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Calvin Harris & Big Sean right in middle of "Open Wide" gunfight

Posted by Kevin Z. Rong Wednesday, October 29, 2014 0 comments

With a week to go until Calvin Harris' star-studded fourth studio album "Motion" hits, the 30-year-old Scottish superstar DJ has shared a action-packed new video for his Big Sean-assisted new single "Open Wide," minutes after premiering the audio on New York City-based radio station Hot 97. Along with the refurbished tune comes the explosive video, featuring a gun shootout in the middle of a desert with Harris and Sean right in the middle of it.
More and more dance music producers have been venturing into hip-hop territory, and Harris has done so with "Open Wide," a tune that may sound very familiar to one of his current releases. "Open Wide," is not a new beat from Harris who previously used the same drop and a similar build up on a solo record called "C.U.B.A," Harris' instrumental Beatport No.1 hit, released back in June. Harris took advantage of the incredible success he achieved with "C.U.B.A.," and reworked it into a hip-hop masterpiece.
The big difference between the two songs is the Detroit rapper, who makes another foray into the world of EDM and adds in two energetic and suitable verses that laid on top of the house-meets-trap beat. "Open that shit wide, let me see how big your mouth is," raps Sean over Harris' signature production, adding, "This goes out to...You know who this goes out to." The U.K. hitmaker's new track "Wide Open," is a pretty generic sounding track, but it'll fit right into main stage festival sets.
As for the Emil Nava-directed cinematic clip, it's clearly a high-budget endeavor, featuring high speed racing, guns and pair up two gangs war showdown in the desert with Harris and Sean right in the middle of it that pops off right as the beat drops. As two opposing sides blast shot after shot at each other, all while a ballerina is gracefully dancing in between all of the sheer fuckery, inexplicably moving around while dodging bullets with the dexterity of Keanu Reeves in "The Matrix." It's aesthetically pleasing, but a bit confusing.

OK Go Wildly Ride On Robot Scooters In "I Won't Let You Down"

Posted by Kevin Z. Rong Tuesday, October 28, 2014 0 comments

Alternative rocker OK Go have been dazzling us with their super-creative videos for years. Their latest eye-catching spectacle of a music video, for the single "I Won't Let You Down," off their fourth LP, "Hungry Ghosts," continues that trend by featuring a cast of hundreds, Honda UNI-CUB personal transport devices and a lot of brightly-colored umbrellas as the inventive alt-pop foursome visited Tokyo's Robot Restaurant, a 12-floor underground theater with robots roller-skating to heavy metal music.
OK Go frontman Damian Kulash said of this futuristic dance-floor banger to Purevolume: "'I Won't Let You Down' is the closest that spaceship OK Go has come to the planet disco. We were playing around with beats and grooves and stumbled upon one of those moments of alchemy where a ball of light just jumps out of the sound. Suddenly there was a flash of Jackson Five and Diana Ross and we knew we had something worth chasing." As always, the music itself leaves a lot to be desired, but the visuals make it worth at least one watch.
The innovative clip, released Monday on NBC News' Today show Monday morning, raises this humans vs. machines theme literally sky-high. Filmed by a camera on a drone, the clip starts off small enough with the band pulling off some overly choreographed hijinks on their motorized scooters. Accompanied by dozens of elaborately choreographed dancers that are all holding umbrellas in perfect synch. The logistics of any choreographed dance aren't just tricky, they're downright baffling, and the larger the routine, the exponentially more baffling the logistics grow. By that line of thinking you'd figure the latest video would be impossible.
But each time the camera zooms up and away for a birds-eye view, you get a sense of just how absurd the scope of this project was. In classic OK Go style, it's tightly choreographed and seems to take place in a strange warehouse. By the end we're looking down on literally hundreds of Japanese schoolgirls popping open their umbrellas in perfect timing to produce what looks like the kaleidoscope becomes a football-field sized LED display and wondering just how many hours went into the production of this madness. OK Go is the true master of the viral music video!

Union J Performance On A Lonely Street For "You Got It All"

Posted by Kevin Z. Rong Monday, October 27, 2014 0 comments

English boy band Union J have delighted fans with a brand-new music video for their latest track, "You Got It All," the second single from their upcoming sophomore studio album. There is enough pointless pointing, moody stares, arms out wide with a dash of cheese to get any boy band fan giddy. Have the guys - JJ Hamblett, Jaymi Hensley, Josh Cuthbert and George Shelley - got it all? Their new video certainly has.
The former X Factor contestants' latest single, "You Got It All" was written by Magic! frontman Nasri, follows on from their top 10 hit "Tonight (We Live Forever)," and will available arriving later on November 30th. The ballad, is a super sweet crooner sure to melt even the iciest of hearts, which is appropriate considering what the band had to say of the track. "It's the ultimate big ballad and it takes us back to our vocal roots. As the weather turns colder it the perfect song for us to lead through to the winter," the foursome shared about the tune. Considering how cozy the song feels, we've got to agree with the boys.
Talking to Capital FM, Hamblett explained, "It's basically we've gone back to our old roots, it's a different lane for Union J," while Cuthbert added: "We feel like there's no other bands out there that are doing what this sound is, I think this is what we're going to stick with." George added, "we've helped a lot with this song and it does mean a lot to us, aspecially to me since i have a deep connection with the lyrics within it. I thought of this one girl while helping writing it."
Unlike the upbeat "Tonight," which had the four-piece band members partying with a group of friends and fans, "You Got It All" places the foursome by themselves on a lonely street. Shot entirely in black-and-white, the Frank Borin-directed clip is surprisingly minimal for such a big ballad, and is just as sweet as the ballad itself in typical boy band fashion. The Brit boy band show off their sophisticated arty side while putting on a powerful performance in front of huge shadows displayed on a building behind their performance stage, and the black-and-white imagery reminds us a little of Take That's epic video for their track "Back For Good."

Kiesza Dancing Up a Storm While Stripping Off in "No Enemiesz"

Posted by Kevin Z. Rong Sunday, October 26, 2014 0 comments

Kiesza shows off her rock-hard dancer's body in her video for her brand new international single "No Enemiesz," the third track from Canadian rising star's recently-released debut album "Sound Of A Woman." Kiesza's video for the incredibly catchy "Hideaway" where she danced all around Williamsburg, captured in a single shot. So it's nice to see that she's come up with something less cringe-inducing for for "No Enemiesz" video. In this one, Kiesza's still dancing up a storm, but as she takes off each article of clothing, it morphs into a dancer who joins her in her quest for rhythm domination. She might be Robyn with better dance moves, but it's working.
"No Enemiesz" is a deep house and Eurodance song and it consists of a prominent retro house beat, bleary bass and a bouncy, grinding groove. The song features the euphoric chorus "If we could all fall in love together/ We'd have no enemies" which is convicted with a sense of euphoria while disintegrating into a beat-heavy frenzy. "No Enemiesz" was described as a dance anthem that embraces Kiesza's trademark '90s house vibes. Musically, "No Enemiesz" has been likened to the most successful dance songs of the early-to-mid-1990s, in addition to Robyn and Kleerup's "With Every Heartbeat."
"No Enemiesz" is the song with the most potential to become Kiesza's best-performing single after "Hideaway," so no surprise here that Island Records picked the song as her next single. The fun, dance-heavy clip, directed by Syndrome,  is all about choreography, where the flame-haired songstress takes notes from Janet Jackson's 1986 hit "The Pleasure Principle" visual, transforming an empty loft into her personal dance studio as she dances alone in a mirror and with other members of her crew in her super hipster New York City attic.
The first 30 seconds or so of "No Enemiesz" video looks as if the 25-year-old Canadian singer will be pulling a Robyn and dancing on her own. That is, until she starts to strips off her clothes piece by piece as the song progresses. It sounds a little more scandalous then it lays out, as each clothing item falls to the floor, it transforms into a new live dancing partner for the pop star to bust a move with - it's a cool technique! It all makes for a good time. And, if nothing else, it gives the proper screen time to her wild shoes that they deserve.

