Today's Pick

Already a royal breakout star in the UK, Ellie Goulding is making waves on both sides of the Atlantic. The British pop sensation is currently touring the US to promote her debut album "Lights." Perhaps Goulding is best known in the US for her appearance on the Tina Fey-hosted episode of "Saturday Night Live," recently, but that big crossover hit—expected by some to be UK breakout hit "Starry Eyed" has still yet to materialize. Goulding has re-filmed a new US-aimed version of her video for "Starry Eyed." She recently revealed that she likes America because she feels like "more of a free spirit" while traveling the country.
This dreamy evocation of euphoria is the second single from "Lights." Goulding explained the meaning of the song: "It's about letting go. As opposed to all the sad and depressing things I write about, I decided to write something about the joining together of people in some kind of euphoric state - be it at a festival, at a show or in a club. I wanted a song that would reach out to people of every background and every enjoyment, whether you enjoy a natural high, taking drugs, drinking or whatever. Because I'm essentially a pop artist I wanted to write a song that everyone can relate to."
Her music has been classified as "sweet, sexed-up folktronica" by Rolling Stone magazine. Goulding told the NME: "The acceptance of living in London and attaining peace of mind led to tracks like 'Starry Eyed,' because I could finally write something more fun. It's a mixture of things, little memories from my childhood, and it's [about] having intimacy with someone or sharing something like an experience and being in a euphoric state. 'Starry Eyed' is just everybody feeling the same thing, nothing else really matters. Everything goes out the window when you're in this state that I'd like to be in all the time. It's a feeling of euphoria, really."
About the inspiration for the video, she said: "I wanted it to be quite simple and down-to-earth to keep focus on the song. I guess it's just me kind of feeling the vibes. I wanted to be able to have freedom, which I literally do when I float in the air." The Dugan O'Neal-directed new clip packs heaps of romance with a glowing and gorgeous Goulding gazing at the stars with her bright baby blues while holding on to her handsome partner. The new version replaces the choreography of the original with a picnic and a love interest.

The indie pop/rock three-piece band The Downtown Fiction released their new music video for "Thanks For Nothing." This bitter-angst filled track is the lead single featured on the band's recently released debut full length, "Let's Be Animals," which was released in April. The video totally captures that post-breakup anger toward your ex!
The boys, who hail from Virginia, are letting their ex's know that they are doing just fine without them on this spiteful and catchy new song. "Thanks for Nothing" kicks off with an ominous echo of voices and a drum that is reminiscent of heart beating. However, these sounds quickly fade out, giving way to the buoyant, pop-rock blend of guitars, bass and drums. Lead singer Cameron Leahy's voice swells with the energetic and uplifting beat, which is ironic considering the song's lyrics.
Leahy told Alternative Addiction that he penned the song after a bitter ending of a relationship in the summer of 2010 following the band's tour with The Summer Set. "When I wrote that song I had just gone through a break-up so I had some inspiration," he explained. "It wasn't really even a song I was writing for the record. I just felt like it had to be written." The origins of this track lie in a love song about the same person prior to The Downtown Fiction leaving for tour. "I had written kind of the bones of the track before we left for tour, and that was prior to the break up," explained Leahy. "The lyric in the song was actually, 'the sun don't shine when you are not around,' and then after we got back from the tour [and had the break-up] I changed some of the lyrics around and added 'thanks for nothing' on the end of it. It's sort of funny how the song completely did a 180 as far as what it meant."
The Pop-punk trio get rowdy on curb of a street in their new music video. Shaking off an ex is never easy, but as the band's latest video finds out, it can practically drive you insane. The video kicks off with a girl breaking up with her BF, but then she can't get him out of her mind! She thinks she sees him everywhere - walking through record shops, Laundromats and other local stores, our frustrated, delusional protagonist begins to see Leahy, drummer Eric Jones or bassist David Pavluk in virtually everyone she encounters, and she goes and it drives her crazy! It's totally hilarious, but still really honest and truthful!

"Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark" star Reeve Carney was already a film actor and singer-songwriter when he took on the stage role of Peter Parker in the Broadway musical. Now the 28-year-old has just released video features U2's Bono and The Edge for "Rise Above 1," the lead single from the spider-ific Broadway production soundtrack, and while the video itself is not as mind-blowing as the trailer for the new upcoming big screen adaptation, we give U2 and the "Spider-Man" cast brownie points for trying to keep this musical afloat and in the press.
Directed by Aaron Platt and Joseph Toma and shot in New York City, the video gives fans a peek into the making of the Broadway musical, as Carney also is seen rehearsing with cast members and flying from the rafters of the Foxwoods Theatre. As expected, Carney and "Spider-Man" composers Bono share vocals with the Edge on guitar, while we get splices of behind-the-scenes footage of dance rehearsals, fighting scenes, and studio appearances mixed in with skyscraper shots and what appears to be a igloo makeshift with punctured holes emitting sunlight. The video was a bit sentimental, but that's about it.
With music and lyrics by Bono and The Edge and a book by Glen Berger, Julie Taymor and Glen Berger, the Broadway musical "Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark" is inspired by over 40 years of Marvel comic books. It follows the story of teenager Peter Parker (Carney), whose unremarkable life is turned upside-down when he's bitten by a genetically altered spider and wakes up the next morning clinging to his bedroom ceiling. This bullied science-geek suddenly endowed with incredible powers soon learns, however, that with great power comes great responsibility as villains put both his physical strength and strength of character to the test.
One of the most striking things about "Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark," is the visual punch it packs into every corner of the stage. Critics have written about the show's "stunning costumes" and called it a hybrid of a circus, pop concert and video game. The $75-million musical, which holds the record as one of the most ambitious projects - both in cost and creativity - ever to arrive on Broadway, is still hanging in there, with box office grosses from last week totaling about $1.8 million. The Broadway musical got a music video, which you can admit doesn't ever really happen these days. Maybe they will set a new trend?

