Today's Pick

Last year marked a fine return to form for Canadian indie songstress Feist with her fourth powerful post-blues LP "Metals," and now the fantastic album opener “The Bad in Each Other” has a beautifully somber video, which build towards the song's climax with explosions of emotion, from the joyous fireworks careening through the air to the intimate connections between lovers and friends. Feist makes an appearance as well, walking through the streets, looking slightly dejected.
Tangled long-term relationships is the topic of this opening cut. The 35-year-old sings about how, "a good man and a good woman bring out the worst in the other and also that she and her lover, "had the same feelings at opposite times." Feist was in a long-term relationship with Kevin Drew when she recorded the album, but rather than being about their partnership, the song appears to have been inspired by observing what happens to other couples she was friends with. The singer explained to The Observer how she noticed that after a few years together, its often the case that they are unable to see each other clearly anymore.
Even the simplest life has its wrenching complexities. Feist's new video for stompy folk-blues "The Bad in Each Other" captures the tiny dramas that comprise everyday life without explaining its characters' motivations, how they got to where they are, or whether they're interconnected at all. The somber figures populating this video's universe just are - experiencing intense emotions of despair, frustration, elation, companionship - as the soft-pop sweetheart winds through dusty scenes shot with cinematic perfection in Mexico by director Martin De Thurah.
Feist posted a statement on her website with a mess of feelings is really the point: “This video captures glimpses of something human, we get a peek inside something real between people - could be loss, longing and love. A lot of things which is about being a human being.... It is told in a way where it opens up more aspects than it concludes. Maybe something we can't grasp, but it points at it or touches it and leaves us with mixed emotions. You could think about the video like a song or a poem, and different people will connect to different things- and those connections might be different from time to time when they watch it."

James Durbin, the man who brought heavy metal to 'American Idol' last season, has released the new video for the rebel rocker's first original song "Stand Up," a perfect tune for smash mouth football, is a high energy, stadium-ready, fist-pumping anthem. The 23-year-old The Santa Cruz native gives his devotees a double treat, and there are two versions for "Stand Up". He rocks a leather jacket in one video, and trades his rocker attire with a football jersey in another clip.
So far on last season of American Idol, we have yet to find this year's answer to Durbin, who had pretty much everything one looks for in a finalist: miles of personality, a tear-jerking sob story, a sense of style and killer pipes. His new single, "Stand Up," is included on both his debut album "Memories Of A Beautiful Disaster" and the Official Gameday NFL Music compilation, which explains why he decided to shoot two versions: one in his typical rock garb, the other featuring him and his band wearing football jerseys.
"I'm becoming a fan of the way the 49ers play, rather than just the name, the likeness or the image," he said. The track is quite a stadium-ready anthem. Not so much in that Durbin could and should fill arenas at this point, but that this song should be blasted through any and all kind of sports. It's adrenalized, fist-pumping rawk! "It's a pipe dream to be the anthem for the NFL," Durbin told ESPN.com. "'Stand Up' is just what it says, it's that song to get you pumped. It's the fun, get the f**k out of your seat kind of song."
The new video, featuring Durbin and his band performing in a warehouse type atmosphere, mixed with single shots of Durbin, suits the overall rough and tumble vibe of the song. There's lots of guitar shredding, hair whipping and of course that signature Durbin scream. Thunderous, chunky rhythms propel the song and Durbin’s got total control over that wild voice of his! Durbin attempts to rouse crowds. It's a big, bold, riff-fattened anthem, steered down the fast track by the Durbin's high pitched wail.

Mandy Gawley has recently released her debut video for "Let It Go" on GMC-TV's Uplifting Country program! The track is taken from Gawley's debut album, "Life So Sweet," which the singer said "It's a little bit country, a little bit pop and a whole lot of heart!"
Gawley, a wife and mother of two, is finally living the dream of singing her own life story with songs about the little things that make life worth living. Born in Georgia, but having grown up mostly in southern California, Gawley's storytelling often takes you down a dirt road to her Grandma's house with the sweet smell of country cooking in the air. If you are looking for a little Southern delight you will find it in Gawley. You can hear in her music all the traditional values of love, faith, and family that make country music so appealing to mass audiences. Clearly those are the things reflected in her own life, yet another reason to appreciate what Gawley has to offer.
Having experienced the death of her father when she was only fifteen, Gawley knows the bitterness of loss and the impact of family. As she writes her songs now about being a wife and mother, she encourages others to be optimistic and never give up on their dreams. "All I remember ever wanting to be when I grew up was a performer, singing for audiences anytime, anywhere. And now, being all grown up, I find great comfort in being able to do just that sing my songs for people who really want to listen to what I have to say. And to encourage others who might've given up on their dreams."
Born out of this labor of love is a poignant and beautiful collection of snapshots from one woman's life and lessons learned along the way' living, dying, letting go, moving on, and loving. After you read a little about her, listen to "Let It Go" in a video as it highlights a popular non-profit organization that brings supports bringing self esteem to young girls. Directed by the Grammy Nominated Mil Cannon, the video was filmed all over the beautiful North Georgia town of Dahlonega. All of the "actors" in the video are friends and family. The song compliments the video so well and simply inspiring.

Florence + The Machine unveiled a searing new live video for their latest creation "Lover to Lover," the most soulful track from English indie pop band's newly released sophomore record "Ceremonials." According to their official website, the frontwoman Florence Welch wants listeners to get lost in their songs, telling, "It's something overwhelming and all-encompassing that fills you up, and you're either going to explode with it, or you're just going to disappear."
While the majority of Florence + The Machine's music videos tend to lean toward the theatrical side, the powerhouse singer's visual for "Lover To Lover" concentrates less on fancy camera work and more on capturing raw talent delivered during a flawless performance. Directed by Arni and Kinski, the clip shows Welch belting out the catchy tune while her band-mates accompanied her vocals with just a harp, guitar and keyboard. It's all about mood, lighting and Welch's impassioned vocals.
Welch's lyrics on "Ceremonials" are a bit on the darker side, and this video follows suit. As Welch wails, "There's no salvation for me, no," she and her band are enveloped in shadows; Welch's voice is nearly impeccable, clearly exercising the ability to draw in anyone who is listening, and the lighting on stage just adds to the striking effect her voice has on the audience. "Lover To Lover" puts the viewer in an all-access, front row seat at a live Florence + The Machine performance. Melodramatic lighting and thoughtful close-ups of sparkly harps mimic the tone of the song's emotionally charged tale.
The lighting effects evoke the dark moodiness of Welch's words. The darkness of both the stage and the lyrics provides a sharp contrast to the bright, sunny sound of the keyboards and harp. Conversely, the happier instrumentals reflect the acceptance of the rest of Welch's chorus. Welch gives her all throughout the performance, but she really starts to lets loose in the final bridge. We finally get to see her signature ethereal dancing, which she uses to signify the closing the notes. Additionally, Welch's vocals are at their most powerful in the song's conclusion. She begins at a soft stage whisper and gradually builds to a soaring crescendo.

