretly be a robot at the end too. Is she admitting that dating Adnan was a mistake and that he was as much of a user as the rest of them? If so, that could count as growth. But I would prefer it if she also grew by knowing a crappy video with a poorly executed homage when she saw one.
Like many shows, "Glee" is on hiatus. And those of us who haven't purchased tickets to their summer tour are having withdrawals. What have the Gleeks been up to? Lea Michele laid down some vocals for 2012's animated Wizard of Oz and smooched Ashton Kutcher for the upcoming romance anthology New Years Eve. Cory Monteith is romancing Katie Cassidy on the big screen in Monte Carlo. Chris Colfer is gearing up for his first screenwriting and starring role in the feature film comedy Struck by Lightning. Matthew Morrison is prepping for the adaptation of What to Expect When You're Expecting with Cameron Diaz.Jane Lynch is filming The Three Stooges. And Kevin McHale did a cameo in Katy Perry's "Last Friday Night" music video as her dork-in-shining-armor.
Harry Shum Jr., our lovable Mike Chang, went a different route. He went viral. Last month, he collaborated with the Youtube auteurs behind Wong Fu Productions to create three shorts that showcased Shum's underrated comic timing and physical comedy. This was a great idea and will hopefully lead to more roles. My favorite was the "3 Steps to Self Esteem" that has a really funny twist ending. (And yes that's famed photographer Tyler Shields playing the mugger.) Watch all three of the 2-3 minute shorts below:
I LOVE comedic music videos! Check out Katy Perry dorking it up in a teen version of The Hangover with Darren Criss ("Glee") as a partygoer, Kevin McHale ("Glee") as her secret admirer/hero, the infamously horrible songwriter Rebecca Black as her neighbor/makeover guru, Kenny G as her uncle, Hanson as the house band,and Corey Haim (Lost Boys) and 80s Pop singer Debbie Gibson as her parents. The cast and video are not as awesome as the Beastie Boys's "Fight For Your Right Revisited" or Atomic Tom's "Don't You Want Me" video for Take Me Home Tonight, but it's definitely a contender. I wouldn't be surprised if we see Katy in a comedy within the year. SNL's becoming every wannabe-comedian's springboard:
Beyonce teamed up with the First Lady Michelle Obama to encourage children to eat healthy and exercise. She re-wrote and re-recorded her song "Get Me Bodied" to record a dance routine that kids can follow along with as a fun 4-minute exercise. The video is orchestrated like a flash mob in a cafeteria with children of all ages who are great dancers.
I love that a chubby kid initiates the dance, that it's mostly minorities in the video, and that they left Beyonce's dance flub in. There's a part when she sings "Now run to the left" and she runs right while everyone else runs left and you can tell she screwed up, but they just let it play and then cut to a take where she's doing it right. It shows kids that it's ok to make a mistake.
Um so, I realize this is for kids, but I so want to go home and memorize this. lol
According to /Film, the Beastie Boys'Adam Yauch, aka MCA, "assembled quite the cast to
tell the story of what happens after the epic party in their classic
1987 music video for '(You Gotta) Fight For Your Right (To Party).'" The short, Fight For Your Right Revisited, was one of the "most highly anticipated shorts playing at the 2011 Sundance Film Festival." The main cast consists of Elijah Wood, Seth Rogen, and Danny McBride as the Beastie Boys. Later in the video, a Delorean appears with the future versions of the Beastie Boys: Will Ferrell as Elijah Wood, John C. Reilly as Seth Rogen, and Jack Black as Danny McBride. But it doesn't stop there with the cameos. There are also goofy appearances by: Rashida Jones, Will Arnett, Rainn Wilson, Jason Schwartzman, Ted Danson, Steve Buscemi, Amy Poehler, Mary Steenburgen (The Proposal), Chloe Sevigny, Kirsten Dunst, Maya Rudolph, David Cross ("Arrested Development"), and Orlando Bloom, in that order. I'm not shocked that so many celebrities are fans of the 80s rap group. I am, however, shocked that so many actors were free to appear in this. lol Nonetheless, it's really cool.