One Direction lamenting about those who want to "Steal My Girl"

Posted by Kevin Z. Rong Saturday, October 25, 2014 0 comments

Destroying their inhibitions! One Direction go wild in their brilliantly bonkers music video for "Steal My Girl," the lead single from band's upcoming album "Four," in stores November 17th. Filmed at the desert, the Ben Winston-directed video featuring appearances from actor Danny DeVito, a juvenile chimpanzee, sumo wrestlers, acrobats, a marching band, leopard jackets, and tribesmen with balloons... It gets stranger!
"Steal My Girl," is a piano ballad that has the guys lamenting about those who want to steal their girlfriends away. As a throwback to the 1970s/80s due to the arena rock ballad, the song is "dad-friendly," emphasizing on the classic rock sound. One Direction revealed to MTV News that there were actually several girls that inspired the track. "It's based on everybody's experience, you have six guys in a room that have all been in love before and we all have jealousy - some are better at hiding it than others, but we don't like when people hit on our girlfriends."
The video, was all about 'bringing life' to the desert, begins with the boy band emerging out of their trailer and asking each other where the director is before DeVito arrives and he wants to brighten up the desert landscape and take the band to the next level. He starts off by assigning each member of One Direction with a particular expression. Harry Styles is "love" (naturally). Louis Tomlinson is "danger," Liam Payne is "power," Zayn Malik is "mystery" and Niall Horan is light.
The video then became more bizarre as each guy does their own thing to act out their expressions in the video with Payne dressing up as a band leader and smashed balls spelling out the word 'Inhibition' that were filled with colorful powder, Malik hanging out with two sumo wrestlers before Horan was seen in tribal African attire as he danced with a group of warriors. In another set up, Tomlinson was seen sitting with a smiling monkey and a bunch of other random animals are also shown. It all wraps up with the boys singing in the rain. The video is spectacular, perfect, wonderful, unique, life-changing and the best One Direction video that has ever existed.

Mighty Oaks celebrate tales of love, loss, beauty in 'Just One Day'

Posted by Kevin Z. Rong Friday, October 24, 2014 0 comments

Mighty Oaks just put out a great music video to one of the songs from their new EP, "Just One Day." The Berlin-based multinational indie folk trio, comprised of Ian Hooper (US), Claudio Donzelli (Italy), and Craig Saunders (UK), everything that determines this band is already laid out in their name: the timelessness and vastness, the greatness and strength and melancholy. Three young men, from three countries, combining three part harmonies, resulting in one unique sound.
Mighty Oaks write honest, authentic and emotionally driven songs with acoustic guitars and mandolins at the center of their sound, layers of electric guitars creating space and depth, which is rounded off through solid bass lines and the heartbeat of a simple drum. Over that comes the melancholy but hopeful lyrics, which often draw their inspiration from the Pacific Northwest, the birthplace of Hooper that celebrate tales of love, loss and the beauty of all that surrounds. The group's tight, three-part harmonies and effusive, largely acoustic-driven folk anthems have drawn comparisons to bands like the Lumineers, Fleet Foxes, and American Authors.
Their debut studio EP "Just One Day," provides a good taster of what's to come. The resulting "Just One Day" drew rave regional reviews, and was followed by the group's debut long-player, the Universal-issued "Howl." I can’t imagine a more perfect hold-onto-summer song than "Just One Day." Then again, the entire "Just One Day" EP is fitting for this time of year. It has a very nostalgic feel to it. Intricately layered folk, stacked up until it reaches epic heights.
Director by Paul Gerwien, the music video for "Just One Day," find the indie folk trio traveling while singing: "And it's a big old world we live in now/ And how mighty it can be.../ And all this time I pictured you standing next to me/ So we could go find things we've never seen..." Listen to this happy tune and read on as you wish. The truth is, I haven't heard in anything in quite some time that has moved me to want to share, to need to share. That bums me out. I assume it's my frame of mind. Music and introspection go hand-in-hand for me and my life has been on fast forward.

Cristina Scuccia Covers of Madonna's Pop Classic "Like a Virgin"

Posted by Kevin Z. Rong Thursday, October 23, 2014 0 comments

Breakout star Sister Cristina Scuccia, the singing Sicilian nun who won The Voice of Italy, reciting the Lord's prayer at the final in June and signed a contract with Universal, debuted the first track, from her upcoming self-titled album, out on November 11, a cover of Madonna's 1984 pop classic "Like a Virgin." Ode to Madonna, her love of one Madonna is no secret, but her appreciation of another may come as a surprise.
Scuccia first rose to fame as a contestant on the second season of The Voice of Italy in March with a powerful version of Alicia Keys' "No One," which went viral online, racking up more than 62 million views on YouTube. She went on to win the singing competition after she lifted everyone's ears into the heavens with her angelic voice and made us all throw our hands up in the air while proclaiming, "Sister Act is real." Scuccia dipped "Like A Virgin" in holy water and scrubbed all the sex innuendos from it and changed it from an anthem into an inspirational ballad.
Scuccia told Italian Catholic newspaper Avvenire that she wasn't trying to be controversial when she chose the song. She chose it, because to her, the song is about cleansing yourself of your past with the help of love. "I chose it. With no intention to provoke or scandalize." Her version, she said, is "more akin to a secular prayer than a pop song." If you read the lyrics without any bias, she explained to Avvenire, "it's a song about the capacity of love to make people new again, to release them from their past." She added, "This how I wanted to interpret it. That's why we've transformed it from the pop-dance track it was into a romantic ballad a bit in the style of Amos Lee."
In comparison to Madonna's controversial video of 30 years ago, the devoted Catholic avoids any animals and stays away from the signature white pearls the Material Girl donned in her project. Instead, clad in her dark religious habit and crucifix throughout and refrains from reclining on boats, the 26-year-old nun stands tall and extends her arms to the heavens on the checkerboard-tiled rooftop of a Venetian palazzo, casting angelic shadows and yodeled her heart out a slowed-down version of Madonna's No.1 hit. The black and white clip captures a few decadent views of Venice.