Kelly Rowland retreated to Paris to shoot the brand new video for her soft and wistful ballad "Keep It Between Us," the sultry cut off the 30-year-old R&B songstress's latest third solo album, "Here I Am." The steamy romantic video features she flirted with actor, Lance Gross, as her love interest, and finds her exploring Paris and examining photos of an absent lover before reaching a happy ending.
The promo was filmed in Paris last November, and it opens with shots of busy streets and the Eiffel Tower, establishing the setting as the romantic city of Paris. Rowland sits on her bed, flipping through photographs of her and her on-screen beau are seen growing apart. The scene is cut with flashbacks of the fashionable couple walking around, snuggling, stopping for coffee and strolled arm in arm through the ever-beautiful city of Paris. She, however, is able to regain her smile as she recalls how they once enjoyed being in each other's arms while exploring Paris.
When her relationship with her lover is strained, the former member of Destiny's Child reminiscents the good time they once had in Paris. Based on the fact that Rowland obsesses over old photographs, the "Keep It Between Us" video could be a tale about lost love, but it's more likely a story about an ongoing relationship, since the song is about being faithful to a special someone.
The clip also includes shots of the 'X Factor' judge strutted in a black coat, a tight, cutoff sweater and Alexander McQueen hiker boots standing on a hotel balcony with the city behind her - a beautiful visual in more ways than one. Rowland softens up her motivation for some intimate moment with charming Gross. The pair brings a classic lover's quarrel and a love lost to light. But between flashbacks, Rowland vows to never "give my love away." As every fairy tale ends, they eventually find their way back to each other.

Jessica Lowndes went burlesque for her first music video, "I Wish I Was Gay," but the "90210" star wanted to tone things down for her follow-up single. The Canadian actress and singer just released a sexy and sweet video for her new new break-up anthem "Nothing Like This," the title track taken from her soon-to-be-released first EP, hits stores and online retailers yesterday, and don't miss Lowndes in action on an all-new episode of 90210 on the CW.
It's not uncommon for actresses to branch out into the pop music realm, while her character on "90210" has experienced all of the highs and lows of a musical career, Lowndes is simply starting her very own like a performer bahsettirrim applying the experience of a new break-up in the interest of the woman's fine art. The "90210" hottie takes on a topic everyone can relate to, messy breakups with the song and video, and it doesn't hurt that it's uber-catchy. "Nothing Like This" uses your collapse of the special romantic relationship, revealed within flashbacks, along with the beginning of any very hot brand new one.
Lowndes is going through a bad breakup and nursing her broken heart in her new video, which the 23-year-old singer hired Tao Ruspoli to direct, and it is just as much a love letter to New York City as it is to a past relationship, showing off the beauty of the Big Apple. "He's just got an amazing vision," Lowndes raved during a recent visit to Us Weekly's NYC office. "I wanted it to feel like a '60s retro film, and this song means a lot to me. I was going through a breakup when I wrote it and it's just basically about what I was going through."
Still unable to get over her ex, and after watching videos of herself and a former love, the "90210" actress gets ready for a night party on the town with her girl pals to find someone new to get over her ex, where she unexpectedly runs into a hot-looking guy. They sneak out of the party together and hook up in a extremely steamy makeout session. Though her new music video isn't as racy as "I Wish I Was Gay," "there is a lot of making out," Lowndes laughed. "That's definitely a lot of fun being a single girl."

Adding to her stellar portfolio of recordings, Miley Cyrus has released a new music video for her country-fied cover of "You're Gonna Make Me Lonesome When You Go," her contribution to the folk legend Bob Dylan tribute four-disc collection "Chimes of Freedom: The Songs of Bob Dylan Honoring 50 Years of Amnesty International," which has just released yesterday, and features covers by Adele, Darren Criss, Ke$ha, Natasha Bedingfield, Maroon 5, and it will benefit Amnesty's life-saving human rights work.
"You're Going to Make Me Lonesome When You Go," is one of the more plaintive tracks off the rock & roll legend's classic Blood on the Tracks. If your inner rockism hasn't rage-jolted you into a coma, you can watch the newly released music video after the click. Cyrus may be known for her hit songs like "The Climb" and "Party in the U.S.A.," but it's her latest song that truly shows you what a great singer she actually is. Cyrus rose to the occasion, proving she's capable of genres beyond pop and that she thrives vocally in a folk/country environment.
In the "Can't Be Tamed" singer's most mature move yet, she performs heartfelt, country-twinged rendition of the classic song, and it makes a certain kind of sense - Cyrus is trying to transition to a post-Disney life, and nothing screams "I'M SERIOUS!" more than an earnest Bob Dylan cover. Her version isn't bad, more country than Dylan's take but certainly pleasant enough with the steel guitar and the Southern twang. The track shows off a more mature, lovely side of her. Beautifully phrased.
The no frills video fits the low-key song, which features nothing more than shots of the 19-year-old dresses down in a sleeveless vest and ripped jeans and sitting on a stool in the middle of an abandoned house in an otherwise empty room, crooning her heart out the mournful ballad alongside guitarist Johnzo West, while additional musicians accompany the star from other rooms, putting the focus right where Dylan would want it - on the song itself. It's plain, simple and smart. The subdued video shows fans a new side of the young singer. It's a completely different kind of party in the U.S.A.