Back to January 3rd on my blog, I wrote about a heartfelt tune, "For The First Time" from The Script, an Irish alternative rock band. And today I'd like to introduce a newcomer Boyce Avenue, an American acoustic rock band, who have just released a music video for their cover of The Script song "For The First Time," a really beautiful song, that relied less on acoustic guitar and had more of a focus on electric and piano, so touching!
We all know that story of the small town band that gets noticed on YouTube and makes it big. Boyce Avenue by three Manzano brothers, are the latest band in this trend. However, they are not just another name to add to the ever-expanding list! The band deliver fresh acoustic sound and songs with real sentimental meaning. They embody what all music should be in this time of dance and techno takeover! A tough ride at first but Boyce Avenue, named after the street in Sarasota, Florida where they grew up, has always known that music was what they were meant to be doing.
There was no better way to start the performance than with a famous cover, which is how the band was first discovered! So as their lead singer, youngest of the three brothers, Alejandro asked if I had ever felt like a plastic bag a confused viewer suddenly realized what was going on. Boyce Avenue took a good approach with their set list, a mixture of covers and their own material. Don't be mistaken in thinking this is a one-trick wonder band of slow paced songs and soppy lyrics. These songs had more of a good quality feel and once these songs were presented Boyce Avenue had found their comfort within the crowd by mixing crowd pleasers, famous covers and moving songs.
In an increasingly saturated music scene and at the risk of sounding like other pop and rock bands, the boys recognize that staying relevant takes more than merely playing music. Boyce Avenue will definitely have a future in music and I will be following them eagerly. This band is inspiring, to think how far they have come from posting videos on YouTube to touring Europe. Let's just hope they continue to do what they do best, make original music that touches the hearts of their most loyal fans to first time listeners! The cover of The Script song "For The First Time," show Boyce Avenue did what they did best and stuck to famous covers.

Country music superstars Brad Paisley and Carrie Underwood, who hails from Checotah, again join forces on the music video for "Remind Me," their new duet from Paisley's latest hit album "This Is Country Music." Aimlessly wandering around the desert is fast becoming the hottest music video trend for 2011. Underwood and Paisley follow in the dusty footsteps of comeback queen Demi Lovato and collaboration king Pitbull by sizzling in the sand for their stunning clip for a song that tugs at your heart strings.
The song's lyric finds a married couple in seek of rekindling the flame of their relationship they once carried. "It's about the conversation a couple would have. It could be seven months into the relationship, or it could be seven years, but everybody's been there," Paisley explained to The Boot. "You could be 15 years old on your first dating relationship and wondering why you don't feel the way you did five or six months ago about this person. I love the honesty in that song."
When dreaming up "Remind Me," Paisley hoped to do a true duet instead of an ordinary guest appearance. The difference is subtle, yet important. Underwood's vocals are pristine, and Paisley does more than enough to keep up. You can actually feel the longing and the pain in both Paisley and Underwood's vocals throughout the single. The lyrics are well written, and lets you actually picture the memories they are talking about. It's hard to find a good vocal match for Underwood, but no matter how much she tries to dial herself down, her powerhouse voice still makes Paisley's very limited range all the more obvious. But that's a small complaint for an otherwise-excellent song.
If the heat-seeking lyrics weren't enough, the video is set in the balmy desert. What they do not have, despite being in the desert in the video for their new duet, "Remind Me," is anything approximating heat. Maybe that's the point since the song is about a couple whose once red-hot passion has cooled and they feel miles apart. This image easily embodies the metaphor for a dying relationship. Throughout the video, the couple are struggling to "remind" each other of those cherishable moments that fueled the passion of their relationship to begin with. As the music swells, their is a clear desperation and passion fueling their vocals, and they move closer and closer to one another.

Dressed up with a boisterous horn section and memorable chorus, Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds have finally unveiled the music video for his first single, "The Death Of You And Me," from former Oasis lead guitarist's upcoming self-titled debut solo effort, since the band split in 2009. In many ways it's exactly what you would expect from a Gallagher song: a pretty, Kinks-esque acoustic shuffle, creaky falsetto, rhyming "city" with "pretty" and "pity." But the chorus has a lovely melody and the New Orleans brass adds an element of the unexpected to a song that feels instantly familiar.
"The Death Of You And Me" has a windswept feel, with a slighty country influence and a big, stomping chorus. It also includes a brass section mid way through the track. It finds the former Oasis songwriter stepping only just a tiny bit outside of his comfort zone. While the chords and melody are about what you might expect from Gallagher, he pushes himself to the top of his vocal range on the verses for an effect. The grim quasi-Western tone is somewhat new for Gallagher too, but by the time the chorus hits, it's just a dimmer version of Oasis' big sunny hooks.
Apparently, the introduction to an ongoing video story, the clip, filmed in the desert outside LA, centers on a small-town waitress's urge to be free, as well as the appearance of an eclectic group of travelers. The song itself seems to stray slightly from the guitar-driven tracks we are used to hearing from the Gallagher brothers, but remains just as catchy. Set in some remote town at the Last Chance gas station/diner, you will see 44-year-old sitting and writing at the little diner. He never actually sings during the video, but he also appears towards the end and pushes a waitress into a pool.
Prior to getting pushed into the pool the waitress is daydreaming out the window, and she seems sad. At this same time there is a band walking in front of a horse drawn carriage. The entire video flashes between the band coming into town, inside the diner, and the waitress outside of the diner by the pool. Before long he's pushing his waitress in the pool, some guy from Red Dead Redemption's turned up with a marching band to take the waitress away. The clip ends with a "To Be Continued" title card, suggesting that we can expect more similarly conceived videos from Gallagher's new album in the coming months.

