Today's Pick

It's New Year's Eve, and I would like to pick up the one song that I've missed on my blog, and also the one of songs we couldn't get enough of: "Use Somebody" by the moody, soul-searching rock band, Kings Of Leon. Fans (and bands such as Paramore) made cover after creative cover of this tune on YouTube. In the video for "Use Somebody," the Kings of Leon family mixes a sentimental rock tune with some candid tour footage with performance of their somewhat epic rock shows. It's a breakout hit for the boys from Tennessee.
The U2-esque hit track "Use Somebody" is the fourth track and the second single from the band's fourth studio album "Only by the Night." The best 80s guitar-driven power ballad is a too-cool hipster's cry for comfort. "Use Somebody," which led to what drummer Nathan describes as a "surreal and drunken" trip to the podium to collect an award for "Record of the Year" from Ringo Starr. The single was a huge success in the U.S., where it topped multiple airplay formats, and won three awards at the 2010 Grammies. Frontman Caleb wrote this song on tour in Glasgow, and he credited the writing of the song to the City of Glasgow, and the audience at the SECC on that night. Caleb told the story of the song is about longing for somebody to have a cuddle with while feeling lonely on the road. He said on his band's website: "It's about being far from home."
The Followill boys, who take a wistful view of life on the road in this Sophie Muller-directed clip for "Use Somebody." The video cuts from a close-up of Caleb pouring his heart out to shots of the band playing for live audiences, practicing at rehearsal, hanging out shooting pool, and heating things up between Caleb and one lucky groupie lady (Caleb's model girlfriend Lily Aldridge). The video takes us backstage with the Followill boys and up close with Caleb, who looks like he's been up all night crying. There are brief makeout scenes too, and maybe the pro shot concert footage will convince you to leave the digicam at home if you see these guys live. The video definitely does the tune justice.
The brothers, Caleb, Nathan, Jared, and Matthew Followill continue to follow their own muse and refuse to play it safe is especially impressive coming as they are on the heels of Kings of Leon's most successful album to date, "Only By The Night," which catapulted the band into the mainstream. Any other band would feel pressure going into the studio, but Kings of Leon aren't like any other band. "The funny thing is that 'Only by the Night' was the first album we approached with the attitude of not trying to make a popular record," Nathan says. Truth be told, there isn't very much going on beneath the stadium rock bluster, but Kings of Leon are doing the stadium rock bluster so well at the moment that few are likely to care.

After two weeks of wrangling, protesting and explaining, 30 Seconds to Mars finally unveiled the "full-length explicit director's cut" (as frontman Jared Leto put it) of their epic "Hurricane" video, which, oddly enough, ended up being two seconds shorter than the version that premiered on MTV a month ago. The original uncensored video was banned by MTV and several other TV channels, due to heavy censorship. The new, 13-minute clip for "Hurricane" aims to be more like a blockbuster movie than a music video, an arty, provocative sci-fi epic, with cinematic-style titles, subtitles, and chapters, and the Los Angeles based rock band's one-note, anthemic rock acting as its score.
"Hurricane" is one of tracks from 30 Seconds to Mars's newest third studio album "This Is War." Leto wrote this piano driven ballad in Berlin in the winter in 2007. He said. "It was winter, it was getting dark at like 3:30 in the afternoon, and it could go either way. It could be incredibly comforting or incredibly depressing. Thankfully, it was a little bit of both. It was inspiring nonetheless." Lead guitarist Tomo commented on this song: "It's dark and there's not much guitar on it, other than some acoustic in the beginning and a little bit in the chorus. Other than that, it's all keyboards. But that's cool. We're not some egotistical rock band that has to dazzle everybody with our shred skills. We just want to do what's right for the song."
The Leto-directed video was shot in New York. Leto described its concept to MTV News: "It's a surrealistic nightmare dream-fantasy through the desolate empty streets of New York City at night," he said. "There's no people, there's no cars and you see the band as we encounter some fears and some fetishes, a series of challenges. It's a really ambitious, really cinematic short film." Leto never goes halfway. That's why the epic video sometimes feels like a summer blockbuster squished down into a 13-minute box. Part "Eyes Wide Shut" fetish flick, part action movie and all a bit confusing, the video that director Leto himself has been promising will be "very sexual," violent and a "surrealistic nightmare dream-fantasy" is all those things and more. Plus a lot of things we can't even really get into here.
Over 13 minutes, the censored version of mini-movie is broken into three chapters: Birth, Life, and Death, It follows the three members of 30 Seconds to Mars through a dark and twisted thriller set in a nearly empty New York City. Full of haunting, surreal images of men in masks and woman in bondage gear, the video was dark enough to warrant a warning during the intro that some of the scenes may be offensive to some viewers. All disturbing psychoanalysis aside, 'Hurricane' is one of the most impressive videos in years.

American rock band Stone Sour has now officially unveiled their video for its current track "Hesitate" just before the Christmas holiday through AOL Music, following several months of post-production work. The the heart-wrenching opus that's sure to garner repeated plays. "Hesitate" is the latest single from Stone Sour's third studio effort, "Audio Secrecy." The album has been landing in top 10 lists far and wide, and in taking note, Amazon is offering digital copies for only $5 for this month.
For as much as Stone Sour hit the volume button and let loose with feelings of anger, the three time Grammy Award-nominated band, from Des Moines, Iowa since 2006, also goes for the heart strings at times. "Hesitate" is one such song that's both melodic and melancholic with orchestral strings and a soaring chorus. Frontman Corey Taylor called it "one of the hardest to put together." From an ember of hope to the growing fire that ends a relationship, this stop-motion video captured the struggling tale of "Hesitate."
For such a deeply personal, touching song, the band shot the clip back on September 20 in Los Angeles with director Paul Brown. With stunning special effects and the expert direction of Brown, the video sees the despairing demise of a relationship, and a window into Taylor's life. Taylor told us this one was just as challenging: "It's a very visual video -- a lot of CG, a lot of post work, and it's just been a long haul. There's been a lot of work that we've had to do on it, but it is so...to me it's up there with 'Through Glass.' Like, it's really, it's really good."
Stone Sour is giving members of its fan club, the Dead Generation, an exclusive glimpse into the evolution of "Audio Secrecy." In a video interview detailing each track on "Audio Secrecy," Taylor explained the work that went into recording the track. "I wrote that song about two years ago and it's a different kind of vibe for what people would normally know from me, but at the same time it's a fantastic tune." He also said that "Hesitate" is one of the standout tracks on "Audio Secrecy," for him. "It's a bittersweet song," he said. "It's about letting go of something that you want with all your heart that you know is just gonna do nothing but damage to you. And it takes a special kind of heart and a special kind of courage to do that. And not a lot of people have that kind of courage. They would rather sit in a relationship for years and wallow in it because they're afraid of being alone. And this is about having the courage to say, 'You know what, I'm getting away. I'm gonna be on my own, and I'm gonna be OK.' And those first few steps are the worst, but once you get each foot in front of the other, it's a lot easier."

