Today's Pick

Olly Murs has hooked-up with the Whistle rapper Flo Rida and is stirring up some trouble in the cheeky new video for his latest track, "Troublemaker" the lead single from the 28-year-old British pop star' upcoming third studio album, "Right Place Right Time," available in the UK on November 26 and the US on December 4. But not like album's tile, the X Factor popstar finds himself in the wrong place at the wrong time in his new video.
"Troublemaker," has a very late-'90s, early-'00s vibe, is an incredibly catchy, fun and pure pop anthem, which Murs co-wrote with Claude Kelly and Steve Robson. It also has a '70s, disco beat, but it's tempered by Murs' silky smooth tone and delivery. That is, it never sounds retro. It's absolutely modern, despite a backbeat from another sonic era. Lyrically Murs has said that the song is about "that special girl that you can't shake off, even if you know you should because, let's face it, she's got a bit of a wild side." The lyrical hook that features the title has us wanting to make trouble.
Speaking about the unlikely collaboration, Murs recently explained that Rida was immediately interested in working with him and signed up after hearing the track: "Getting Flo Rida on the record was kind of easy, in a way. [It] wasn't hard." The two already collaborated together on track "Heart Skips A Beat." The album title reflects the way everything has fitted in place for the British star to date. "'Right Place, Right Time' as a title sums up my career to this point," he said. "I've worked hard in everything I've done, doing what's felt right, and everything has fit into place. It sums up the sentiment for this whole album."
The playful video features Murs following an unfortunate young lady around and causing her to fall victim to all kinds of mishaps, and by coincidence, she keeps crossing paths with Murs. The pair are then seen in a nightclub where a fight breaks out after a tray of drinks is knocked over, and they make a run for it before being stopped by a burly security guard. Rida briefly shows up to drop his bars, is seen in a billboard on a beach next to a luxury car with two scantily dressed clad women perched inside in a sunny American city.

After wowing audiences across the US with her No.1 LP "Ora," British singer-songwriter Rita Ora heads to her hometown of Pristina, Kosovo, and parties with the city to delivers her fourth music video this year by way of "Shine Ya Light," the third UK single off her debut album, and will be fourth single in US. Ora is clearly an even bigger star in her hometown than she is everywhere else, and she turned the town upside down when she returned to her native hometown and it's good to get a closer look at her roots!
The Roc Nation singer has come a long way since being introduced to New York's Z100 radio station back in February with her boss Jay-Z. Often compared to Rihanna, the UK-based blonde bombshell seems to be finally stepping out from under Rihanna's shadow, and steps out in her own way for her new video "Shine Ya Light." Ora may be a worldwide pop superstar now, but she hasn't forgotten where she comes from. To prove it, she returned to her birthplace to celebrate her success with the locals. "I can't explain to you what this means," said Ora, who was overcome with emotion during her journey home. “This is the only place I wanted to shoot my video.”
The lyrics were inspired by Ora to dubstep and remix, the phrase "Shine Ya Light" was expression by Ora to find something which took several years to come when her debut album was released. Ora told The Boombox why she decided to record this reggae-flavored track. "'Shine Ya Light' was one of those songs that I wanted to do that came from a different kind of world," she explained. "You can hear my influences in it. Reggae is one of my big influences. I love mixing and matching genres. That's who I am. It feels good. It reminds me of an anthem."
Jay's protegee made an emotional return to the country of her birth like a Queen and shines bright in Emil Nava-directed video. But the video isn't a sombre affair - the 21-year-old struggles to stay dressed as she channels her in inner bad girl to ride through the streets on the back of a motorcycle and gets a police escort. Wearing her signature beanie, red lips and thigh-high stiletto boots. After warmly greeting her hometown fans, she performs near the Newborn monument with a breath-taking view of her town, symbolizing a sense of pride and accomplishment for her country.Enjoy her triumphant homecoming.

Carly Rae Jepsen and her friends blow kisses to the camera in the just-released new video for her mid-tempo single, "This Kiss," the third single taken from her second studio album and first international release, "Kiss." The 'Call Me Maybe' singer is well on her way to becoming an incredibly successful Canadian pop star - just like her mentor, Justin Bieber. Can you imagine how proud Canadians must be of this 26-year-old whose sound is crisp and clear and whose lyrics are nothing if not clean and fun?
As sweet and as cavity-causing as 'Call Me Maybe,' Jepsen wrote with LMFAO's RedFoo and her boyfriend Matthew Koma, "This Kiss" is a catchy modern disco-pop number which lyrically speaks about a kiss being something Jepsen can't resist and as undeniable as the lips of the lyrical object of affection who isn't the boy she has back home with despite the fact both of them are engaged in relationships with others. Jepsen's vocals on the track have a girly feel that endears her to young pop fans. Sure this one will monopolize the airwaves like her last song, but with the dance beat and vocal effects, Jepsen is going for dance floor domination as well.
Jepsen explained to MTV News why she named her album after this track. "I was at an interview once, and someone just came out and asked me, 'What's your album going to be called?' and I was like, 'Kiss', and that was how I decided," she explained."It really is an album about love, flirtation and the beginnings of things and it felt like it really suited it. There's a track called 'This Kiss' on the album, which I think is probably my favorite song so that's probably why."
Directed by Justin Francis, the concept for the "This Kiss" music video is girls night out and they'll party like there's no tomorrow. The video featuring Jepsen hits up a lively Halloween bash with her girlfriends, put on their best clothes, get pretty, and get to this super hipster nightclub on a Fiat 500, where Jepsen performing the track at a party, and enjoying a photo shoot with friends before running off with a photographer in a grey beanie. The video ends with the pair jumping into a swimming pool with him and kissing underwater.