The Swedish alternative rock band Carolina Liar recently debuted their brand-new video for their anthemic tune, "Drown," the lead track from the L.A.-based rock quartet's upcoming sophomore effort, "Wild Blessed Freedom," which is set hitting shelves on September 27th. The catchy "Drown" that can be described as Switchfoot meeting U2, this song should do well on radio with a chorus that will stick to your head like superglue. The Kevin Adamson-directed video features the alt-rockers playing in a white room and getting splattered with phosphorescent paint.
"It's a song about coming to terms with the decision to start a new life - just jump in headfirst and be set free," the Lead vocalist Chad Wolf told Billboard magazine. "In a lot of ways, it's about where the band is now. We've parted ways with our label and are putting this new record out on our own. Like any new adventure, it's something that's both daunting and exciting, but luckily we live in an age when artists no longer need the major label machine to heard. So we're looking forward to this new journey. The album title 'Wild Blessed Freedom' also ties in to that theme."
Recorded over a full year, with their time split between Sweden and Los Angeles, "Wild Blessed Freedom," is the follow-up to 2008's debut album "Coming To Terms," a disc hailed by Rolling Stone for "fusing the anthemic elements of U2 and the Killers with the electro production of Swedish pop maestro Max Martin." Fueled by hit singles "I'm Not Over" and "Show Me What I'm Looking For," Carolina Liar blanketed both radio and television, generating nationwide airplay at modern rock and alternative while also appearing in shows such as "The Vampire Diaries," "American Idol," "Gossip Girls," "The Hills," and many more.
Speaking about the new record, Wolf remarked, "This is our second album with producer Max Martin and once again, it was an amazing experience. He has an incredible ear and an uncanny ability to bring out stuff that you don't realize you have inside," says the frontman. "We ended up with a bigger-sounding album and music that really lends itself to a live experience. We wanted to write songs that can get the audience up and moving and excited. And we had a great time making it. It sounds bigger, and it feels bigger. I wouldn't say that this is a concept album, but there's a sense of freedom that runs through this group of songs: the idea of having the faith to let yourself go and do something crazy."

Billy Currington is back and hits the street of New Orleans in his brand new video for his new song "Love Done Gone." This tale of romantic woe with a bouncy, buoyant rhythm is the third single from Country singer's fourth studio album, "Enjoy Yourself," which dropped last fall. "Since we recorded it with the horns and everything, when I would hear it, I would just picture New Orleans," Currington explained to Taste of Country. "I always picture New Orleans for this song. The label was ready to make a video, and I sent [my suggestions] through, and they felt the same way."
"Love Done Gone," an upbeat tune about going with the flow when love has gone sour, focuses almost exclusively on the exhilarating part of moving beyond a relationship that, for whatever reason, simply was not working anymore. It's a less multifaceted view of the breakup situation, certainly, but ultimately quite an infectious one. Currington makes it clear in his new song that he's not going to let a failed relationship get him down, because love changes like the seasons and there's no use in placing blame. In fact, he seems rather chipper about the whole ordeal.
With lyrics as vague about future plans as they are about causes of the split, much of the song's message comes via its sound, a lively fusion of contemporary country and Dixieland jazz signaling greener pastures ahead. Currington is right in his mid-tempo sweet spot here, and the obvious ease with which he settles into the song's carefree groove reinforces the impression that this particular parting, little as we actually know about it, was definitely for the best. Otherwise, why would he sound so darn happy?
Currington spent five days filming in the 'Big Easy,' and the colorful characters and iconic buildings the city are known for playing as much of a roll as Currington himself. Great backdrop for this video, as 37-year-old Georgia native walks around the city and having a great time. Currington is having as much fun as he's ever had in the music video. At times he's a bit dorky, for a moment he's a little pensive, but mostly he's just playful through the song. If breaking up with a girl was always this much fun it'd be a lot more popular.

Following the lead of his smash single "Give Me Everything," Pitbull talks to the ladies again on his latest summer dance jam "Rain Over Me." The RedOne-produced hot dance-pop collaboration with Jennifer Lopez' old flame Marc Anthony serves as the third single from Pitbull's latest sixth album "Planet Pit." The superstar Latin Caribbean duet contains dramatic "disco-rave" synths and is a step outside his usual robotic sound. It's a fun, sassy, mindless video that's perfect for the song, and it boasts a fantastic melodic vocal performance by Anthony. Let it rain.
Pitbull returns with another fast paced club hit giving fans another reason to never have a party night without his music. Oddly enough, the Salsa crooner-assisted cut about being showered with love gets the desert treatment in its David Rousseu-directed visual. In it, the two Latin stars take the party to the only place where it doesn't rain — the desert. The duo not enjoy the company of beautiful ladies, they eventually find themselves drenched in a downpour. And there's really no better way to cool off after all that time in the sun.
The two pop stars brave the grueling desert heat (in fresh Summer suits) as they pray for some much needed rain. Eventually, they get their wish as the heavens open up and rain over them. It complements the song quite well, and we think both stars surpassed our expectations on this one. Talking about getting help from Anthony, the rapper said, "It's the first record he's done in English in over 10 years. We feel it's going to be a strong contender all over the world and obviously something that can contend on the charts."
Once again looking fresh in Miami MC's light, summer casual wardrobe in his sexy and sleek new clip backed by a catchy beat and some melodic vocals. While the guys hang outside in the sweltering heat amid a shack-style location, a group of ladies swim around in a pool elsewhere trying to keep cool as the song's hot beats play in the background. They singing under the sun's glare and braving the rain when the sun sets. The conclusion seems to be that if you party hard enough in the desert — and look cool while doing it — you can eventually make it rain.