Gwen Stefani Begging For The Honesty With "Baby Don't Lie"

Posted by Kevin Z. Rong Wednesday, October 22, 2014 0 comments

Did you see the sneak peek last night? Here's the whole thing and it's definitely an explosion of color. Nothing but style for Gwen Stefani. "I'm really into pink right now, which is weird because I did pink back in the day with my hair. Each time I'm cocooned, each time I transform into a new chapter, I do pink," Stefani said recently during a New York Fashion Week interview. After breaking out of her solo career's eight-year hibernation with her synth-driven new pop song "Baby Don't Lie," Stefani has shared that track's colorful music video. The catchy new single "Baby Don't Lie," is Stefani's first new solo track in eight years, and the singer co-wrote the midtempo, beat-heavy cut with producers Benny Blanco, Noel Zancanella, and Ryan Tedder, and finds her pleading with a love who has presumably done her wrong. "Baby don't, baby don't, baby don't lie/ I don't wanna cry no longer," she croons. The infectious new track, finds the No Doubt frontwoman stretching out her voice to an emphatic hiccup over buzzing synths and rattling heavy drums, is the lead single from the "Hollaback Girl" singer's as-yet-untitled third solo album, the long-awaited follow-up to 2006's "The Sweet Escape." Stefani explores romantic subject matter on the rhythmically driven track. "I need a love that's stronger," she sings on the chorus to a lover who seems to be distancing himself, "If we ever give up, then we're gonna die," as Stefani pines about love and the scary potential of losing it while begging for honesty with near-panicked yelps over synthesizers that only heighten her anxiety. The singer reteams with director Sophie Muller who sets Stefani and her dancers against a colorful smattering of green-screened backgrounds not too far removed from the single artwork. The comeback visual is a glitchy, technicolor mess, and the ensuing it sees her lazily strutting through a low-resolution land of colorful patterns and shapes. When they rewind it back, some of that color seeps into the black-and-white imagery that kicks off the clip. A play on 'The Wizard of Oz,' the video stars a wildly polygonal yellow brick road, an army of dancers and mountains of reoccurring Stefani patterns like bold black-and-white stripes, houndstooth and plenty of pink with the scenes where she's walking on the wet street with a few of her girlfriends.

Gavin DeGraw Get Help From Roller Derby Girls With "Fire"

Posted by Kevin Z. Rong Tuesday, October 21, 2014 0 comments

Gavin DeGraw celebrates strong women and goes to the roller derby in the music video for his new song, "Fire," the one of three new tracks off his new greatest hits album, "Finest Hour: The Best of Gavin DeGraw," which is released today. Sometimes, work has you feeling tense. Where do you go to relieve that tension? For the ladies in this DeGraw's video, it's on the roller-derby rink, as the 37-year-old singer pays tribute to an under-appreciated female sport.
Produced by Max Martin and Shellback, "Fire" is simply vintage DeGraw. The catchy little number's music video fits in with the spirit of the song, as the lyrics serve as an inspirational message of rising above the competition. The clip is centered around three professional women who work hard and play hard. We see a female firefighter, doctor and an architect beat down by the stresses of their job. But after a long day, they're not ready to call it a night.
The three professional meet up in a locker room where it's revealed that they are team members for a women's roller derby team. They're fierce competitors and in the name of teamwork, look after one another during their matchup with another team. As DeGraw sings, we see three women going through their days, but longing for 5pm to roll around so they can go off and do what they really love. Next, we see them in a locker room, stripping down and suiting up with other women for their true love: roller derby.
As they put on their helmets and take to the rink, DeGraw sings, "Let's start a riot tonight/ A pack of lions tonight/ In this world, he who stops, won't get anything he wants/ Play like the top one percent/ Till nothing's left to be spent/ We don't care, we won't stop, call your mothers, call the cops/ We are the champions." Then, we see DeGraw in the stands, watching the roller derby match, interspersed with shots of him playing the piano on his own, and performing with his band. At the end of the clip, all three women are back at their day jobs.

Meiko Pining After Desired Love with her Confessional "Be Mine"

Posted by Kevin Z. Rong Monday, October 20, 2014 0 comments

Meiko may have launched her journey as a singer-songwriter by playing small coffee shops in California, but her voice feels so cozy and sounds so familiar - like a long lost friend singing body swaying melodies at a beach bonfire, and with an international tour in the rearview and her just-released third full-length "Dear You," follows Meiko's acclaimed 2012 release "The Bright Side," which climbed to No.1 on the iTunes Singer-Songwriter chart, as the buoyant hit single "Stuck on You" garnered the attention of influential tastemakers worldwide and found numerous placements in film and on television.
Fortunately for longtime fans, Meiko has maintained an affinity for honest, conversational lyrics. The eleven songs on "Dear You" consist primarily of her private, unsent letters. "I like writing letters: love letters, pissed-off letters, breakup letters," she said in a recent press statement. "Call me passive-aggressive, but it's easier to write someone a letter than actually confront them in person." While writing letters can be an outlet for overwhelming feelings, Meiko says she rarely sends them. Instead, she prefers to turn those feelings into songs, a process that became the basis for her "Dear You" album.
"Dear You"'s decidedly darker tone is, in many ways, the flipside to the sunnier disposition fans found on "The Bright Side." Longing, betrayal, heartbreak and reprisal are intimately acknowledged and explored here, supported by Meiko’s increasingly stripped down, sophisticated songwriting. Meiko professes, "It's not all candy and roses, but sometimes you just need the grit and that's exactly how I imagined 'Dear You' being completely confessional. It was good for my soul and I'm happy to finally let it out into the world."
"Be Mine," her new album's glistening first single, is an honest admission and plea to a lover. The mid-tempo, guitar-driven song with Meiko's crystalline sweet voice across the top. The song is a confessional track that finds her pining after desired love. "I take a sip of the bottle, it's my remedy," she sings. "And I know that it is a problem; I am dealing with it on the daily." Now, Meiko has released the music video for "Be Mine," and in it, Meiko says that the song is about needing a shag, since she was missing her long-distance boyfriend when she wrote it. We're lovin' her breathy-sexy-kitten-like voice.

Above & Beyond captures the spirit/theme of 'We're All We Need'

Posted by Kevin Z. Rong Sunday, October 19, 2014 0 comments

The English DJ outfit Above & Beyond took to Times Square in NYC to premiere the music video for their new song "We're All We Need," features British singer-songwriter Zoë Johnston, is the title track off their upcoming third album, due out January 20, 2015. For as long as we've known them, The British legendary trio, Jono Grant, Tony McGuinness and Paavo Siljamäki, have spent every waking moment fostering a deep and meaningful relationship with their fans through their hope-restoring radio show, empowering live performances, and carefully crafted productions.
Teaming up once again with frequent collaborator Johnston and the melodic masterpiece elegantly displays the silky and angelic vocals of Johnston, who presents a simple yet powerful message. Johnston's haunting vocals are placed over a catchy bassline that takes us through an emotional progression of the beautiful and soulful music that ties everything together. The UK act described "We're All We Need" as an "ode to friendship" and mentioned that the album "places human relationships at its core, and explores the experiences and emotions that bind us."
Above & Beyond delivers another solid trance anthem that harkens back to exactly what fans love about them. The EDM group explained about their new single: "As the writing process unfolded we kept noticing a recurring theme. Zoë hit it on the head with the beautiful song 'We're All We Need' and after a minute's thought, we had our album title. It's very Above & Beyond and feels to us like a development of Group Therapy: you are most certainly included in our 'We'! No song on the album embodies these themes more than the aforementioned title track 'We're All We Need," sung beautifully by Zoë Johnston."
The video itself is very well done and is obviously an homage to the classic film Thelma & Louise. It's well worth a watch as it perfectly captures the spirit/theme of the track, which is the experiences and emotions that bind us. "I think it's the best video we've made to date," Grant says. "I think it's a great song, Zoë's done a great job with the vocal. Just really excited about it. Although we won't have any sound actually, you'll get to see the video, which means people will really focus on the video, which is nice."