Nicki Minaj has premiered a brand new music video for her dance tune, "Va Va Voom" exclusively on E! News, and it's safe to say this video has something for everyone. Minaj typically uses a few key ingredients in her super sexy music videos: outrageous costumes, plenty of bright wigs, and water. Well, her latest effort has all that plus unicorns and princesses. Some might say this is the jackpot.
Musically, "Va Va Voom," is a dance-pop song along with electropop influences. Lyrically, the song talks about seduction finds Minaj playing the temptress atop some delicious dub-lite pulsations, and sexual activity towards a male. The track, serves as the lead single of "Pink Friday: Roman Reloaded - The Re-Up," received very positive reviews from music critics, praising the crossover music from Minaj's experiments with pop and hip-hop music, along with it being catchy and radio-friendly.
The song, is one of those tunes which will catch the ears first before fans perk up for a closer listen. That's where the trouble begins. The message, on the outside, seems to be about a fairy tale princess finally meeting her dream guy. The second time around, it's more obvious it's about stealing her prince away from another, no matter the cost. It doesn't really matter that Minaj is advocating daytime talk show tactics. What matters now is the fact that this irresistible song will be booming out from woofers thumping dance floors all around the world for the next few months.
The rap queen nevertheless gets her fairytale princess on in the sun-soaked Hype Williams-directed video, which features the 29-year-old singer going through a series of fairy tales and Unicorns, as Minaj dances in the woods with a hunky huntsman in a sparkly pantsless number, wears a hat that looks like a horse's head, gets attacked then rescued from a glass box like 'Snow White,' and finally morphs into the sexiest evil queen we've ever seen. The final scene portrays her prince finding a magic mirror in the forest which has a curvaceous Wicked Queen in the mirror who flirts with the prince.

In honor of her 27th birthday on Thursday, Ciara throws a dance party in her new video for "Got Me Good," the second single off her upcoming fifth studio album, "One Woman Army." The sexy singer celebrated her big day and premiered the video on the Sony Board across from the Hard Rock Cafe in Times Square earlier in the evening. A white-hot singer rides in her black Jeep Wrangler and dances in the desert in her new performance-heavy clip. "Today was nothing but dancing and dancing and more dancing," singer tells MTV News from the video's set.
The dance floor-ready record was produced by Rodney 'Darkchild' Jerkins. Despite the song being staler than moldy cheese, she dances the hell out of it anyway in a California desert. With its relentless drum track, sounds a lot like something Janet Jackson might have recorded in her Rhythm Nation days. Which is, of course, a compliment. As Ciara said on the uptempo track: "I just want people walking away feeling good. When they hear this song, I want them to be inspired and motivated to dance and be free and love."
Directed by Joseph Kahn, the high-octane clip is parched, dry and shot in the blazing hot California desert, and Ciara worked up a sweat while busting out some new moves with her dancers and "America's Best Dance Crew" alum 8 Flavahs. The clip is a very '90s high-budget production and a perfect metaphor for her current state of affairs. The choreography was executed brilliantly as usual, and Kahn put her impressive fancy footwork skills at the forefront and she managed to finally do a dance routine without breaking out her trusty matrix move.
"It's turned up," the R&B songstress describes of the video's sick stylings. "It was so much energy. We actually rocked in the desert and it was like 108 degrees," Ciara told Rap-Up.com. "It was so hot, but I feel like the energy of dance and working with 8 Flavahz and my dancers just kinda kept me really upbeat. I didn't even recognize how hot it was and I thank God for the umbrella man because he also saved me." This is fire. It doesn't really tell have a story line, but Kahn helped Ciara flaunt those booty-shaking skills and bangin' bod she's become known for.

New York-based indie pop band, Fun., is back with a new set of visuals for their upbeat, hopeful ballad "Carry On," the third single off trio's gold-certified sophomore album, "Some Nights." Unlike most of their previous videos, this one has more of a 'happy' feel to it, featuring the band go on a night of merry-making and sold-out performances in the Big Apple, the city that never sleeps. "Some nights" are better than others - especially when Fun. is involved.
The uplifting, mid-tempo anthem has a slow and melancholic start with a solitary piano, but by the time it reaches its chorus, it is both inspirational and uplifting. Add in a rocking guitar solo and some well timed high-fives in the video and you've got the perfect after-party singalong. It may not reach the dizzy heights of "We Are Young" in terms of its infectiousness and worldwide success, but it's pretty anthemic all the same. It's a tale of both sadness and hope. The slower verses tell the story of situations that could've broken them, while the upbeat chorus is about carrying on.
Fun., the quirky pop-rockers pay tribute to themselves, and takes a breather from their signature, up-beat repertoire to introduce new song, "Carry On." It's a gorgeous departure from the norm, with a slightly anthemic tone and a sound that only gets bigger as it progresses. Frontman Nate Ruess will blow you away with those vocals, and the guitar solo takes pop-rock music to new magnitudes. If the members of Fun. are anything like their band's name, they surely share plenty of good times among themselves.
The Anthony Mandler-directed clip almost plays like a love song to the city. Contrary to their break out video for "We Are Young," which was blissful and dreamlike, the new video for their Broadway-meets-Journey pub-closer "Carry On" shows a much more realistic peek at what goes on in the lives of band members on tour. Split between a raucous performance and a wild night out, Fun.'s new video celebrates the track's never-say-die spirit. It's nice to see the boys are still as young as they claimed to be in their breakout single, drinking and acting their age.

After being away from the limelight for some time, Enrique Iglesias is making his presence felt on the dance floor once again with another erotic steamy video for his single, "Finally Found You," featuring rapper 'Boston's Boy' Sammy Adams. The up-tempo single is the lead single released from the 36-year-old Latin-America superstar' upcoming 2013 release tenth studio album and second bilingual album, "Reloaded."
"Finally Found You," is a different feel for Iglesias, and it fuses elements from the pop, electronic, house, and hip-hop worlds. Lyrically, it talks about finally finding the girl of his dreams, and sees the Latin crooner asking his object of affection to ignore the advice of her friends and to stick with him till the end. Iglesias's vocals are heavily processed throughout the song. According to Iglesias, the song makes him "feel like a child again."
The clubby track mixes upbeat club scenes, delightful play of lights and heartfelt lyrics with propulsive dance fireworks, and the video similarly juxtaposes Iglesias sadly recalling memories of a childhood sweetheart. As he showed us in the official cover for the single, the new clip is the tale of a lifelong love plays out and shows the "little Iglesias," who remembers his first love, which comes alive in the present.
The sizzling video, directed by Diego Hurtado de Mendoza, and filmed in Los Angeles, starts off adorably enough with an innocent game of hide and seek between a young Iglesias and his sweetheart as it tells the story of a young boy's unrequited love with a girl. Life quickly fast forwards, and once Adams jumps in with his rap, Iglesias strutting into a nightclub where he unexpectedly reunites with his childhood love for a very different and naughty game and turns into in steamy passion-filled clip with make-out scenes of their full-blown now adult fling. The boy grows up and finally found his lost crush and plenty of love-making ensues.