The David Wax Museum has premiered a music video on NPR's All Songs Considered blog for their first single, "Born With A Broken Heart" from the band's third album "Everything is Saved," is currently slotted for a February 3rd release. There's no way that you can get away without having a skip in your step after listening to "Born With A Broken Heart." The flamenco style hand clapping intro is a perfect start and even with the topic of being born broken hearted, the Mexican-infused folk track exudes a eminence of hope.
Tagged as "one of Boston's hottest new bands" by The Boston Globe, With its heart-wrenching harmonies, poignant lyrics, The David Wax Museum fuses exuberant Mexican roots music with rockin' country folk reminiscent of old school Jayhawks and early Wilco. Originally from Columbia, Missouri, the band is now based on Boston. The David Wax Museum masterfully blends traditional Irish, classical, and old-time folk with traditional Mexican and American folk/country, folk and rock, creating an utterly unique Mexo-Americana aesthetic songs that bring audiences to their feet with Latin rhythms, call-and-response hollering, and donkey jawbone rattling.
The video for "Born With A Broken Heart," was directed by Dina Rudick, who gave us some background about the thought process behind the shoot: "We didn't want to 'interpret' the song with our music video or overpower its meaning with a heavy-handed concept, but we also weren't interested in a folksy-cool collage of imagery set to a soundtrack. The video has a loose narrative and employes several symbolic through-lines, but we fuzzed out any hard lines of 'definite' meaning so that the video could embody the song: soulful and spunky while remaining lighthearted."
This is one infectious band. Band members David Wax and Suz Slezak are inspired by the folk music of Mexico. Taking about those influences and how they put this video together, Slezak said "It was barely 40 degrees when we climbed into the back of the red pickup truck, teeth chattering, to film our first music video. With a backdrop of perfect New England foliage, we spent two chilly days from dawn to dusk singing our hearts out in a variety of locales." Wax added "Filming part of the music video in the Boston subway station brought me back full-circle to the beginning of my Boston music career. Shortly after giving up on performing in the subways, I started to translate Mexican folk songs into English and began composing on my Mexican guitars, using the rhythms and song structures I had learned in Mexico. Over time, I built up a catalog of Mexo-Americana songs. 'Born With a Broken Heart' is one of those." This video will certain to get your toes-a-tapping!

One of my favorite discoveries of 2011 was undoubtedly Winnipeg-based group Ash Koley. The band just released a new music video for their second single "Brighter At Night," in support of their debut mini album "Inventions," which features eight original tracks, and available now. These eight tracks were selected for "Inventions" from scores of songs written over the past five years because they truly depict their style and character.
Don't be fooled by the eponymous nature of the name. Ash Koley is a Canadian New Wave/alternative pop band from Winnipeg consists of Ashley Michelle Koley (lead singer), after whom the band is named, and her buddy Phil Deschambault (guitar, keyboard). Their sound is an amalgamation of diverse influences, their songs sketch together diverse melodies and lyrics, drawing on cross-generational influences from Abba to the Eurythmics, and from Peter Gabriel to Radiohead. The result is a band that is a full embodiment of what they each bring to the duo – quirky charm, and upbeat classic pop music.
The catchy and sunny "Brighter At Night" opens the CD sounding like something Blondie would do. A band that has this much charisma can make the night brighter and better than ever before. This song is poppy and brings us more clever melody and lyrics than before. The song has a moderate tempo, pianos, and a great vocalist to go with it all. The Canadian pop-duo really brings it together with her strong and present voice. The video, shot in Vancouver, is fun to watch too. The dancing is fun to watch because I can't recall a video that uses flash lights in its choreography. The video is best described as a romantic version of the night with flashlights and group dynamics. It's also a great video to watch about what to do to have fun when there is a power outage. "Brighter at Night," is an energy-packed trip into the world of night and its beauty.
With "Inventions," they have established themselves as one of the most exciting bands of this new decade. "For us, creating music is like building little inventions. Every song we write comes from an idea we then craft, construct and design into something we both fall in love with," said Koley of the album title. Inventing doesn't stop at songwriting for this Winnipeg twosome. "Each song has a different personality and reflects those moments we were in when we wrote them. We feel the tracks selected for 'Inventions' give a perfect introduction to Ash Koley," said Deschambault. All the tracks are powerful, served by upbeat melodies and poetic lyrics, and the band's trademark: Koley's haunting voice. In a few words, the album is pure fun and optimism!

