Today's Pick

Hot on the heels of Eminem's eight VMA nominations, the highly anticipated video for his latest chart-topper, "Love the Way You Lie," premiered Thursday on MTV at 9 p.m. The Joseph Kahn-directed video was based on Eminem's troubled relationship with his ex-wife, Kim and features Rihanna, who sings the hook, along with actors Megan Fox and Dominic Monaghan, portrays the downward spiral of an abusive couple as they appear to be just as much lovers as they are fighters.
To call Eminem hip-hop's Elvis is correct to a degree, but it's largely inaccurate. Certainly, Eminem was the first white rapper since the Beastie Boys to garner both sales and critical respect, but his impact exceeded this confining distinction. "Love the Way You Lie" the second single off rapper's seventh studio album, "Recovery." "It's the story of them getting to know each other, and it's the story of their tumultuous relationship, and it was the story of the breakdown of their relationship," the 33-year-old actor elaborated further. "Ultimately, what I think he's trying to say in the song is that he should have walked away a little bit quicker than he did and not let it get as messy as it did."
The rapper commented, "[The song] I did with Rihanna is one of those tracks that I felt like only she could pull it off, only she could do it. It was great to have Rihanna, Megan and Dominic on board for this. They really brought it and made this video super-powerful." The songstress also talked about this collaboration with Eminem: "It's something that, you know, [Eminem and I have] both experienced, you know, on different sides, different ends of the table. It was believable for us to do a record like that, but it was also something that needed to be done and the way he did it was so clever."
The most important thing the video is doing is raising the topic of dating violence among young people. The video shows off love and violence intertwine seamlessly, is especially potent because of Eminem's and Rihanna's personal histories with violence or abuse. During the four-minute span of "Love the Way You Lie," Rihanna alternately sneers in the frame and seems to physically diminish before finally crumbling to the ground in front of the burning house that serves as her backdrop throughout, and Eminem sings his verses in a desolate cornfield. Through the video Fox as an abused and abusive girlfriend to Monaghan. They fight, hit, break things and steal. At the end of the video, both Fox and Monaghan's characters are engulfed by the flames.

Teen Sensation David Archuleta has just presented fans with a brand-new music video for his new single "Something 'Bout Love," the official lead single from his upcoming sophomore pop album "The Other Side of Down" projected to be released on October 5. The catchy keyboard that dominates the verses in this upbeat, poppy song give way to a soaring chorus, which finds Archuleta passionately singing about greatest mystery of all, the heart!
"Something 'Bout Love" is very different from any of the music on Archuleta's 2008 self-titled debut album. The song itself is still very much a pop song, but it also have a dance vibe, which definitely is a nice surprise. This new single shows that Archuleta has done a lot of growing up since being the runner-up to David Cook during the seventh season of American Idol. The upbeat new single "Something 'Bout Love" makes its debut on Nielsen SoundScan's list of top-selling digital tracks this week, with 21,000 downloads. The only two Idol tracks that had better weeks were Carrie Underwood's "Undo It" and Adam Lambert's "If I Had You."
Archuleta takes his message of being set free by a more to the streets in his "Something 'Bout Love" music video. Teen Choice nominee appears as a lonely wanderer who happens upon various scenes of people in need of a helping hand in the video. But of course everyone ends up smiling at a big confetti-strewn street party in the end! The 19-year-old Utah native expressed undulated excitement while preparing to release his new video to his fans. "Everything seems like it's a challenge," he said in a recent video blog. "Everything needs to be a little bit difficult and a little challenging before it can come together."
Taking about new upcoming new album, "I'm really looking forward to releasing this album. Most of the songs on the album represent thoughts and experiences that I've personally gone through," says Archuleta. "I hope this album helps people understand more of where I'm coming from as an artist and as a person. It's about moving forward in life, making progress in accomplishing your goals and dreams while appreciating what life has given you." There are many more to come, for this is just the beginning of a long, successful career for the talented teen who captured the imagination of over 30 million "American Idol" viewers.

