In the same way Quincy Jones and Lionel Richie made “We Are the World 25 for Haiti,” hip-hop star K’NAAN brought together a bunch of artists to raise awareness and money for the strife in Haiti. He took the song “Wavin’ Flag” off his latest album Troubadour and remixed it for this gathering of artists. The group includes Canadians like Avril Lavigne, Drake, and Emily Haines. Download the song here; all proceeds go to Free The Children, War Child Canada, and World Vision. (Side note: Friggin Justin Beiber. I’ll never understand why Jones and Riche decided to have him open “We Are the World” and now why K’NAAN had him close out his song.)
This here is an alternate version of the music video for Kid Cudi’s breakout single “Pursuit of Happiness.” In my opinion this video is far superior to the original version. It takes Cudder’s concept of dream sequences he raps about throughout Man on the Moon and runs with it, using tricky camera angles and trippy characters, costumes, and settings. Oh, and guitarist Ratatat actually makes an appearence in this one during his solo. Good stuff.
“This Too Shall Pass” is the second single off OK Go’s third studio album Of the Blue Colour of the Sky. And the music video for it is INSANE. The entire video was shot in one take and it features the most intricate Rube Goldberg sequence you will ever see. You know what the Rube Goldberg sequence is–you just never heard the name before. Named for an inventor of the same name, the word “Rube Goldberg” is an adjective defined as accomplishing something simple through complex means. In the case of this video, an OK Go band member drives a toy truck into a line of dominos (at the beginning) to result in the four band members getting sprayed in the face by paint (at the end). A simple action reaches a reaction through a complex process. Get it? Now watch this video a couple times and try to fathom how truly insane it is.
So how’d they manage to do it? OK Go teamed up with creative engineers Synn Labs and built the elaborate contraption in a warehouse in LA. It took a 55-60 person team about a month and a half to construct, with much attention to detail. Though the video was shot with a single camera in one unbroken continuous shot, it took over two days to shoot because they couldn’t get it to work perfectly until about 60 shots had failed. They brought the concept of ‘trial and error’ to a whole new level. And it was important for OK Go lead singer Damian Kulash that this whole thing be done without computer manipulation: “Computers can do any of this. But the whole point is that we’re doing it, like it’s homemade, it’s real things knocking into each other and falling over. It’s a celebration of actual root level physics. Screw computers.” Interested in more behind-the-scenes scoop? There’s a bunch of videos waiting after the break…
This is one of the most visually stunning and exciting music videos I have ever had the pleasure to watch.
“Stylo” is the first single off Gorillaz’s upcoming album Plastic Beach (drops March 9). It’s their first album since 2005’s Demon Days. Their latest music video combines a live action car chase, updated and refreshed CGI Gorillaz characters, and Bruce Willis to create a video that looks uh-mazing in HD (so make sure you switch HD ON before you watch). It really plays out like a feature film (Death Proof?) and keeps you engaged for all five minutes of it. And it doesn’t hurt that the song is good, too.
Check out this fresh music video for Kanye West’s “Coldest Winter,” the final track off his 2008 album 808s & Heartbreak. It’s directed by long time collaborator Nabil. Available for purchase at iTunes here.
It features a young women whose breasts just don’t want to stay in her blouse and creepy dementors straight out of Harry Potter. The song is remixed a bit in the beginning and offers another look into the psychologically dark mind state Kanye was in when he created 808s. This is going to have to hold you up until his next album is released, which may come sooner than you think.
Aw yeah. This is exactly what I’m talking about. The Black Eyed Peas have created their most epic music video yet with this mega-mashup of “Imma Be” and “Rocking That Body.” The latter song has yet to shine as a stand-alone single on the charts, but after this video makes its way around, radio stations will surely start picking up requests. Sit back, relax, and enjoy the future; it’s a ten minute long ride.
Posted after the break is the message from will.i.am straight from Dipdive, the Black Eyed Peas’ online video service. He says, “Get prepared for the beginning, that’s all I’m saying.” You know what the means…after The E.N.D. comes The B.E.G.I.N.N.I.N.G!
Chiddy (emcee) and Xaphoon Jones (DJ/producer) make up Chiddy Bang, a new rap/electronica duo outta Philly. Their first EP titled Opposite of Adults drops February 22. Head over to their MySpace page to listen to a few more tracks and snag a free download. They sound real good and from the looks of their first music video called “Opposite of Adults” they are unique (that’s the trait you need in order to make it in the big leagues these days, right?).
“Memories” is the latest single (following “Sexy Bitch”) off David Guetta’s fourth album One Love. iTunes has the album; the single; and a new Memories EP that features the single, an extended version, and a remix. To be honest the music video is EH, but I’m diggin the track.
Recorded on February 1st, 2010, in the same studio as the original 25 years earlier (Henson Recording Studios, formerly A&M Recording Studios) “We Are The World 25 For Haiti”, in which [Quincy] Jones and [Lionel]Richie serve as executive producers and producers, was created in collaboration with executive producers Wyclef Jean, Randy Phillips and Peter Tortorici; producers Humberto Gattica and RedOne; and co-producers Rickey Minor, Mervyn Warren and Patti Austin to benefit the Haitian earthquake relief efforts and the rebuilding of Haiti. Director Paul Haggis (Crash, Million Dollar Baby) filmed the recording.
This 2010 version of “We Are The World” features over 80 artists and performers. And they all rocked it. Question is, how does it compare to the original 1985 recording? They they differ in artist makeup they share the same goal–to raise awareness about a major global disaster that needs support from all of us. In 1985, Richie and Michael Jackson wrote the song to bring attention to famine and disease in Africa; this time it was made to rally the world to give a helping hand to Haiti that suffered many casualties and was left in ruins after a massive earthquake. If you haven’t done so already, donate what you can to a Haiti relief fund. You can download the song and video for “We Are The World 25 for Haiti” on iTunes. Look after the break for two videos that feature interviews with some of the participating atists.
Check out Dan Black’s music video for the remix to his original single “Symphonies.” The song is DOPE and the video lives up to it by combining retro and futuristic references, making for a visually unique partner for the track. You can download “Symphonies” (Remix) and the music video at iTunes.
Black is a UK-based electronica artist whose first album was released digitally to iTunes this December in the States. UN includes the original recording of “Symphonies” plus eleven other tracks including “U + Me =” and “Alone.” It is expected to be made available in physical form on February 16. Also starting this month Black will begin touring in the U.S. and Canada.