Keyshia Cole premieres the new video for "Long Way Down," the second single off of her new fourth album "Calling All Hearts," which just came out this week. It's the follow-up to her first three albums, all platinum-sellers that had multiple R&B hits. Since 2005, powerful, passionate and on the cutting edge of contemporary R&B, Hip-Hop and Soul, four-time Grammy nominee, Cole, now 29, has secured her spot in the R&B world, releasing hit songs about heartache and love lapses that were reminiscent of Mary J. Blige. Listen to those luring pain-soaked vocals and it's no secret why so many men are dying to break her heart and put it back together again.
But this time around, Cole's lead single "I Ain't Thru" with Nicki Minaj, has not created a buzz for the singer as it has done in the past. Cole says she made the decision to release the song, even though her record label disagreed. "The label didn't want to drop the record because they knew that people wanted a more intense, soulful record from me about love, I just think that people expect me to be, you know, an artist that sings about just love. But I'm always growing as an artist and I have to feed my artistry," she said. So on "Calling All Hearts," Cole says she's returning to her signature style, while adding a "grown woman" twist at the same time.
I read local newspaper two days about her, titled "Oakland's Keyshia Cole doesn't have to be No.1." Cole is at her best when she's slugging. Cole's journey, from the mean streets of Oakland and an adopted family to achieving her dreams as a singer-songwriter, is one of today's truly extraordinary and inspirational success stories. Need a last minute Christmas gift? Thеn consider Cole's "Calling All Hearts," among 14 songs, is an emotional manifesto about life and love in our modern world. Cole is following up the song with "Long Way Down," which she says people seem to like because of its mid-tempo groove and focus on love, аnd delight іn the smooth vocals οf thіѕ four-time Grammy nominee.
Just when she thought she was through with love, a broken-hearted Cole finds the one. "Long Way Down" has more of a gritty, hip-hop lean to it, with a head-knocking beat and the same type of love dilemma's that Cole faced on her debut "The Way It Is." The song, about being faced with the choice between giving up on love or taking a chance, the R&B songstress dedicates the piano-driven ballad to the love of her life, with her fiancee, NBA star Daniel Gibson playing the role of her love interest in the clip. "Just when I said that I was through with love," Cole belts on the pre-chorus, "there he was, telling me he saw my S.O.S." It's another winner for the urban diva, who is still singing about her life exactly "the way it is" with the same honesty and rawness that she exploded onto the scene with five years ago.

In what could be an early Christmas present for Enrique Iglesias fans, the Spanish pop singer is comeback continues bringing you the premiere of a brand new video for his edgy new dance track "Tonight (I'm Lovin' You)," which also features DJ Frank E and rap star Ludacris. The Latin star turns up the heat big time with the newly-released video. Is Iglesias' new song too explicit? It seems that every year, American pop culture continues to push the envelope of what is acceptable in society, and 2010 was no different.
Following up his 2010 hit "I Like It", the upbeat dance track "Tonight" in which he sings about falling in love with a different woman every night, is the fifth song of the singer's 9th studio album, "Euphoria." Aol Radio Blog said that the song "aims directly for the dance floor with a galloping, club-ready dance beat, along with an insistent, heavily synthesized keyboard zipping all over the place. Iglesias's slightly processed vocals drip with confidence, and depending on which version you hear, a healthy dose of profanity as he demands some loving." Fox News Latino said "With the star power Iglesias brings to the table and a very danceable beat accompanying the track, it is conceivable that the clean version would be a hit in it's own right, but add one of the heaviest cuss words in the English language, it is basically club ready."
The Spanish singer, who is better known as a romantic crooner - much like the apple tree he didn't fall far away from, seems to have strayed a bit from his usual charismatic self, and trying hard to amp up a sexual image that doesn't really become him, being a newlywed and all. He is one of the most successful Spanish recording artists of all time known for his handsome good looks and romantic song lyrics. So Iglesias is sure not to disappoint with his newly released music which shows the star in various compromising positions with a string of attractive women.
The video for the song was filmed early this month in Los Cabos, Mexico and Los Angeles. Iglesias explains that it's "a little more cinematic, a little more of a long story." The entertainment portal of DesiHits said that "all of Iglesias's videos have been hot, but "Tonight (I'm Lovin' You)" takes the crown as it is quite a provocative clip." Revamping himself from a hopeless romantic into a seductive playboy in this sexy new video, filled with promiscuous women and racy sex scenes, the Spanish heartthrob finds himself getting groped by several girls and also filmed jetting off on a private plane to a luxury location where he is seduced by a blonde beauty at a casino. Meanwhile, Ludacris sits in the back of a limousine with a host of beautiful women in this cleaner version video. *Warning: The following video contains explicit content!

Music video premiere for "Reluctance" by Nashville's Keegan DeWitt, along with commentary on the video's theme by director Will Holland, and an explanation of how the track developed from DeWitt, himself. "Reluctance" is the second of two videos to come in support of DeWitt's most recent limited edition "Two Hearts/Reluctance 7-inch" release, following dance-inflected lead single, "Two Hearts" which recalls Phoenix's penchant for indelibly warm, taut guitar pop, while B-side "Reluctance" is by no means indicative of any sort of inferiority to the lead single however, is a shimmering, reverb-drenched duet with Isaaca Byrd of The Bridges, who plays in his live band. A mutual rawness, or pluck, permeates both songs, which finds DeWitt again expanding his sound. As if DeWitt happened upon a confidence this year that matches his ambition.
DeWitt, singer-songwriter and film composer, originally hails from Oregon. His career has taken him from Brooklyn to Paris to Nashville. As a songwriter, DeWitt has shown in just a few years a vitality missing from much of what typically percolates out of Nashville. But it wasn't just the familiarity of his voice or the quality of his compositions that impressed his growing fan base and Paste, the latter of which dubbed DeWitt this year with its "Best of What's Next" tag. DeWitt also expressed a literary brio in his lyrics that didn't come off as contrived or overly highbrow. Instead, they painted a picture of a young man just as lovesick as his friends, but capable of articulating those fixations more thoughtfully than most.
When asked about the development for "Reluctance," DeWitt explained via email that the song had been with him for quite some time before being released, "'Reluctance' is a song I had for awhile, and I had been keeping it set aside from everything. Initially I only had a few small bits of the verse but something about that very first melodic phrase, 'I know I'm gonna have a hard time with you.' It really struck me and felt really tender towards the song. It took me about a year of holding onto it before I finally sat down to finish it." Indeed, it's not that these songs are necessarily more accomplished than anything on Islands or Nothing Shows. Rather, they herald the sound of a writer growing into his own, leveraging the rich framework of his past to inform the inspired promise of his future. Given his intriguing story, it'd be a shame if it were any other way.
The director Holland explained in an email: "I essentially loved the idea of how we always overly romanticize two major events between a couple. The first time they meet and the first time they kiss." The video complements the song's structure as it carefully follows a number of couples as a special moment develops for each. "I wanted to allow a viewer to witness small interactions between several couples that lead to an immediate pay off of an intimate moment. The video is, in essence, slowly paced. But it is also rewarding in the sense that you view small moments of interaction that are very real that end in a dramatized version of where we would all like to be at some point."