Fall Out Boy play competitors against big opponent in "Centuries"

Posted by Kevin Z. Rong Saturday, October 18, 2014 0 comments

Fall Out Boy take it way, way back - centuries, we'll say - in their new music video for "Centuries," the lead single off of Fall Out Boy's upcoming untitled sixth studio album. The emo pop band has blasted through radio-ready, punk-infused rock tunes for almost a decade, and their new video for "Centuries," which features them in a medieval setting, is an elaborate gladiator mini-movie, and the production values look to be just as elaborate as its life-or-death stakes. It's all melodramatic swords and sandals.
Fall Out Boy vocalist Patrick Stump originally came forward with this fist-pumper while the band were on the Monumentour concert tour with Paramore. "We never had a plan to jump right back into it after the whirlwind year we've had… but sometimes the song calls you," bassist and lyricist Pete Wentz said. "We started writing 'Centuries' while we were on tour." Wentz described the idea of the song as a "David vs. Goliath story." He added, "We wanted to write a song that empowered people who are a little weird."
In the video for "Centuries," the band depicts the era of the gladiator. All four members play competitors in a massive coliseum who must square off against a brute of a fellow gladiator as both commoners and some of society's elite look on. Perhaps they would have stood some chance against someone more their size, but the members of the band are defeated one by one by their terrifyingly large opponent, who's clearly a mismatch for them. But in a twist at the end, Fall Out Boy realize they might have a shot after all, thanks to a mysterious helper.
"Getting back up. Dusting it off. My dad used to tell me the most important part of any of it was getting back up on the horse - I didn’t grow up on a farm - but it still applied," Wentz said of the video in a release. "David vs. Goliath, us vs. them, you vs. the world... brains, talent and luck are great but heart will always trump them. That is the sentiment of this video." It seems like someone in Fall Out Boy has been watching "Game of Thrones." watch for yourself below to see if they survive.

Melanie Martinez walks through nightmare "Carousel" landscape

Posted by Kevin Z. Rong Friday, October 17, 2014 0 comments

Meet Melanie Martinez, you may remember her from season three of The Voice where her creepy-cute covers made her the best part of Team Adam Levine. After she was eliminated during the show's semi-finals, the 19-year-old New York singer-songwriter spent a year putting together "Dollhouse," a five-song EP that perfectly showcases the sweetly sinister sound, featuring "Carousel," a haunting song that would be featured in the American Horror Story: Freak Show's hyped-up promos. The teenage photographer is known not only for her eerie voice, like she demonstrated her knack for haunting, searing lyrics on The Voice, but also for her eccentric style.
Fortunately, for Martinez, her creativity has not been stifled, as her dreamy/nightmarish pop anthem "Carousel," a spellbinding ditty has slowly been gaining ground on iTunes. At once inviting and vaguely sinister, the track neatly suits the trailer, putting Martinez's hushed, airy vocals between music-box chimes, calliope-like oompahs and plenty of shuddering electronics that update trip-hop, and now gets a brand new trippy, creepy, candy-colored and horrific carnival-themed music video which is a wild ride and nightmarishly cool.
The video directed by Adam Donald and shot at a carnival in Martinez's hometown of Long Island with ghosts, supernatural powers and touches of terror. The striking visual finds our bow-wearing heroine traipses through the popping lights and nightmarish landscape while enjoying the rides at a carnival. At the core, the song is about a former relationship, as you "go round and round like a horse on a carousel." But the resulting clip is chilling, and the singer ultimately becomes a victim of the fun and bound to that mechanical ride. She loses her dinner, and when the lights go out, she realizes it was just a tormented vision of her imagination.
The suitably spooky clip brings the love-song-gone-wrong's carousel metaphor to life. It begins with ghost-Martinez appearing in the middle of a darkened carnival which staffed entirely by nightmare people. Unfazed, she has some fun with a trippy mirror. Things get supernatural and she starts to fly and uses her powers of flight to follow a suspiciously hot carny around. But she takes a short break to play some creepy games with Nightmare Face, before she reunites with the Mr. Haunted Hottie by the carousel. However, things end poorly when Melanie gets a little lovesick.

Ne-Yo Can't Escape the Stripper Pole with Juicy J in "She Knows"

Posted by Kevin Z. Rong Thursday, October 16, 2014 0 comments

Ne-Yo loves the strip clubs but he can't seem to shake them when he's out doing errands, and he can’t escape the strip club either in the raunchy video for his latest banger "She Knows." The racy and humorous clip starring alongside the R&B singer and rapper Juicy J, as well as some talented pole dancers. The Juicy J-assisted urban track, "She Knows," is the latest single lifted from Ne-Yo's upcoming sixth album “Non Fiction,” which he's dubbing the "Rebirth of Storytelling," Ne-Yo is telling tales that stem from his own life and the lives of his fans.
But with "She Knows," a horn-infused club banger produced by Dr. Luke, Ne-Yo wanted to get you dancing. Or, really, get strippers dancing. "I wanted to make something for the strip club that isn't just for the strip club," he says. "It’s a record that could move. It's for the house party, for the strip club. It's something to get you going in the morning or before you head out for the night." "She Knows" is about a woman who has the confident and "swagger" to own the world (and she also knows how to “drop it down” with her sick body). Sonically, "She Knows" marries a "Problem"-style horn riff with a minimal trap beat, and comes out sounding very trendy indeed.
At first glance, the Emil Nava-directed risqué video featuring Juicy J may not seem like a ballad meant to empower women with a number of pole dancers performing in a series of rather inappropriate places, including a convenience store, a library, a sidewalk and an office. However, the 31-year-old R&B singer tips his hat to the skin-flaunting woman who is aware of her sex appeal and simply oozes confidence. In fact, the video features four women Ne-Yo hand selected, who own pole dancing studios, compete nationally or have competed in shows across the nation to be part of the video.
The clip shows Ne-Yo and his entourage having the time of their lives and slapping booties at a club. Each of the women have a story about who they are and why they decided to get into the sport of pole dancing. One of the dancers has a circus background, another is a stunt double and a third teaches classes at her own Los Angeles studio. Ne-Yo believes their individual stories give the song a whole new meaning and purpose. A woman "knows" she knows what she's doing when she walks into a room. "She's smart, sexy, and she owns it. It's about confidence." Watch Ne-Yo's strip club fantasy come to life.