Acoustic pop artist Kina Grannis reveals her latest music video for her current single, "The One You Say Goodnight To," from the re-release of her 2010 debut album "Stairwells." The track was recently reviewed as "sweetly hooky" in a recent Entertainment Weekly feature, promising to leave you "humming this song for the rest of the day." As usual, Grannis's signature charm, beauty, humble, fun and elegance shine through in this sweet, infectious video, which finds she playing an adult version of hide-and-seek with her potential love.
Grannis soared to fame via YouTube. She entered and won a singing contest for Doritos which lead to her being featured in a commercial during the Superbowl, and received a Interscope Records contract in 2008. The Youtube chanteuse is a very relatable young spirit, who's charmed her way to nearly 60 million pageviews with songs like "Valentine" and "World In Front Of Me." The 25-year-old makes sweetly sung, acoustic tunes. "The One You Say Goodnight To" is the follow-up single to "Valentine," which has also amassed nearly 9-million views on Los Angeles-based singer-songwriter's YouTube Channel.
After kicking off the lilting, acoustic track with her band in a bucolic field, Grannis retreats to begin the metaphorical dance with an Abercrombie model dressed as a dork. Anyway, Grannis gets sold out by her bandmate and begins a cat-and-mouse courtship game, forcing our Clark Kent look-alike to make exasperated faces and run around a bevvy of picturesque spots Norman Rockwell would have painted. You can probably guess how this one ends, but it does teach a valuable and eternal lesson about courtship: The harder it is to attain, the more guys want it.
Now, Grannis proves she's more than just "that Doritos girl" in her newest video, featuring her friends Chester See, Keith Tutt II and Derek Rock. All she needs is a smile, a guitar, and a soothing voice to effectively captivate the hearts and minds of thousands of fans all over the world. The love song is a catchy song with a good beat and melody. It offers a storyline where Chester See, a handsome fella as the dude who keeps missing her, and desperately seeks out Grannis in the country side woods, as she sings and plays her guitar. It's a beautifully shot video incorporating the environment to enhance the feel of the song.

After teasing us with pics and behind the scenes footage, teen R&B, pop and soul singer Jasmine Villegas (a.k.a. Jasmine V.) has finally unveiled her official music video for her latest single "Werk." The song will appear on Jasmine's debut studio album, which is still in the works. Jasmine is well known as the girl who posed as Justin Bieber's love interest in some of his videos. She was once romantically linked to Canadian singer, but none of them confirmed the romance though.
Jasmine rhythmically sings the song, in which she displays her love for hip-hop and R&B, with a stripped-down beat that is focused on the different 808 percussive elements throughout the verses. During the pre-chorus, "Werk" picks up with a rising synth. The lyrics are super sassy, with Jasmine telling her guy that he is has to try his hardest if he wants to win her heart. During "Werk," the 17-year-old pop singer tries to channel the power diva within herself, with influences from artists like Beyonce and Ciara shining through.
"The message to werk music video," Jasmine tweeted, "is that u don't have to be super aggressive to win a guy's heart, just be yourself and u will win him over!" Solid relationship advice. Directed by Matt Alonzo, and co-starring fellow young rapper Lil' Romeo as her leading love interest, the house-party themed video pits the 17-year-old pop starlet takes up a challenge for a dance-off against her evil alter ego Kitty V to win the affection the former "Dancing with the Stars" contestant. Watch the "Jealous" singer as she goes head-to-head with herself in an all out dance battle.
Romeo talked about working with Jasmine, saying that the video went great, and he really wanted to be a part of it because he knows how talented she is. "I have been asked to be in many music videos but this was the first one that I agreed to do," he admitted. "It was crazy, just like three days ago, I saw one of her videos and I was like, 'Wow! this girl is going to be big!' Really, everything happens for a reason. And I'm good at picking out the next big thing. She is so talented and beautiful inside and out."

MPress Records & USA Today have premiered the music video for the talented singer/pianist Seth Glier's new single "Walk Katie Home" from his critically acclaimed album "The Next Right Thing," which isn't just an album title – it's a way of life. Glier, a boyishly handsome folk/pop singer, shows off his velvety voice and lyrical prowess in his sophomore project. The rising folk sensation set out to document the ways in which he and the people he encounters on the road, attempts to do "the next right thing, as opposed to the next thing right."
The emerging folk/pop troubadour fantasizes wistfully on this new catchy tune about a star-crossed romantic liaison with a certain girl in New York that's simply not meant to be. The easy-to-grasp melody, however, is the real thing, and the delivery from the Massachusetts-based singer rings true. He says the song is a reflection on what he wishes had happened: "I drove down to St. Marks Place in New York City one weekend to take a girl I had a crush on out to dinner," he recalls. "I ended up walking her home, and then she started dating a glockenspiel player. That's life, I guess." This is a young man with a distinctive voice, a falsetto that sticks to your ribs, and can he write songs.
Shot on a freezing cold day this past March at the strikingly beautiful Beacon Theater in New York, the Tom Moore-directed video boasts grand sweeping images of the gorgeous theater mixed with shots of NYC, the second character in this unabashedly romantic and tender love song. Featuring Glier and his love interest "Katie" played by up-and-coming actress Carissa Dagenais, the emotion of the video was heightened by Glier's visible breath in the performance shots at the ice-cold theater.
The 22-year-old will grab your attention with fearless vocal delivery, musical exuberance and seasoned songwriting beyond his years, if not with his powerful falsetto or his melodic prowess, then with what Performer Magazine calls his "intoxicating groove." Glier, who's winning legions of fans with his romantic ballads and moving lyrics, wants to touch people with his verse and music. "I'm an ambassador," he says. "I travel from place to place carrying my songs and stories with me, and I want people to leave my show changed. Some people won't remember the songs I sing, but they will remember how they felt while hearing them. That's what I want to do – to remind people, including myself, why we're here: to connect!"

After a dramatic few months which included the dramatic exit of former guitarist Josh Farro and drummer Zac Farro, Paramore are back with a band with brand new track "Monster," with accompanying old-fashioned epic video, in which the band try to run free from the madness caused by their inner demons. It's a dark look at the never-ending cycle of build-them-up then break-them-down in the music industry. Can they stop this monster from eating them alive? And you can watch it exclusively on MTV!
"Monster" is currently featured on the soundtrack for "Transformers 3: Dark Of The Moon" – The blockbuster film is currently in theaters and the soundtrack is available in stores and on iTunes now! The American rock band is put to the test when a demon from the past tries to take them down. "We're back for the attack! And we are so excited to be a part of the Transformers album," says frontwoman Hayley Williams, "Tell your friends... Paramore is still a band."
In the track, Williams seemed to be singing about nothing but the Farro brothers and how Paramore are pushing on without them. But if the song is about the interpersonal relationships that cause a band to fall apart, well, then the video seems to be about the band itself. Or, more specifically, the band as a sort of machine, one that never stops running and seems designed to continually churn through members. In this case, it is the Monster. And it must be fed.
The cinematic video, directed by Shane Drake, is a lot less obsessed with horror, begins with the three-piece unconscious and floating on water, echoing the imagery of the first verse of the song, which matches their pretty swell tune's opening lyrics. Spliced between performance shots, the trio trying to escape from a creepy, ruined and an abandoned hospital. The band eventually meet up in a foyer and continue running together before ducking into the concrete room in which they were performing earlier. The clip hints at past dramas and points to the long road ahead.