Taylor Swift's newest romantic video for her post-break-up song, "Begin Again," was leaked earlier on GAC-TV and Telly on Tuesday, the same day her newly released fourth studio album, "Red," which is raw, emotional and continues her trademark style of writing honest songs about love, significant and kind of damaging relationships. The 22-year-old seems more confident now about her huge ambition and success, although she remains typically self-deprecating about her romantic life. "It's gonna be, like, a love letter to Paris," Swift told MTV News about the new clip.
Swift often comes under some heat for her lyrics, which can sometimes veer into the junior notebook doodle arena, but the girl is growing up. In an ode to a new romance, Swift paints a vivid picture of a first date following a rough breakup in "Begin Again," and she sounds like a young woman. The country-tinged, soft ballad chronicles the start of a new relationship - one that comes eight months after a breakup which Swift says left her feeling like "all love ever does is break and burn and end."
The male subject of the tune remains a mystery, the song, a well-crafted love story, finds the Country-Pop star singing about a girl embarking on a first date after getting over a bad relationship. The new guy turns out to have a lot of qualities that her ex didn't have. She explained: "It's actually a song about when you've gotten through a really bad relationship and you finally dust yourself off and go on that first date after a horrible break up. And the vulnerability that goes along with all of that."
Perfectly suit the lyrics, the new clip is a sweet, vintage video shot in Paris, and sees Swift turned plenty of heads as she pedaled on her vintage bike around the French capital in a retro skirt and blouse and oversized red sunglasses. The change of clothes leads to a change in mood for this artistic video, which Swift finds herself going from mopey and melancholy, to hopeful and optimistic about love's possibilities, when the country music beauty sitting alone in a cafe before a well-suited guy walks towards her. The scenery and flow of the video is fantastic, but we should expect nothing less from Swift who knowing how to keep her core audience happy, and that is exactly what "Begin Again" accomplishes.

In conjunction with the video game "Medal of Honor Warfighter," Linkin Park released the music video for game's promotional single, "Castle of Glass," which is also taken from American rock band's fifth studio album, "Living Things." The game, due in stores today, is inspired by actual events and true stories across the globe and written by Tier 1 Operators while deployed overseas, follow the global Warfighters as they are asked to take on a real terror threat, PETN.
The darker cut "Castle of Glass" all feature very different electronic elements from the band's previous studio album, "A Thousand Suns," and unique sounding samples that the band have added to their musical palette. This moody, atmospheric rocker begins with a genial chugging that sounds downright countrified, and has lyrics about being but a small crack in the 'Castle of Glass,' with a lulling resignation that illustrating both belonging and futility. The song was born out of Linkin Park's less-than-traditional methods of recording. with band's muscle, it uses compelling songwriting, extended metaphors and a simple but radical arrangement to offer one of the album's most intriguing tracks.
True to the 'Medal of Honor' philosophy, "Castle of Glass" highlights the emotional realities soldiers and their families face far from the battlefield, which explores the personal side of war, and the many sacrifices they and their families make. "This album tends to be a little more of a personal record, compared to the last record, which I guess I would say was a little more political. And this song is an example of that; the lyrics can have multiple meanings, be it a soldier's story [or] an individual at home, dealing with a personal relationship," Mike Shinoda said. “[And the video] is really mostly narrative; and it’s kind of the story of the families and the soldiers that this game is based on."
The video was a direct collaboration between Linkin Park and EA, and features a unique mix of live action footage edited with gameplay recordings taken from "Medal of Honor Warfighter." It illustrates the heartbreaking cycle on war on families. The band's part of the video was filmed entirely in front of a green screen, and the band is shown playing with a storm where shattered pieces of glass circle the band with the production being handled by Mothership and Digital Domain. The video ends with a quote from Winston Churchill, with all-caps:"All great things are simple, and many can be expressed in single words: freedom, justice, honor, duty, mercy, hope."

British all-female Pop belles Girls Aloud are back. After a three-year hiatus, the five-piece have tantalized their fans with a glimpse of their long-awaited new music video for their high octane comeback track, "Something New," the lead single from the UK quintet's new compilation "Ten - The Hits," due for release in November 26 to mark the band's tenth anniversary, which features all of their greatest hits to date as well as three extra newly record songs.
It's not strange to have had reservations about the return of Girls Aloud. The five-piece girl band appeared together in public for the first time to announce plans for a greatest hits collection, 2013 reunion tour and to open up about their decision to get back together after a three year hiatus. In the footage, Cheryl Cole, Kimberley Walsh, Sarah Harding, Nadine Coyle and Nicola Roberts are seen dressed in identical bright orange tulip-skirt dresses as they strut away from the camera on a monochrome set.
The track, "Something New," is upbeat dance anthem, and it continues Girls Aloud's trendsetting music path. it heavily features Cheryl's vocals, although this is mixed up with rapping and lines from all of the girls. Its empowering lyrics are a complete declaration of intentions, a reminder of who is finally coming back and reclaiming their more than deserved throne. The song received generally positive reviews from contemporary critics, who complimented the song's unusual structure, as well as the lyrical content, with most comparing it to girl power and feminist themed songs by Beyonce and The Spice Girls.
The Ray Kay-directed fast-paced video matches its swagger, and features a mixture of black-and-white and colored shots. The video showcases each member of Girls Aloud in a separate clips within the video for their respective parts of the song, while dancing alone, before coming together for a final performance and declaring "We're the leaders of the pack." In what appears to be a hybrid lyric/regular music video assures us once again that these girls are innovators and will stop at nothing to lead the pack. No, in all seriousness though. Can you handle that?

Alicia Keys plays a sexy superwoman and is set the bar high with a visually stunning promo for girl-power anthem, "Girl On Fire," the lead off single and title track from Keys' upcoming fifth studio album, "Girl on Fire," due out on November 27th. The 31-year-old R&B siren has stated that she wants the new album to "liberate" and "empower" fans. "I am totally feeling the powerful, sultry and fun vibe of this video!" Keys wrote on Twitter hours before the video premiere on Friday.
"Girl on Fire," a R&B ballad combines elements of hip hop, was inspired by Keys' giving birth to her son Egypt and marriage to husband Swizz Beatz. In a fiery message on her website to announce the album, she wrote: "Girl on Fire is about new beginnings, new perspectives and fresh starts?. Before making this record, in some ways I felt like a lion locked in a cage. I felt like a girl misunderstood that no one really knew, I felt like it was time to stop making excuses for any part of my life that I wanted to change. Once I made that choice I became a Girl on Fire, the lion broke free!!"
Musically, "Girl on Fire" is put together like some of Keys' best, most classic ballads - "No One," "If I Ain't Got You" - quiet, unassuming verses leading into big, empathic choruses. Keys' lyrics center around toasting the achievements of women everywhere, and she delivered with a calming-yet-commanding wail with the powerful and flawless vocals over her trademark piano punches. It's heavily bombastic, but the drama of it makes it memorable, and the hooky melody is beautiful and exhilarating. Keys seems to have to set out to make a statement song about power, and it's undeniable that she's succeeded in that. We adore those raw, sensual vocals!