Ella Henderson shows off some private moments in "Hard Work"

Posted by Kevin Z. Rong Wednesday, October 15, 2014 0 comments

Ella Henderson shows off some private moments during her recent promo trip in her new video for her latest single, "Hard Work," taken from the British singer-songwriter's deliciously accomplished debut studio album, "Chapter One." Henderson beautiful vocals and earnest lyrics show she's come a long way since her X Factor audition back in 2012, where Henderson finished in sixth place, despite being the favorite to win. Since then Henderson continues to show the extent of the success that can befall some of this year's show talent.
Ever since Amy Winehouse hit the scene, female singers continue to take a page out of her vocal style book. Artists such as Duffy and Adele took influence and carved their own identity with just enough of a difference but with a big sense of familiarity. Henderson seems to come from the same musical family. The 18-year-old has put her name to every single song on the album as a co-writer (aside from "Glow"). She's taken her time, she's gone away and really thought about her direction, and she's made sure that her album was perfect before releasing it.
This gloriously sweet ballad "Hard Work," was actually co-written with Amy Winehouse collaborator Salaam Remi, isn't anything new but its familiarity is pleasant. It's a perfect first-dance wedding song! It's just so classic-sounding. Stunning. It catches you a bit off guard at first. "You're hard work...but you're good to me." There's a bit of a double edge sword to this one. Yes, the relationship is amazing, but it's hard at times and requires work. Well, that's the basis of any relationship and Henderson's really capture the essence of love here in this song.
The song works around a harp arpeggiated sequence, and focuses on Henderson's big soulful vocals. It bops along pleasantly, with an interestingly unusual picked bass sound. It's really just lovely. From her killer vocals, to the strings, to the entire vibe, she just gets it right! The song's accompanying video is shot in a vintage frame, and shows former X Factor contestant in the process of recording the eagerly-anticipated album, both larking about with her mates, signing album covers and in the studio.

Tove Lo becomes a fallen angel in Alesso’ 'Heroes (We Could Be)'

Posted by Kevin Z. Rong Tuesday, October 14, 2014 0 comments

As he preps to release his debut artist album, Alesso gives us the opportunity to channel our inner comic book hero with new music video for his new track, "Heroes (We Could Be)," featuring vocals from rising Swedish singer Tove Lo. The 23-year-old Grammy-nominated, chart-topping Swedish DJ and the 26-year-old red-hot newcomer Lo are set to wreak serious chart damage with their soaring club anthem, "Heroes (We Could Be)," and Lo's beautiful vocals provide the backdrop for what is another fantastic track from the young Swedish DJ.
Taking about the message behind the lyrics, Alesso said "I believe that the best experiences in life are the ones you share with others. We wanted to write around that topic, when you feel a special bond with someone and can drop everything else to just be yourself together with that person. And especially to encourage one another, to push yourselves forward an appreciate each other's." The song's lyrics are taken from "Heroes" (1977) by David Bowie and the David Bowie-interpolating floorfiller made its debut on the Billboard Hot 100 this week and is already shooting up iTunes. Full volume please!
All it needed was a killer video and the Swedish DJ and the EDM superstar delivered the superhero-themed clip with a special effects-filled extravaganza, where the stunning Lo is a fallen angel, joined by a diverse array of cast-mates, who all portray superhuman powers while being held hostage in an asylum-type facility. In contrast to the radio-friendly track, the video is dark and ends melancholically (fitting for the Halloween season).
Starring the "Habits" hitmaker as a fallen/captured angel, the X-Men referencing visual centers around a bunch of young children who are interned in an underground research lab for their supernatural abilities. Happily, the super suave DJ makes a cameo appearance as the one who comes to their rescue and frees them, breaks Lo out before she literally lets him down. The storyline for the video is the perfect compliment to the powerful vocals of Lo, as well as the emotional instrumental. The ending was quite shocker though!

Alex & Sierra Play An Estranged Couple In "Little Do You Know"

Posted by Kevin Z. Rong Monday, October 13, 2014 0 comments

On the eve of their debut album "It's About Us" release, the reigning 'X Factor' champs and singing duo Alex & Sierra have shared the music video for their next single "Little Do You Know." From Florida, the 23-year-old Alex Kinsey and Sierra Deaton, AKA Alex & Sierra, created excitement performing as a modern day Sonny and Cher, are the first and only group to win the U.S version of The X Factor, they've officially won over our hearts in real life.
After winning the third and final season of The X Factor USA last year, the boyfriend-girlfriend pop duo Alex & Sierra have been diligently working on their album to keep fans engaged. Following the impact of the lead single "Scarecrow," the heartwarming ballad "Little Do You Know," is a but more up-tempo and has a catchier beat as well as better lyrics. It was co-written by Toby Gad, who has also penned such hits as Fergie's "Big Girls Don't Cry" and Beyoncé's "If I Were a Boy." Love conquers all. Especially if you're a real-life couple recording songs.
The song tells the story of an estranged couple. Sierra watches Alex as he sleeps. She hits the streets alone. So does he. They walk about aimlessly until finally they come together as the sun rises in the distance. The 'X Factor' winners show us how romance can have some bumps as Sierra sings, "I've been holding back for the fear that you might change your mind/ I'm ready to forgive you but forgetting is a harder fight/ Little do you know/ I need a little more time."
The Jay Martin-directed emotional clip follows an intimate journey with Alex & Sierra shot over on one very long night in separate locations. The delish musical duo play a love torn couple going through a difficult phase in their relationship, although still know that there is love underneath the pain they feel. The two seemingly can't stop thinking of one another as they separately wander through the streets during a sleepless night before meeting each other at dawn for a touching adorable moment.

5 Seconds Of Summer Navigate a Reform School for "Good Girls"

Posted by Kevin Z. Rong Sunday, October 12, 2014 0 comments

It was clear 5 Seconds Of Summer were up to no good when they posed for mugshots on the cover of new single "Good Girls." The band then confirmed it by teasing the chaotic video, which was filmed in an abandoned prison as boys are trouble. and the cinematic music video is a hugely enjoyable romp that finds the guys being hired by a reform school to soothe the students with their "classical music," while trying to calm some delinquent girls from boredom.
The Aussie rockers sure know how to keep fans on their toes. They hammed it up in their performance-based "She Looks So Perfect" video before taking a sweet, nostalgic approach to "Amnesia." With its girls-behind-bars theme and camp flair, "Good Girls," the fourth single from the Australian band's self-titled debut album, is the band's most ambitious and exciting offering yet.
Speaking about the song, the band's guitarist Michael Clifford said: "It was one of the first songs that me and Ashton wrote. We wrote it with a guy called Roy Stride, he's from Scouting for Girls, a guy called Josh Wilkinson and a guy called George Tizzard and... Rick Astley. Roy came to us with the lyric 'good girls are bad girls that haven't been caught' and at first it didn't strike to me." the drummer Ashton Irwin added: "It didn't strike to him, but I was like 'Roy, you're a genius.'"
Shot at Lincoln Heights Jail (an old prison that closed in 1965) in Los Angeles, the clip shows the Australian four-piece pretend to be classical musicians, hired by the director of a prison facility where "bad girls" are held and asked to soothe and calm some delinquent divas in the “Reform School for Bad Girls” with classical musical. But, instead of soothing the girls in a clever twist, these boys play a beat that only further corrupts the girls behind bars. Check out the rebellious clip below.

