Category: Watch Me
CHVRCHES cover Justin Timberlake’s “Cry Me A River”
CHVRCHES’ 2013 debut The Bones of What You Believe was jam-packed with pop hooks, so it was only a matter of time until they covered a JT song. While the original is a groovy R&B number that foreshadowed Timberlake’s later back-to-basics work like The 20/20 Experience, it still had one leg in the sampled production of the 90s. CHVRCHES took the next logical step by infusing some slinky, space-y synths.
The result is a highly danceable piece of electropop that could easily be featured in Zenon: Girl of the 21st Century. Even if the melody is a little more robotic, singer Lauren Mayberry uses her plaintive high end to keep the vibe perfectly human. Yet the sparse arrangement is significantly more hair-raising, and makes CHVRCHES sound a bit more thirsty for revenge. Given that Timberlake first wrote “Cry Me A River” as a diss track to former flame Britney Spears — and we all saw how her life turned out — potential CHVRCHES belles and beaus should watch their backs.
3/5
Jack White premieres interactive 3-in-1 video for “That Black Bat Licorice”
With help from creator/cartoonist James Bagden, Jack White opens up his world to the popular dimension of music video animation in his new video for “Black Bat Licorice.”
At first listen, the song sounds almost reggae. However, this illusion clears as images of an Egyptian goddess and bats fly across the screen. The video encompasses poor Jack lying in his bed dreaming of the love that the goddess Horace could provide him, constantly yearning for her companionship as he is oh-so-alone.
Another element is the song’s literal translation in the video. A precise picture accompanies every lyric on your screen, including when Jack sings about cutting off his tongue…gross.
Luckily, there is some humor attached, as men dressed in George Washington masks head bang along with you as you watch.
One critique I do have is that, although this “lyric video” style is classic, I’m getting a little bit of a been-there-done-that feeling. The masses were consumed with Girl Talk and A$AP Ferg’s rendition of a very similar style video for their song “Suicide.” This video seems like the Rock knock off. Regardless, “Black Bat Licorice” definitely adds some pizazz and will leave Jack White fans saying, “What guac?”
Florence + the Machine: “What Kind of a Man” and album announcement
After the presence of Florence + the Machine on several major music festival lineups, social media was abuzz about the follow up to 2011’s glorious Ceremonials. Following iTunes’ accidental leak of a promotional banner about pre-ordering her new record earlier this week, one thing was clear; the release of the album was imminent.
Well, three very important things happened today for fans of the band and casual listeners alike: the lead single “What Kind of a Man” premiered hours ago on BBC, followed by its music video, and the album How Big How Blue How Beautiful was formally announced for release on June 2 via Republic.
As is the case with any new single, the main question is always how has the artist developed in their time away from the public spotlight? Fear not, for “What Kind of a Man” displays a remarkably jagged edge compared to the high gloss of previous singles “Spectrum” and “Shake It Out.”
The lush orchestral sounds of Ceremonials are teased for the first minute of the track before being stripped away by a menacing guitar riff and anthemic chant. Once the vocal track comes back in, the softness in Welch’s vocals is also gone in favor of a gruffer, angrier sound (To let me dangle / at a cruel angle / where my feet don’t touch the floor / sometimes you’re half in and then you’re half out / but you never close the door) that crescendos into a grandiose trumpet flare.
Perhaps this wasn’t the direction fans were expecting after the visual teaser released earlier this week that was symbolic of the old Florence letting herself go, but the turn into more rock based instrumentation is a welcome change. Florence has successfully piqued everyone’s interest to see where she’s going to go next.
4.5/5
Music video for “What Kind of a Man:”
Teaser:
Tracklist for How Big How Blue How Beautiful:
01 Ship to Wreck
02 What Kind of Man
03 How Big How Blue How Beautiful
04 Queen of Peace
05 Various Storms & Saints
06 Delilah
07 Long & Lost
08 Caught
09 Third Eye
10 St Jude
11 Mother
WATCH: Karen O: “Day Go By”
Karen O (of the Yeah Yeah Yeah’s) has shared the video for her single “Day Go By,” a track off of her recent solo album, Crush Songs.
The short film is directed by wiisa and follows a young couple spending a day out together. Stylized in the form of a vintage ’70s movie, the two-minute and 25-second video takes viewers from a bike ride to an intimate rest in the grass to kisses and swim races in the pool. The song’s basis is love and romance and is really just a simple song about being lost in love with one’s partner.
“Don’t call the doctor,” but do watch the video below!
WATCH: Charli XCX ft. Rita Ora: “Doing It”
The video for the girl-tastic anthem “Doing It” by Charli XCX featuring Rita Ora was released today, and let’s just say that this pair REALLY needs to collaborate again.
Re-enacting a Thelma and Louise scenario for the video, the two create a fun and funky video filled with color, stripper cops, and a mechanical bull (need I say more?). The pair rob a gas station with toy guns and ride around in a huge, pink truck stacked on top of some monster wheels, then enjoy some time under neon lights with toy microphones.