Evanescence have just released the new video for their uptempo rock ballad "My Heart Is Broken," is the official second single from American hard rock band's eponymous self-titled third album. It is the standard romantic rock bluster from Evanescence. Really, when your heart is broken, you want a song that's as idea driven as "My Heart is Broken" to carry you through and that's what the frontwoman Amy Lee delivers.
Lee's vocals accompanied by piano, guitars and drums was powerful and flexible as ever, as heard in her piercing wails on hit-in-waiting "My Heart Is Broken." Lee said that the song sounded better with the piano part because it was a stronger and more prominent instrument which made the song "one of the most passionate songs on the whole album." With a gorgeous piano intro rises alongside Lee's high energy, vibrant and undeniably fierce vocal delivery, and the "gut-wrenching" ballad develops into a searching, soulful hook, ranging high among the best material this band has ever recorded.
Lee revealed that the song was written after seeing victims of sex trafficking. Despite brokenness being one of several themes that run through Evanescence's new album, this song is not about romantic heartbreak. Lee explained: "A good friend of mine heads up an organization in New York that rescues victims of sex trafficking. My husband and I got involved and were really moved and horrified. As I was writing the song I was putting myself in that place - what would it be like to be trapped? Threatened? Alone? Unable to tell anyone what was happening because you're afraid of what would happen?"
The video, Lee says, takes inspiration from the 1988 British dark fantasy horror film "Paperhouse." Distinguished director Dean Karr for short film, and Lee promises the video will recall "both dreams and nightmares." In a recent interview with MTV, Lee also describes the video as a "surreal dream world, and the band's performance is the dream within the dream, in an abyss of darkness." Lee continues "we're playing with fiber optics, so basically I'm drawing the world around me from nothingness, and when I draw things with my hands they actually come to life."

Vancouver songbird Louise Burns is excited to unleash her new music video to her single "Drop Names Not Bombs," the second single off 26-year-old Canadian singer-songwriter's solo debut full-length, "Mellow Drama," which is beautifully nostalgic in its sound and utterly modern in its sensibility, and culminated in its inclusion on the long list for Canada's Polaris Music Prize.
Burns, formerly a member of the band Lillix, has been building quite a buzz up in Canada for her sweet, country-tinged alt-pop. "Mellow Drama" is a well-crafted, precise record filled with tracks that both communicate the very singular experience of a thoughtful songwriter while also transcending the personal entirely. With a warm, strong, clear voice-like Patsy Cline's almost, but with less sadness, Burns writes songs about love, loneliness and most importantly, her own experience. Her debut record has classic feel combined with the fact that Burns played nearly all the instruments.
Directed by Catherine Lutes, the video centers around a creepy drunken karaoke party gone spooky featuring Burns' close pals in her current city of residence Toronto. It reminds us of many a night out except a lot less sloppy. The clip was shot under the guise of "getting her friends drunk and doing karaoke," but that's not to say "Drop Names Not Bombs" is isn't without its darker edges. Burns notes the video's underlying creepiness, saying that "the contrast between brightness and creepiness unintentionally reflects the song as well, which sounds like a happy pop jam but was actually written from a pretty dark place."
"We liked the idea of doing a 'fun' video, as in getting our friends drunk and doing karaoke, but also tapping into a darker side; where something feels a bit off, kind of like the little girl in Poltergeist watching static on her TV," Burns explains. "In our case, there's a poltergeist in the karaoke video in the form of me (haha). The contrast between brightness and creepiness unintentionally reflects the song as well, which sounds like a happy pop jam but was actually written from a pretty dark place."

Closing out the week by treating her fans to a fresh, Nicki Minaj has unveiled a sexy, zany and eye-popping video for her new track "Stupid Hoe," the second promotional song to emerge from her sophomore album, "Pink Friday: Roman Reloaded," which the singer has now said won't be released until April 3. The electro hop and happycore song is an anthem to her female haters, the voluptuous rapper bounces and jiggles about and even throws in some falsetto singing in the end for good measure.
With director Hype Williams providing all the epilepsy-inducing strobes of his recent fare, the colorful and frenetic video features a handful of wild animals but none wilder than the 29-year-old eccentric rapper herself, who is in full Barbie mode and rhymes through the clip in a rainbow of pastel-hued makeup, oft-buggy eyes, assorted outfits with her signature pink wig and prosthetic body parts, and she even gets a little ferocious, morphing into a caged tiger.
Young Money's first lady gets up to her usual crazy antics, donning bright colored outfits and hair and make-up, while pulling strange faces. As she spews her rapid-fire rhymes, the shot changes to a wavy pink-wigged Minaj in the driver's seat of a hot pink convertible. Still, at least the production allows her to showcase that breathless rapping style, which is still something she does better than anyone. With the sexy, bubblegum effect of the video, it's almost easy to forget that the track throws a few harsh words at her female critics.
The animated Barbie rocks a closetful of wild and wacky looks in the explicit clip which perfectly matches for Minaj's manic stage persona. Minaj brings her signature wide-eyed facial expressions and frantic eye blinking to a brightly colored set filled with robotic female dancers. The rapper rips into any "stupid hoe" who tries to cross her while sporting pastel face paints and bending her body into contortionist poses. Minaj's gimmick is getting way past old now, but people really enjoy her music videos. The Young Money rapper will likely perform at Super Bowl alongside headliner Madonna.