In a unique partnership, Estonian singer/provocateur Kerli and AOL have teamed up to debut her infectious electro-pop track "Army Of Love," throughout the month of December. Kerli has just completed her transformation from creepy art-pop chick to sexy pop princess with the release of her new video and is ready to show her "moon children" clip, self-described style of "bubble goth," which shows the making of her latest masterpiece. The video is 'just like her others' quite the fantasy trip, but also has some more realistic scenes.
"Army of Love" is the first taste from Kerli's upcoming, Spring 2011 as-yet untitled sophomore album. The dancey tune is rooted in an infectious electronic beat, and is packed full with all the electropop goodness and positive lyrical themes that have become a potent force on the Billboard charts as of late. Kerli's ethereal vocals act as icing on the proverbial cake. "'Army of Love' is the kind of army that uses integrity love and unity as weapons, and as we picked some super grimy locations to represent the restriction, I really wanted the characters to be completely magical and represent faith," Kerli says of the video concept. "You know, like little beacons of light in the darkness." Kerli throws a White Party to rival Diddy's annual bash, and decked out in all white, the talented singer and her moon children minion kick off a righteous outdoor assembly that doubles as the hottest rave to hit Middle Earth.
The video was filmed in Kerli's hometown of Estonia by Baltic director Kaimar Kukk during early November. According to the singer, "This video sets the undertone of my entire new album. The theme for the video is 'army of love,' so I definitely wanted to play up the army concept," she explains. "But I didn't want it to be a regular army, because 'Army of Love' stands for the invasion of creativity and beauty, so I decided to take everything army and make the colors into white and pastel colors." Her new video has given fans an inside glimpse of the singer's creative process, her costumes and her native region. Kerli stated, "This song and video really set the tone for my new album. I am very happy that I can launch it with such a strong partnership with AOL and reach so many people. I hope that the message - creating an Army of Love that will bring Integrity, Love and Unity into the world - will inspire young people in all areas of their lives."
Hailing from Elva, a tiny, then-Soviet occupied town of 5,000 people in the forest, in Estonia, Kerli always dreamed she would leave and experience the world and she has! Her musical journey took her to the Baltics where she won an American Idol-style talent competition at 14, which ultimately led to her signing at Island Records. She has definitely taken a different musical route this time around, incorporating an infectious electronic beat! What hasn't changed, is Kerli's beautiful lyricism. Her songs always have meaning behind them, because she gives herself whole heartedly to her creative process. Kerli is a unique artist, with a talent like no other.

Ashley Arrison is back with the music video for her latest single "Caged Bird," one of the most thematically and lyrically intense cuts off her debut full-length album, "Hearts on Parade," were created from a love of well-crafted country lyrics and pop melodies, as it addresses an abusive love. Arrison sings from a place of honesty and vulnerability against the backdrop of a stark, pounding piano, which is sure to send chills down your spine.
Arrison's songwriting, lyrical delivery, and heartfelt honesty shine through all of her work and provide a narrative everyone can relate to. Often teased by friends for slow, depressingly-fantastic, slit-your-wrist type songs, Arrison ventures out of her comfort zone on her debut album as she effectively plays with tempos. But let's not get up-tempo confused with feel-good, happy songs by any means. Does she have your attention yet? The intensely personal "Caged Bird," which left the crowd speechless. There's also the equally as heavy, "Caged Bird," a chill-inducing tale of an abusive love. The contrast of Arrison's sweet vocal tone against a stark piano is only magnified by a beautifully eerie string section.
Arrison's musical destiny was framed by the rich and diverse musical heritage that existed in her childhood homes of Memphis and Nashville, Tennessee. Her life experiences set the compass for her musical expression found on "Hearts On Parade," which is a complete package of gorgeous vocals and a catalog of songs just waiting to be heard and cherished. It plays like a musical journal thanks to mixture of autobiographical elements and imaginative lyrics in each song that are representative of the ups and downs Arrison has faced in life, making the album truly authentic and easy to relate to on multiple levels. Now this sweet southern songstress is launching her own career, touching lives with her gift of heartfelt melodies and stirring lyrics.
The music video, directed by Weiss Eubanks, opens with the singer in a dark, empty room. As the song kicks in, flashes of a girl running in a white dress fly across the screen, interspersed with Arrison in various settings. As the video unfolds, you learn that she is the girl in the white dress trying to flee the scene. The cinematography is stunning and captures the essence of the story - especially as the time lapse kicks in to match the dizzying effect of the song's string section. Check out the full video after the jump.

Tiffany Giardina has a new music video out for her song called "I'm Not Crazy," is now featuring on the Radio Disney's Music Mailbag. The video was shot in New York City during Thanksgiving break. Teen popper kind of sound and visuals here. It is so nice to see a truthful and universal song for everybody. "I'm Not Crazy" is really something we all feel at one point and they played that out well in this video.
Giardina has come a long way since the Off-Broadway roles and nationally televised commercials that brought her into the entertainment industry at the age of 5. At 14, Giardina released her debut full-length album "No Average Angel" and achieved immediate success on Billboard's charts. A New Yorker for life, Giardina now spends much of her time in New York City where she continues to write and record new music with top producers in the industry. After attending Katonah-Lewisboro schools through the ninth grade, Giardina spent the last two years being homeschooled, which gave her the flexibility to write, record and perform her music.
Now 17, Giardina is ready to make her mark on the scene with her highly anticipated debut album "No Average Angel." She also recorded the lead track to Mattel's new Barbie movie "A Fashion Fairytale;" two songs "Hurry Up and Save Me" and "No Average Angel" in the Selena Gomez film "Another Cinderella Story," as well as the power-ballad "Shine" can be found on Disney's "Tinkerbelle" soundtrack. On her recently released 7-track EP entitled "Paper Made Hearts," is a clear progression from her earlier work, showcasing a growth in talent and musicianship.
It's hardly surprising to the rest of us, after looking at her accomplishments - most of them realized through her take-charge approach toward a future in music. Now 17-year-old Giardina is already a veteran stage performer, who is grateful for everything she has accomplished in his young life and is still looking to build on these results. Her unique pop/rock sound is complemented by her well-known angelic singing style. Giardina has big plans. She will graduates from high school this month and is headed to Los Angeles, for the TV pilot season, having spent the past year honing her acting skills. But she's not giving up on singing, she said. "Performing my music-that's who I am."