Check out “Doing It” below, and check out Charli’s album “Sucker” here!
WATCH: Monsoon: “Ride A’ Rolla”
Athens-based band Monsoon has released their first official video for their single, “Ride A’ Rolla,” off of their debut album of the same title. The band is known for their punk rock style and released their debut album on Jan. 13, 2015. The video for “Ride A’ Rolla” has an interesting concept as it features a fabulously frantic Sienna Chandler (vocals) running into different rooms – each with a different scenario – full of bright colors and handmade props (pretty legit though).
Scott Andrews (bass and vocals) and Joey Kegel (drums) also are seen in the video as the band boards a plane with some snazzy animation and “crashes” into a body of water with smiling fish. Aside from the video though, Monsoon’s “Ride A’ Rolla” is an infectiously catchy tune, and everyone should jump on the bandwagon.
Check out the video below!
WATCH: Childish Gambino: “Sober”
Childish Gambino is known for making music that is definitely not average. With the release of his October 2014 EP Kauai/gangsta grillz mixtape STN MTN (standing for Stone Mountain, Georgia, his hometown), Gambino doesn’t disappoint.
Today, the video for one Kauai track -“Sober” – was released, and it includes the same film-making techniques – like shooting from innovative angles and quirky Gambino acting that fans have seen in past videos – especially for because the internet tracks. The video revolves around an extremely high Gambino trying to woo a girl in an empty restaurant with some pretty sweet moves to go in tune with the catchy, elevator-esque beat that makes “Sober.” There is a change in tempo in the song to a harder, more bass-boosted beat and includes Gambino killing some dances moves on a table.
The pursuit for the girl doesn’t end so well for Gambino though – she finally dances a step, then grabs her to-go order and leaves Gambino back in the same spot he was when the video began. Sad, high, and alone.
It’s okay, Gambino. That was one of the sickest finger moon-walks I’ve ever seen. Check out “Sober” for yourself below!
WATCH: Sia: “Elastic Heart” ft. Shia LaBeouf and Maddie Ziegler
Eccentric singer/songwriter Sia released the video for “Elastic Heart” today, and it is…definitely very Sia. Continuing with her self-proclaimed trademark – a blonde wig- the video features “Dance Moms” star Maddie Ziegler taunting and teasing actor Shia LaBeouf.
The video is set in a giant bird cage. LaBeouf is clad in nothing more than dirty nude-colored shorts and his bloody bandages (but we don’t mind that), and Ziegler wears the same leotard and blonde wig she sported in Sia’s “Chandelier” video. The song itself is another hit, with Sia belting notes that make you want to think about your last break-up on top of a beat that sounds like something we could hear backing Rihanna. Sia did write “Diamonds,” didn’t she?
Sia performed “Elastic Heart” on Jimmy Kimmel Live back in July with Ziegler and other dancers colored in clown face paint and colorful attire. According to People, the song was re-released for 1000 Forms of Fear after being on the the soundtrack for Hunger Games: Catching Fire.
Overall, the song is bomb. The video is bomb. And Shia LaBeouf is looking mighty ‘beouf.’
Watch: “While We’re Young” Movie Trailer
Remember when you were a kid and couldn’t wait to grow up…and then you grew up?
Well, writer/director Noah Baumbach has wrapped all those feelings of wanting to be young, carefree, and bill free into his upcoming film, While We’re Young. The movie is a story of an older couple (Ben Stiller and Naomi Watts) who meet a younger couple (Adam Driver and Amanda Seyfried) and become mingled into their adventurous lifestyle that is more than just your average nine-to-five.
The plot of the movie doesn’t seem to be too cheesy, and there’s even an old Beastie Boy in the mix. Adam “Ad-Rock” Horovitz portrays the no-nonsense, realist friend of Watts and Stiller, who is extremely puzzled at their recent and current behavior. Funny that one of the The Beastie Boys would be telling someone to not have fun.
While We’re Young airs in theaters on Mar. 27, 2015. Check out the trailer below.
Watch: Night Terrors of 1927: “When You Were Mine”
Duo Night Terrors of 1927 have teamed up with the beloved Tegan and Sara for their new break-up ballad, “When You Were Mine.”
The new song is the lead single off of Night Terrors of 1927’s upcoming debut LP, Everything’s Coming Up Roses, which is due to be released Jan. 20 via Atlantic. The video for the song is a like a choreographed number, presenting a girl dancing around her apartment in a contemporary style during the emotional aftermath of a break-up. Meanwhile, Tegan and Sara and Night Terrors are shot in scenes of the garage and outside synth-singing the tune.
The video captures the heartache beautifully and in a realistic manner and all, but the dancers should really consider auditioning for So You Think You Can Dance? Check out the video below, and you’ll see why!