Aliens! Floating in space! It’s got to be the premiere of Katy Perry’s music video for the insanely catchy tune “E.T.” The video is brimmed with sci-fi aesthetics. The video opens with freaky looking alien hovering in zero-gravity space; soon enough it transforms into the pop star. Kanye West pops up throughout the episode, also floating around in a bottomless pit of darkness; his lower row of sparkly teeth light up the scene. Bits and pieces of the song are mixed differently you’ll notice. Perry also throws in a new verse for good measure. Overall the video is just OK since the story it tells is lacking in depth (but listen to the lyrics, was to be expected?); however, Perry put much effort into costume design and makeup and these aspects of the vid were certainly made for impressive eye candy. And now to get this song out of my head…
Tag Archives: Single
Single: Death Cab for Cutie – “You Are a Tourist”
The wait for Death Cab for Cutie’s first album in three years is almost over. Codes and Keys, their seventh studio album to date if you’re counting, will feature 11 new tracks from the indie-pop/alt-rock band and it releases May 31. Frontman and lead vocalist Ben Gibbard told Stereogum that “this a much less guitar-centric album than we’ve ever made before.” The band recently outed the lead single off the album and it’s called “You Are a Tourist.” Listen to it below and quickly you’ll notice the changes they’ve made. This still very much sounds like a DCFC track (Gibbard’s voice echos along with the upbeat tune), and at the same time its message is uplifting, too. Bassist Nick Harmer admits that “the emotional spectrum feels much wider this time…. I think there is a lot more light in this record.” Bet you’re really looking forward to contrasting Codes and Keys with their 2008 melancholic smash Narrow Stairs. For now, hear the single and anticipate the end-of-May release.
Lady Gaga puts together “Country Road Version” of “Born This Way”
Gaga has replaced the electronic energy from the original rendition of “Born This Way” and swapped it out for a country twang vibe. And you want to know something? It’s even better! What do you think?
Music video: Big Sean – “My Last” (Featuring Chris Brown)
It’s been a long time coming for Big Sean. He started his rap career back in 2007 when he released his first mixtape Finally Famous Vol. 1: The Mixtape and signed with Kanye West’s G.O.O.D. Music. Since then he’s dropped two more mixtapes, became a Def Jam Recordings player and now he’s nearly ready to share with the world his first full-length album. Finally Famous: The Album is expected to release May 3. Here’s the first single off the record; it’s called “My Last”, features vocals from Chris Brown, and is produced by No I.D. Download it at iTunes here.
Music video: Sara Bareilles – “Uncharted”
Everybody loves Sara Bareilles. Why? Because she’s brilliantly talented, has a wonderful voice, and she happens to be super cute. However, if you think you’ll be watching her perform in this followup music video to her first Kaleidoscope Heart single “King of Anything” you’re sorely mistaken. Though she does make a blink-and-you’ll-miss-it appearance at the very end of the clip, the video for “Uncharted” stars countless celebrities mouthing the words to the catchy tune. You’ll spot (Professor) Ben Folds, Josh Groban, Pharrell Williams, Maroon 5’s Adam Levine, OneRepublic’s Ryan Tedder, and YouTube lip-syncing sensation Keenan Cahill, among many others. Go on, mash play and sing along!
Music video: Lady Gaga – “Born This Way”
Somehow, someway Lady Gaga manages to top herself when it comes to making music videos. As you would expect, this seven minute tale wraps together the lead single off her second album and a story about rebirth including the opening “Manifesto of Mother Monster” backed by Bernard Herrmann’s Vertigo theme. It gets weird when Gaga starts giving birth to slimy versions of herself, but things start to stabilize when the catchy track begins to play about two-and-a-half minutes in. Grab some popcorn, turn up the volume, and enjoy Mother Monster’s latest and greatest. And FYI–she’s planning to release a second video featuring an acoustic version of the song.
Single: Matthew Morrison – “Summer Rain”
Shortly after teasing his upcoming debut solo album, Glee star Matthew Morrison finally made it official by appearing on Ryan Seacrest’s radio show and playing the record’s lead single “Summer Rain.” You don’t have to over analyze the song’s lyrics to understand that it’s all about having sex on a rooftop in the rain. “Who needs lovers’ lane? Right up on this rooftop, let’s make love in the summer rain,” croons Morrison whose unique but conventional voice might just give him an edge when the album drops later this year.