Nelly takes us through an emotional landscape in his brand new video for his acoustic-leaning new hit single, "Just a Dream," showing the world a sensitive and vulnerable side that many never knew. "Just a Dream," the lead single comes from Nelly's recently released sixth studio "Nelly 5.0" album, has thrust the rapper back to the top of the charts. No matter how hard Nelly tries, he just can not get a hold of his love interest, played by Vampire Diaries actress/singer Katerina Graham.
Nelly told MTV News that the R&B/hip hop tune nearly didn't make it onto the record when he and Jonsin were working on music together for 5.0. The 36-year-old Grammy Awards winner debuted this string-heavy number during a free concert at Kiener Plaza in St Louis on July 29. He was helping to promote the city's bid for the 2012 Democratic National Convention. Nelly discussed the song's success with Billboard magazine: "When I did the song, I knew I had something; I loved the strings in it. As an artist, you get those feelings, like when I did 'Dilemma' [with Kelly Rowland] and 'Over and Over' [with Tim McGraw]. Me, Jim and Rico... we just felt it."
"My guess is most pop fans will be singing along well before the end of 'Just a Dream' and will want to hear it again". By the time Nelly gets around to singing, "If you ever loved somebody put your hands up", Nelly told Carbonated.TV that the reason his single is connecting with people is because of the "relatable" subject matter-love. "I think that the way the whole song plays out, with the beat and the lyrics, I think it comes together in the sense of it's almost a timeless song." However, the STL rapper denied reports that the song was dedicated to his former flame Ashanti.
The Sanji-directed video was shot at Playa del Rey, Los Angeles. Though he typically makes pretty literal videos, Nelly has taken a more artsy turn and goes sky high with the visual for "Just a Dream." In the "dreamy" black and white slow motion clip, laid-back Nelly takes a walk alone on the beach, thinking about a stunningly beautiful woman he couldn't commit to. As a house, wedding ring, and car float around him, he recalls the good times with her. And then it goes south. The house crumbles while the car and ring burn. And just like the movie, there's an unclear conclusion. Nelly's love drowns in the ocean, refusing his attempts to save her. But just before we see her fade completely, Nelly wakes up in his car. Was it all "Just a Dream?"

The up-and-coming artist Katie Costello has out a music video for "How Do We Know?" the first single off her latest five song EP, "The City In Me." Produced by multi-instrumentalist David Lamoureux, the songs explore the uncertainty, excitement, and feelings of displacement that accompany leaving one home to find another. On the day after last Christmas, Los Angeles native Costello packed up her life and moved across the country to New York City. The product of her first year in the city is the charming and captivating "The City In Me," is a solid collection of tunes that rewards repeated listening. The melodies, as well as the sentiments expressed in the lyrics, sink in deeper over time, these songs reinforce her talent.
As musicians and music-listeners alike venture into a creative climate in which technological elements often define an artist's sonic and visual identity, Costello emerges as a unique & timeless example of an authentic artisan shinning amidst the frequently clouded backdrop of modernity. Almost as if her spirit has been frozen in another day and age, her perspective is one that far exceeds her surprisingly young age. She writes about the human condition – Our ever present desire to find peace, identity, home, and understanding.
"How Do We Know?" closes the set, with Costello musing that perhaps she hasn't been the "best boss" of herself. She asks some tough, maybe unanswerable, questions about how one can determine if things are working out. Her conclusion is simple but true: what's done is done, but we never stop dwelling on the past. In another ear-catching twist, the skeletal arrangement is fleshed out with a full band for its final minute and a half, complete with dirgelike backing vocals. The track shows Costello's vocal range and passion, exhibiting a wisdom that belies her mere 19 years. The vocal "oohs" and "ahhs" in the background harmonize perfectly with Costello's sound. The last verse's key change makes the song the most memorable on the EP.
It takes quite a lyricist to make me stop, think, and dig apart a song's words. The lyrics are simple, wise, witty, and honest as they are delivered through her innocent voice. A mere 19 years of age, her lyrics explore symbolic despondency and thought-provoking lines that you would think you would find in a proverbial handbook. Her infectious voice and honesty make for a fresh sound that is inviting and never tiresome. The Lyrics and Melodies are a Heartful Combination of Soul, and Mind. They are genuine and real. Costello has the pipes of your favorite studio-polished pop star, but also boasts an added bonus: an intellectual depth and an eye for insight that translates your world into her poetic, lyrical songs. If you thought you didn't like poetry, you'll be surprised how catchy it sounds when Costello sings.

Jamie Foxx has teamed up with Canadian hip-hop phenom and GQ's Breakout of the Year, Drake, debuted an intimate video on BET for their new single, "Fall For Your Type," the first single taken from Academy Award winning actor and Grammy award winning R&B singer's upcoming fourth imminent album "Best Night of My Life," which hits shelves December 21 via J Records. The clip showcases Foxx going through the ups and downs in his relationship.
Monday was Foxx's 43rd birthday, and he celebrated it on Ellen with a performance of this new track, "Fall for Your Type." This smooth, down-tempo ballad with a deep/serious message, driven by surprisingly thundering drums. The song finds Foxx trying to convince himself that he has found the right girl as he always falls for that particular type. The Canadian rapper also penned this track, and he is his usual top-notch self and spits a killer verse on the track. Foxx can rock a party jam like its his job, but the man can also unleash a soulful ballad. The multi-talented Foxx is singing to your soul as he croons about falling for a certain "type" of person. We all have our preferences but Foxx puts those feelings to a song that I'm sure we all can relate to.
Foxx tries to figure out why he keeps failing for the same type of hoes in his new video. Director Chris Robinson gives us a glimpse of how a beautiful woman can gain suspicion and proceed to tear her lover's life up. The concept's been executed before but maybe not to this degree. With Foxx attempting to have the best night of his life, he plays the role of the man who has to question whether or not to bring her back after she destroyed most of his furniture and possessions.
The clip depicts the singer's relationship gone wrong which finds its dramatic peak as he falls down a window. The sensual video features Foxx being intimate with a beautiful woman, played by model Jessica Burciaga, and struggling with his love for her at the same time. Foxx is literally falling for Burciaga, while Drake just stands there and sings. The video is also featured some cool effects, involving some dramatic scenes of Foxx falling out of a building in slow motion and glass breaking, a flawless combination that goes perfectly matches with the moody atmospherics of the ballad's theme. The result is very enticing and looks like a mini-movie. This should help push the song higher on the charts.