Pharrell Williams Reunites With Daft Punk For "Gust of Wind"

Posted by Kevin Z. Rong Saturday, October 11, 2014 0 comments

Pharrell Williams has reunited with electronic music masterminds Daft Punk and filmmaker Edgar Wright to create a fun music video for their collaboration "Gust of Wind," off Williams' latest album, "G I R L." Autumn is here, so take a stroll through the woods with Williams and his the French DJ duo pals Daft Punk as they entering some kind of enchanted forest full of fairy-like girls who dance around majestically.
The vibe on this new track is just what you'd expect from Williams and Daft Punk - electropop. It finds Williams in love with a lady who lifts him up mentally and emotionally like a force of nature. The song was inspired by Williams' wife, model and designer Helen Lasichanh. He explained to The Sun: "That song came to me in a dream. It's the only time it has ever happened to me in my life."
The 41-year-old entertainer continued: "I woke up and sang them to my girl and said: 'Babe, this is about you. It's about the divine force you have which could be compared to a gust of wind.' I told her: 'Like a gust of wind, you remind me there's someone out there who ushers in the air as I need to power in myself. And my wife was overjoyed when she first heard that song," he added. "She was also a little teary-eyed but then we have the Robots on there. It was like, 'Wow! Those guys are like, the next level."
Throughout the vibrant visuals, "The Voice" coach rocking huge colorful safety pin strolls walks through a fall-covered forest with groups of interstellar gymnasts performing choreographed maneuvers where he comes across two giant boulders in the shape of the Robots' helmets hover around him before final takeoff. The Baes dance alongside Williams and the autumn leaves before the boulders light up and ascend into the sky. This is simultaneously a very simple video and one stuffed with a bunch of effects and complicated choreography. Despite all that, Wright's direction really serves the song here. The song's a smooth jam, and so is the video.

Beyoncé and Nicki Minaj light up the stage together in "Flawless"

Posted by Kevin Z. Rong Friday, October 10, 2014 0 comments

Beyoncé released a sexy new music video for her "Flawless" remix with Nicki Minaj two months after the 33-year-old singer first dropped the track. Queens Bey & Barbie light up the stage together at Stade de France in Paris in September for this version of the latest single from Beyoncé's self-titled album, and treating fans to over five minutes of a joint live performance between the two superstars.
The original "Flawless" is a staccato, trap-flavored track with a dirty groove and a clattering beat with Beyoncé singing about "the pressure women feel to be perfect and to think of marriage as the main goal of their life/ I took some time to live my life/ But don't think I'm just his little wife." The remix version of the song features newly added verses and explicit lyrics by both Beyoncé and Minaj and marks their first collaboration together, and show off the pair's chemistry and vocal delivery.
The visuals open with Beyoncé on stage in Paris for one of the final nights of her On The Run Tour with husband Jay-Z. Against her trademark black-and-pink background, Beyoncé begins to sing "***Flawless" as audio from acclaimed Nigerian writer Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie plays and flashes across the screen, reading, "Feminist: a person who believes in the social, political, and economic equality of the sexes." Breaking it down in a printed, sleeved one-piece, the Grammy winner begins, "You wake up, flawless/ Post up, flawless/ Ridin' round in it, flawless/ Flossin' on that, flawless." She then continues to perform the meme-inspiring single, crooning and working it with an army of backup dancers.
Midway through the song, Beyoncé changes the lyrics from her original words to the remixed version, altering the message to make reference to her infamous elevator scuffle with Jay-Z and her sister Solange. Teasing something new to fans, she raps, "Of course sometimes shit go down/ When it's a billion dollars on an elevator." The performance is hardly over, however, as Beyoncé then brings Minaj out to the sold-out show in Paris. Introduced by her real name Onika, the "Anaconda" rapper struts out in skintight printed onesie, spitting "The queen of rap, slayin with Queen Bey/ If you ain't on the team, you plain' for team D."

Jessie J Seduces and Flexes Her Dance Moves in "Burnin' Up"

Posted by Kevin Z. Rong Thursday, October 9, 2014 0 comments

Jessie J sets the screen ablaze as she brings the heat and shows off her raunchier side sharing a steamy kiss in a gold bikini for her latest 2 Chainz collabo jam, "Burnin' Up" new video. Her sex appeal is turned all the way up for the visual, which is perfect for the sultry tune. It shows the singer frolicking at a pool party as she's surrounded by hot male eye candy, and she also throws in some fiery dance moves.
Written by Jessie and produced by legendary Swedish producer Max Martin, "Burnin' Up" follows the 26-year-old's recent success of "Bang Bang," with Ariana Grande and Nicki Minaj, and has that same R&B-pop-hip/hop feel. It's all about those diva-sized pipes, as Jessie struts through the fire and loses her mind due to the heat of her lover. While her vocals flirt with ostentatiousness, Chainz is all chill, smoothly rhyming 'corridor' with 'Oreo,' as he adds some fuel to the fire with his scorching rap verse, stir.
This tribal-influenced dance anthem is the second single to be taken from the British beltin' babe's upcoming third studio LP, "Sweet Talker," which is full of slick production and showcases Jessie's incredible vocal range and her divisibility as a power-player on the global music scene, will be released on October 14. Jessie's signature vocals shine bright over the high octane, stripped back beat before the track erupts into an epic chorus. Chainz adds his own cool twist to single before Jessie breaks it down as the song comes to a close.
Shot in a luxurious LA mansion with a slew of buff men and talented back-up dancers on hand to step up the glamour, the Hannah Lux Davis-directed clip features a cameo rap from Chainz who makes an appearance in the performance scenes, adding his swaggerific edge to the video. Jessie shows off her incredible figure while lied down on a bed in an intricate embellished gold bikini as she reclines on a pool lounger, surrounded by crystallized water and glistening, shirtless men, Jessie seduces and flexes her dance moves in black latex and can really slay a choreography.

Ed Sheeran Gracefully Dances in Romantic "Thinking Out Loud"

Posted by Kevin Z. Rong Wednesday, October 8, 2014 0 comments

Ed Sheeran ballroom dances his ass off, ditches his typical garb (hoodies and flannel) for something a bit more formal and shows off sexy new look in the dance-driven music video for his uber-romantic single, "Thinking Out Loud," the third single from the British singer-songwriter's chart-topping sophomore album, "X." The video finds the British redhead in a regal ballroom performing a heartwarming lyrical number with a professional dancer.
This soulful song finds Sheeran tipping the hat to his key teenage influence, Van Morrison. Co-wrote with Amy Wadge, Sheeran wrote this love song about his girlfriend, Athina Andrelos, who works for English celebrity chef Jamie Oliver. And the 23-year-old described the romantic ballad as a "walking down the aisle song (for a wedding)." It's a blatant and mercilessly effective bid for "I'll Be"-style wedding-song immortality.
Sheeran pushes this bold stab at romance past its sappiest moments, and ends the album "X" on a likable note. The song on "X" that's most likely to get the average listener moving is "Sing," produced by Pharrell. But Sheeran throws a curveball with this one, unveiling his hard-won new abilities over a slower number that's heavily-indebted to classic soul.
The accompanying music video, directed by Emil Nava who was shot all at once in 16 mm film, sees Sheeran sports in black suit pants, a black suit vest, and a white Oxford shirt with the sleeves rolled up, exposing his tattoos. His female partner, played by 'So You Think You Can Dance' star Brittany Cherry, 20, is barefoot and dressed in a flowy white gown, lending an ethereal vibe to the video. It's pretty much the girl who does all the heavy dancing, but Sheeran's effort definitely deserves some admiration, as he makes the fan world melt with a load of emotionally-loaded dance moves while executing several lifts and twirls to the romantic love song.