Nashville-based songwriter singer Amy Stroup has premiered the official music video for the song "Hold Onto Hope Love," from her upcoming 2011 album "The Other Side of Love Sessions," which She partnered with Grammy award-winning producer Nathan Chapman on the project to deliver delicately honest lyrics, pure vocals and smart instrumentation, including all original music to her sultry and sweet songs are sure to please. The track "Hold Onto Hope Love" is also placed in ABC's "Brothers and Sisters," "Private Practice," "One Tree Hill," and "Army Wives."
"I write songs about things I've lived through and 'Hold Onto Hope Love' is a song about waiting for genuine love to come," Stroup said in a telephone interview. Stroup said she recorded the song with producer Thomas Doeve in a basement and has be en surprised with its success. There's a reason Stroup's song "Hold Onto Hope Love" has appeared at poignant moments of ABC's latest season. From an emotional scene as Kitty battles cancer in "Brothers and Sister" to a climatic close o "Private Practice," Stroup's music communicates on levels spoken words can't reach.
Stroup's roots began in Boston, but soon her family moved on to Texas, where she grew up and began her journey into songwriting. Combining the thoughtful depth of Boston and the distinctive Texas style, she engages audience through catchy melodies and lyrics that explore refreshing truths about life, love, and spirituality. On both guitar strings and piano keys, She engages audiences with original lyrics that go beyond typical lyrical terrain.
Stroup draws from a range of geographic locales and musical influences, having called Boston, Texas and now Nashville home. "As a kid, I ripped out a magazine page and taped it to my closet door. It was a picture of a guitar fret board with the words, 'Don't just play it, feel it.' That line became my motto for writing and performing music, and I try to focus on writing simply a great song, one song at a time, and when you are working with people you genuinely enjoy and live life with, the music naturally comes and speaks," says Stroup. Creating quite a buzz as an independent artist, Stroup communicates what she knows is true about life in melodic lyric and verse.

Following "Dreams Money Can Buy." Drake put another piece of his story (his words) on his blog, and once again smooths it out with a moody clip for his his runaway hit and drunk texting anthem "Marvin's Room," taken from Drake's eagerly anticipated sophomore effort "Take Care," due out on October 24. The slow jam finds the Toronto native showcasing his crooning skills. Drake puts his romantic conduct under the microscope, and perfectly captures the mood of a drunken late night on "Marvin's Room."
"Marvin's Room," has a muted, from-another-room beat that fits its lyrics, finds the Canadian rapper coming over all introspective and "having a hard time adjusting to fame." The Toronto native sings about making a drunken late night phone calls to an ex-girlfriend he still cares for who has found another man. The song tells the story of a wasted guy, alone at the club, who tries to find a girl to go home with him. Checking his phone, he settles on a woman and gives her a call, but she won't accept his advances. "Marvin's Room" is a place where Marvin Gaye had most of his parties and had a lot of women there. It was also a place he went to to escape from the pressures and problems of life.
The 24-year-old makes this reference because of girl issues. He has parties and drinks just to escape the truth and that is that he misses the girl in the song and regrets what happened in the past that broke them up. Drake gets rejected and drowns his sorrows in brand-new clip, was directed by Hyghly of XO, and it match the lyrics almost line-for-line. Drake sits alone chugging beer, looking around the bar as he tries to figure out where he goes next. We see a few quick snapshots of the girl sitting at home in her underwear, intended to visualize what Drake is thinking.
The dizzying video is dark and cloudy with mostly purple hues that resemble the subdued mood of the music. Eventually, Drake heads into the bathroom and stares at his reflection in the mirror. When he emerges, the music slows to half-speed to match Drake's altered state of mind. The song returns to normal speed as the clip ends with images of the streets passing by, evidently taken from Drake's ride as he heads home alone after realizing his drunken wooing was unsuccessful. Not many rappers are capable of writing something with such an emotional impact.

Returning on our screens and music channels with a new look, Pixie Lott has finally released the video for her comeback single "All About Tonight." The fun filled dance themed anthem track, which premiered earlier this week is the lead single from the British diva's upcoming sophomore album and was launched by the 20-year-old star herself on Twitter earlier Friday. Just like the song, fun and upbeat, the video looks like a fun affair that wonderfully captures the frivolity of a night out with the girls.
After releasing her debut album "Turn It Up" in 2009, Lott continued to reach higher and higher levels of success which led to "Turn It Up" reaching triple platinum status and her having a total of 93 weeks in the chart. With two No.1 singles also under her belt, the 20-year old can has the pop scene firmly grasped and her fans can only wait for her second album to drop this autumn. I always thought that Lott was designed as a young soul/pop warbler. The exuberant and fun young party girl look is giving me an unexpected spin but none more so than the smoky new look she’s serving here.
"All About Tonight" is a fairly decent and a sweet dance-pop number with a carefree vibe. The catchy hook is marvelous, and the beat also has some elements of house/trance music at moments. Lott sings about going out and having fun for a party-rage-on goof time. Much more club friendly than her previous releases. The upbeat-dancey single is what every Lott fan was asking for, no more safe ballads, we want a fun Lott, with songs we can dance along. Although "All About Tonight" won't be officially released until September 4th, Lott gives us today the music video for the new single.
English pop sensation shows off her new short hair and new 'attitude' on the music video for "All About Tonight," which was shot in LA and directed by acclaimed director Marc Klasfeld, who has previously worked with the likes of Katy Perry and Jay Z. The sultry dance clip I believe that it's channeling the early 00s, basically sees Lott executing a fierce dancing in the middle of a street accompanied by a bunch of people, mixed with close-up scenes, and scenes of Lott donning an unfortunate heinous wig and giving a penetrating look, and glamorous shots of Lott working a leather couch with a slicked-back hair sexy look.