"American Idol" runner-up Crystal Bowersox has just made an unexpected comeback with a music video for "Farmer's Daughter." This emotional intimate tune is the title track and first single off 25-year-old Ohio native's just released hard-fought debut album Tuesday, and there couldn't be a better visual for such a powerful song. Take a brief look at the 'healing circle' Bowersox has gone through in her life before becoming of who she is now, and it delivers "a passionate, soulful combo of country, blues, rock and R&B." Instead of presenting herself as the usual talented lump of clay, ready for molding, Bowersox exuded a take-it-or-leave-it confidence.
Unlike most other 'Idol' debut records, the disc features several songs that Bowersox wrote during her pre-Idol days, including this one. The personal and autobiographical song tells of Bowersox's difficult upbringing and tackles alcoholism and child abuse. The song "is an angry song to my mom, but she knows that I love her." Bowersox said that her mother wasn't thrilled that her daughter wanted the song to be her first single but, "eventually, she'll be okay with it. At the end, it comes to a resolution of, I guess, my acceptance of my mother and being a mother, It ends where I am today." She added "It's a pretty dark song about my relationship with my mother and dealing with her fits of alcoholism and physical violence. People don't really want to talk about that, but too many people experience that kind of thing to not talk about it. I see it as a healing song. I love my mother, and we have a pretty good relationship now."
"Farmer's Daughter" is a painful recollection of child abuse. However, Bowersox says she hopes the severity of the track will draw attention to the topic. "The subject matter is pretty heavy, but it's honest," she said. "There are plenty of people out there dealing right now with what I dealt with as a kid. Sadly, a lot of people can relate to it, and it's going to strike a chord. A lot of my youth was very dark and ugly. But I don't see 'Farmer's Daughter' as a dark song, because for me it was healing. All of the emotion in that song is no longer inside of me."
The Meiert Avis-directed video that actually tells a coherent story, and will depict a "healing cycle of anger/healing/forgiveness" she has gone through. Bowersox said during an interview about the video set, "It starts with a little girl, who I guess is symbolically me, her mother is pushing her away and they go through the whole video and these obstacles and things." The video shows Bowersox performing the song in a room, while flashbacks of a young Bowersox leaving her mother with a piece of her sweater in tow are placed in between. The metaphor of the unraveling sweater slowly unravels as Bowersox walks through the different stages of the song, and in turn, the different stages of her life, the final shots of her new family-full circle and healed. The video tells a powerful story.

Sara Evans has been crafting empowered ballads and pop gems since 1997, and was one of the few traditional-styled singers to emerge from Nashville, the return tune, "A Little Bit Stronger" is no different. Both uplifting and made with the same pop powers that have made her a favorite for over a decade, Co-written by Lady Antebellum's Hillary Scott, the mid-tempo Country ballad is the first single off Evans' upcoming sixth album, "Stronger," which will be released on March 8, 2011. The album is expected to signify a return to form for the 39-year-old Missouri native who hasn't released an album since 2005. The song also features on the soundtrack for the 2010 movie "Country Strong."
"A Little Bit Stronger" finds Evans using her soaring alto to wring every bit of emotion out of the lyrics that chronicle a woman's ability to move on after a long relationship ends. It may recall many of the same themes as the Keith Anderson hit "I Still Miss You," and the tone recalls the same sorrow and heartache, and at the same time brings to mind the same growing and moving on. The song is about the traces or a relationship that linger after the relationship has ended, and chronicle how the main character steadily moves on and grows stronger in the face of those reminders.
The video was directed by Peter Zavadil and shot on August 9 in Nashville. It finds a distraught Evans performing the song in various locations. She confesses in the song's video, "It's only been a week since he left, and it feels like it's been forever," holding back tears. Throughout the clip, scenes of her recording a video blog are included in which Evans notes that she's getting stronger with each passing day. "Everybody's gone through some sort of heartbreak, whether it's losing someone to death or just breaking up with somebody that you were in love with. So the song just talks about getting stronger, and that's the attitude that you have to have." Evans said.
Playing on themes common in Evans' music, "A Little Bit Stronger" showcases the vocals that have always defined the singer's career, and the obvious passion and emotion that have lined her songs and albums for the past 13 years. The song builds in succeeding verses and features a emotive piano that draws out an authentic, organic vocal behind Evans' well known high notes. The singing is powerful and given the nuanced passion of the vocal, there's no doubt that she's lived this song at some point in her life and now is "a little bit stronger," that's what ends up making this a fantastic 'come back' single and one that country radio cannot possibly ignore. Like a fine wine, age has matured the singer's sound and voice with a warm Southern comfort, and Evans is still capable of the same pop gems that defined the early 2000s during her career.

Move over Justin Bieber, there's a new guy in town called Greyson Chance, who made a name for himself by covering Lady Gaga's "Paparazzi" in April, over 34 million people, the third most viewed video of the year on YouTube, and landing the first spot immediately on Ellen DeGeneres' record label, Chance's star is born. The 13-year old musical prodigy from Oklahoma continues to impress, he's now ready to release his first-ever music video, for "Waiting Outside the Lines," the first single from his three-song debut EP is expected early 2011. "The 'Waiting Outside the Lines' video takes you on a journey. I had so much fun working on it and am really excited to share it with my fans!" said Chance, who's hoping it gets just as many views as his star-making clip.
"The song comes from the heart and I hope and pray that my fans can use it to 'escape' from all the pressures of life. I can't wait for everyone to take this journey with me," Chance said about the song on Ryan Seacrest's radio show. For starters, Chance moves away from bubble gum pop from his first single, which will hopefully help anyone who is in some sort of trouble find the strength to move on. There's more to life that this, he promises. Given how talented he is and how beautifully he puts it in song, it's impossible not to believe him.
Chance gets mobbed by a group of adoring female fans before ending up in an empty room soaking wet under the rain in his new music video, which was directed by Sanaa Hamri, who explained what he wanted the video to mean. "With 'Waiting Outside the Lines,' I heard and saw Greyson and the piano in different environments," he said." The metaphor of this video is how we're all transported when we hear music. The video starts off in a road and then it transforms into a rooftop and then onto a sidewalk and then into the middle of the rain. I like to call it a mini-film. The whole concept is saying that everything in the world can come down on you, but you're still gonna break through," he explained to MTV News from the video's set. "Especially when the rain comes down, I'm letting it pour on me and I don't care, but in the end, I'm bone-dry and I'm getting through my problem."
All the scenes in video represent the incredible journey taking chances can take the young star. We think he knows a little bit about taking chances. The video also features a piano with words scribbled all over it, and Chance said he was inspired by a certain punk band with a flame-haired lead singer for the design. "I was inspired by the Riot album cover by Paramore, with the different words and then the red word that said 'Riot,' " he explained. "And I said, 'That's so cool. I wonder if I can make a piano like that?' So now we actually have the piano with all the different words, and then I've always dreamed of having an inverted piano with black keys and white sharps and flats, so we have that too. It's been really cool. I'm so glad it's there."