Jackie Evancho mesmerized with stunning cover of 'Think Of Me'

Posted by Kevin Z. Rong Tuesday, October 7, 2014 0 comments

14-year-old musical prodigy Jackie Evancho, who captured the hearts of everyone on Season 5 of 'America's Got Talent,' has released a music video for "Think of Me," her cover of the famous tune from Andrew Lloyd Webber's "Phantom of the Opera" musical. The classical-crossover sensation stunned 'America's Got Talent,' judges and audience members in 2010, when at just 10-year-old, her pitch-perfect soprano voice earned her a runner-up winner on the NBC talent show.
Her version of "O Mio Babbino Caro" dazzled the hit show's audience, its judges and host Nick Cannon, who told PEOPLE at the time, "That's the best performance I have ever seen on this show." The Pittsburgh native has since went on to sign a record deal with Sony Masterworks and has released her third studio album, "Awakening," on September 23rd. In addition to "Think of Me," Evancho also sings works from TV's "Game of Thrones," and the classic western film "Once Upon a Time in the West," as well as covers U2's "With or Without You."
Now, the teenager is impressing again. For her latest feat, the second track from "Awakening," Evancho, who began singing at age 7 after watching The Phantom of the Opera, is giving a nod to the classic by doing her version of the musical's ode "Think of Me." Evancho told PEOPLE recently, "From the moment I saw 'Phantom of the Opera' with my family, I knew I wanted to record 'Think of Me.' It's such a beautiful song."
The classical-crossover "Think of Me" is a delightful vocal performance, where the listener can easily recall Celtic Woman. Evancho's voice is one in a million. She displays her trademark range and her tone is crystalline and controlled. It is a polished and gorgeous vocal, and at times soothing and delicate. The final note that she belts out in the end proves that she is a true powerhouse vocalist. The young, operatic singer showed off her amazing talent one again and mesmerized with a stunning rendition of "Think Of Me."

You+Me Sing and Frolic in the Countryside for "Break the Cycle"

Posted by Kevin Z. Rong Monday, October 6, 2014 0 comments

You+Me is the project of P!nk and Canadian singer-songwriter Dallas Green, two of the most notable voices in music today. While such prominent voices rarely mix too seamlessly, P!nk and Green were destined to harmonize together. The duo already dropped their gentle lead track "You And Me" weeks ago, and now, the duo returns with a heartfelt new selection, "Break the Cycle," from their upcoming duet debut record, "rose ave," out on October 14.
The powerful chilling ballad and somewhat-haunting Americana track, "Break the Cycle," is a love song dedicated to P!nk's mother, and it emphasizes the two singers' incredible harmonies over subtle guitar strumming and stirring strings. P!nk is embarking on a new musical journey, joining Green for a foray into folk that steers far from her more familiar rowdy behavior. Keeping in line with the acoustically driven tone of their gentle first track, "You and Me," strings float in and out as P!nk and Green sit an octave apart atop sparse strums during the verses.
In the chorus, the duo harmonizes with a more upbeat feel, and declares across the hopeful chorus that matched in lyrics like, "Let me heal the wounds you've held onto for all these years/ Break the cycle, break the chains/ Love is louder than all your pain." P!nk has always been excellent at conveying strong emotions in her music, and this stripped-down production shows her softer folk and country music side and only allows her words to stand out stronger than ever.
Described as 'a passion project' for the talented two, they've opted for low-key with a simple, yet elegant accompanying video to "Break The Cycle." The grainy, sepia-toned video appears to be filmed in the countryside, and showing the singers parading and singing around in a mountainous country setting, which perfectly suits the song's simple yet majestic arrangement. Filmed with an old-school grainy filter, "Break the Cycle" enhances the country vibe with You+Me's hip Little House on the Prairie-esque looks.

Cheryl Shows Off Her Current State Of Mind With "I Don't Care"

Posted by Kevin Z. Rong Sunday, October 5, 2014 0 comments

The British singer Cheryl Cole sums up pretty much how she feel right now and lounges in bed in the music video for her long-awaited new single, "I Don't Care," whose audio she had radio premiered just two days ago. The 80's dance song, is the second official single taken from Cheryl's upcoming fourth solo album, "Only Human," establishing her position as pop royalty, due out November 24. Spending a lot of the time waving her arms around and up, close, and personal with the camera, Cheryl looks completely flawless and makes us think that we probably wouldn't care about much if we looked as good as her either.
Carefree! The upbeat anthem celebrates the exciting new chapter in Cheryl's life. The message of the catchy pop song probably means a lot to Cheryl, who is now married and loving life again in July after a three-month long relationship, singing: "Everyone is saying I have to slow it down or I'll get hurt again." A fresh-faced and glowing Cheryl really doesn't care as she chants irreverent lyrics "I don't care and it feels so f****** good to say, I swear that I don't care."
Speaking of her latest upbeat anthem, which will be officially released on November 9, the Newcastle native explained it reflected how she's feeling about her current state of mind and life at the moment. "I'm a woman now; I'm at that age that things don't bother me like they used to," Cheryl noted. Focusing on what matters: "I still care about things, but I've discovered what's important to care about, and what's most definitely not," she mused.
In the four minute long summery clip, was shot in Marbella, Spain, the 31-year-old beautiful Geordie chanteuse shows off her playful side with a more laid-back and natural look than usual, as she walking by the beach, sunbathing with a group of her girlfriends on a yacht in a white crop-top, denim shorts and bright pink sunglasses, while feeling like the queen of the world at the top of a mountain. The stunning star also shows off her flat abs in a yellow crop-top while her ombre locks bounce about in loose waves.