Keys keeps it glamorous and channels the life of a ferocious, fiery, 1950s styled working mother who helps her kids with homework, cleans their home, cooks and takes care of an elderly woman - not a far cry from real life - all while donning different green outfits in the Sophie Muller-directed clip, which opens with her reclining on a bed in a tiny top that shows off her bra straps, cleavage and a firm, toned tummy. Keys completes her superwoman act by caring for an elderly woman before rejecting the overtures of the man in her life when she finally gets the chance to put her feet up and slip on a pair of headphones.

Melanie Amaro, the inaugural US winner of 'The X Factor' with her gigantic, pitch-perfect and incredibly supple vocals, has been working hard in the studio since her impressive victory, and proudly premiered the anticipated music video for her uplifting debut Single, "Don't Fail Me Now," from her upcoming as-yet-untitled debut album, due in December 4th on Epic Records, which she promises to be as bold and irresistible as her herself.
Amaro wisely chose to take her time putting together a debut album instead of rushing out new music immediately after winning 'The X Factor' with $5 million Epic Records contract last December. The new song represents Amaro's arduous journey to stardom as she sings optimistic words about overcoming a long road to achieve success, "I've paid my dues, I've paid the price, I've prayed for you almost every night." She pleads, "I've walked the longest road so don't fail me now."
“The song definitely describes the journey that I’ve had through life and throughout 'X Factor,' the determination of my feet that they can't fail me, I gotta get to where I need to be," said Amaro. However, the dance-pop song has been given mixed reviews from most critics, and saying unfortunately, her first offering, "Don’t Fail Me Now," offers a rather bland dance-pop arrangement that doesn't flaunt her winning voice effectively, and her voice is digitally-altered in places, so her biggest strength is blunted and she ends up sounding more like Jennifer Lopez than Whitney Houston or Kelly Clarkson, the divas with whom she is often compared.
The video was directed by Benny Boom takes us on a journey, as Amaro embarks on her life after 'The X Factor.' The 20-year-old songstress shows how far she's come in a year since trying out for the talent competition, and aptly finds herself walking down a road singing "feet don't fail me now," and catching feelings for a young man and hopes for the best as she walks down the road of life. Now on the cusp of her debut release, it's patently clear that Amaro's crystal-clear voice is as big as her ambition and talent.

Nicki Minaj has unveiled the eye-popping video for her new single "The Boys," a quick romp heavy on primary covers, bikinis, thongs and kick drums, served as the first new cut feature on the upcoming reissue of the pop-rap vixen's sophomore album, "Pink Friday Roman Reloaded: The Re-Up," due in November 19. Minaj enlisted singer Cassie to croon the song's hook, and gets weird, wild, and downright wonderful.
Musically, the bass-heavy track is a R&B song, which features a mix of throbbing beat, strong basslines and synthesizers, along with gurgling acoustic-guitar riffs and rapping. Cassie's parts are backed up by a guitar line. The song is about a pithy kiss-off to men who try to buy love with money and jewels. With "The Boys," Minaj comes as close as she ever has to blending her two identities. She goes hard in the verses over gunshot snare drums, throwing out some hyperactive accents before giving way to Cassie on the singalong chorus. The result is catchy as hell, but with enough credibility that we don't think even radio 'Hot 97' will have a problem with it.
"The Boys" stirs a perfect storm between clever hip hop, potent pop, and soulful acoustic pondering. There's an outer space folk bridge that'll blow your mind. It's a smart, sly rumination on "The Boys" and it hits hard in an otherworldly vulnerable space. Minaj has married the two styles of rap and pop, and the song begs for immediate radio play. It is catchy as hell, but with enough credibility. It is one of Minaj's best tracks yet and a landmark song for 2012. Minaj is changing the game again and ensured that the barbz are gonna freak on this one.
Minaj gets her own back on men in the flame-fuelled video, shot by Colin Tilley, and it begins with a close-up shot of a newspaper headline, then cuts to Minaj performing alongside Cassie as the two dress up in brightly colored wigs and getting ready in a hair salon. The clip dances through moods in a similar fashion, assaulting the viewer with doses of Minaj's frenetic, craven Barbie personality, but Cassie embraces her masculine side in a dark blue suit with cropped neon hair, is our favorite look, and both of them gazing longingly into the camera.

Regina Spektor has posted her brand new video for the beautiful ballad "How," the third single from her latest sixth solo record, "What We Saw from the Cheap Seats," is out now via Sire/Warner Bros Records. It's not as if, at 32, the Soviet-born New Yorker is an unknown, and she makes quirky, literate and stylistically varied pop. It was hard to escape her 2006 single "Fidelity," with its memorable chorus: "It breaks my heart," in which she repeats the first sound of that final word a dozen delirious times.
One track from new album that blatantly stands out with its divergent style, unique composure, and pure emotional core. And that somber, shiver-inducing tune is "How." We say "How" is divergent in style because while it remains true to Spektor's signature, alt-pop-piano tinkering, staccato sound, the song takes on a whole different rhythm and melody structure than what we're used to from Spektor, it slightly reminds us of an old blues song! And that emotion! You can hear it pouring out from somewhere deep within Spektor.
This sparse piano ballad is a straightforward breakup song, a rarity for Spektor, who is better known for her stream of conscious lyrical content. It finds the pop singer pondering how she can never forget the warm embrace of her lover. One speculation is that the song is about her old piano she left behind in Russia, and another is the more obvious, break-up song theory. But whatever "How" is about, it's a ballad for the ages, and is a staple for anyone needing a sad, yet sonically gorgeous song to shed a few tears to when they need a good cry! This timeless ballad sees Spektor backed by piano and drums, allowing her powerful pipes to shine and soar through the mix.
The video itself kicks off with a plain black and white background and close-ups on Spektor's face, but things get more colorful as the clip progresses. In fact, Spektor changes into a butterfly as she belts out the emotional lyrics about a broken heart backed by piano and drums, "How can I forget your love? How can I never see you again? How can I begin again? How can I try to love someone new?" as the song draws to her expressive eyes fully open allowing the viewer to almost glimpse into her soul. Backed by the gentle sway of strings and a piano part that's sparse and somber, the anti-folk songstress wants to have her cake and eat it too in the game of romantic nostalgia.