Country artist Miranda Lambert, the twangy, ultimate mean-girl comeback and dropped a 1950s-inspired video for her sassy anthem new single, "Only Prettier," the fourth single from her ACM Album of the Year "Revolution," and She chose Lady Antebellum's Hillary Scott, Kellie Pickler and newcomer Laura Bell Bundy for this mini-movie features the artists dressed up as rival "socials" and "greasers" at a high school sock hop. The four sharp-mouthed singer's best girl friends played two rival cliques of girls, one group is prim and proper; the other is bad and looking for trouble.
"Only Prettier," co-written by Lambert and Natalie Hemby, is an up-tempo song, backed by electric and steel guitars and percussion. The song's female narrator, a typical rough-and-rowdy country girl, finds herself facing off with a stereotypical model-thin city girl. Lambert relates to the song as her own anthem: "It’s antagonistic in a fun way, and I loved the attitude behind it. It kind of fools you, because it’s got this really country, laid-back intro, but then it’s balls-to-the-wall the rest of the way. It’s so much fun!" Laying on her thick Texas twang, Lambert's voice cuts through a thick fog of smoke and catty comments. once again, Lambert has bent the iron-clad rules of radio to bring us sharp material like this.
Lambert straps her guitar and performs as a house band in Trey Fanjoy-directed video, which was shot against a 1950's rockabilly backdrop at a middle school gymnasium in Joelton, Tennessee in June. The girls play "two rival cliques of girls" when walking into a high school sock hop, but put aside their difference at the end of the party, and the party is over. "To me, 'Only Prettier' is an anthem," Lambert said. "It's my own anthem, and I want girls to have their fists in the air singing 'Only Prettier.' It's antagonistic, in a fun way, and I loved the attitude behind it. It kind of fools you, because it's got this really country, laid-back intro, but then it's balls to the wall the rest of the way." The part of what makes country music is great is that it doesn't take itself too seriously, and this video is no exception.
What makes "Prettier" so smart is that it owns up to the insecurities of young girls, including her own, while admitting how silly they really are. Lambert's hard-earned lesson seems like a winning strategy for rising Nashville stars, but it's also sound advice for the next time her friends brace for a collision with their barroom rivals. Lambert, a three-time Grammy nominee, platinum-selling recording artist, amid the growing buzz surrounding her career, remains convincing as a country outlaw, and that's a testament to her enormous talent.

Our favorite hot mess Ke$ha keeps her outrageous factor going and is finally gotten off her arse and released a video for new single "Take It Off," the fourth single off her debut album, "Animal." The track seems to embody relentless, carefree hedonism at its best, and Ke$ha definitely has her own kind of flare, sound, look, and overall uniqueness that sets her apart from other artist.
"Take It Off" was initially written about when Ke$ha was attending a drag show, and how she became really turned on by transvestite men taking their clothing off. The song is an upbeat dancepop song that uses heavy amounts of auto tune and utilizes an electro infused beat. With a crazy chalk-filled dance party in a drained swimming pool, the Paul Hunter-directed clip is truly a dirty free-for-all. Ke$ha explained the video is "about me and all my hot vampire babe friends breaking into a hotel on another planet, roll around in glitter, and at the end we all turn into this beautiful stardust. Once you take it all off, all your inhibitions, your clothes, we're all made up of the same thing." She added that the video "isn't just about taking off your clothes and rolling in glitter. It's also about taking off your inhibitions and being raw and real."
The 23-year-old brash singer-songwriter is more than just a ton of fun or a one-trick party girl. Raised in Nashville by her semi-famous but often struggling songwriter mother, Ke$ha grew up alternating between living on food stamps and hanging out in recording studios. She fell in love with country music and was determined from an early age to be a rock star. By her senior year of high school, she had been accepted to study psychology at Columbia, but instead dropped out to move to L.A. and pursue music. Her gamble paid off. Her breakthrough came in early 2009 after appearing on Flo Rida's No.1 single "Right Round." "When I first heard my voice on 'Right Round' on the radio, I started screaming and crying," Ke$ha says.
Musically, her successful chart-topping debut "Animal" is of the dance-pop genre, while incorporating elements of electro and electropop in its production and beats, which was seven years in the making and resulted in Ke$ha's accumulating over two hundred songs by the time of its release, with fourteen making the final cut, is shaping up to be an edgy collection of hard-hitting electro-pop songs, made all the more irresistible by their high-octane punk energy and Ke$ha's irreverent lyrics and attitude. "I want my music to be fun, unapologetic, rowdy, quirky, humorous, and interesting," she says, "but with substance behind it. I'm an emotional person underneath all my fronting. I want people to listen to it and feel like they can relate." Not surprisingly, the songs showcase Ke$ha's flair for storytelling, though her choice of subject matter isn't exactly conventional.