Mikky Ekko shows us a story between idyllic & ominous in 'Smile'

Posted by Kevin Z. Rong Saturday, October 4, 2014 0 comments

We haven't heard much from Mikky Ekko since his "Stay" duet with Rihanna and his indie pop tune "Kids," but the singer, born John Stephen Suddath, seems poised for a pretty big breakthrough, thanks to a combination of buzz, genuine talent and the sort of expectations a Grammy nomination can set up. He's back with a new folk-pop single, "Smile." The lead single, off his upcoming debut album "Time," has an accompanying summery video that is the perfect summer send-off, sees Ekko and his on-screen girlfriend lying on a field, just passing the day smiling and cuddling and going back home on their roofless car at night time.
Discussing this gleaming soul-pop song "Smile," the Nashville-based electronic-pop/soul songster told SPIN that he was looking to capture "that moment when you're a teenager and you lose somebody for the first time and you don't know what to do about it," while marching forward to a stomp-along beat. In keeping with the onslaught of contradictory feelings that can grip a person in a time of loss, its big, buoyant chorus revolves around what is perhaps one of the most cynical-sounding lines he's ever pegged: "Smile, the worst is yet to come."
"Time will eventually knock on my door," Ekko sings, "and tell me I'm not needed around anymore." Foreboding! Filled with positive lyrics, the "Smile" clip had to go in line with this mood. Director Sarah Chatfield creates a similar feeling of emotional whiplash, tells a juxtaposed story, tossing and turning between idyllic scenes of Ekko snuggling up with a female love interest on a grassy hill and an ominous police scene. The bittersweet clip, both good and foreboding fresh.
As we see Ekko and his special lady friend in reverse chronological order through a pleasant, lazy day, with some ominous shots of the aftermath of a train-related car accident interspersed along the way. There are scenes too where Ekko is locked up in a windowless somber room and belts out the song chorus. He even "attempts" to cry. I guess this symbolizes the powerful love he feels for his girlfriend. How will it end? Will Ekko and his gal make it?! You've got to watch below to find out.

Tinashe escapes "Pretend" relationship w/ help from A$AP Rocky

Posted by Kevin Z. Rong Friday, October 3, 2014 0 comments

With a Top 25 hit already under her belt, R&B and pop's latest sweetheart Tinashe keeps the momentum going with a cinematic video for her Detail-produced effort, "Pretend," featuring a guest verse from Harlem based rapper A$AP Rocky. Serves as the second single from Tinashe's upcoming long-awaited debut album, "Aquarius," out next Tuesday, The track is a much warmer ballad, a bit of a departure from the her earlier club-oriented single, and more in line with her mixtape work.
In an interview with Rap-Up, Tinashe talked about the concept behind the song, "The song with Rocky is definitely kind of a contemporary-sounding song, it doesn't really sound like a lot of other songs on the radio, but it's a midtempo feel and it's kinda minimalistic in the track." And when speaking about the songs meaning, she said "'Pretend' is basically about when you're in a relationship and instead of dealing with the stuff that you deal with in a relationship, you don't want to do that. You're just going to pretend that everything is fine. I think a lot of people can relate."
Directed by Jodeb and shot in Los Angeles, the dark and mysterious video bringing to light experiences the average person can relate to in relationships, but often ignore the real issues of why strenuous problems are occurring or pretending. The clip follows Tinashe going through the motions and living an unhappy life with her boyfriend who is cheating on her at a strip club. She still thinks about her high-school crush, Rocky and she randomly sees him after a long time, Tinashe finally realizes it's time to stop "pretending" and abandon the man that doesn't really make her happy.
Picturesque landscapes serve as the backdrop for Tinashe's beautiful, though kind of emo, as she sets out to exact her revenge with some help from Rocky, who pulls out the classic Lincoln Continental with the suicide doors to "rescue" the 21-year-old chanteuse from her pretend relationship. Tinashe's voice builds up to an emotional cry in the chorus, which finds her praising the concept of a love that never ends while Rocky raps after confronting her cheating lover. Both artists giving each other deep, longing stares as they navigate their relationship with one another, and provides some breath-taking sweeping landscapes.

Electric Youth Celebrates Imperfections In Love With "Runaway"

Posted by Kevin Z. Rong Thursday, October 2, 2014 0 comments

After becoming a leader in the flood of dreamy 80s-inspired synth acts to arise since the movie "Drive," Canadian boy/girl electronic/synthpop duo, composed of middle-school sweethearts Austin Garrick and Bronwyn Griffin, Electric Youth is finally getting ready to released their fantastic debut full length, "Innerworld," on Tuesday. Still, their music practically begs for visual accompaniment, so they've returned with a gorgeous new cinematic video for their new song, "Runaway," the second track off the album.
Electric Youth have a knack for flawlessly melding sugary vocals and an aura of synths into pop masterpieces filled with youth, melancholy, and nostalgia. "Runaway" is a great dreampop gem from the very first listen and it's awash in eighties nostalgia and synthetic listlessness and the single's cover art was inspired by Polish movie posters from the 1970s. "Maybe we could just runaway/ Maybe we could just runaway for good/ Cos we're both misunderstood," purrs Electric Youth's frontwoman Griffin. Nothing like being in love and on the outskirts of it all.
"Runaway," is a fantastic slab of synthpop, all throbbing beats, fuzzed up synths, and Griffin's airy, cosmic vocals beamed down from Planet Cool. And the accompanying now-classic clip for "Runaway," directed by Noel Paul, is a beautifully shot mini-saga set in Beirut, Lebanon. The viewer follows a young, lovelorn couple heavy with some kind of unspoken emotional turmoil and a nothing-left-to-lose, loose cannon vibe with the desperation of wandering away from home.
As they tear through the day, making out while escaping from reality together around on a moped, stealing smooches on a scooter, drinking in the streets and longingly gazing at one another, navigating the challenges of life on the outskirts of the city, and speeding faster towards inevitability. It really fits nicely with the romantic synth-pop song's subject matter. Everyone has scars, they're just not always visible. The video celebrates imperfections in love and humans in a really beautiful way and will make you want to make out and drive recklessly.

Rixton Performing At A Gatsby-themed Party In "Wait On Me"

Posted by Kevin Z. Rong Wednesday, October 1, 2014 0 comments

The past few months have been pretty crazy for the English pop/R&B band Rixton. They just wrapped up their sold out US headlining tour so now it's time to give us something new by debuting the "interactive" vintage-styled music video to their current hit single, "Wait On Me," the lead-off single off British sensations debut full-length album, "Let The Road," which coming out on January 6 of 2015.
Following the success of "Me And My Broken Heart," the boys of British band Rixton, Jake Roche, Charley Bagnall, Danny Wilkin, and Lewi Morgan, are back with another tune, "Wait On Me," and somehow, it's equal parts Maroon 5 ("One More Night") and Rihanna ("What's My Name"). The Wayne Hector co-written catchy pop tune is basically just this song about a guy telling a girl, "Look no further, for I am the best lover there is!" But, like, in a sexier, cooler way. Oh, and did I mention that the track rhymes "body" with "body"? Well, it does and it's brilliant. On the chorus.
Not only is the song awesome, but the cool new interactive visual is amazing! It is set in the 1920's and is quite unique and the viewer gets to "chose their fate" throughout the video which asks you questions and allows you to click and respond and that affects its outcome. Your decisions effect how it all turns out, which in our case led to Roche hiding in a wine cellar and getting in a lamp fight, but the outcome can be totally different for you depending on what you pick. Check out the video to see how it works!
This video was directed by fourclops ::) and Cameron Duddy. In video, the band is performing a show at a Gatsby-themed mansion party and the host's wife shows interest in Rixton's frontman Roche, who will do more than just singing songs. He'll 'mingle' with a pretty lady at an upstairs room but before "it" happens the mafia boss who hired the band will attack when he finds out he's trying to "get it" with one of his girls. Thankfully, the two newly-met lovebirds will find their way out. Fans have the ability to click through the video and ultimately chose what happens to Roche. Check out the video below and play along.

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