The Wanted are certainly showing off their adult side with a new video release on Monday for their latest pop-garage-clubby single, "I Found You," the lead single from the five-piece British-Irish boy band's forthcoming third studio album, "Battleground," which will hopefully slam into physical and digital shelves in both the US and UK in early 2013. The first 'Battleground' clip takes the the UK quintet's bad-boy status to a new level.
"I Found You," is a sexy, sultry electro track, with a dance beat that evokes their breakout hit "Glad You Came," plus the added twist of soul-inflected baby-makin’ falsetto vocals on the chorus. The Steve Mac-produced track opens with the same bouncing synths from "Glad You Came," but soon moves into a lengthy chorus sung entirely in falsetto. Lyrically, "I Found You" recalls Rihanna's "We Found Love," with a story about discovering love in an unexpected place.
"This song is a little bit different for us, it's a little bit retro," Jay McGuinness told MTV News of the new single. "But we obviously still have The Wanted party feel [like we're] at a club." Siva Kaneswaren added: "It's about finding someone, whether it be in the rain, in the darkness. It's about being lost, but found." The soulful up-tempo number that manages to come across unlike anything else on radio at the moment. Sure, all the formulaic dance-pop boxes are ticked here. But vocally, these guys have never sounded stronger.
The gritty, British gangster themed video was shot in Los Angeles in late August and directed by Chris Marrs Piliero. It shows the very sharply dressed British boys both at a party and marching through a town, before breaking into a remote country estate and fight with kidnappers of a beautiful blonde. At first, we think we're going to watch boys be the hero but no, instead they steal a small key from her, gives her a goodbye kiss and leaves the room. As it turns out, the key opens a metal box full of diamonds or some other expensive jewels. The final shot shows us five very satisfied faces of jewel thieves.

After much hype, Bruno Mars  makes a comeback from his short hiatus with his brand new retro-styled video for his funky new wave jam, "Locked Out of Heaven," the lead single from Mars' upcoming sophomore studio effort, "Unorthodox Jukebox," due December 11. It's so old school! The 27-year-old enthusiastic crooner has been tapped to host and perform on this coming "Saturday Night Live," where he will perform "Locked Out Of Heaven" for the first time live.
"Locked Out Of Heaven," is an uptempo, irresistible funky workout that possesses a sound familiar to those who have seen Mars live in concert. It goes for more of a new wave energy, with a choppy guitar and bass combo. The lyrics describe the rapturous feelings brought about by a relationship infused with positive emotions involved with falling in love, being in romantic relationships, as well as good sex that takes him to paradise. The narrator feels like he was "locked out of heaven" before he met his lover, who, based on the single art, looks to be made for sin.
Like "Just the Way You Are," Mars loves this particular lady just the way she is, but don't think for one second that he's reassuring her of her beauty - he more seems into loving what she does, if you get our drift. The sexy track has a vintage rock n’ roll feel, and it has a raunchy yet subtle attitude to match. Mars said that the single's exploration of feeling and being in love fits into the "sensual, sensual and sensual" theme of the album. Needless to say, it is a complete change-up from his prior singles, shows an interesting musical evolution, and one of the most fun, dynamic and exciting pop singles of the year. This is a solid return for Mars.
And that straightforward approach is also apparent in the intentionally grainy clip itself, a sweaty, stripped-back affair that evokes all the nostalgic Betamax fuzz of great '70s-era soul feel, as Mars performs in small, crowded club where everyone's sweat is mingling together and you can't tell where your body ends and the next person's begins. It's hot as hell, but everyone is jumping and jiving and loving every minute. "The concept is just old-fashioned fun. No story line, it's not me singing to a girl, you get a good sense of what you're going to get live," as Mars explained, the Cameron Duddy directed clip is meant to give fans a taste of what they can expect on "Unorthodox Jukebox."

Justin Bieber premiered his new found-footage music video with Nicki Minaj for “Beauty And A Beat” on Friday, after an elaborate and hysterical prank that began when the 18-year-old pop star claimed that his laptop and camera, with "personal footage" on them, had been stolen during a stop on his 'Believe' tour. But perhaps the biggest revelation of this whole endeavor is that Bieber is becoming a true artist - he wrote and directed the whole thing!
Bieber hooks up with Swedish hitmaker Max Martin on this dubstep flavored club banger, "Beauty and a Beat," another wrinkle in pop music's appropriation of EDM-inflected breakdowns and basslines, is the third single off of Bieber's latest third studio album, "Believe." The frantic dance track is an uptempo dance and electropop song that also contains elements of R&B.
Lyrically, it speaks about the teen heartthrob wanting to take his love interest to a club, where they can "party like it's 3012". This snip of the song is believed to be analogous to the song "2012 (It Ain't The End)," which also features rapper Minaj, who delivers yet another killer verse. "Beauty And A Beat," is definitely one for the dancefloor, with its rapid drum beats, electro break down and rushing synthesizers after every chorus. Despite all of Bieber's well meant crooning, the highlight has to be Minaj's fast-paced and funny rap in which she refers to Bieber's girlfriend.
In fact, the clip features DIY-style scenes of a personal footage style compilation, showing Bieber behind the scenes and a massive waterpark party, where Minaj occasionally joins him for a 'runaway' performance. In a cheeky move, the video begins with text that recounts an "October 2012" theft - a reference to real-life laptop-swiping that has led to rumors announcing the existence of nude photos of the young popstar. Much of the video sees Bieber holding a camera aimed at himself, so they really ran with the theme here. The video is all about having fun and embracing youth, and goes well with the vibe of the song.