Rocky Loves Emily premiered music video on AOL.com for their new single, "Clueless," which can be found on the Detroit rockers' just-released EP "American Dream." Based on the title of the song, you might expect an Alicia Silverstone or Paul Rudd cameo in this brand-new video, "Clueless," by pop-punk/new wave band Rocky Loves Emily. But for as much as we love Cher and the rest of the gang from the '90s teen comedy, it's probably best that the Detroit six-piece kept the cultural references a little more contemporary.
The pop-rock group, who hail from a suburb of Detroit, has lived their vision every day since the band formed in early 2009. Because of their hard-working attitude and the band's creative ideas, all five tracks on the EP are accessible, lively and fun, inspired by good-time rock 'n' roll and even a little bit of country. They are uniformly catchy and the EP is enjoyable throughout so there's really no sense complaining. If it works, it works. And for the most part, it works. The standout track on the EP was the title track "American Dream." Unlike the band's first single "Clueless," which I found largely forgettable, this song really knocked it out of the park and started the EP off on a high note. All this fueled the group's mission to convey their new definition of what the American dream can mean.
"The inspiration behind the 'Clueless' video was popular TV shows like 'American Idol' and 'Making the Band,'" frontman Brandon Ellis tells us. "We thought it would be fun to do a similar idea about an 'open audition' to be the lead singer of Rocky Loves Emilyy. We hope you love it!" The video shows the band as a panel of judges, watching all walks of life come in for the audition. From biker dudes to beauty queens, it seems like Rocky Loves Emily has a tough task to tackle. It's quite the human tapestry. Then, the perfect candidate walks in and truly gets to live out a dream, just as the title of the band's new EP suggests.
"Our record portrays that just because you live in America, doesn't necessarily mean that 'the' American dream has to be your American dream." Brandon adds. "We all know that everyone has a specific dream in their heart. For instance, our dream is tour nonstop and meet as many people as possible all while trying to be sincere in what our fans are doing. The cool thing is, that's just our dream. Your dream is something awesome and unique." What is the American dream? For Rocky Loves Emily that dream isn't a white picket fence and a nine-to-five job. For them, the dream is something unique to each person, something that can only be defined from within. For Rocky Loves Emily, the American dream is traveling around the country in a beat-up van, making friends, and playing music that brings joy to people's hearts.

A couple years after the release of her eponymous self-titled debut, and the collaboration with Grammy Winning R&B Songstress Ciara for her first single "Promise Ring," Tiffany Evans is back to the music scene and actually looks grown with a heart felt and thoughtful black and white video for her sultry inspirational ballad new song "I'll Be There." The Adam Tillman-directed video touches on the tough topic of abuse and carries the message that there is always help and always a way to overcome.
Most of you probably remember Evans as seen in the Tyler Perry movie as the little girl with the HUGE voice. Or maybe you're most familiar with her from her hit record, "Promise Ring". Either way, Evans is growing up right before our eyes and is a sweet heart and the voice is impeccable and a more mature look to match. The the Bronx born young R&B singer shows her mature side, showcasing an array of everyday people with issues and a word that was a representation of their current situation was printed on the palm of their hand. This video was very tastefully done and not overworked like the clips we have been seeing from other R&B stars lately.
"I'll Be There" is the first single to be lifted from the vocalist's sophomore album, "Ms. Evans," is slated to drop next year. The inspirational ballad is a winner on many a front. The 18-year-old talent powerhouse promises to stay by her friend's side when troubles arise, singing, "I'll be there when you need me/ No matter what, how, or when, my friend/ I'll be there." With its stripped-back piano-led production, Evans' stellar vocals are given centre-stage to shine, and shine they do. In an age where "it's not hot if it's not Electro-Pop," "I'll Be There" serves as a refreshing reminder that true talent is still on the come-up.
Evans delivers an emotionally charged visual with a really great message. Speaking about the emotional video for "I'll Be There," She says: "We want to focus on the characters in the video—a woman that is going through a breakup, a frightened child, and an underachieving teen. We want them to feel like they're going to go through a depressed, sad stage, and think everything is over. Then you have me praying for them and wishing the best for them. Magically, they start feeling hope and receive messages of hope and love in their hands." Evans looked wonderful and I'd forgotten how simple but colorful her amazing voice was. I quite liked the song as well as the video.