After had an impressive debut earlier this year, and burning up dancefloors with "Bounce" that he recorded together with post-pop punk pal Kelis, Calvin Harris comes through with another infectious dance track, "Feel So Close." Due out Aug 24th, the track is the second to be released from Harris's forthcoming third as-yet-untitled album. The production on the track is staggering, especially the addictive, repetitive chorus that won't leave your mind after the very first listen.
Lovely tune, subtle vocal, great chopped up guitar riff with bass added to compliment. In this follow up stomper and electro/house pop banger, the Scottish producer and DJ created an uplifting summer party vibe with a hypnotic hook and vocal arrangement. Featuring his Harris' own vocals, "Feel So Close" is a solid hybrid between progressive Do-It-Yourself dance and chart-savvy pop that is infused with a spiky guitar riff, a soulful club groove and a simple, yet potent melodic hook.
We've already heard two new Harris tracks this year, but "Feel So Close" makes me most certain about his next album. It's definitely one of his best catchy tunes, and everything from his vocals, the drop, back-up singer makes this feel-good track so perfect. Harris is currently DJing on tour for Rihanna and his hit song "Bounce." I like Harris's swag and his approach to music. His singing fits perfect for the electro vibe that must of his tracks have. "Feel So Close" has the Harris attitude that his fans adore.
The 27-year-old Scottish's new single "Feel So Close" may have only got its radio premiere last Friday and won't be officially released until August 24th, but the promo wheels are clearly in motion as Thursday we have been given access to the official music video. The plot is basically random people 'getting together' and creating new friendships, which fits the lyrics. The video set once again in America, showing different aspect of people's lives and feelings to each other including pom poms, street gangs and cowboys, however with the underlying message of love.

Demi Lovato is ready to get back to the music, her simplistic music video for her first post-rehab empowering new tune, "Skyscraper," premiered Wednesday on E! News. The first single taken from her upcoming third studio album, "Skyscraper," which she said helped her confront her issues before she landed in treatment late last fall for eating disorders and self-mutilation. The "Sonny with a Chance" cutie pairs her emotional lyrics with simple visuals, has already made an impressive start to her career comeback, and this new video is yet another huge step in the right direction.
The new turn now to go with that the words "Stay" and "Strong" tattooed on her wrists as she moves. "Skyscraper" is all about wrestling with life's struggles and standing tall in the face of adversity. The tune is pretty inspiring, and Lovato's raspy, crying-out vocal sounds gorgeous. The ballad showcases the 18-year-old's quivering voice as she sings about 'catching teardrops in my hands,' but her strength allows to keep 'rising from the ground, like a skyscraper.' The singer eventually displays her powerful range as breathy backing vocals and heavy percussion fill in the spaces left by a lonely piano in the beginning of the track, which is mournful, fitting in with the somber vibe we predicted from this tune. Lovato's bravura vocal performance turn this into something truly special.
Barefoot and wearing a plain white dress, Lovato belts her heart out from an empty desert in Mark Pellington-directed new video. Everyone can clearly see the emotion on her face which helps fans and critics see what she has been through those months she spent in rehab. Another significant part of the video is the heart. as everything around it breaks, the heart remains unbroken. Lovato said in an interview with E! news that it is a symbol for when times are hard, she will never lose faith. "Because I was suffering inside. I'm taking it off and walking on broken glass and powering through it. That video was an emotional release for me, like therapy. I kept crying, I was so emotionally invested, and that's when I realized, that's what music videos are all about." As everything around her is breaking into pieces, she remains standing tall.
Pretty intense stuff for an 18-year-old, the song comes from a very personal place in Lovato's life, and the video makes that a tangible reality for young fans. Lovato wants her struggles to be a lesson for them, and in an open letter, urges that anyone who needs help should ask for it. "This song is so special to me because it's inspired by my journey and the struggles that I've dealt with this past year. I hope people are able to relate to it and realize that they are able to rise above and overcome any obstacle, no matter the circumstances, and shine like a skyscraper," she says of the song.

Nashville pop voice Mat Kearney has recently released a new video for his punchy bright new song "Hey Mama." The toe-tapping, super-infectious tune is the lead single from Kearney's upcoming fourth studio album, "Young Love," is due for release on August 2. Audiences are probably already familiar with Kearney's infectious tunes as he's had several hit songs from past releases and featured in many TV shows.
Kearney, now 32, is a very talented songwriter, a legitimate artist. "Hey Mama" is a catchy, well-crafted, fun, and clap-inducing tune perfect for summertime drives, so it's no surprise that it's already taking off on commercial radio. The track is about his wife, and the fact that she played hard to get for a while. Luckily, she gave in, like a doe tiring after being chased by a cheetah, he got the girl, and he got an incredible song! Kearney described it as being a "return to innocence." "Blinking Lights and Intimate Things" was considered as an alternate album title.
The Oregon born and Tennessee based musician says about the album and it's first single: "It's been an amazing year for me personally, spiritually, and creatively. I finished my new record, 'Young Love,' signed with a new record label...,oh, and met and married the woman of my dreams. We exchanged vows under a canopy of southern weeping willows on blazing June evening. It was amazing. I wrote 'Hey Mama' about that first day we met between the shoe table and the dress rack. The chorus popped into my head driving home one night. I recorded some hand claps & a big bass drum and wrote the rest dancing around my living room that night. I hope you feel some of the butterflies."
The music video for "Hey Mama" was filmed in black and white, and shot on 16mm fill and that obviously makes it that much cooler. It features a whole bunch of dancing, fire eating, couples flirting and a whole bunch of clapping. The images coupled with the upbeat and dance-tastic tune make for a feel good video that will get anyone's toes tapping. The clip shows New Orleans in such a beautiful way. So I hope you enjoy that.