I haven't been hearing great buzz about Topher Grace's screenwriting debut Take Me Home Tonight. Apparently some people think it's a Hot Tub Time Machine-type rip-off. I thought the trailer was pretty funny and the cast of young comedians that range from Ana Faris toDemetri Martin is inspired. But what will get me to the theater March 4th aren't either of those things. I'll be forking over $13 for my love of 80s movies. One of the songs on the Take Me Home Tonight soundtrack is Atomic Tom's "Don't You Want Me" and the video is an homage to the decade's best films. (Don't let the still fool you, it's totally safe for work.)
Movie Order: Say Anything, Dirty Dancing, The Ghostbusters, Weird Science, Ghost, Sixteen Candles, Pee-wee's Big Adventure, The Karate Kid, ET, Basic Instinct, Star Wars, When Harry Met Sally, Poltergiest, Top Gun, Splash, Teen Wolf, Back to the Future, Risky Business, Indiana Jones, Ferris Bueller, The Shining, Weekend at Bernie's, Fast Times at Ridgemont High, Rambo, Big, Cocktail, Fletch, Flashdance, Nightmare on Elm Street, Friday the 13th, Can't Buy Me Love, Twins, Caddyshack, Terminator, Norma Rae, Little Shop of Horrors, Risky Business, The Blues Brothers, Top Gun, Teen Wolf, Dirty Dancing, Weekend at Bernie's, The Ghostbusters, and The Breakfast Club.
Heather Morris from "Glee" and actresses Riki Lindhome and Ashley Lendzion wrote a rap song using the beat from "Nothing but a G Thang." They invited "Glee" cast members Matthew Morrison, Cory Monteith, Harry Shum Jr., and Naya Rivera, as well as Sofia Vergara from "Modern Family," to dance and act in the video. It gets pretty crazy right at the point where Morris starts rapping and dry humping her cast mates, and they adamantly declare "F*ck You Gossip Girl!" The only thing that could've made this better is an appearance from Gwyneth Paltrow and Ed Westwick's characters.
Here's a sneak peek of Alicia Keys' tribute to her new baby boy, Egypt Daoud Dean, which rapper Eve will be guest-rhyming on:
There's a myth that singers lose their voice and/or motivation after they have kids. That's why I was surprised to hear Alicia boldly croon, "I'm just speechless baby / the poet in me has gone away." While we can tell by the song alone that she has neither lost her voice nor her ability to write beautiful music, I love that she doesn't shy away from that myth and faces it head on—intentionally or otherwise.
I HATE when the VMAs give out the Video of the Year award. They always give it to the song with the most airplay, not the song with the best video. LAME! Especially considering how awesome some videos truly are. Here are the best of the year by category:
BEST IDEA/DESIGN
• "We Used to Wait" - Arcade Fire
Ok so when the album first came out, true Arcade Fire fans went to their website and got to experience something hella cool. They entered their address and then a video was automatically generated to incorporate aerial and land views of their neighborhood. The character in the video was concealed enough for the viewer to consider it their avatar. So in the end, it was like each fan had their very own music video. There's a sample below, but if you want to make one for yourself, I should warn you that it'll generate several pop ups that bleed into each other all over your screen.
• "Why Don't You Love Me" Beyonce
The chocolate diva went back in time to channel the underappreciated housewife who did it all and never got enough in return. It's practically Betty Draper's anthem.
• "Cousins" Vampire Weekend
The ingenuity that went into this—creating a trolley track in an alley way, drawing all over the walls and ground, synchronizing motions, confetti canons, and loads of instruments—is just astounding.
• "Just the Way You Are" Bruno Mars
Do you remember, way back when, when your cassette tape use to malfunction and the film would get tangled or wrinkled? It used to be a bitch. Who knew you could use it to construct images that look like an etch-a-sketch drawing with unbroken lines?
• "King of Anything" Sara Bareilles
There have been plenty of videos in music history that have manipulated still photography, but Sara really takes it to the next level, never diverting from the theme.
With that title, one expects something crazy. But stripping in the street, jumping on a biker's motorcycle, and rolling around on concrete? That's way better than a fitted straight jacket and a padded room.