Easton Corbin is on a roll, after he took home all three of the "Breakthrough Artist" awards at the inaugural American Country Awards, comes out of the gates with a new music video for the third single "I Can't Love You Back" off his self-titled strait-laced traditional debut album. "I Can't Love You Back" is as good a song as its pedigree would lead you to expect, but you need to watch the entire video to understand just what Corbin is feeling when he sings "I Can't Love You Back." It will definitely remind you to not take for granted the ones you love. You never know when they might be walking out the door for the last time.
Fresh off a pair of mid-tempo countrified hit singles, Corbin slows it down and shows his versatility with the broken heart ballad "I Can't Love You Back." The song has a universal message of loss and is about a man whose love can accomplish anything but bringing her back that is, and clinging on to his feelings despite the absence of the loved one. The song doesn't really rely on catchy witticisms to grab you, instead Corbin pours out his heart and bears his emotions and grabs you with a convincingly heartbreaking performance. He said: "When I heard the melody, I thought, 'that's a hit.' The song can mean different things for different people. She could have died, she could have left him—people can interpret it the way they feel."
The narrator goes through all the ways he wants to love his significant other except for the fact that the she is not returning to him. The emotion expressed is a straightforward one: no matter how much he continues to love her, that will not bring her back to him. It is very nicely presented, with Corbin's nicely understated vocal still sounding very reminiscent of a meld of George Strait and Alan Jackson. The tasteful production adds greatly to the effect, with Paul Franklin's sweetly slithering steel guitar underlining the delicate sadness of the mood. This alone makes this track a welcome breath of fresh air on country radio.
Corbin is the country throwback of the 2010s. His sound reflects back to the early 1990s sound that found the genre booming. "I Can't Love You Back" follows a tried and true formula: a simple song with a heartfelt message and a flawless execution. It is a mirror image of the style Corbin's early career has taken, and the simple yet strong execution of his songs has managed him quite a following, as many eagerly look forward to the blossoming of what is poised to become a successful career. He now knows it's over and seems to have finally accepted that fact, which in the tone of the song seems to be both freeing and depressing. Corbin eloquently weaves from wistful longing on the verses to the heartfelt plea of the chorus' making a strong emotional connection with the listener.

A Very Merry Katharine McPhee has released the official music video for her new co-penned Christmas song, "It's Not Christmas Without You," the only original song from her third studio album, and first holiday themed album "Christmas Is the Time to Say I Love You" was premiered on Vevo on Friday morning. Waking up to a sad feeling that she won't be with her lover, the 'American Idol' graduate gets a surprise visit when trying to distract herself from the loneliness.
McPhee tells her loved one, "It's Not Christmas Without You," on a new song. Opening with elongated string chords and sleigh bell effects, the piano ballad with light percussion features the now darker-haired McPhee longing for her loved one to be next to her during the holidays. "Life on the road has made me realize how many people spend Christmas alone," McPhee explains when writing the song, "When visiting military hospitals or even meeting fellow travelers working during the holidays, it made me reflect on how hard it can be to celebrate anything when you're away from those you love."
The American Idol runner-up's first holiday album includes a slew of covers as well as the track that inspired this music video, which McPhee wrote herself. The video was directed by Judson Morgan and features actor Joel David Moore as McPhee's love interest. McPhee is forced to spend the holiday without her loved one in a music video for her single "It's Not Christmas Without You". Waking up to a call from her boyfriend saying he will be away at Christmas, she decides to make the day more cheerful by turning her room into a winter wonderland. As she finishes doing the decoration, her man surprises her by appearing at her door holding a beautiful mini Christmas tree.
With one of the most beautiful voices ever to grace the American Idol stage, McPhee battled all the way to the finals during season five in 2006. Ultimately finishing second to Taylor Hicks, McPhee has kept herself very busy in the last four years. "Christmas Is the Time to Say I Love You" is her latest holiday project, a truly excellent collection of holiday music. McPhee and her producers have wisely chosen to keep the arrangements simple. Artists often shorten the shelf life of their Christmas-themed releases by layering on current production styles. Thankfully this isn't the case here, with a classic sense of style that will play equally well in years to come.
"Christmas really is my favorite time of year," she said. "It takes a little imagination to be recording right now but I don't need a ton of Christmas lights in the studio to inspire me. I know these songs so well. These are the songs I listened to growing up. Hopefully my versions will be unique but at the same time timeless; full and rich yet simple and intimate." McPhee's holiday tune fits right in. More often than not, "new" Christmas songs stick out like a sore thumb; an unfamiliar weak spot. Not so here, as McPhee and company have crafted a strong melody and backed it with unfussy instrumentation. Even if you haven't closely followed her post-Idol career, this is a perfect opportunity to become reacquainted.

The video for Michael Jackson's posthumous stirring ballad single "Hold My Hand" has finally hit airwaves, is heavy on moody lighting, fairly light of images of MJ. "Hold My Hand," recorded by Michael Jackson with the help of Senegelese rapper Akon, is the first of what is sure to be a Tupak-level quantity of post-mortem music from the deceased pop star. The record debuted as the first single from the late great King of Pop's upcoming 10-unheard-song posthumous CD, "Michael," the first album released under a seven-year, come out on December 14.
"Hold My Hand" is a Jackson's classic love ballads, which is a heart-stirring call to unity with a touch of a Caribbean lilt. It sways along with its gentle piano line, and is punctuated by light synthesizer effects as the inspirational verses blossom into the track's singalong chorus. The from-beyond-the-grave duet with Akon was recorded in 2007 and, as a message on Jackson's site points out, "a handwritten note from Jackson belonging to his estate indicated his desire that 'Hold My Hand' be the first single on his next project." After an unfinished version leaked in 2008, Akon recently went back into the studio to complete production on the track. While the "Thriller" singer dominates the first verse, the remaining three quarters of the anthemic song are carried by Akon.
The legacy of Jackson is celebrated by his fans in this Akon-featuring music video directed by veteran video helmer Mark Pellington, who said in a statement, "The video is a tribute to all that Michael stands for -- life, in all its permutations...love, and its power. A video of memory, healing and joy." The clip opens with a crowd of people standing in front of a large airplane hangar and unleashing a flood of white balloons as they say "Thank you, Michael" and "We love you, Michael," while a gigantic image of the singer in silhouette appears on the side of the structure. As Jackson begins to sing the first verse, we see a variety of different hands — old, young, holding babies, reaching up to the sky, down into a bathtub... all intended to pull heartstrings and stir emotion.
But while Akon does play a major role in the crisply shot video, the visual product is undoubtedly a tribute to the King of Pop, who passed away in June 2009. Instead of the eye-popping special effects and intricate choreography of the past, the "Hold My Hand" video goes for a simpler, more predictable sentimentality. Without Jackson around anymore to call the shots and push the video envelope, it also signals a quiet, uneventful end to a career of constant reinvention and visual ambition via music video. Michael Jackson left behind a huge catalog of unreleased music, some completely mixed and some diamonds in the rough. So you can expect to be hearing new Michael Jackson music for years to come.