Estelle has released an empowering video for her powerful record "Thank You." The emotional and soulful R&B ballad was released as the second single from her upcoming third album "All Of Me," hit shelves on February 28. Just turned 32, the Grammy-winning British songstress tries to keep the break-up fairly glamorous over a dinner table, and sang with such conviction and passion that she literally had tears streaming from her face when she belted out.
Despite being heartbroken, the singer is grateful for the experience of the relationship that's just ended. Estelle told Rap-Up TV she fell in love with the track as soon as she heard it. "By the time it got to the chorus I was damn near crying," she said. "It just resonated so much with me. I play it to my guy friends and they cry." Staying true to the mellow vibes of the song, Estelle creates a clip which deals with a heartbreak in the most classy of ways.
Though the cinematic video is being amped for the panache she maintains after learning her love interest, played by Tracey Dukes, is two-timing her, Estelle lets the lyrics speaks for itself. Instead of dwelling on her sadness, she decides to move on with her life and finds courage to tell the man who did her wrong to back off. "Thank you, cos now I know what I don't want," Estelle glams it up and tells a story of love lost in this Iren Sheffield-directed video, and it matches up well with the simplistic beauty of the song's intensity.
Nothing ruins a romantic dinner at a luxurious seafront mansion faster than a sidepiece who won't stop calling your phone. And that's exactly what happens to Estelle's love interest. So, Estelle gets fed up with the games and takes action. While giving a series of looks and a few intimate shots, Estelle searches for the strength to move on and move out. But she may have just been looking for the perfect outfit because she leaves her man high and dry while wearing a fur coat and slides him a message that keeps him thinking on her way out.

Josh Kelley professes his love to the tot with his actress wife Katherine Heigl in their newly-premiered heartwarming music video named after their daughter, "Naleigh Moon" adopted from South Korea in 2009. The couple embracing parenthood with lots of love. The 31-year-old country music singer wrote the song with the Nashville songwriter Clint Lagerberg, and it reflects his feelings after bringing Naleigh home.
The special ode song is taken from Kelley's seventh studio album "Georgia Clay," which was also his first Country effort. The genre allows him to record his most personal songs, like this one, which deals with starting a family and moving to Utah. "[It's] the prettiest song I've ever written in my life," Kelley said. Talking about the inspiration behind the song, he gushed, "She turned me into as selfless as I'm capable of being, from a pretty selfish dude to start with."
"Her name is Nancy Leigh Kelley and we push the Nancy and the Leigh together, and we call her Naleigh," Kelley continues. "And the 'moon' part of it comes from her original name, Mi-Eun. I'm too redneck to say that, so I just said 'moon.'" Kelley recorded the song "Naleigh Moon" as a tribute to his adopted baby girl and he turned the track into a family affair by featuring the three-year-old daughter in the clip and recruiting his wife to direct the project.
"The idea was to show how Naleigh changed our lives, Josh's life specifically," Heigl's directorial effort made it a family affair. The family's home clip opens with Kelley doing a performance with his band. Halfway through it, home footage of the couple's special moments with their daughter is flashed on the screen. It includes the one which sees the threesome enjoying a warm summer day and frolicking in the park. At the end of the song, a smiling Naleigh claps her hands and runs up to give her father a big hug.

The Scottish R&B singer Emeli Sandé continues to justify her buzz with a new promotional music video to her track "Next to Me," and giving fans a taste of every track from her forthcoming debut solo album "Our Version of Events," which hits shelves on February 13th. The golden voiced rising star's third single, "Next To Me," could, at first glance, be about a boy, or even be perhaps spiritual in its sentiment. In fact, according to her, was written about her true love – music.
As one of the masterminds behind Leona Lewis's "Glassheart," Sandé is one of the UK's fastest rising singer/songwriters. She admitted she was struggling to come to terms with her year so far. Her debut was written entirely by the 24-year-old herself, alongside her friend and producer Shahid 'Naughty Boy' Khan. Like many classic debut before it, Sandé's debut is a moment in musical time. Credible without attempting to be too cool, heartbroken yet crazy in love, the combo of heartfelt power ballads and mid tempo love songs gives the LP the cross over' appeal it needs to fare impressively in any of the markets it is released in.
The soulful Glaswegian songbird keeps it quite simple for the visual accompaniment to "Next To Me," which switches between shots of Sandé performing with her band and singing in front of a wall covered in newspaper clippings. The video is comprised mainly of her performing the song on a piano in an abandoned aircraft hanger with a drummer, spliced with straight to camera performance shots, but the simplicity of the visuals only amplifies the beauty of the single and Sandé's performance and this one could easily do as well.
Sandé is one of those artists who could sit on a bag of pampers while wearing a farmer's hat and the video would still be enjoyable because the music is just that good. This simplistic clip perfectly represented the raw appeal of Sandé as an artist who focuses on the material rather than relying on visuals and I found myself singing for its entire duration. This latest offering pertinently demonstrates that she's heading in the right direction.

Keith Urban has premiered new video on Access Hollywood Live for his current single, "You Gonna Fly," the fourth single for his gold-selling "Get Closer" album. The 44-year-old may be keeping quite after his recent surgery, but his new video is flying high! The country superstar just continues to put out catchy, well-written pop-country songs that spread like cooties, add "You Gonna Fly" to the contagion list.
"You Gonna Fly" retains many familiar features of a Urban hit - an uplifting melody, guitar shredding, along with a slick pop-centric arrangement with flourishes of country instrumentation - yet it also brings infectious instrumental hooks that ring fresh and original, showcasing Urban's formidable prowess with just about any instrument his hand finds. The delicious irony of this song is that by singing about lifting the spirits of someone special, Urban lifts our spirits.
The song writer suggested a lyric about a "blackbird with a broken wing hiding from the world", and wrote a song about a man convincing a woman that she will "fly with" him. In this aggression-heavy era of Eric Church and Jason Aldean, it's easy to take Urban's brand of swagger for granted. There's a deeper, transcendental quality to "You Gonna Fly" that floats quietly behind its metaphors and whistles – Urban hits on love's ability to lift us – "fly" us – to a different plane, spiritually and emotionally.
Lots of live, and a little bit of behind-the-scenes, footage makes up the new video, which looks back at Urban's Get Closer World Tour, and had him all over the map performing in packed arenas night after night. The video is also sprinkled with hidden messages, so Urban fans can put their skills to the test to see how many they can find. Urban and the director certainly made a common video treatment uncommon with their use of the lyrics!