Adding some smoothness to the sweaty summer heat, English soul/R&B band Sade issues the music video for "Love Is Found," one of four previously unreleased tracks featured on her new two-disc project, "The Ultimate Collection," which is in stores now. The clip features footage of Sade and the band on stage from their current "Soldier of Love" international tour, and it's a sleek and sexy clip shot during one of the band's live shows. After all, as choreographed silhouettes dance across a screen in the background.
The band is named after their British Nigerian lead vocalist, Sade Adu, who has been in the game for over two decades and she still keeps the quality music coming. Her unreleased new tune, "Love Is Found," is a mid-tempo electronic number with a slight air of menace about it. "Love is Found" takes its time to build as R&B songstress Sade coos over rising strings for the first minute or so. It then launches into a huge tune that revolves around snarling guitars, a thick bass line, and her vocal changes. If you were looking for a reason to pick up "The Ultimate Collection," this is it.
"Love is Found" isn't merely one of four previously unreleased cuts that made Sade's recently released album. The track also happens to be the best unreleased cut that made the compilation. Frontwoman Sade's vocals are, as always, intoxicating as she drifts above the surging sound of strings and bass, all of which erupt once the track hits its stride. And instead of going over the top with the visual accompaniment, which could have easily happened given the soundtrack-ready composition, Sade keeps its relatively simple here.
Presented in black and white, the Sophie Mueller-directed live performance video showcases Sade and her full band in action as shadow-like figures dance on the screen behind them like faceless giants, as the band tears up the stage with some help from an interpretive dance team, who keep the visual element engaging but never to the point of absurdity. Sade strikes quite the gamine pose and is dressed head to toe in black with flats, and while the fashion may have changed, she retains her aura of regality, somehow existing in a place slightly elevated from the rest of us mere mortals. Glamorous frontwoman proves she is indeed a smooth operator and even does some fancy foot-shuffling of her own at the end.

New York-based fun times electro-rock group Cobra Starship are back with a video for their catchy new song "You Make Me Feel...," featuring guest vocals by singer/actress turned rapper Sabi, and it's a very welcome summer jam for those of us who prefer dark clubs to sunny beaches. "You Make Me Feel...," is the first single from pop punk/synthpop band's upcoming fourth album, "Night Shades," is set in the decadent world of downtown New York nightlife. Cobra Starship try to contain their pop antics to a photo booth in their Sabi-assisted new video.
Backed up by a simple beat and minimal synth arrangement, charismatic frontman Gabe Saporta sings about finding the girl he's been missing. "Obviously, some of my personal drama was about feeling alone, and feeling like I was searching the world for the right person," said the frontman. "And one of the things we want for this song and this record even though it has personal stuff in it, is to be something everyone can relate to, and I think that the concept of people trying to find the right person is something that's universal."
Saporta explains how a magic photo booth tells a universal story: "It's a song about a guy and a girl, and the concept is, at the beginning of the video, I find one of Sabi's photos, and she's feeling the same way that I'm feeling, which is incomplete without each other," he said. "We're sharing feelings, and that's what I realize, so I'm like, 'Wow, I want to find this girl.' So I look all over the world for her, and our world is the nightclub. The video is about the photo booth. It's just not any photo booth; it's a photo booth that tells you how you're really feeling. That's the main star of the video."
But it's not all dance floor gyrations and poppin' bottles with models. The Kai Regan-directed clip finds the synth-pop group lounging around a club and taking breaks from sipping neon-colored drinks to visit a photo booth, and our hero, Saporta must track down a beautiful mystery woman, played by the extremely cute and talented Britney collaborator Sabi, who also sings on the track, without whom he will never feel complete! What ensues involves internet stalking, the taking of photo booth photos which is always fun, and lots of dancing and merrymaking. Will Saporta dance his way into his fair maiden's heart?

Joe Jonas acts out the heartbreaking end of a romantic chapter in the newly released debut video for his his first solo offering "See No More," the lead single from his upcoming solo debut, "Fast Life," is set to be released September 6. Yes, this is the first musical foray the middle of Jonas Brother trio is going it alone and he seems to be taking on a mature role to his new solo style both naturally and literally. He opens up in his new tracks, singing about life in the spotlight and the ups and downs of his relationships.
The 21-year-old penned the vulnerable break-up track with Chris Brown and Brian Kennedy, which surprised some as their backgrounds on the face of it are very different. However, Brown and Jonas both started out as teen stars before graduating to more adult material. Jonas said of his new work, "I think it's more so about how the emotions and the feelings that you are going through and how you're dealing with them and just displaying them in physical actions." He went on, "So it'll be the first really thought-out video that I've done."
The slickly produced, R&B-inflected track expresses Jonas's frustration at having to wait for his beloved to catch up with him, metaphorically speaking. "See No More" finds Jonas steering his solo career more toward urban-pop, hip-hop and electronica than his pop-rock past hits with the Jonas Brothers. The heartbreaker who inflicted all this emotional damage on our poor Jonas makes a couple of interpretative dance appearances, but other than that, Jonas is just going to have to work through the pain on his own. Not that there aren't plenty of girl folk out there who would be willing to help him through.
As you can imagine from the anguished lyrics, the steamy new video for "See No More" has the poor Paper cover guy looking upset over the betrayal he faces at the hands of his object of affection. It features Jonas wanders throughout an empty house haunted by a past relationship, and searching for a lost love. Ultimately, he burns her dress and the house he's in becomes engulfed in flames, as he walks the earth, braves the elements and moves on from a broken heart. When the album releases this fall, Jonas will have his moment to shine, and fans who grew up with the band will be able to see the young pop star in a new, adult light.