America isn't the place to be right now. With our economy on the fritz, a presidential office up for grabs, and wars in both Iraq and Afghanistan, the land of the free is on dangerously shaky ground. Of course, none of this has swayed U.K. born singer-songwriter Ed Vallance from crossing the great Atlantic and setting up shop in Southern California in pursuit of that often times elusive dream of pop significance. He dropped his debut CD "The Modern Life" on the cusp of his move from London to Los Angeles, a move that began a drastic shift in perspective. The album filled with songs that speak to the chaotic times that we're living in, and that plays tricks with your heart as well as your mind. The record starts off dipped in just a touch of melancholia, but the lilting melodies and sun drenched rhythm guitar quickly churn through the rain towards a brighter path. All politics aside, one should not overlook the fact that Vallance has honest and urgent album that is easy on the ears and heavy on the mind.
There are some sunny California feel good songs on "The Modern Life" underlining his transcontinental existence of late. The result is a heady mix of Brit pop, meshed with a slight hint of folk, and west coast Psychedelia all wrapped up in a catchy melodic coating. "Silent Sun" is one of songs from album, it sidesteps again with its gentle acoustic and chilled laid-back presentation. Vallance went to the San Diego desert with the uber-talented and downright beautiful Autumn Hruby to make a video for "Silent Sun," starring actress Rhona Mitra.
Vallance is a truly unique new talent. He has one of the most singular voices in Indie Rock, and songs that stay with you. When I heard his voice it was instant, I wanted to hear more. I love his groove, and his vocal attitude. He creates his own world and he welcomes you to come in and listen. He has so many great songs and his music is super soulful and, at times, reminds me of golden age David Bowie. With one ear solidly rooted in classic British songwriting styles from Ray Davies and the Kinks to Supergrass, and the other schooled in the sonic approach of bands like Spiritualized and Galaxy 500, Vallance has honed his craft into a focused blend of pointed pop melodies and the ethereal qualities of his predecessors above.
Vallance is now moved to Brooklyn and happily settled in New York to working on his new EP "The Summer Fire," a concise snapshot of the wide array of talents Vallance possesses in his arsenal, that is due this Fall, he has taken his music to a new level - a high water mark in what has already been an acclaimed career. A lyricist and songwriter of great ability, and possessed of a singularly arresting voice, his music is pop in it's widest form but draws on a vision of popular music more in tune with 70s artist than the current incarnation. There's an ethereal quality to 'Vallance's music, a wide-open sonic landscape that feels like psychedelia shot through Cinescope. He eager to find a new and broader audience for his music. He concludes, "I've traveled halfway around the world for this music. It's exciting to up and leave and to follow your instinct. My hope is that some of that excitement has rubbed off on the record."