Eli Young Band has premiered an emotional video for the latest single "Even if It Breaks Your Heart," the first track appears on their debut record with Republic Nashville, "Life At Best." The Denton, Texas, foursome is still riding high on and having enjoyed immense success this past year with their catchiest country single "Crazy Girl," that topped charts for the latter half of 2011, "Even if it Breaks Your Heart" has a lot of expectations to live up to.
Instantly familiar, the new tune gets a heartwarming and aesthetically-pleasing video treatment. It was difficult not to slobber with envy when we saw that wall full of "beat up, old guitars." This track is strongly reminiscent of their first release back in 2002. The soft rhythmic guitar intro reminds me a lot of "Show You How To Love Again," and as always, Mike Eli's voice resonates smooth, honest, and full of soul that is both surprising and comforting. The song is slightly reminiscent of the feel-good style of "Walking in Memphis," and the setting of the video perfectly encompasses that feel.
Filmed in Gruhn Guitars in downtown Nashville with the feel of a classic American country rock song, the Brian Lazzaro-directed video flashes between the band performing live in the shop and young people searching for fame and fortune in Nashville. It starts with what looks like a flashback of two young boys peeking and playing drums in the guitar shop, an older, more tattered guitar man from outside the shop comes into the shop to sell his guitar, as though he's just given up on the dream. But as he stands there with the fresh cash in hand, the boy comes up and gets him to autograph one of his records. And that changes everything. Inspired by this glimmer of a memory, the man hands back the money and picks his dream back up with a newfound hope.
"It's the message and the story of the band," drummer Chris Thompson told CMT. "It's twofold. Lyrically, the story relates to what the four of us have been through, developing our career - slowly, gradually building this thing. But the underlying message of the storyline is hope and optimism. We've always had a lot of hope and optimism in what we've done, and we've always believed in ourselves and tried to keep pushing to see what's around the corner. We're shooting for the next biggest thing, and I think that's the key to our success over a long amount of time together."

The hot trio behind the band, Gloriana, are setting Nashville on fire, and just premiered a new video for "(Kissed You) Good Night," the trio's first single from their upcoming sophomore studio album, "A Thousand Miles Left Behind." The track is slow paced song about trusting your impulses in love, and it is honest and relatable. It also so effectively takes one back to a nervous first kiss that it would be wise to wear gloves if listening while driving. Sweaty palms are liable to cause a traffic accident.
Gloriana's first single without Cheyenne Kimball, the loss of a member of any musical band can be a traumatic affair that may signal the end of the band's success, but for Gloriana it seems to have helped the band hone in on a strong sound which allows them to showcase male-female vocals in a way not dissimilar from what Thompson Square, Steel Magnolia, The Civil Wars and Lady Antebellum do. Always blessed with great harmonies, the now trio of brothers Tom and Mike Gossin along with Rachel Reinert still have great harmonies but now Reinert is allowed to shine a bit more, and she embraces it.
"'(Kissed You) Good Night'" is ultimately a song about courage and confidence – two things that we've all struggled with in life," said Tom. "It's a very relatable song that's great to perform live because you can just tell it strikes a chord with people." Anyone who's ever been in a relationship before will certainly relate to the emotion found in "(Kissed You) Goodbye" and the song goes a long way to prove that Gloriana will be like Sugarland and move on from the loss of a member with grace and ultimately, even more success.
Shot last month in Franklin, TN, the TK McKamy-directed clip stars Tyler Hilton and his real-life girlfriend and actress, Megan Park. It opens with Tom singing about that moment of a budding relationship where a guy instantly regrets not making the move to kiss the girl he just had a great evening with and by the end of the chorus, he goes to the door and she's there waiting for him to kiss her. Reinert sings her verse by telling her story of the butterfly-inducing moment of the relationship. It's an effective telling of how a first kiss can be a nervous affair but in the end it is those nervous moments that make life worth living.

Snow Patrol excited to kick off 2012 with the premiere of their latest video for the steadily cresting theme "In The End," off the group's just-released sixth studio album "Fallen Empires," on which this Irish alt-rock band couldn't sound more heavy-hearted. Based in Galsgow, Snow Patrol is a critically acclaimed alternative rock band, and has enjoyed commercial success in both the UK as well as North America.
"In The End," with its falsetto vocals and climactic guitar riffs, sounds as familiar as any of the band’s past hits. The frontman recently stopped by Billboard.com's New York studio and explained: "This song is about kind of realizing what the truth is; realizing, kinda like 'Life-ning,' all that matters is having love in your life, be it family, friends, a girlfriend or boyfriend and that everything can be boiled down to that and maybe that is the meaning of life." Lightbody makes a statement of principle in the form of a rhetorical question: "In the end/ There's nothing more to life than love, is there?"
While the glittery dance of punchy bass and guitar of "In The End" find the band incorporating the electro elements a bit more conservatively with great results, for much of the album they abandon them altogether. Snow Patrol takes a trip into the past with big band era-inspired visuals which giving a look at a very elegant and dapper lead vocalist Gary Lightbody slicks back his hair and opts for a formal tuxedo when performing with his band in an empty theater.
Together, they provide a soundtrack for two dancers who gracefully glide around the stage and show off a passionate delivery for their imaginary crowd. "My idea was to make an MGM musical style video," Lightbody explained. "The incredible Brett Simon again took my kernel of an idea scrawled drunkenly on the back of a cocktail napkin and turned it into something truly magical and way beyond anything I could have imagined or hoped for."

British boy band One Direction have unveiled the music video for their latest single "One Thing," the third cut from boys' debut album, "Up All Night," which delivers a toe-tapping, Pink-meets-McFly mash-up with a breezy guitar pop melody. The boyband, who claimed their fame after participating on 'The X Factor' season 7, hop a bus and travel to various spots in town.
The super catchy song finds them declaring to a girl that she's got that 'one thing' they need. The track was written by X Factor vocal coach Kotecha and Swedish songwriters Carl Falk and Rami Yacoub. The same trio also penned One Direction's debut single, "What Makes You Beautiful." The use of holding back notes in rhythm gives us as listeners, a different kind of vibe to usual pop rhythms we are accustomed to hearing from boyband.
It's clear that One Direction had only one thing on their minds when they filmed their first new promo last November, and involved a selected group of fans in the UK after traveling to California and New York for their previous two efforts. The video is a pretty adorable glimpse into the five-piece boy band's typical day, and it transforms the song from a lovesick plea to an oblivious girl into an ode to London town.
During a recent interview on Capital FM, Harry Styles said of the video concept, "It was literally us being idiots around London for a day and we filmed it." Captures a day in the life of the UK X Factor alumni, from cruising around London to serenading screaming girls, the clip opens with the boys in suits, posing on a concrete staircase in front of their scarlet red double decker tour bus, altering their positions and singing to the camera. The boys then ride bus, greet their giggling female fans and treat them to an impromptu performance. Later they ride bikes, weave in and out of sculptures and just generally look like they're having a blast.