Michigan based post-hardcore act Chiodos have posted their video on IFC for "Notes In Constellations" taken from band's third album, "Illuminaudio." Behold the cosmic time lapses, captured in the dark of night with a new motion control technology in this newly released video, which weaves a tale about two lovers who are separated by a tragic death.
"Notes In Constellations" was written about Christopher "Notes" Olsen, a longtime musical collaborator, producer and friend of Chiodos vocalist Brandon Bolmer. The song was inspired by the untimely death of Olsen and references the pain of losing a loved one. Bolmer elaborates, "I had started writing the song years ago, on a trip up to the snowy mountains of Big Bear, CA with my girlfriend, her sister, and Notes. The song was originally written about two lovers who were forced to part ways from one another. After his death, the song took on a dual meaning and became a song that Notes could have written for his girlfriend after he passed on."
The video by young directors, Ryan Southwell and John Stephens, inspired by this sad back story, weaves a tale about two lovers who are separated by a tragic death but still with each other through the stars. It features multiple astro time-lapse shots of various locations in California, which were filmed using new multi-axis, motion control technology. The time-lapse footage creates a cinematic, ethereal visual with a ghostly, distorted sense of time. The band's performance footage was filmed using a green screen, with the song's narrative elements captured in downtown Los Angeles.
No CGI or post effects were used in the filming of the heavenly time lapses you are about to witness, they are completely organic, in a cosmic sense. The Los Angeles based directors have been shooting together for several years, but this is only their second official music video. Southwell and Stephens used a new, multi-axis, motion control technology to shoot them outdoors. They shot all of the band performance footage against a green screen, the female narrative at a loft, and the astro time-lapses at various locations in California over a period of several nights all for real -- nothing is CGI or was comp'd in post. After talking about the concept with Bolmer they decided to explore the star lover theme fully and create a distorted sense of time using the time-lapse and a lot of slow-motion. "It's about losing someone you love and coming to a belief that they're still with you in the stars," Stephens affirmed.

Beyoncé reigns supreme yet again, thrilled fans Thursday with another excellent music video for her second single "Best Thing I Never Had." The powerful love-gone-wrong song is taken from her fourth solo studio album "4," which is currently ruling the U.S. album chart. Follow up to women-empowerment lead single, "Run the World," this Kenneth "Babyface" Edmond penned midtempo pop and R&B ballad turn "Best Thing I Never Had" is also strong, but more subdued and slow. The story of what happens after the prom when the high school sweetheart who broke your heart turns out to be the best thing you never had. You move on and find true happiness.
Lyrically, "Best Thing I Never Had" is all about telling a former lover she was the best he'd ever have and that she no longer has any feelings for him. In general, the lyrical content of the song revolves around revenge and karma. It kicks off with Beyoncé singing, "What goes around comes back around," before she proceeds to take a pop at a former lover after discovering his deceitful ways. Happy to have managed to avoid heartbreak, Beyoncé continues to sing about her ex-love interest in the song, who did not recognize the potential of a happy companionship with her, until the breakup took place.
"Best Thing I Never Had" sounds like a song people will hear during a Broadway musical, and it feels like the kind of crossover hit that will help "4" join the rest of Beyoncé's discography in multiplatinum land. The track finds Beyoncé mining the same kind of "girl-power imagery as she did on "Run the World (Girls)," but there is something more direct and honest about the lyrics on the new single. The Queen B had long since proven she could write a song for all the ladies. Songs that could deliver a shot of self-esteem. "Best Thing I Never Had" takes us back to those not-so-far-off days.
Before slipping into her wedding gown and walking down the aisle, Beyoncé takes time to recall the pain or hardship which led her to meet the love of her life. The Diane Martel-directed video opens with Beyoncé in an elegant dressing room wearing a sexy corset/lingerie combo, complete with garters. Beyoncé recalls her high school sweetheart who broke her heart on the prom night. Not only does Beyoncé pour her heart out about the former lover who did her wrong, but she also shows how grateful she is to end the relationship before it goes too far. She has now moved on and found her prince charming. Right on cue, the scene switches to a wedding scene where her true love is standing at the end of the aisle waiting for her.

Enrique Iglesias and R&B heavyweight Usher are clearly banking on the idea that sex sells in their new video for the catchy dance club banger, "Dirty Dancer," the re-mixed version is the third English single comes off Iglesias's first bilingual studio album "Euphoria," and Usher's EP "Versus." Featuring hip-hop titan Lil Wayne, as the trio are watching holographic dancers in nightclubs, sing and strippers perform with a few science fiction twists.
The RedOne-produced club hit, "Dirty Dancer" is a dance-pop song with rave music influences, and is about "a comely-yet-dangerous female." Usher, who announces the song is "for the dirty girls, all around the world." Iglesias explained their collaboration to MTV News: "Usher and I had been talking for quite some time. We always wanted to work together. Usher's a great guy, extremely talented." Though the song actually came out last year, the video provides a fresh spin on the tune with a lot more attitude.
The Ethan Lader-directed video features a pole-dancer as the "Dirty Dancer" whom Iglesias is singing about. In an ode to exotic dancers everywhere, Usher sings alone in a dark room, while Iglesias has girls performing and Wayne raps, projected onto the side of a building in one of the video's many futuristic twists. Lost by the presentation of a female dancer that is never lonely, Iglesias finds himself intrigued by a woman that acts like she never sleeps and refuses to love. Entrapped by her physique and her ability to reject the possibility of emotions, Iglesias is lost in navigating his emotional pursuit in a futuristic gentleman's club.
Usher perceives the "Dirty Dancer" as a woman that does not want to love, but enjoys the pleasure of self-fulfillment by teasing his motivations. He knows that he has no chance of physically getting close to her in the computer-generated video for "Dirty Dancer." Wayne informs the "Dirty Dancer" that it's going down but only if they are dancing dirty. The girls are just illusions, all three singers turn to hologram and back, and Iglesias even sports a mechanized heart. As the video continues, the girls become customizable, and Iglesias can change from one virtual stripper to another at the touch of a button. At least until his "Credit Expires" and the girl disappears mid-kiss, leaving a very disappointed Latin pop star to end the video.