Usher, turns 34 today, gets personal in his brand-new heartfelt music video for his up-tempo dance ballad, "Numb," the fourth single to be lifted from his newest seventh studio album, "Looking 4 Myself." The visual reflects his hardships and looks back on all the loved ones that have passed away. Usher is doing what he does best, dancing, to distract himself from the painful emotion bottled up inside him.
"Numb" is a dance-pop, electro-pop and euro disco song with R&B elements which contains revolutionary pop music influences. Lyrically, the club-oriented production is an inspirational song about finding one's destiny, and becoming numb to the negativity and just following your dreams. The song received generally positive acclaim from contemporary music. Everything is included, from his breakdown when he was booed for walking off stage during a concert in Berlin last year to the passing of his father and stepson, complete with some fancy choreography.
The song finds Usher singing lyrics about forgetting your troubles on the dance floor. It does have the mind-numbing, body-activating effect the song is so explicitly searching for. These are his confessions. Usher explained that the cut, "is about having no fear. Sometimes we take for granted moments that allow us to make it thru, ability to just wake-up every morning&take a breath." Usher added the song, "is what happens when you encounter that wit's end in life, like the only way to move forward is to allow yourself to go numb and go for what you feel."
Directed by Chris Applebaum and Grace Harry, the clip is a fast-paced montage of Usher's life in the near past and features several dramatic scenes of him including taking care of his sons, standing towards a microphone unable to perform and lying towards a woman in a hospital. It begins with a footage of Usher walking offstage during a show part of his OMG Tour in Berlin. From there, the video shows both the glamour of Usher's life, as well as those darker moments as he tries to shake off the pain by channeling his energy into a passionate dance inside a glass cube.  "I felt like a failure, hopeless, paralyzed, numb," Usher shares, and the video ends with he managing to break that glass cube.

Lana Del Rey continues to evade definition with a new sprawling and cinematic video for her new single, "Ride," the lead single from the upcoming re-release of her debut album, "Born To Die: The Paradise Edition," due out on November 13. The epic 10-minute vision of what she says "Country America used to be," will either silence her critics forever, or just add flames to the fire. But, anyone with an open mind can't deny it's one of the most important works in popular music to come around in a long time.
"Ride" is a long, dreamy ballad that swells into full view during the chorus, composed in the indie pop, soul pop, and baroque pop genres. In the song, Del Rey sings over a string-drenched, piano-driven melody. The 26-year-old singer sings what she knows best: loneliness, some daddy issues and day-drinking. All of this is probably a metaphor for something, but honestly, we're still trying to figure out what those "Born To Die" tigers mean. "Ride" is more accomplished than Del Rey's previous endeavors, with the strengths of the track outshining the flaws.
The Antony Mandler-directed video told from the perspective of a character who stumbled across a disconcerting alternate meaning of true freedom. It opens with the now familiar image of Del Rey arching over a suspended tire swing against a desert cliffside, looking bored, or maybe meditative, or maybe sad, or maybe all of the above, as depicted on the single cover, and it's unclear how the tire swing is suspended, with no visible trees nearby. Del Rey amped up on the smokey vocals and narrates: "I was in the winter of my life and the men I met along the road were my only summer." Del Rey expresses how she found sanctuary through traveling, while on tour, because the singer had not had a proper home for a long time.
Following the confession, we see a shifting series of striking images of the singer, joyful on the back of a motorcycle, wandering around sketchy motel parking lots and fulfilling her dreams of a singer at a nightclub as her gang rolls down the highway; alone on the sidewalk outside a city convenience store; composed in a pretty white dress before a performance; back in the desert, wearing a novelty t-shirt, and wrapping herself in an American flag. The video certainly succeeds in crafting a wistful, ultimately lonely backdrop for song's melodrama. Indeed, it can also be seen as simply a continuation of the '60s nostalgia trip that Del Rey began with "National Anthem."

Nas, a rap powerhouse who has a reputation for rapping with intellect, and keeps it classy and cool vibe in his recently released visual for his posthumous duet with Amy Winehouse, "Cherry Wine," from "Life is Good," which lends itself to a narrative starring Nas as a bartender at a dimly lit bar. He wins over the lady's affections and we're graced with some footage of Winehouse performing live.
Life truly is good to Nas right now. After the 39-year-old rapper's critically-acclaimed 2012 album, "Life Is Good" debuted at No.1 back in July. "It's a bittersweet feeling to do something with her now that she's not here," the Queensbridge native spoke about his friendship with the late soulstress. "I'm happy and the sweet part is that we do have the music, fans have new music from her. The bitter part is that she's no longer here to really give it to us and to really live her music and for us to see her smile and hear her voice."
The song was titled after Winehouse's guitar, which she called "cherry," is the second duet for the duo, following the release of "Like Smoke" on Winehouse's own posthumous album "Lioness: Hidden Treasures" last year. "Cherry Wine" gallops along on a smooth and melancholic melody, as Nas laments his lack of love and how he wants someone who will be there for him even at rock bottom with his smooth rhymes run the soulful arrangement, while Winehouse's brassy vocals haunting the dimly-lit space with a narrative between ill-fated lovers. Work together flawlessly to convey the longing and sadness infused in this song that is only surreptitiously about an alcoholic drink. It's really rather beautiful.
Directed by Jay Martin, the handsomely-mounted video features Nas as a snazzy-looking bartender with eyes for a beautiful patron who is seduced by a married man. While she notices him noticing her, she plays him in order to get chosen by a baller. As the narrative progresses, the old footage of the spectral Winehouse are projected in black-and-white onto a brick wall in a swanky nightclub. And in the end, the beauty actually leaves the bar with Nas. Not the most intricate of plots, it still has the underdog winning the prize.

P!nk followed up her sassy anthem "Blow Me (One Last Kiss)" with the more emotional ballad "Try," which is accompanied by a well-choreographed, primal, physically aggressive video. When she was teasing this new video, P!nk explained that it was her favorite video ever to shoot, and now we know why. The clip, which premiered Wednesday morning on Vevo, is elegant, complicated and audacious with an artfully choreographed performance - like P!nk at her best.
The ethereal new single "Try," the second single from the 33-year-old singer's sixth studio album, "The Truth About Love," is a jacked-up ballad, modeled on '80s FM rock that was written by Ben West and Michael Busbee, and is built around two-volume arrangement, and much less bombastic than that first cut, using a quiet verse/loud chorus dynamic, with spacey synths and distant guitar squalls alternating with a wave of percussion and overdrive during the refrain.She can write with anyone from any genre and turn the result into a great, personality-drenched pop song.
Over the course of her decade-long career, P!nk's always pushed herself to the limit. Whether that meant dangling upside down some 60 feet in the air, blowing a bunch of stuff up, or pulling off the kind of acrobatic moves that would give Cirque du Soleil pause, she seemingly prides herself in going further than any of her pop contemporaries would ever dare. So it should probably come as no surprise that, in her new video for "Try," she's at it again, only this time, P!nk's not relying on props to take things to the next level that writhes with passion, tension and precision, and tells the story of a relationship taken to the brink and back.
Directed by Floria Sigismondi and choreographed by The Golden Boyz along with P!nk's trapeze partner Sebastien Stella, the video is inspired to reinvent the Apache Dance. This aggressive and acrobatic, yet beautiful and passionate interpretative dance is a physical expression of the battle between men and women. It is the dance that drives the story about sticky situations one may face when it comes to love, situations that P!nk sings about in her song. It is definitely a work of art, and uniquely, unquestionably P!nk, who continues to push herself to the limit, and pulls it off with effortless grace. Your move, everyone else.