The Grammy and Oscar-nominated singer Josh Groban has premiered his new, official visual for the Rick Rubin production, "If I Walk Away" exclusively on AOL Music Thursday. "If I Walk Away" is taken from singer's latest fifth album, "Illuminations." As Groban mentioned in his video blog earlier this week, his brother, Chris Groban directed and filmed the video during his latest tour, which 30-year-old told the camera: "I was very moved by it and I hope you are too."
With his flawless lyrical baritone, Groban is known around the world as a classically influenced pop singer. It seems no one knew what to expect when Groban teamed with super-producer Rick Rubin for album, "Illuminations." Fittingly, the results both defy and exceed any possible expectations as each of the collaborators stepped out of his zone and together they created an entirely new zone, one where folk meets classical, where art meets intimacy, where immediacy meets timelessness and where, most importantly, Groban was free to express himself more fully, more truly than ever before.
Fans are treated to a deeply personal side of Groban in his newest video for the track, "If I Walk Away." The visuals, shot by Groban's own brother during the singer's recent tour, capture Groban behind the scenes and in his own element as he travels from city to city. "My brother Chris shot this video during my tour this past year," Groban tells AOL Music of his newest creation. "It's my favorite video to date and I'm excited for everyone to see it."
The Rick Rubin-produced track is pure Groban, and we think the moody video is the perfect companion to the emotional song. That the New England Aquarium's harbor seals, sea jellies, Giant Ocean Tank and harbor view have a starring role in Groban's new video. The documentary-type footage for the brooding ballad was shot in July, and Chris filmed footage from on the road as we as live footage from the tour, and was shot in black and white.

Luke Bryan has released a music video for his certified gold, "I Don't Want This Night to End," the second single from Country star's latest third record, "Tailgates and Tanlines." It's such a fun song about a careless night that you never want to forget! The story behind the video is that of a country music star setting himself up for heartbreak as he falls in love with the new girl in town. Apparently by the end of the video you'll have an unanswered question though.
"I Don't Want This Night To End," sets a mood and a vibe that certainly befits a song that is perfect to start off a concert or encore portion of a concert. The mid-tempo intro features moody electric guitars guiding a progressive back line as Bryan vividly paints the story with lyrics about being in the moment of a new relationship. And while it'd be easy to read into the lyrics more, there really isn't anything more to them than telling a story of one night with a new 'could be' flame. Nothing more, nothing less.
Ends up digging a little deeper than the fun club song, the track is his story of a first date gone right. It's still catchy, but it also pushes anyone in a happy relationship to think of that first stolen kiss. A chance meeting leads to a night they will never forget. But is that the end of their story? The 35-year-old told The Boot: "It's about a guy meeting a girl, and it's the first night that they're hanging out. It's a magical night and he doesn't want it to end. It's got a big fun chorus in it."
Bryan once again teamed up with Tacklebox Films director Shaun Silva for the video, which is considered "Part One" of a two-part music video saga, and finds Bryan portraying a Country music star who falls for a new girl(Cameron Richardson) in town, while he is on a rare break at home from the road. Bryan then falls for the young lady. "It's really cool to write a song and then act out a part for the video," the Georgia native said about his role. We will have to wait for the sequel to find out if the romance is a fleeting encounter or the spark of true love.

Nerina Pallot is kicking 2012 off with a new music video for fan favorite "All Bets Are Off," the third cut and is one of the most soulful, passionate tracks from her stellar fourth studio LP, "Year of The Wolf," in the same she talks about a Love Affair, which showcases her sweet vocals combined with the regret of a failing love affair. The album shows exactly why Pallot is one of the UK's finest and most in-demand songwriters.
Pallot's career to date hasn't exactly been smooth. Written by herself, the new single "All Bets Are Off" has become a live favorite with fans on Pallot's UK tour this year, which strips away all extraneous detail, leaving just Pallot and her piano."'All Bets Are Off' is about the beginning of the end of a love affair," explains the 36-year-old. "When you know its over but you keep hoping for a miracle that never arrives."
Revolving in the languishing string-laced grandeur of strings and classy retro-pop flavors, the track is the crystallization of everything the album stands as a beautiful personification of human emotion and every aspect it can betray of ourselves. As the unexpected little harp refrain creeps in at the tail end of the track, you're left with an intense, aching longing. It's like the last days of Christmas, as the tree comes down and work beckons again - those few dreamy weeks cut short once again.
Beautifully shot with Pallot on horseback, while snow falls quietly around her, the delicate, snowy video makes us wish it was still Christmas, the smell of roast dinner and pine trees wafting through the air. With good company and good cheer warming our hearts. Pallot is currently spending a lot of time in Germany where she starred as a guest mentor on German talent show 'The Voice.' where she was reduced to tears by the performers. This simple and affecting performance should hopefully put Pallot's career back on track.

And The Giraffe, the two-piece, dream-pop outfit, recently released the official music video for "Underground Love," the first song taken from the band's excellent debut EP, "Something for Someone." From central Florida, the alternative pop duo is made up of best friends, Nick Roberts and Josh Morris. Together they make ambient dream-folk music with melodic bass lines and beautiful sax that has an excellent sound and great lyrics.
The EP. a dreamy and ambient piece in every sense of the word, is very relaxing from beginning to finish with both Morris and Roberts showcasing their vocal and instrumental talents evenly throughout. "Underground Love" opens the album with a soft electric guitar that echoes throughout the background. Everything about this band, right down to the album title that evokes a sense of longing and lost, is beautifully sensitive. The video fits the song perfectly.
The Harrison Sanborn-directed video depicts the journey of a tiny package as it travels from various hands until it reaches its final destination into the possession of a dashing lady in red. The sound of frontman Roberts' soft vocals sets a dreamy tone throughout the video up to its lighthearted ending. According to Roberts, the video was shot over the course of two days in Los Angeles, and on a budget of only $0. "[We] only ended up spending money on food and parking," he said.
And The Giraffe as an example of heartfelt, organic music. These guys are playing for pleasure, and the passion shows through. It's music from the heart, for the heart. "Underground Love" is a song that roots itself to your brain and stays with you. We all lead pretty busy lives, so it's great that bands like And The Giraffe create music that makes you reflect, even if it's just for a few minutes. Very Bon Iver-esque, their tunes are great for a relaxing day, working through a hangover, or many other occasions.