• "WTF?" Ok Go
Even if you've never heard an Ok Go album, you know they've got awesome videos. This one is just a potheads playground.
This is above and beyond the call of duty. The band has its own comic book and this is the live action version of it. Come on?
• "Tighten Up" The Black Keys
Puppy love at its grandest. It starts off super sweet right up until the 2:15 mark, and then they start behaving exactly like you'd expect boys to. As do their fathers.
Enrique chose to uncharacteristically not molest a stranger in this video, but to instead cast a group of kids to tell little stories of young love. So adorable.
• "Round & Round" - Selena Gomez
Um, so put the song on mute, and watch the Disney star audition for a spy movie.
BEST MESSAGE
• "Un-thinkable" Alicia Keys
This video didn't get as much TV-play as her other single, but I think it deserved to. It goes through 6 decades, showing the evolution, or lack there of, of her biracial romance with Chad Michael Murray ("One Tree Hill"), complete with little details that signify the decade. In the 50s, he had a pompadour and she had a beehive. In the 60s, he was a prep and she had colorful jewelry. In the 70s, he had a shag/mullet and she had an afro. In the 80s, she was sporting a makeshift Jheri curl and her friends were playing cassette tapes. In the 90s, she was using CDs and giant cell phones, and they both had leather jackets. And in the 00s, she had a touchscreen mp3 player and, most importantly, a backbone.
• "Firework" Katy Perry
She managed to cover a lot of bases in the self-esteem arena, telling chubby girls to love their bodies, gays to come out of the closet, and Cancer patients to have hope, and she does it with a party vibe.
These gentlemen are known for their controversial lyrics, but they surprisingly teamed up and created this anti-bullying video. No promotion of violence, just an encouragement to stand up for yourself. That is rarely the rapper agenda.
Everyone pretty much flipped out when they heard she stripped down in the middle of the street without warning, permission, or guards. The meaning behind it, however, was apparently lost on the small-minded. Badu says she was inspired by the indie rock duo Matt & Kim's video for "Lessons Learned." She thought it was the perfect example of bravery and liberation. Stripping down was her way of showing her true self. And when she gets shot at the end, in a way assassinated, it's suppose to represent society's rejection of the true self and the reassertion of conformity. While it's basically the same video as M&K's, including the surprising death at the end, it's a little braver than theirs because 1) she did it on her own and 2) she didn't get a permit under the guise of shooting a commercial, so she really could've been arrested.
BEST TWIST ENDING
• "Say You Don't Want It" - One Night Only feat. Emma Watson
I admit I only watched this video because a Harry Potter actress was in it, but I was pleasantly surprised at the end. It starts off seeming like a romance, where the guy is trying to woo the girl, but at the end (3:35) all of their bizarro behavior suddenly makes sense...they're actually smitten puppies. Altogether now: Awww!
• "Grenade" - Bruno Mars
I like this song, but the video is incredibly boring until the 3:30 mark. I would not advise doing this, but it definitely wakes you up.
The boys of Jackass fool around and dangerously skate within an empty pool. Non-Jackass lovers are unaware of how much brotherly love runs through this clan, but you really get that feeling watching this video.
• "Giving Up the Gun" Vampire Weekend
Let's see. Joe Jonas as a sore loser. A drunk,overly confident Jake Gyllenhaal. Rapper RZA dressed like he's auditioning for The Matrix while refereeing the tennis match. And, last but not least, the randomest of the random, rapper Lil Jon as a coach dressed in preppy clothes.
• "Stylo" Gorillaz
This badass animated band managed to get Bruce Willis in their video as a littering, aviator-wearing, gun-toting speed demon!!
I may not love the duo or even this song, but I'd like to congratulate Zooey Deschanel for being one of very few indie artists who not only dances in their videos, but dances well. No, Feist doesn't count.
• "Thinkin' Bout Something" Hanson
The boys ingeniously recreated a scene in The Blues Brothers and WeirdAl Yankovic guest stars too. This is the coolest the boys have ever been.