Kip Moore wants you to enjoy your time off whether you love or loathe your job. The country newcomer makes the best of his paycheck even though it's his last with cold beer, hot women and some great country music in his brand-new clip for the blue collar-inspired song, "Beer Money," the third single from Moore's acclaimed debut album, "Up All Night," which the singer takes aim at the heart of country America with a unique voice and the resolve to record only what he feels.
Moore grew up in the small town of Tifton, Georgia where he claims there was little for the locals to do apart from having a few cold beers on the weekend. This song was born out of a conversation about the mundane life of someone living in a small town. "It's an easy-going song for people who are sitting in that town with nothing to do," he said. "That is the town that I grew up in. There was nothing to do, nothing to choose from, and a lot of times you felt like banging your fist against the wall, and the only release that you had was the weekend to go have a good time with your friends and your girlfriend, and you wanted to go and have some beers. That is what the song is. It's just a feel-good release of that small town America life and what it's like growing up."
"Beer Money" finds the singer offering to buy some beer for a downcast girl so she can drink those troubles away. It extends the 'spending time with the one you love by your side' theme and is another strong mood-setting, sing-a-long ready country/rocker. What takes this song past ordinary is Moore's grave vocals and story-telling ability. It's becoming cliche to compare a singer to Bruce Springsteen, but sonically the 32-year-old comes closer than anyone in Nashville. He's not tackling social issues like the Boss, but his material is honest and straightforward.
The clip follows Moore and his bandmates as they stock up for a backyard party after getting chewed out by his boss about his poor performance as a mechanic. He takes his paycheck and leaves his frustrations behind, cashing it in for some "beer money." His girl waits down the street at the local diner, but things get a whole lot better quick, as she is swept away by the singer. The two take a little drive to head to an old barn on the outskirts of town, where he starts unloading his gear with the boys to 'raise a little hell' with a rocking performance and plenty of beer money to go around.

Kyla La Grange, part South-African and part Zimbabwean, was born in Watford, London, has unveiled the brand new moody, fiery video for her latest track, "Been Better." her second single, and the follow-up to the well-received "Walk Through Walls," from this new UK burner's stunning debut album, "Ashes," which is a series of surging angst-pop anthems that will surely elicit stronger reactions still. Darkness never sounded so sweet.
"Been Better" is another angsty anthem from the girl whose emotions run deep. The romantic image of sadness has been broken away to reveal some anger and strength. La Grange's no damsel here. And the opening riff comes out with a stomping rhythm that builds to an intense crescendo, with a mash up of infectious beats, and a juddering piano, then in comes her unique and powerful voice and you can begin to realize why her name is circling the blogosphere like crazy at the moment.
Don’t be fooled by La Grange's innocent appearance. The doe-eyed 26-year-old might look like a young Marianne Faithfull, but the heart-swelling, sing-along chorus on "Been Better," has all the ferocity of a 70s power ballad. This is mainly thanks to her raspy voice, and gives her sound a dizzying injection of folk-rock oomph. Lyrically, this is a declaration of independence, a favorite topic of this moment in the singer's early career. She proves more than willing to channel her own emotional nadirs in the hopes of inverting them into apexes.
Such a big voice from such a teeny tiny woman! Blessed with an amazing voice and the ability to write songs that convey the unpredictability of the human heart, she captures the pain and impulsiveness of being young and in love. Her music may not have been designed for mainstream consumption, as she rests on the edge of the 'alternative rock' genre, but it seems as though it is destined to be so. The chorus is catchy, the lyrics are powerful and a little sassy. It has a soulful folkie kind of seventies appeal to it. The video, while it goes with the song, is kind of dark and disturbing and I hope you tricks enjoy the eye candy.

Luke Bryan explores romance again in his new video for "Kiss Tomorrow Goodbye," the fourth single from his third breakout album, "Tailgates & Tanlines." Unlike his last two videos, the 36-year-old Country crooner doesn't take on an acting role, but just performs the song with his band as a heartsick pair tries to find their way back together!
"Kiss Tomorrow Goodbye" provide an accurate script for a story about the life of a bachelor, and it finds Bryan singing of a relationship that's nearing its end, but the narrator wants to spend one last night together with his lover. It's a life that can be a little wild and crazy, but mostly it's filled with heartache, confusion and regret. It's got a great hook, and a quirky, memorable, lyric, conjures up a familiar emotion, but it might not be one every fan is eager to relive.
The makings of a solid country song are scattered about on this new Bryan single, but the song has been nearly polished to death. "All we do right is make love/ We both know now that ain't enough," is one of the best opening lines we've heard in a mainstream country single this year. Bryan sings over a cacophonous mess of thrashing guitars and crashing drums laid on so thick that it makes the song hard to listen to. Bryan sings this one well and with the tasty melody accompaniment, it's a memorable radio song.
The clip asks one question: Will she stay or will she go? Directed by Shaun Silva, and shot at The Icon building in Nashville. As for the "Kiss Tomorrow Goodbye" narrative, a couple is shown far away from one another, talking on the phone, fingering plane tickets and looking at photos of their counterpart longingly. Besides Bryan's southern voice that puts listeners in a daydreaming daze, the clip features a beautiful young woman reminisces about her relationship while packing her bags, and she has a passport at hand, which makes us think a reunion is imminent. Or is she fleeing even further? Watch the video to find out.