Teamed up with another UK artist Pixie Lott, Tinchy Stryder has unveiled a new music video for his latest cut "Bright Lights," the third single from UK Rapper's upcoming 4th LP "Full Tank," which is due for release this year. An alternate version of the track, entitled "Bright Lights (Good Life) Part II," also features on Lott's recent sophomore record "Young, Foolish, Happy," which has little of the magic that characterized her debut's highs and Lott opts for a more soulful direction this time around, something that works better with her wind tunnel of a vocal.
Ever since he dropped his latest EP "The Wish List" on Christmas Eve, Stryder, the up-and-coming musician has been on everybody's radar, and returns with another one aimed at the pop charts. Stryder has been burning the UK music scene up, and today is no exception. Stryder succumbs to Lott's charm in ale Rage Ratseghini-directed Video, the 25-year-old talented MC hooks up with 20-year-old sexy pop princess reminiscing over his career so far with Lott singing alongside him.
Follow up to "Off The Record" with Calvin Harris, "Bright Lights," is a more beat-heavy vibe with pop/dance perfection. Big hooks, a bold chorus intertwined perfectly with Stryder's accomplished delivery guarantees that yet again, the star in the hood is onto another winner. It's the latest in a long line of collaborations for Stryder, who will no doubt be hoping to replicate the success of his previous collaborations with N-Dubz and Sugababes' Amelle Berrabah. Stryder is hoping to up his game with his fourth album.
"Bright Lights" is exactly the kind of record that highlights why Stryder remains relevant. The tuneful piano chords and strings drive a classic Lott chorus, the kind of indelible melody that ensured that even if you hated the likes of All About Tonight, you eventually succumbed to its impossible charms. "Bright Lights" feels like an anthem to new horizons, the very best of second chances, and for both these artists, Stryder and Lott, it could just be the record to revitalize and refresh.

As American Idol begins ramping up to its season premiere, the last year's runner-up Lauren Alaina struts her way through the feisty new video for her second single, "Georgia Peaches." The Georgia native has a blast hanging out at a diner with her closest friends to celebrate her southern sassiness. She shows off her inner sassy self, immediately catching the attention of some cute guys who've been hanging out in there.
The slimmed-down country cutie sasses it up as she dances along to the high-energy track. Alaina, 17, continues to grow more confident in front of the camera and the super catchy song, from her debut, "Wildflower," is a fun, upbeat ditty that is meant to brighten up a winter's day. "The song just spoke to me when I heard it. I felt like I could have written it myself. I am a proud Georgia Peach!"
The track shows off Alaina's fun side, but also adds a rougher edge that listeners would not have expected from the girl on the beautified cover art. Clearly, the songwriters, Mallary Hope, Blair Daly and Rachel Proctor, penned this up-tempo Country-Rock tune with the young Georgia native in mind. "It's one of my favorites on the album. It is uptempo and a song that everyone can dance to. It's great because it says there is nothing sweeter than Georgia peaches, and in the bridge it welcomes people in who aren't from Georgia," said Alaina.
Its accompanying music video was shot at the Sylvan Park Melrose, a restaurant in Nashville. Talking about the video, Alaina explained, "I kind of have to learn how to sassy walk, they don't like redneck walkin'. I just have to shake my booty a little bit, I guess." The sassy, silly and innocuous clip, which features the Idol alum at the center of one knee-slappin' good time at a neighborhood diner, reveals the singer's sneaky and bold personality, as well as her new trimmed down figure.

Dawn Richard, most commonly known as the former Danity Kane member turned one-third of Diddy Dirty Money, is looking to launch her solo career with her official music video for her new solo single "#SMFU (Save Me From You)," the lead single off her upcoming album "GoldenHeart," the first in a trilogy of solo debut albums. Showing off her vulnerable side, the soulful ballad itself is a slow burner, but at the core is Richard's distinct vocal timbre, something that always made her stand out.
The New Orleans native, is emotionally wounded in the black-and-white visual. Despite having gone solo, she reunites with five other dancers, four as backups in chorus scenes and another beside her during verses, which gives the video an interpretive feel rather than a linear storyline. One wonders if Richard is talking about her disbanded buddies in the Druski-produced short film.
"I don't need your protection from danger/I don't need you to shield from harm/I don't need you to save me from a robbery/When you are the one whose stolen my heart," sings Richard, with her pain-filled vocals. The 28-year-old R&B star cries her heart out in the emotional clip, which shows a vulnerable Richard gazing into the camera as tears run down her face: "I'm tired of waiting, I'm tired of calling/Only for you to let me down/My heart is vacant, no more tears falling." Beside shedding tears, Richard also busts a move with her girl friends.
The video compliments this heartfelt ballad nicely. The singer explained the video concept: "I was going through something really, really bad and instead of me trying to keep things private, I like to give my vulnerability, make it strong, and put it out there," she said. "And I feel like there's a lot of people who pretend to be a hero, but they really are the villains in this story. From female to dude, ya'll can relate to that. Whether it's your best friend, your boss, or just the person standing next to you, and I wanted to tell that story. That the hero isn't always what you think he is or she is."