There's a new influx of Island Def Jam signees hitting up the music scene as of late. And here's one of them. 15-year old Los Angeles-based Pop/R&B artist Jessica Jarrell premieres her new music video for "Up And Running," which hits pop and rhythm radio formats across the country on June 21. The video produced by hit making duo, The Runners, was also shot in New York on June 21, as her single is impacting at radio. To hear Jarrell's new single, tune into AOL Radio's New Pop First station.
Jarrell was born to sing although it took awhile before anyone noticed. At age 11, her friends dragged her to the auditions for their school's Christmas play. "We went for fun so I auditioned for one solo part and ended up getting two," she recalls. "My mom was shocked. She came to rehearsals and cried when she heard me." Jarrell is also a seasoned young songwriter. She draws inspiration for her lyrics from her family, teenage experiences at school and in her budding music career as well as her daydreams. "Words are spinning in my head," she said about the 'old soul' perspective of her writing. "I hope everyone can have fun listening to it, but I hope everyone will learn something because they can relate to what I'm singing about too!"
Now she'll see if she can make his Beliebers into hers with her debut album and new single "Up and Running," In new video, the Mercury newcomer croons about being ready jump into a new, exciting relationship. Over strobing backbeats, the track is accessorized with Jarrell's Rhianna-sounding "Aye, Aye"s and rap interludes by recent solo artist and Gym Class Heroes MC Travie McCoy. The the playful video also shows label-mate Aaron Fresh trying to win her heart, only to lose to teen rapper Diggy Simmons. Jarrell has such an amazing voice and a really old soul for someone still in high school. It's impressive to listen to the lyrics because the song come from such a young and innocent place but feel very mature at the same time.
Jarrell's "Up and Running" provides listeners with three-and-a-half minutes of sheer dance-pop liveliness and guilty-pleasure appeal. At 15, the young California singer sets soft, plainspoken vocals against a hurried disco beat, is hardly of age to hit the clubs, but she sounds perfectly at home singing about partying until the sun rises. Her voice sounds eerily similar to Rihanna's on the Barbadian star's early singles, which only adds to the song's appeal. Gym Class Heroes front-man Travie McCoy modernizes the song-which harks back to the '90s-with his guest spot, adding some needed edge to what might otherwise sound like a retread. Jarrell has witnessed teen idolatry firsthand after touring with her label-mate Justin Bieber and her R&B pop sound is a perfect asset to Bieber.

Already releasing a music video for their No.1 hit and CMA Single of the Year, "I Run to You" last year, The country music trio Lady Antebellum re-released a new version video with a different storyline to promote the already hit single. While the old one follows a chain of events, that showcases how one good deed leads to another and they turn to each other to escape the negativity and prejudice of the world, this new one features the band performing on a rooftop while people on the street below them are walking backward.
"I Run to You" is a mid-tempo with electric guitar and string section accompaniment. It's the third and final single taken from the group's self-titled album, which was released in April 2008. It peaked at No.1 on Billboard Hot Country Songs chart in July 2009, and was certified Platinum in January this year. Despite the lack of a meaningful, coherent lyric, the song still manages to make for a pleasing listen due to the group's knack for catchy melodies and harmonies. Paul Worley, who co-produced the album and played guitar on it, said, "The song is an expression against hate, prejudice, negativity, running the rat race, but ultimately the redemption of love! And it has an irresistible melody and a head-bobbing groove. What could be better?"
Having only one album and three single releases to their name, Lady Antebellum has already racked up an impressive number of accolades. They were nominated for Top New Duo or Vocal Group in the 43rd Annual ACM Awards a full month before their debut album was released and eventually won the award. Granted, they were nominated in a weak year, but the trio also went on to receive a nomination and win for New Artist of the Year at the 42nd CMA Awards over much more formidable competition, and are currently up for the Grammy's Best New Artist covering all genres and Best Country Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals. Three young songwriter-musicians, with varied influences and backgrounds, whose blended vocals make a sound that is fresh and unique, even while it sounds like something you've known for a long time. For Lady Antebellum, the ride is about to begin.