English singer-songwriter Matt Cardle unveiled a beautifully shot visual for "It's Only Love," the lead single from the 2010 X Factor winner's upcoming part self-funded sophomore studio album, "The Fire," follows his debut album "Letters," which peaked at No.2 in the UK. Both track and album are due for released on October 29.
By this point, a few weeks since it first debuted, we've found ourselves increasingly warming to Cardle's new single "It's Only Love." And maybe, considering his new album is presenting him as a regenerated liberated songwriter, freed from the ties of the X factor, that's the way it should be. The track is his strongest to date, an 80s-inspired power ballad with lyrics highlighting the dangers and illusions of love. Oddly enough, something about Cardle's voice and dance music work so well together.
In an interview with The Sun about new album, the 29-year-old explained: "I wanted it to be upbeat because I think there was a general sense that I was a bit boring. I was talking to someone about it and they were saying how happy this album is compared to the last one. When I made the last one I was in a relationship, I was falling in love, I was happy, but the album was the complete opposite. With this one, through heartbreak and absolute devastation, I’ve come out with something that is way more positive."
The accompanying music video sees various couples splitting up, with the heart-broken victim in the situation joining a parade of heartbroken souls leaded by Cardle in strolling down a road through the Californian desert, and he offers them some grounded advice - love can't save you, only you can save yourself! The clip isn't quite what we had in mind for the song, but it does a good job of presenting a clean slate, a fresh start, for Cardle. Plus, the bit where all the people that have been diligently following him down the road start lip-synching along to his vocal is pretty neat.

Cher Lloyd continues her US invasion with a new sunny video for her friendship anthem, "Oath," serves as the second radio single in the US edition of her debut studio album, "Sticks + Stones," which just released on Tuesday. The video also features American rapper Becky Gomez, who collaborated on the catchy tune! The 19-year-old British singer has expressed surprise at her recent success in the US with her debut US single "Want U Back," and her stateside takeover seems to be going swimmingly.
"Sticks & Stones" isn't an album that will change the world, its radio-ready dance-pop and high-spirited energy is harmless and infectious enough to earn her an army of new fans in America. People will be surprised,” Lloyd tells Billboard of her new album, “There are going to be a few tracks people are thrown back by. It might change people's views on me as an artist. I love to experiment and do different things, and still be pop as well."
"Oath" is about BFF-dom and the spoils of youth, and draws from dance-pop and synthpop genres. In the chorus, over a bass synth, both Lloyd and Gomez adopt a sing-rap style, which is performed over guitars on both verses. But even if it's a little predictable, the clip for "Oath," is a sleek, expensive-looking video that reinforces Lloyd's image as somewhere between "sexy class clown" and "the bad girl your parents won't really mind you hanging out with." Most importantly, it's a smart complement to the song, which is as surefire a radio hit as any this year.
Directed by Hannah Lux Davis, the vibrant, glossy, and soaked clip is a cheeky, fun effort and it kicks off in detention, where a bored-looking Lloyd taps her pencil and looks at the clock. Its storyline ain't nothing original, that features the pint-sized Brit appearing as a carefree American high school student who chilling with her friends, dancing in a laundromat, and hitting their final destination at the beach in an adorable retro bikini for more fun times later on, but as a whole, it just fits the 'vibe.'

San Diego singer/songwriter Tristan Prettyman has released a new poignant music video for "I Was Gonna Marry You," the fourth single off of her just-released brand new fourth LP, "Cedar + Gold," which is Prettyman's definitive breakup record and most obviously, "I Was Gonna Marry You," is paint a damn clear picture of exactly what happened. With both personal and universally relatable, the melodies will stick in your head and tug at your heart.
Prettyman is one of those special singer/songwriters who knows exactly just how to capture an emotion and reel you in! It seems the 30-year-old songbird drew a lot of inspiration for her music from her previous engagement to fellow singer-songwriter, Jason Mraz. Her folk-flavored voice captures a carefree, California-style coastal sound and her songs have memorable hooks that celebrate love in all its forms.
All that she's gone through has definitely provided the material for a solid album, on which Prettyman delves into the pain endured with the end of her engagement to Mraz, and she sings with an apparent honesty that is liberating. It's not unusual for an artist to find inspiration in heartache. What Prettyman accomplishes on “Cedar + Gold,” however, is unusual because she sings from her broken heart with a voice that is absent of anger. Instead, there is both fragility and strength, retrospection and introspection, and through it all there is love.
Prettyman has a lot on her mind and expresses it in "I Was Gonna Marry You." Prettyman's spins beauty from her pain, and the melancholic chord shifts of her guitar carry her voice naturally. From the slow melodic sounds of the piano and the guitar, the song is beautiful and heartfelt with a lot of raw emotion, which is reflected well in the video, which puts the spotlight on an engaged couple who eventually break up when the groom-to-be gives his leading lady a heartbreaking note explaining that he can't go on with the relationship any longer. As the initials they carved into the tree on their camping trip fade away, so does their relationship.

English singer/songwriter Gabrielle Aplin has unveiled an official music video for her debut major label single "Please Don't Say You Love Me." The track is another wonderful tune from the Bath folk-pop songstress, and is due for release on November 18th, and serves as the lead single from her upcoming as-yet-untitled album, set for release in early 2013. The talented teenager's dreams are slowly but surely becoming reality.
Aplin has come a long way from the days when she first made a stir online and covered a song by the American Pop-punk band Paramore, called "My Heart" on YouTube in 2008. With beautiful vocals and a raw talent for song, she has since released three successful EPs displaying her remarkable multi instrumental skills, and though still only 19, she's self taught, insanely talented and her music feels like it's about something far more personal, far more human, more close to heart.
"Please Don’t Say You Love Me," is a sweet and simple love song with a guitar-driven folk/pop sound. Aplin's soft vocals reflect the vulnerability of the lyrics, and after just one listen, the chorus of this track will stay with you. She's outdone herself with this acoustic-driven ballad, drawing on her incredible capacity for writing emotional and relatable songs, as well as that enchanting voice of hers. If you like something a bit more mellow, you should definitely check out the floaty, folky Aplin, but only if your prepared to sway about in a dreamy haze for the next half an hour.
The singer breaks down in her car en route to a party in the clip, which accompanies a track narrating a haunting yet beautifully frank take on the uncertainties of life and the dreaded heartbreak that comes with it, featuring Brit actors Ophelia Lovibond and Iain De Caestecker as a young couple in love struggling through problems in their relationship. The clip showing us that this girl refuses to live in the shadow of the likes of Laura Marling and Lucy Rose. Naturally, we love it!