Chris Brown is back and this time he is not smashing windows. Instead, he is stripping in his new wintery video for his synth-anchored track, "Strip," serve as one of the campaign's lead singles along with "Biggest Fan," from his upcoming fifth studio album, "Fortune," which is expected to land in March. The track was also appears on his latest rap-only mixtape "Boy In Detention." While Brown continues his side hustle as a rapper, the recently released "Strip" proves he's not abandoning his R&B leanings anytime soon.
Produced by Tha Bizness that features Brown's partner-in-rhyme rapper Kevin 'K-Mac' McCall, "Strip" finds Brown singing compliments to a stripper before inviting her back to his place. The R&B song features booty-bouncing mix of pulsing beats and '90s-styled melodies. It's a bouncy synth-heavy track with Brown crooning sophomoric double entendres to a stripper that, if he was in high school, would lead him into a lifetime of detention.
There may be lightly falling snowflakes in the Collin Tilley-directed visuals for Brown's scintillating strip club tune, but the clip is steaming hot. The Virginia native delivers a clip set in a snow capped mountain locale. The cold outside can't beat the heat inside a spacious pad where he's surrounded by women frolicking around in bras and panties while others play a game of spin the bottle. The most surprising element of the video is the look of surprise on Brown’s face when they follow his instructions.
The video is perfectly apt for the light-hearted lyrics of the song. It opens with a shot of Brown standing on a mountain wearing a winter jacket, cap and shorts. It then switches to a house party where the 22-year-old blond superstar, along with collaborator McCall, dancing and posing with his shirt off in a room brimming over with scantily-clad women, and later next to a hot tub of vixens clad in barely-there bikinis as snow begins to fall.

New York-based indie pop band FUN. have dropped a beautifully-made music video for "We Are Young." The first must-see music video of 2012 is a gorgeous, gasp-inducing thing, a swirling, slow-motion snow globe of imagery that gradually envelops the band, and guest vocalist Janelle Monáe, who recorded her vocals in Europe then sent them over to the band, who later in the year supported the singer on her Campus Consciousness Tour. This, apparently, is what FUN. looks like.
Formed by frontman Nate Ruess in 2008, the three seasoned musicians immediately wrote and recorded their debut album, "Aim and Ignite," and FUN. subsequently supported various bands like Paramore, Panic! At the Disco and Jack's Mannequin and secured a spot in an Expedia commercial with their song "Walking The Dog." The eye-catching clip and bombastic new single lead up to the release of their upcoming sophomore album, "Some Nights," FUN. serves notice that 2012 may very well be their breakout year.
"We Are Young," a depiction of the message of solidarity and celebration of the underdog that warrants the track's "anthemic" label. The song it's promoting is actually really good too - a big, bold ballad that just keeps building and building, one that manages to capture both the wide-eyed optimism and the burgeoning, world-weary pessimism of millennial youth. Slightly touching, sublimely pretty, the rare marriage of style and substance, you will pump your fists to it, send your bodies sailing to it, cry to it and, most importantly, shout along to its anthemic chorus.
The Marc Klasfeld-directed clip sees the pop-rock group performing the song at a bar and their show goes on uninterrupted although the bar where they perform turns into a total chaos due to a violent brawl when people start to pick up a fight and attack each other, but the band are undeterred by the brawl and continue their show as if nothing happens. he 26-year-old Alternative Soul singer Monáe is also wearing her signature starched tuxedo and immaculately-coiffed hair, she appears in the middle of the bar fight standing motionless.

Professor Green plays a sweet loverboy in his new music video for "Never Be A Right Time," the third single featured in English rapper's recent released exceptional sophomore album, "At Your Inconvenience," a story that is easy for anyone in a relationship to relate to, and sees the singer reuniting with regular collaborator Ed Drewitt as guest vocals.
The 'Read All About It' rapper firmly established himself as one of the UK's most exciting new talents around when his debut album "Alive Till I'm Dead" crashed into the charts at No.2. Green is joined in the studio by a live band and backing singers for the recording of the track, which sounds very Mike Skinner-esque. And yes, that's a massive compliment because he's a legend in our eyes and it's worth noting that Green is on his way to greatness too.
Fresh from the chart-topping success of his single "Read All About It," the 28-year-old rapper is back with yet another top notch tune, "Never Be A Right Time," and it sees him going through he turmoil of deciding when to break up with his girlfriend, and struggling to find the right moment to end his crumbling relationship. It's a nice chill out track.
The highs and lows that come with a relationship are portrayed in the soppy video and is a nice accompaniment to the track. A change of pace for the cocky word smith as Green gets all soft and gooey on his new track "Never Be A Right Time." The Hackney native laments over the complications in trying to tell a loved one its over, its all wonderfully emotive and perfect for this time of year, especially if thinking about breaking up with your girlfriend during the winter months is your thang.

Rocking a perturbing new hairstyle, Sean Paul is back with a new video. When he came in to the WiLD studio, he said he was working on something his fans would love! The Jamaican pop rap and reggae singer gets to live every guy's most outrageous fantasy on his second video for the trance-inspired dance-floor track "She Doesn't Mind," the second single from the Jamaican recording artist's forthcoming fifth studio album, "Tomahawk Technique."
Paul channels his inner Akon in this synth-heavy attempt at crossover success with "She Doesn't Mind." The dancehall beat track, a fusion of electro-pop and Hip Hop, again has the infectious vibe Paul runs with but with a tinge of Electro making the track sound averagely good. While his previous infectious, dancehall attempt with Alexis Jordan did not impact the US charts, this might due to the fantastic video it accompanies.
The 38-year-old dancehall superstar transforms himself into a clubber with this trance-inspired high-energy dance anthem. The song finds the Jamaican singer instructing girls on the dance floor how to get a guy's attention. The song was co-written and produced by the Dance-Pop hitmaker Benny Blanco, whose impressive resume includes Katy Perry's "I Kissed a Girl," Ke$ha's "TiK ToK" and Bruno Mars'"Grenade." The clip is just roar! The ladies aren't scanty but certain things that happen during the video says that she doesn't mind. Paul sexes up TSA in the Evan Winter-directed video.
The dancehall star sends his female partner-in-crime through security, where she is frisked by a female attendant, but neither seems to mind. Meanwhile, he waits in the airport as the female flight attendants cater to his needs. "The main concept of the video is that we've all been through security, we all know it starts to feel a little personal perhaps when they start patting you down and doing that whole thing," explained by Winter. "We decided to take it a little ways extra and make it so that we get a little sexy with going through security." You'll never look at airport security the same way.