[Via RyanSeacrest]
Music video: Dr. Dre – “I Need a Doctor” (Featuring Eminem & Skylar Grey)
Dre’s latest music video plays out more like short film, really. The seven-and-a-half-minute video for “I Need a Doctor,” directed by filmmaker Allen Hughes, takes us on a journey through Dre’s career using inserted pictures and video from his past. In the present Dre remains alive on life support as Eminem thanks him for his support over the years. Em raps, “You picked me up, breathed new life in me, I owe my life to you.” A ghostly Skylar Grey sings the hook. Notice all the HP product placement? How could you not. The recently announced Pre 3 and TouchPad make Touch-to-Share magic at the 4:20 mark (how ironic for the man who produced The Chronic).
Music video: Kanye West – “All of the Lights” (Featuring Rihanna & Kid Cudi)
The music video for Kanye West’s All of the Lights has arrived. ‘Ye tapped long-time collaborator Hype Williams to direct, and he also managed to bring featured artists Rihanna (her supple breasts) and Kid Cudi into the mix. The video plays out in a unique manner. It begins in black-and-white, following a little girl walking around a city while the interlude plays behind her. The interlude fades out about one minute in, bright colors frantically flash over the still girl, and the vocals come begin. Before West, Rihanna, and Cudder show up, RiRi belts out the chorus as the corresponding lyrics fill up the screen in various colors, shapes, sizes, and style. After Cudi concludes his bit, the horns come back and we are left without an appearance from Fergie. The chorus sounds again along with the stylized words, and then the video name drops all of the song’s contributors including John Legend, Charlie Wilson, Tony Williams, Alicia Keys, and La Roux. The final fifteen seconds involves a barrage of–what else–flashing lights. If you haven’t picked up My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy yet, what is wrong with you?
Music video: Britney Spears – “Hold It Against Me”
It’s true, I haven’t been the biggest fan of Britney Spears since her 2007 meltdown. But I’ve never seen such anticipation for music video like this before. Spears shot the video, directed by Jonas Åkerlund and choreographed by Brian Friedman, in late January and since then “HIAM” and anything relating to it has been trending on Twitter ever since. People couldn’t stop talking about Britney’s followup to her comeback effort (2008’s Circus). The Max Martin/Dr. Luke dance track is lively and technically sound; Spears’ autotuned voice adds some flavor to it. The music video is odd, to say the least. Though the choreography is enjoyable, Åkerlund decided on too many frantic cuts so it was hard to watch Britney do her thing. I did enjoy the battle of the Britneys sequence, and I’m sure you will too. Check it out above, and download the track right here. Her seventh studio album Femme Fatale releases March 25.
Single: Katy Perry – E.T. (Remix) (Featuring Kanye West)
California Gurls. Teenage Dream. Firework. Still have at least one of these Katy Perry songs stuck in your head at some point every day? Get ready for another extremely catchy-Katy tune to probe your brain. This week the pop star released an official remix of her fourth single off Teenage Dream. It’s called “E.T.” and she managed to attach rap overlord Kanye West to the bass-heavy track. His second dirty verse includes this rap: “Tell me what’s next, alien sex? I’m-a disrobe you, then I’m-a probe you. See, I abducted you so I tell you what to do.” Yeah, you won’t find the smart quips we’re used to hearing from ‘Ye off his smashing record Twisted Fantasy here, but it’s definitely worth a listen. Better you preview it here first, then decide if you want it for keeps. A music video featuring Perry and West is in the works.
[audio: Katy Perry – E.T. (Remix) (Featuring Kanye West).mp3]Single: Lady Gaga – “Born This Way”
After posting online teaser artwork and lyrics to her long-awaited and hyped new single “Born This Way,” Lady Gaga finally catered to her mass following of Little Monsters by releasing the track in full before she performs it live at the Grammys this Sunday. In essence the thumping track is an anthem for the gay community. During the outro she whispers, “Same DNA, but born this way.” It’s certainly a catchy tune that will grow on you over time. Interestingly, the song took ten minutes for Gaga to compose. She told Vogue, “I wrote it in ten f—ing minutes, and it is a completely magical message song. And after I wrote it, the gates just opened, and the songs kept coming. It was like an immaculate conception.” Her second album also titled Born This Way is due out this May. Listen to the song above, download it at iTunes here. Hop after the break to see the tease and final cover art. Continue reading Single: Lady Gaga — “Born This Way”